Courtside Confucius say: possible Blazers before the trade deadline

by Mad Matt the Road Warrior on Jan 5, 2009 10:33 PM PST Comment 48 comments

Technically it wasn't in the Confucius portion of the show - but in the last five minutes Rice was asked to name the five guys that the Blazers are most likely to acquire before the trade deadline. He actually gave six.

He had previously stated that both Caron Butler and David Lee would be great fits with Portland, but didn't think that Portland would be able to acquire them for a reasonable price. He did, however end up putting Lee on the list as a hedge. I welcome your comments on who would be the best fit for the Blazers, and how they might acquire them but the poll question is who do you think is most likely to be a Blazer in March?

Poll

Of the following players named by Mike Rice, who is most likely to be a Blazer by March '09? (Age, Salary total for 08-09, # years on contract remaining)

SF Vince Carter, 32, $14.7M (3)

10 votes

PG Kirk Hinrich, 28, $10M (4)

20 votes

SF Gerald Wallace, 26, $9M (5)

70 votes

SF Andres Nocioni, 29, $8M (5)

5 votes

SG-SF Anthony Parker, 34, $4.5 (1 - expiring)

7 votes

PF David Lee, 26, $1.8M (1 - expiring)

90 votes

202 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs | Comment 48 comments

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Comments

Gerald Wallace.

He’s pretty much better than Lee in every conceivable way except rebounding. David Lee has a rebounding rate of 17.5 while Wallace has a rate of 12.6.(6th best among small forwards.) Wallace is so good I’m not sure they could even get him.

If they trade for Andres Nocioni I might throw up.

by Nick Van Excellent on Jan 5, 2009 10:51 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

NO GERALD WALLACE!

Heres some quotes from Hollingers scouting report on him (All these things are points that i agree with hollinger):
"One of the league’s most spectacular athletes, Wallace is becoming among it’s most fragile as well. A serious concussion — his fourth as a pro — knocked him out of action for 20 games, and he hasn’t played more than 72 games in any of his four seasons in Charlotte. "

As a response to the injuries, Wallace has become noticeably more perimeter-oriented. He went from taking 73.7 percent of his shots in the painted area in 2006-07 to just over half (54.1 percent) last season, while more than doubling his 3-point attempts. Though wise as a matter of self-preservation, this isn’t a high-percentage move on his part because he’s a weak outside shooter.
Defensively, Wallace’s fundamentals have improved quite a bit. However, his ball-hawking tendencies still get the better of him at times — he’ll get caught watching the ball a lot and be burned by a quick cut. He was also beaten silly at times by the relentless pounding of bigger forwards, and should welcome a return to his natural small forward spot this season. Also, his transition D looked surprisingly slow at times — he needs to expend more effort getting back on D.

Offensively, Wallace has an awkward release from the left side of his body, but has become a competent enough shooter to open space for his drives. He’s way too quick for power forwards to stop, and has the edge on most small forwards as well. Plus, he sees the court well and is very effective attacking smaller players from the mid-post on the left block.

But his specialty is finishing in transition. Wallace has breathtaking speed and can finish on the run with spectacular jams, making him among the league’s most dangerous players on the break."

Look Wallace is a nice player, but I do not think he is a great fit on this team. And that is what is key right now, who fits this team the best? The SF that we need is someone who can shoot the three (which wallace cant) and someone who is a great lock down defender (which Wallace is not). To make matters worse for Wallace he is more of an open court face break player, were the Blazers are a half court team. Even though he has nice stats and looks good in the highlights it is pretty obvious that he does not fit the Blazers. I actually think our SF of the future is Batum, but that will take a couple years. I also dont think we should make a move at the SF postion until Martell comes back to see how he performs and how much he has improved.
From the list above I think David lee would be the best fit for this team hands down, we would easily become the best rebounding team in the league.

by ggassen85 on Jan 6, 2009 12:16 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Sooo, have you watched him much

or are you basing your entire opinion on Hollinger’s report? Because from the dozen or so Charlotte games I’ve watched over the past couple of years, I think he’s one of the best individual defenders in the league, maybe top 10. It’s not just the spectacular blocks (although they really are spectacular) — it’s also the dogged wing defense and intensity.

