Showcasing Blake for Trade?

by buck_goggles on Nov 7, 2009 6:49 PM PST

My hope is that Nate and KP are playing Stevie Blake so much to showcase him to potential trade partners.

My fear, and the most likely scenario, is Blake plays more minutes this season than both Rudy and Martell. I never understood the true depth of Mac's love for Blakey until this year with the starting PG mess.

If I'm Rudy, and Blake is still here after the trade deadline and playing extensive minutes at shooting guard, I head back to Europe. I make more money in a nicer locale, closer to home. I come back to the NBA when I'm a free agent and sign with the contender of my choice. In my nightmares, Rudy leaves the NBA frustrated and eventually returns to the NBA with the Lakers replacing D Fisher at PG.

As a fan of Rudy's game, confident in his potential for clutch play in big playoff games, my only remaining hopes are that either Blake is traded, Nate wakes up and plays the more talented player, or we're able to retain Rudy's rights even if his contract expires while he is overseas (not sure of the rules in the current collective bargaining agreement).

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I had a feeling this was coming

I made a comment about Blake is playing more minutes because he’s being showcased earlier today, but it was in jest

Rudy will play for Portland (or no one) until 2011-2012 (team option) If the Blazers make him a qualifying offer for 2012-2013 he will have to accept it, then he can be a free agent in July of 2013—unless he’s agreed to another extension before then. At least, that’s how I understand the terms of his contract

Fernandez has no leverage to return to Europe. While it may be better for his long-term health if he plays in a league with fewer games and less contact…unless Portland (read: Pau Allen) agrees on some kind of buyout, he’s not going back to Europe. I think it’s more likely that Rudy (or his agent) will “request” a trade and try to create enough controversy that KP feels “compelled” to deal him and try to protect his reputation and the team’s chemistry. That’s my main concern. If Rudy wants a change of scenery, it will need to come via a trade to a team who has a need for a shooting guard. Portland already has one of the NBA’s best SGs locked up for the long term

When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!

by two4larue on Nov 7, 2009 7:24 PM PST reply actions

Rudy has been a bit of a slow starter

this year.

He’ll probably see his minutes increase as we go. I bet he just needs some rest post eurobasket.

Come on you gotta listen unto me,
lay off that whiskey and let that cocaine be. ~Johnny Cash

by HurraKane212 on Nov 7, 2009 8:03 PM PST reply actions

I think Nate just likes Blake

and it will be an uphill battle for Martell, Rudy, and to a lesser extent, Bayless, to take minutes from him. Blake, while one of the most tradeable Blazers in terms of contract status, is also a known commodity, so I don’t think Nate is looking to showcase Blake.

I hate Comcast.
Card carrying member of Team Bayless
I believe in Greg Oden

by blazeraddict on Nov 7, 2009 9:27 PM PST reply actions

It's not Nate who would be "showcasing" Steve

those “orders” will always be coming from the front office. But, since KP and Roy really like Blake as well as the coach does, I don’t think there’s a “hidden agenda” behind Steve’s extended minutes

When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!

by two4larue on Nov 8, 2009 3:54 PM PST up reply actions

They're trying to get all 3 pgs time

My theory is that they’re trying to work the rotation to play all three of our point guards as much as possible for trades. Obviously starting 2 of the pgs together makes it easier to bring Bayless in, instead of trying to get two point guards and Rudy off the bench. This reminds me of when they played Sheed at small forward so he’d get minutes for a trade and we could still develop our “franchise cornerstone” Z Bo.

Your confusing thesis has captured my attention. Tell me more.

by terryisntbald on Nov 7, 2009 10:33 PM PST reply actions

I don't think Blake will be traded.

Blake won’t be traded because Brandon likes playing with him so much and you don’t want to upset your star. In my opinion, the Blazers have to trade someone before the trade deadline this season. I would trade either Blake or Outlaw. You could trade Outlaw for a solid backup 4 who can bang inside and then you could give Rudy more minutes at the 3 or move Brandon to the 3 and have Rudy play the 2. I don’t think the Blazers can keep Rudy happy playing him the amount of minutes that they are.

by Aaron Sass on Nov 8, 2009 1:55 AM PST reply actions

Which GM that doesn't already like his game would say "OMG, I need to get that Blake kid!!! Can't wait until free agency"?

It’s not like people don’t know what they get and don’t get with Blake anymore.

But slowly things happen that they cannot help and the Blazers Fellowship of the Ring begins to break apart

by Norsktroll on Nov 8, 2009 2:07 AM PST reply actions

I wish

"What happened to Bayless anyway? Did he turn into a pumpkin? Most teams don’t just let #11 picks rot." - Xiane

by MadBlaze on Nov 8, 2009 2:34 AM PST reply actions

This post makes me think bedge is showcasing...

…buck_goggles for a trade. What do you think we could get for him/her?

....formerly GonzoFan. Now, this has been a message from "The People's Alliance to Continue to Encourage Greg Oden on his Path to Dominance"

by bforsythe on Nov 8, 2009 5:10 AM PST reply actions

bucket of balls and bandwidth to be named later

These are my principles. If you don't like them, I have others. -Groucho Marx

by RDreamer on Nov 8, 2009 9:48 AM PST up reply actions

I'll get my 7 iron...

Love ur tag-line, btw.

....formerly GonzoFan. Now, this has been a message from "The People's Alliance to Continue to Encourage Greg Oden on his Path to Dominance"

by bforsythe on Nov 8, 2009 10:10 AM PST up reply actions

This made me laugh

All in fun.

Still, players whose games are well known are showcased all the time.

If you paid attention to the post you’d see that I don’t think Blake is being showcased. I think Nate just likes him. I just wish he was being showcased, since it drives me crazy to see Blake allowed to play through slumps while more talented players are given a shorter leash.

by buck_goggles on Nov 8, 2009 3:36 PM PST up reply actions

My vote is no

Showcasing blake. Everyone knows exactly what he brings to the table. “Showcasing” is something you do when:
1) there is not enough game tape on a player, so he may be undervalued
2) a player had an injury or life problem, and a potential trading partner is unsure if they got their chops back

by Sound_Automatic on Nov 8, 2009 1:11 PM PST reply actions

It's possible Blake will be traded, but I don't think he's being showcased.

I think Nate just loves Blake.

by dario argento on Nov 8, 2009 1:27 PM PST reply actions

I'm hoping we're just easing Miller in

there’s no damn way we play this lineup with any team that has a good SG or SF, it’d be suicide. My hope is that either Blake rides the pine once we play some real times or he doesn’t and gets totally lit up by a good 2. I am so sick of his overvaluing on this team and getting in the way of extremely high potential (and high movement) players in Martell and Rudy, it’s totally nuts.

I still want to package Blake and Outlaw for a solid defending, hustle, rebound, good 3/4 combo player. Then we could have a real 8 man rotation, Rudy and Martell would get plenty of time, and Bayless’d get some burn.

by darkhelmit54 on Nov 9, 2009 1:22 AM PST reply actions