Is this guy any good? Would we be just be trading one bench warmer for another? Cause if so…I like Channing. And doesn’t that give us way too many SF’s?

if there would be another deal for a point guard that would clear up our logjam at small forward… this would give us way, way too many small forwards.

I’m still not a huge fan of John Salmons.

shoot, if we got salmons for Channing +1 I would be fine with not making a move. This would be like the Nuggets giving up Camby for a 2nd rounder.

this already makes him valuable to us. I don’t understand this underrating of him. I think he is as good as James Posey and I would be absolutely thrilled to have a guy like Posey on this team.

I don’t know how that would go over here, but I’d take it.

never gonna happen but it works, this would clear our roster giving us a clear backup PF and SF we could then combo raef + travis for an elite PG or just have amazing depth

http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=bo2fow

We get rid of Frye and Diogu and get back a talented Salmons who doesn’t have a bad contract for his production.

http://www.blazersedge.com/2009/2/16/760462/john-salmons-for-channing

No point in doing it for Diogu/Frye unless the Kings can move Brad Miller & Kenny Thomas too. There is just no point. I doubt the KIngs can move Miller & Thomas together (unless New York agrees to a Starbury trade), and I doubt the Kings would take anything less than a 1st round pick from Portland for giving up Salmons. Petrie tends to overplay his hand, and truthfully, I’m not sure that what Portland really needs is 2 players who need the ball offensively to be effective. Salmons & McMillan have some intertwing similarities in their background’s (their black—it’s just a joke folks) in that they’re quiet, they’re best attributes are of the defensive end, both had abilites on the offensive end in limited fashion. Nate, like Salmons who is very protective of his family, shares similar family views.

Now, do I think the Blazers would trade Raef for Salmons? Maybe, maybe not. Would you guys like it? No, you wouldn’t. (Some people here also think Ramon Sessions would be a nice backup PG. I would love for him to start for the Kings right now. Perspective is everything.) The point being is that if the Blazers don’t want to commit to Richard Jefferson (I don’t think he’s really what Portland needs, but I see why Milwaukee would love to deal RJ to Portland), than it’s pretty easy to imagine that Portland needs to use LaFrentz to pick up a player they can use. Salmons is cheapish (is getting paid the Mid Level), plays quality defense at the 3, and better defense at the 2. He also can handle the ball a little, although he isn’t great at it, is a decent passer when focused, and has been a black hole at times. He’s a mixed bag. He’s an intriguing player because when you look at his cost, he’s not as expensive as a Butler or Jefferson. The Blazers are loaded with young talent that can score. They’re not loaded with tons of guys who are capable of playing 2 positions effectively at the NBA level. (Disagree with this if you want. Bayless, Rodriguez, Blake, Pryz, Frye, Webster, Batum arguably, Diogu, and perhaps Travis Outlaw depending on how you want to look at it—although I doubt that myself— are not necessarily high quality multi positional players. Even Greg Oden is not likely to have as much success at PF as he would @ C. LaMarcus Aldridge has potential, but I see him as a perimeter 4. Roy is obviously a multi positional player, but usually the best players in the league minus C’s & PG’s are.)

My point is that Salmons is a relatively cheap (comparatively) swing who is probably a greater 2, but on the right team, and Portland is definitely that, a quality 3. if Salmons is not quite what Portland is looking for, and they took on Kenny Thomas, his contract expires in 2010. That’s nearly 9 million dollars, along with Salmons, to look for another player whom teams will likely be willing to dump for whatever reason.

If I were the Blazers, I would rate any trade by the following factors (in order):

• Fit with Roy
• Fit with the overall schematic of building the team
• Kissing Geoff Petrie’s rear hind parts
• Fit with LaMarcus Aldridge
• Fit with Nate McMillan
• Cost
• What kind of supplemental cost would be required along with LaFrentz and taking on Kenny Thomas

I don’t really think that RJ or Butler would be great fits. Most of this is because, if you’re going to make the Blazers an effective team with Oden around, you’re not going to be a running team. If you’re going to be an effective running team, you’re not likely to take advantage of Oden or McMillan’s strengths. Personally, the total cost of doing a deal like this with the Kings is not a sexy deal that will grab most fan’s attention (on here or anywhere in the greater PDX area). it’s the kind of deal that, if it went the Blazers way, is the kind of deal that could be considered the launch of a championship era in Portland.

“In addition to his slashing ability, Salmons is a very good defender who can guard three positions. He’s quick and has good size at 6-7, and ranked in the top third of shooting guards in both blocks and steals per minute. The Kings often used him as the primary stopper against elite scorers, even when Ron Artest was on the court with him, and he held his own in those matchups.” – John Hollinger. This sounds pretty good to me. The biggest thing, though, is he has to start, otherwise he pouts. That really makes for a tough fit chemistry wise.

three way trade with Memphis – Portland – Sacramento.

Portland -

Out:

RLEC

Frye

Diogu

Sergio

Outlaw

In:

J. Salmons

Conley Jr.

B. Miller (2010 expiring contract)

Darrell Arthur

Sacramento -

Out:

B. Miller

J. Salmons

In:

Frye

RLEC

Memphis -

Out:

Mike Conley Jr.

Darrel Arthur

In:

Travis Outlaw

Sergio Rodriguez

Ike Diogu

Memphis reportedly covets Outlaw and we reportedly covets M. Conley Jr. They get more young talent and a run and gun PG in Sergio to run with Mayo and Gay. They give up Arthur as well but get Diogu who is also an expiring contract if they so choose. So they get young talent, a player they covet a better fit at PG and some cap relief.

Sacramento gets massive cap relief this year and a PF who can open up the middle for Kevin Martin by drawing out opposing big men with his range.

Portland solves it’s SF problem and brings aboard another PG who might develop into what they are looking for a speedy player who can also bring the D. We also get a decent back up PF. We get a 2010 golden ticket (B. Miller’s EC) to trade during that feeding frenzy and also consolidate our roster.

we sent Ike, sergio and Shav.

The point of the trade from Sac. perspective is to save millions…