He’s very effective in the half court. He’s a slasher. I dunno, I think maybe it’s been so long since we’ve had a slasher in portland that folks don’t remember how useful they are even in a half court game. Wallace can beat anyone off the dribble, and he gets to the rack and gets fouled at a very respectable clip. He’s back to doing most of his damage inside – around 67% of his attempts are at the rim this season. He did drift outside and play a little less efficiently than usual last season, but considering that one really scary fall at sacto, it’s not surprising he played out the tail end of last season a little gingerly.

I have all kinds of respect for Hollinger but he’s maybe at his worst when he’s evaluating defense. That comment about transition defense might be the most offbase thing I can think of to describe crash – I bet he leads the league (or maybe second behind Josh Smith) for running down and blocking fast breaks from behind. Poll coaches and press, and I bet the overwhelming consensus is that Crash is among the elite wing defenders in the league.

by howlingfantods on Jan 6, 2009 1:08 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

totally agree with your analysis on Hollinger

He’s a stat man, and a good one at that… but he’s not a coach or a scout. The current state on NBA advanced stats is that they are GREAT for analyzing team offense and team defense, and decent at analyzing individual offense. Analyzing individual D with stats is still a lot tougher… which is why Hollinger isn’t the best source for info on defensive abilities of players.

Boomshakalaka

by jksnake99 on Jan 6, 2009 1:21 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Also,

I think it’s interesting that people continue to insist that whoever we get for SF must be a jump shooter, at the same time that others are realizing that our team is too reliant on jump shooting. GW would be a great addition in large part because he’d give a very different look to our offense beyond a heavy diet of jump shots.

by howlingfantods on Jan 6, 2009 1:22 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

…and someone who is a great lock down defender (which Wallace is not).

So, I assume you’ve never watched a Charlotte Bobcats game? I can’t blame you, that team is pretty terrible. Gerald Wallace is just about as lock down of a defender as they come. The guy is an amazing defender.

by Nick Van Excellent on Jan 6, 2009 4:02 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Yes I have watched

Mainly because a lot of people here like him, so I watched him quite a bit to see just how good he is. From watching him this season (this is the only season I have really watched him play) I am shocked that people consider him to be a lock down defender. He’s better the Outlaw and Webster but I dont think he is that big of upgrade that he would be worth at this point giving up a lot to get him. I still think we need to see Webster play this season to really find out if we need a SF. Like I stated above I think Batum is our Future SF, and I want to see how much Webster has improved because I think Batum and Webster would be a good enough combo at SF for this team for the next few years until Batum is ready to be a 35 min per game player.

The reason I used Hollinger’s scouting report is beacsue I agreeded with those points that he had on Wallace from what I had personaly seen. Now lets say after this season we see that niether Outlaw nor Webster will be what we need to fill the gap between now and when Batum is ready, then I could be convinced that getting Wallace would be good (even though he is very injury prone). The question here is whom we would trade for by March 09? I still think that is David Lee hands down, we need another tough big man inside, and we wouldn’t have to give up RELC to get him, just a couple pieces that we dont use. That way possibly in the offseason if we needed a small forward we could then go out and get a Wallace type player.

by ggassen85 on Jan 6, 2009 10:36 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Did you watch him play Boston tonight?

The Bobcats won the game, which says a lot more about how the Celtics are playing then the Bobcats.

On one play he trailed Peirce on a fast break and erased his shot with a clean block at the last second. On the next Celtics possession KG set a pick and Wallace ended up switching from Peirce. KG tried to post up, but Wallace is too fast/strong for it to be a real mismatch so KG just ended up panicking when he couldn’t get a shot off and traveled. A couple minutes later Wallace stole the ball from Peirce (he had 4 steals total). It was pretty much like that the whole night. He finished with 23 points, 4 steals, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists.

The guy is an animal defensively. Saying he’s not a great defender is like saying Ray Allen has a lousy jump shot, or that Jarrett Jack has normal eyebrows. It’s just so far off the mark, no offense. He’s easily one of the 5 best defensive small forwards in the league.

by Nick Van Excellent on Jan 6, 2009 7:07 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

why didn't his block end up on the stat sheet?

I was checking the box score earlier today and didn’t see one in the Oregonian. It didn’t end up in ESPN’s box score either: http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=290106030

Jaws were hitting the floor as Greg repeatedly attempted to tear the rim off the backboard...

by TheOdenator on Jan 7, 2009 4:16 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I saw that too.

