i’ll take sergio’s role of chucking up half-court heaves to end quarters.

The chance they’ll play in more than a few games is virtually zero in any case.

i agree with the above two posters

I want a big man if we fill that last spot. Udoka is the better player, but as Ben said yesterday this is not about best player available but greatest need – if it should come to injuries. We have half a dozen players who can ably play SF, but potentially problems if one of the Big Big 3 goes down (Greg, LaMarcus, Joel) with Pendergraph already hurt and the rest just power forwards. Collins is a nice guy and a big body, but for his whole career he was a lousy rebounder (historically bad, though his brother is even worse) and an offensive non-factor.

Udoka can still play.

Udoka knows he’ll get PT in the pre-season, and likely will be on a different roster quite soon -

Przy will prolly want a break from that.

I say Collins.

If one of our SFs get injured, Ime STILL wouldn’t play. If two SFs got injured, Ime STILL wouldn’t play. We have too many wing players who can cover for other’s injuries, and Ime would be too far down the depth chart to matter… not even in practice.

Collins isn’t a very good player, but he is big and he has experience. I don’t WANT him to play, but if Oden or Joel get injured, we’d at least have another guy who knows how to play center.

Plus, he is more useful than Ime for PRACTICE even, giving Oden someone to bang against so Joel doesn’t have to take the brunt of it.

I think the team will pick Ime, but I think the better choice is Collins.

Mortimer

If we sign Udoka then a trade is a foregone conclusion this season. He can definitely be a dependable 3rd string wing player. I just don’t see our EPIC logjam at the wing positions surviving with Udoka in the mix without a trade.

We’ll see if that’s what happens. I kinda think it’s Ime’s to lose, but that things are so different now (obviously) than the last time he was here. In the end, I don’t think either one is the perfect 15th man… but that we can’t really go wrong with either one in the end.

I would say again that this is a nice problem to have. And barring major injuries, it’s unlikely that either one would get many minutes at all…so from that perspective, doesn’t Collins add a lot more as a practice player?

For the small percentage who voted to keep the roster spot open — what or who are you after with that strategy?

The Blazers seriously upgraded their talent level.

But logically, it doesn’t make as much sense. One injury to either Przybilla or Oden and the remaining center takes on a big load – especially if the remaining center is Oden. Even with a reduction in fouls, it would be tough to get him 36 minutes a night without a viable backup. Howard could play center in spots, but we need an insurance policy for the twin towers.

Sorry Ime, but we’re already more than set at SF. We need Collins, and Collins is a smart dude who went to Stanford with his brother. And he don’t talk like he’s from the hood. He is “articulate.”

I would like to see Ime get another run here, but Collins makes more sense from a roster/needs perspective. If Ime stays, I’m with the other posters here – a trade is likely in the works. Of course, Nate could just have a good feel for Ime, and if Mihm/Hill types are available, you can call one of them in the event of an injury to a big man.

cant they get someone Mike Rice safe?

Trade Steve and Travis for Nick Collison – backup PF and C sorted
Sign Ime as a third string SF – becuase he can be trusted to play (defense and shoot open 3s) if Nic/Martell go down
Sign Patty Mills as 15th man – need a third string pg with Blake gone and Mills is going to be better than people think

In this scenario the minutes crunch at SF is reduced – Nic and Martell would divide the full 48 as their play dictated with no need to worry about Travis. There is progression at PG – committing to Miller and giving him the ability to play 35 minutes like he is used to plus giving Bayless significant enough minutes to determine whether he is worth investing more time in. Lastly, it prevents us from losing an asset in Patty Mills – who I believe would be unhappy in Europe and is more than capable of being a third string NBA PG. Not sure on what will happen with his rights if he goes unsigned but have read that he has the right to become a free agent according to AK1984.

Won’t happen because the organisation is in love with Blake and, to a lesser extent, Outlaw and would rather see them expire and leave than trade them for something useful.