I guess it happens. I notice Greg doesn’t get blocks recorded sometimes. He definitely hit the ball from behind even though there were a couple other guys around.

by Nick Van Excellent on Jan 7, 2009 10:25 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Yea

It is weird that stuff seems to happen every once in a while. That has happened with GO’s shots before too, all of a sudden they end up on Roy’s side of the stat sheet, for no reason at all.

Jaws were hitting the floor as Greg repeatedly attempted to tear the rim off the backboard...

by TheOdenator on Jan 8, 2009 11:28 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I saw that he picked it 4 times though

which has him rising in my book (I was staunchly anti-Wallace when the idea of a trade first came up)

Jaws were hitting the floor as Greg repeatedly attempted to tear the rim off the backboard...

by TheOdenator on Jan 7, 2009 4:17 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Not to influence my own poll - but if you take Rice at his word

You are probably clinically insane….but according to this poster Rice had previously stated that the Blazer trade target is a former all-star. I’m pretty sure that Vince Carter is the only one on this list that is. Hmm…still have a hard time believing that.

by Mad Matt the Road Warrior on Jan 5, 2009 10:54 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

MB said they would trade for a former all-star on last episode of courtside

Not Rice.

"When I have the ball, I experiment." #5

by Sabonis4Ever on Jan 5, 2009 11:01 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks correction is noted!

by Mad Matt the Road Warrior on Jan 5, 2009 11:02 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I normally don't correct people.

But some people think Mike Rice is crazy/drunk and don’t believe anything he says.

"When I have the ball, I experiment." #5

by Sabonis4Ever on Jan 5, 2009 11:09 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

By some people think

do you mean most people know?

by as11osu on Jan 5, 2009 11:17 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

lol

i use tu hate him, now i luv him

December 18, 2008.

"Roy is Roy, and if I were to bet my life on a game of 5-on-5, I’d bet on whichever team Roy was playing on." by HurraKane212

by maid tu rek on Jan 5, 2009 11:34 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Drunk Uncle Mikey

hide the liquor, don’t let him hit on your wife, and for all that is holy don’t let him start telling stories

Bayless has been testing the fences for weaknesses

by blazeraddict on Jan 5, 2009 11:36 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

However, I have been told by multiple people, multiple times that this talk has zero legs to it. Zero. This summer a deal with David Lee was offered to the Blazers, but ultimately the Blazers rejected the deal, which involved Jarrett Jack and the Blazers’ first round pick.-Jason Quick

I feel like they should go back in time and make that deal.

by Nick Van Excellent on Jan 5, 2009 11:00 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

We needed Jack

to get Bayless. We still have plenty of other movable parts to get Lee.

by as11osu on Jan 5, 2009 11:16 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Yea that was a Mistake

I’d ship that in a heartbeat.

Does anybody remember back in the Isiah era him being interested in Darius Miles for David Lee… That would have been one hell of a steal…

Let RudyMania Reign!!

by DowntownChinatown on Jan 6, 2009 8:56 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I don’t think there should be a Tony Parker and an Anthony Parker in the same league.

It is simply not fair.

by pklym on Jan 5, 2009 11:10 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

just call Anthony "Candace's bro"

Its easier.

Boomshakalaka

by jksnake99 on Jan 5, 2009 11:16 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

How about when Boston had Ray Allen, and Allan Ray....

and then reading the box scores for each with last name first…..

"whoever scores the most points is probably gonna win the game"

by kobestopper on Jan 6, 2009 11:16 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I suspect all the Lee rumors mean that deal is talked out and gone.

The Wallace front and the, god help me, Carter talk, has been very quiet, leading me to believe there’s still life there.

I can’t imagine why Nocioni is even in the mix unless we’re gonna take him off their hands along with their lottery pick in the next draft – Rubio?

by raoulduke on Jan 5, 2009 11:24 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

I would take any of Chicago's garbage contracts

to get Ricky Rubio on this team. I haven’t been as impressed with a young player’s game (not potential, because Howard and GO would be in the conversation) since LeBron burst onto the national stage.

Bayless has been testing the fences for weaknesses

by blazeraddict on Jan 5, 2009 11:26 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I wouldn't be surprised if there is some machination in the works

to get a draft pick that at least gives KP a shot at Rubio.

Rubio/Roy then bring in Bayless/Rudy

That would be fun to watch.

by raoulduke on Jan 5, 2009 11:38 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Rubio would cost LMA

Rubio’s my favorite prospect since LeBron. His play at such a young age in the second best league in the world is probably something we’ll rarely if ever see again. He’s a difference maker on both ends of the court, and that is something we just don’t have on this team.

by as11osu on Jan 5, 2009 11:58 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

KP has not even considered this option

by southern oregon on Jan 6, 2009 12:08 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

That would be a mistake

You can argue the merits of either side, but not to even consider something like this shows lack of imagination. And you can never accuse KP of that. The way he maneuvers around the draft board is magical. I actually like LaMarcus more than most around here, so my touting of Rubio isn’t a knock on Aldridge, just my view of what Rubio will be in the NBA.

by as11osu on Jan 6, 2009 12:16 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I was kiding

by southern oregon on Jan 6, 2009 11:59 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Rubio would cost more than Aldridge

Boomshakalaka

by jksnake99 on Jan 6, 2009 12:26 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

If I were a GM talking with the Blazers about this, I’d want at least LMA, Batum, and Bayless for the Rubio pick (plus a contract thrown in to make the numbers work). KP is a magician, so if he can do this cheaper than that, I would be in awe, but Rubio has the tools to be one of the elite PGs in the game very soon.

Bayless has been testing the fences for weaknesses

by blazeraddict on Jan 6, 2009 8:59 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

of those only

Wallace and Carter make any sense as

Hinrich-as well as Blake has been playing why pay more?

Nocioni-meh what does he bring to the table better than TO/Webs/Batum?

Parker-see above

Lee-brings rebounding and hustle but what we need is someone who can D up and create his own shot. Neither of which he can do.

Wallace or Butler are the only 2 I would even think of bringing on either that or stand pat.

"Damn the Blazers. Damn them to hell. They are working the rest of the league like a speed bag." - Bill Simmons 6/26/08

by SpyderRyder on Jan 5, 2009 11:27 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Rice and MB also mentioned Nick Collison...

i love these guys but anyone from OKC who’s not name Durant or Westbrook should not be named.

I’ll sign up for the Gerald Wallace trade and hair day.

"Step up to my mic!!!" Joel's right and left fist

by broyposse on Jan 5, 2009 11:55 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

OMG please no Nocioni!!! That guy is not anywhere nearly worth his outstanding money.

If a Blazer official reads this thread: Check out any recent article by the editor of Blogabull, then move on and just talk to the Bulls about Hinrich.

“Bucks 97, Bulls 90: Maybe in 6 more games Vinny will realize Nocioni is giving him nothing”.

First half:
Enter the Noc: 23-20 Bucks, 10:31 2nd quarter (Richard Jefferson enters as well)
Exit the Noc: 48-35 Bucks, 2:51 2nd quarter
Noc? 7:40 min, 3 Fouls, 0-0FG, 1Reb. Jefferson scores 10 points

Second half:
Enter the Noc!: Start of the 4th quarter, 76-72 Bucks
Exit the Noc, with clenched fists: 87-75 Bucks 7:32 4th quarter
Noc’s hair? 4:28 min, 0-1FG, 1pt, 2 TOs

by Norsktroll on Jan 6, 2009 12:00 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Don't talk to the Bulls about Hinrich

Don’t talk to the Bulls about Nocioni.
Don’t talk to the Bulls about Gordon.

There is no reason to talk to the Bulls. They have no desirable players with the proper age, salary and talent.

by as11osu on Jan 6, 2009 12:18 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

D Rose?

Good rookies go to bad teams, KP is trying to screw us!!

by In Walks Rudy on Jan 6, 2009 6:38 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Untouchable

If you can't convince them, confuse them -- Harry Truman, U.S. President

by jscot on Jan 7, 2009 7:10 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

It might be the draft

pick that would have to come with Nocioni for KP to be interested in it. Even then it would require a further trade to get a really creamy pick and a shot at Rubio.

I think KP has to go deeper into the cesspool of then NBA for the Rubio pick though. More like a trade for Sactown, Washington or the Clippers if you want a shot at Rubio. Even then you probably couldn’t be sure without getting OKC’s pick and it’s extremely doubtful they would give up their pick unprotected for anything less then Aldridge +.

He's Coming! Oden Slayer of Giants

by Idog1976 on Jan 7, 2009 2:40 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs