Back to Earth: The Aftermath Thread
by Dave on Feb 19, 2009 12:38 PM PST
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PrintHere's your thread for talking yourselves off the ledge...uhhh...I mean analyzing the deals that went on today. Or non-deals as the case may be.
Stay reasonable, no personal attacks, no swearing, just talk trades and strategy. Ben will be along this afternoon with an update from practice. I'm sure we'll get the full scoop then.
--Dave (blazersub@yahoo.com)
UPDATE 7: The ESPN rumor mill has former Golden State center Patrick O'Bryant going from Boston to Toronto in exchange for reserve point guard Will Solomon. Sherdidan says the Raptors are looking for more size. Though I don't see how that has anything to do with O'Bryant.
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KP. You are God. You just Rick Rolled an entire fanbase.
The cake is a lie. Do not bake it.
by blzrfan on Feb 19, 2009 12:39 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
Keep in mind...
Just because we haven’t heard anything definitive yet does not necessarily mean no trade took place.
Rooo-D!
KP told the team there were no moves.
"Brian (Outlaw is Rejector) is now on the fan saying he put this on to see what would happen " - 123_G.O._RipCity
by Outlaw is Rejector on Feb 19, 2009 12:42 PM PST up reply actions
Yep
KP said in the interview no trades
Karma
by Sabonis4Ever on Feb 19, 2009 12:57 PM PST up reply actions
I'm glad
I’m not sure there was a deal that would have been better than a deal we could get this summer. It felt like everyone was just bored and wanted something to happen. We worry but I feel like 32-20 is pretty great.
boring!
I want some ACTION
"It’s a good ol’ fashioned Rip City beat down!"
by Magnum on Feb 19, 2009 12:42 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
The team playing well isn't good enough action?
Brandon Roy just destroyed everything in his path. There's your rational analysis -- Dave
Exactly
This was more about the fan base not getting a shiny new toy than it was about a “failure” of the GM.
People, tell me exactly what has been wrong about the improvement of this team??? This is a team that is going to make the playoffs this year, and could win a round. There is no single player that Portland could have gotten to really make them a contender this year, so what’s wrong with keeping some financial breathing room, and seeing what’s available on the horizon?
I love this move by KP. We’ll all be singing his praises this offseason.
Yes! Yes! In the face!
by LeafHawk on Feb 19, 2009 12:43 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
and could win a round.
If things don’t pick up a LOT, I can’t imagine us winning a round. Maybe we could beat the Rockets.
by samuelleejackson on Feb 19, 2009 12:49 PM PST up reply actions
Couldn't Agree More
People forget to consider that while it’s nice to add a Vince Carter or Richard Jefferson the asking prices may have been ridiculously outrageous.
We are way ahead of my own expectations. Sergio, Rudy, Nic, and Jerryd have played above the level I was expecting. I feel like they’re only scratching the surface of their abilities this year and in the coming years.
I also don’t feel that Greg and LaMarcus are quite ready yet to help this team compete for a championship. So why make a move now and get rid of one of our promising players or future draft pick only to maybe advance to the semi-finals or miraculously make it to the Conference Finals.
by Crimson the Cat on Feb 19, 2009 1:13 PM PST up reply actions
I was so hoping for a deal to get Richard Jefferson
"She turned me into a newt!
A newt?
...I got better."
Golden Ticket
Here is the thing. I think we have all gotten worked up on the notion that the players we were interested in were "free." Now as awesome as RLEC was, you have to think that if Vince Carter or any of the others were being fire saled, they would have been traded, if not to the blazers then to someone else. Maybe we did miss out on something, but maybe, and in my opinion more likely, teams were asking more than we were willing to give for aging SFs with a ton of money left on their contract.
by PDXFan on Feb 19, 2009 12:42 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
Echo that. The fact that no real big trades went down just proves that teams were being cautious or too demanding.
It doesn’t mean KP wasn’t out there trying to make something happen. I don’t think we would be too happy if he would have given up way too much just for the sake of making a deal. Gotta trust the track record here.
Play Ben G.
by Artie Fufkin on Feb 19, 2009 12:45 PM PST up reply actions
Memphis traded Lowry to the Rockets...
which is supposedly what hampered the Andre Miller deal. I hat eMemphis as much as the Lakers now.
I want to be tucked in by Greg Oden and have him tell us stories about the old days.
Greg Doden really brought the extra D tonight!
No Mike Conley for Greg ever
Another player that was available for cheap a few months ago…
Brandon is one of those quiet assassins. - Chris Paul
steven a. smith
there is the voice of credibility.
I'm happy for Travis. He deserve to see the Playoffs with this team.
so we better get there!
Yes on Proposition #9 (RLEC must go!!!!)
woo
"Brian (Outlaw is Rejector) is now on the fan saying he put this on to see what would happen " - 123_G.O._RipCity
by Outlaw is Rejector on Feb 19, 2009 12:44 PM PST up reply actions
he deserved it cuz he bought me a drink once and didn't deny me from getting to the VIP area.
defense can play in your favor
Yes on Proposition #9 (RLEC must go!!!!)
it is. if you meet him, you wouldn't want to trade him either. good guy.
Yes on Proposition #9 (RLEC must go!!!!)
That's great. Invite him to come back for a month during the summer and have him over for a BBQ.
It doesn’t mean he’s better than what we could have had.
"She turned me into a newt!
A newt?
...I got better."
of course...
he will show up at Bedge party if invited. and would field all questions from angy Bedgers and win them all over.
Yes on Proposition #9 (RLEC must go!!!!)
Maybe we can get him to show up on Bedge Game night ; )
—actually he is pretty cool in person.
"Every time Troutlaw touches the ball, I pop an anti-anxiety pill."
Um...he kinda has to...you know...
Play a game that night.
Karma
by Sabonis4Ever on Feb 19, 2009 1:01 PM PST up reply actions
yeah, that's why him not being traded ruined the whole plan
Yes on Proposition #9 (RLEC must go!!!!)
ok
I’ve calmed down. I still need someone to explain to me why there is reason to believe we’ll have better offers in the summer than we did right now.
Boomshakalaka
A lot of it has to do with the new Salary Cap
Teams are less willing to work blindly knowing the cap is coming down. Everything is in essence working towards 2010 for most teams. This summer we will be able to get a player of the caliber we passed on today.
"Brian (Outlaw is Rejector) is now on the fan saying he put this on to see what would happen " - 123_G.O._RipCity
by Outlaw is Rejector on Feb 19, 2009 12:45 PM PST up reply actions
Young players, picks, a trade exception, and we have the cap space to take on a contract.
"Brian (Outlaw is Rejector) is now on the fan saying he put this on to see what would happen " - 123_G.O._RipCity
by Outlaw is Rejector on Feb 19, 2009 12:46 PM PST up reply actions
Teams will be much more motivated this summer.
They will have had the chance to fully digest the news that the league just put out about the cap going down not just this summer but next summer as well. And since it doesn’t look like we’ll be seeing a huge bounceback in the economy in the next couple of months, even more owners can be expected to be in dire straights this summer. Also, teams that thought they still had a shot at something this season will be more willi ng to trade if they haven’t had the success they anticipated.
by antediluvian on Feb 19, 2009 12:51 PM PST up reply actions
Teams aren't willing to trade picks today
because they have no idea where they will be picking, or who will be in the draft. On draft day all that stuff will be more fleshed out and people will be willing to do deals. Also the cap/tax situations for 09/10 will be clearer and teams will see how much they need to cut.
Ummm..we can take on unequal salaries because of our cap space
Meaning we can still trade for most anyone we want. Additionally other team might be even more motivated to deal because of the decrease in the cap
if that's a weak package
then I’m not sure why you expected something to get done today, either.
between the cap space and the trade exception
you’re looking at $10-$11 million. So you really only need to think of about 1 million reasons.
The contracts we were after
Weren’t that bad. That’s the difference.
What’s so hard to understand here?
Carters contract was UGLY
"Brian (Outlaw is Rejector) is now on the fan saying he put this on to see what would happen " - 123_G.O._RipCity
by Outlaw is Rejector on Feb 19, 2009 12:53 PM PST up reply actions
Carter and Jefferson's contracts aren't good at all
and while Crash’s contract is nice, Charlotte was bundling it with Nazr Mohammed.
Do you not understand that by keeping the contract
We have that 12 million dollars less on our cap. Meaning we have flexibility!
"Brian (Outlaw is Rejector) is now on the fan saying he put this on to see what would happen " - 123_G.O._RipCity
by Outlaw is Rejector on Feb 19, 2009 12:51 PM PST up reply actions
Outlaw & Blake for Wallace. we can do that trade with capspace. or the jefferson one. or the carter one. Or, think about this for just a second – maybe a trade for a PG or SF that we like better than any of those guys who was not on the block right now?
Rule #1 of nitpicking is to get it right.
amen
"Brian (Outlaw is Rejector) is now on the fan saying he put this on to see what would happen " - 123_G.O._RipCity
by Outlaw is Rejector on Feb 19, 2009 12:55 PM PST up reply actions
I guess
I just don’t see a better SF for this team than Gerald Wallace.
There is no way they do a Outlaw + Blake deal in the offseason if they wouldn’t do a deal for RLEC. Zero.
But that means that we can take in 7-9 million more in contracts than we take back
that allows a lot of deals to happen that otherwise couldn’t
No one is saying "better"
We’re saying “equal”.
And perhaps Charlotte figured we felt we HAD to move RLEC and wouldn’t budge from asking for Batum.
I love Wallace, I don’t wanna lose Batum just yet. Not when Wallace didn’t go anywhere.
Wallace is worth losing Batum IMO
and the evidence is we could have kept Batum if willing to take Nazr’s contract.
Boomshakalaka
Trade for whomever we want!
Please stop commenting if you don’t understand how any of this works.
"Brian (Outlaw is Rejector) is now on the fan saying he put this on to see what would happen " - 123_G.O._RipCity
by Outlaw is Rejector on Feb 19, 2009 12:54 PM PST up reply actions
You dont have to be a fan of this team
Just cause we didn’t make a trade to make you happy, doesn’t mean we are any worse off.
"Brian (Outlaw is Rejector) is now on the fan saying he put this on to see what would happen " - 123_G.O._RipCity
by Outlaw is Rejector on Feb 19, 2009 12:49 PM PST up reply actions
its the same package
Rule #1 of nitpicking is to get it right.
It's like buying the video games without the system
Raef was our X-Box here.
That was…a stretch, I know.
How is it any different
We offer another team cap savings.
Wait— have you been arguing against a concept you aren’t even fully comprehending?
Cap space is like having a RLEC. 7 million is not 13 million of the full RLEC value, but you likely move Outlaw or Sergio to make room for whoever we bring in anyways.
RLEC would likely make things neater, easier, but anyone we wanted to get (maybe) is available in the summer for the same price— cheap contracts, and we take unequal money back.
Because KP didn't like the offer we were getting.....one move wasn't going to put us in the championship this year
There is next year and the year after to think about
If it is essentially the same...
…and if the deal wasn’t what was said in the media…
Who knows?
Maybe KP made a mistake, but I doubt it. No one we targetted was moved, like Devin Harris was last year. No one stole away Gerald Wallace.
If the price wasn’t good now, it could get better in the summer, or stay the same. I doubt the price will go up for guys like VC or Gerald, with the teams they are on.
I just don't see it.
You can’t ‘wait and see’ in professional sports.
You have an option to get a legit SF that makes your team that much better, you jump on it.
There were other expiring deals
If someone was dying to save money they would have moved VC or whoever.
And we can still take them off their hands this summer if we want to.
I betcha we won’t want to.
Wally SZ
"its tough to play with one eye, unless you're a pirate." Delonte West
"una canasta a Pau en la cara" Rudy
by Honka Playboy on Feb 19, 2009 1:10 PM PST up reply actions
Wally's contract was doubly important
because the Cavs will be over the cap even when the WSEC ends. So this was truely Cleveland’s only shot to get something of value out of Wally.
The thing is that KP and Ferry both came out of the Spurs organization. And as such they believe a lot in continuity. They aren’t going to make a deal just for the sake of making a deal.
two reasons to wait
1) more time to evaluate what we have and what we need
2) Many teams who had NO interest in trading us a player now MIGHT have interest in it this summer. The financial situation and upcoming playoffs may allow us to target players that we like better than the ones we were targetting now. And if not, THOSE GUYS ARE STILL GOING TO BE AVAIBLE THIS SUMMER.
Rule #1 of nitpicking is to get it right.
I've known that for years
Still, he’s a useful guy to have on the bench.
The problem with Outlaw is that he’s our only legit backup forward, with Frye sucking and Martell hurt.
The problems with Trout go away when we have other guys who can play as well.
There is no charge for awesomeness. Or attractiveness.
by EngineerScotty on Feb 19, 2009 12:59 PM PST up reply actions
no.
but maybe KP wants another 30 games to see how Nic is improving and how Martell looks (if he every plays). Maybe he wants another 30 games to see Bayless and decide if he should target a PG this summer.
Rule #1 of nitpicking is to get it right.
Martell looks great - - in a suit
I haven’t heard mention of a return for him at all….thought that was the reason we were pursuin a 3….but I’m gonna guess the price was too high for Wallace….that’ll help ne watch that giant gaping hole on the D side of the court
"..[Travis Outlaw] could jump, grab a rafter, eat a sandwich, and then dunk.."
tmundal 12/30/07
exactly
"Brian (Outlaw is Rejector) is now on the fan saying he put this on to see what would happen " - 123_G.O._RipCity
by Outlaw is Rejector on Feb 19, 2009 12:48 PM PST up reply actions
There is just one problem: You will have to say goodbye to more of the players you like. Or to better ones
The salaries are not big enough, even if we have a few millions in cap space (and our cap space won’t be significantly higher than the MLE). Do you really think KP will just let Frye walk for nothing in return after what he did now, afraid to part with any potential talent?
Brandon is one of those quiet assassins. - Chris Paul
Why not?
Frye’s value as an asset is minimal. Until we sign him or tell him to get lost, he has a large cap hold though…
There is no charge for awesomeness. Or attractiveness.
by EngineerScotty on Feb 19, 2009 12:51 PM PST up reply actions
We'd only lose
The same people we woulda’ lost today. Sergio, Outlaw, Frye.
The worst we would lose is Blake.
I think we will have to part with more players to get a deal done
And our cap space won’t be much more than the MLE, which many many teams have
Brandon is one of those quiet assassins. - Chris Paul
No, but sign free agents with it
It basically eliminates our advantage for signing backup guys, like that PF banger people are dreaming of. If we are lucky, we can get Bass. Lee and Millsap will command more
Brandon is one of those quiet assassins. - Chris Paul
But you could sign and trade
Say the Jazz sign Millsap for 9 million/year, the Blazers could trade Outlaw straight across and with the cap space it works out.
You can’t do that with the MLE.
But someone with the MLE
Can’t move a cheap contract and use the MLE as a buffer, whereas we can use our capspace as buffer.
Wallace is in a 6 year, 57 million dollar deal
That is so, so doable.
Why do we need a buffer when we could have him NOW?
Because we didn't want him for their price!
Period the end, get over it.
"Brian (Outlaw is Rejector) is now on the fan saying he put this on to see what would happen " - 123_G.O._RipCity
by Outlaw is Rejector on Feb 19, 2009 1:02 PM PST up reply actions
But COULD we?
That’s the question… and he’s the only one I wanted out of Jefferson/VC/Wallace.
Maybe we couldn’t get him for a reasonable price.
I do not know. I do know, I wanted Wallace pretty badly. He’s awesome.
Because KP is smart
He wants to see how the team does for a full season. Obviously if a no-brainer deal comes along, he’d have taken it. So instead of blowing up the team this year by adding a major piece, he is patient. That’s his job.
Our job (apparently) as fans is to complain that KP hasn’t assembled a Dream Team using spitballs and RLEC.
I would have liked a back-up PF. I would have liked to ditch Serge. Neither happened, so I assume it’ll happen at the end of the season.
NO one is going to give us value for Outlaw or Blake. NO ONE. let that go right now.
by TheThinWhiteDuke on Feb 19, 2009 1:13 PM PST up reply actions
MLE only comes into play
If we’re competing for a FREE AGENT with another team with the MLE and we only got 7 million in cap space.
We are not going after any free agents, I bet. It’ll be used in a trade.
As I said above, how about that PF backup banger people are dreaming of?
If be bring over Freeland → 1 million less cap space. If we bring Shav back → 1 million less cap space.
Brandon is one of those quiet assassins. - Chris Paul
I doubt we'd bring them over/re-sign them
If they keep us from getting a Gerald Wallace type of talent.
If you don't have that, the cap rules put "phantom players" on your cap as holds
The Knicks fans could learn about that painfully in 2010
Brandon is one of those quiet assassins. - Chris Paul
We may not.
But we weren’t under any pressure to trade today.
If the moron in the ugly tie at the auto dealer makes you a special offer “if you buy today”—do you take him up?
To put it in another way that can’t be quoted verbatim in this blog. Think of the conversation between Sean Penn and Robert DuVall at the beginning of the film Colors—the one having to do with cows.
There is no charge for awesomeness. Or attractiveness.
by EngineerScotty on Feb 19, 2009 12:46 PM PST up reply actions
Errr...
If I know that the money in my pocket is going to disappear in 2 hours, then maybe I do buy from that dealer.
I’m not doom-and-glooming, exactly, but I just don’t see us being able to make a move now, and I don’t think this roster gets very far as constituted (even in 2 years) unless Oden comes along a lot more than he’s shown so far.
by samuelleejackson on Feb 19, 2009 12:53 PM PST up reply actions
But it didn't disappear
PA still has it.
There is no charge for awesomeness. Or attractiveness.
by EngineerScotty on Feb 19, 2009 12:53 PM PST up reply actions
Are you saying KP
is into beastiality?
by TheThinWhiteDuke on Feb 19, 2009 1:15 PM PST up reply actions
Here's why it will be better in the offseason.
by antediluvian on Feb 19, 2009 12:47 PM PST up reply actions
At the beginning of the year would you have believed that Amare Stoudemire would be on the block? The future is uncertain. I wasn’t one of the stand pat crowd, but I am kinda glad that we didn’t make any of the on the table deals (Except for Crash….I love me some Crash).
Even if you are on the right track, you will get run over if you just sit there.
--Will Rogers
My thought
is that
1.) teams may be more economically desperate
2.) The blazers will have more pieces that people are willing to give up to trade with and so can give up less in a trade.
3.) Huge amount of trade talks just happened and I suspect that notes were taken that will be used to the advantage of the blazers during draft day.
4.) Still have trade exception.
hmmm…. off the top of my head, that’s all i can come up with.
I just think that what was being offered was too high risk with too little reward possibility. (99% risk but only 2% better) or something along those lines.
The goal is not to be better, the goal is to be the best.
Agreed, as cool as it would have been to have VC or RJ, that would have been “the move” for the next two years because of what it would have done to us financially. I think that there are a lot of reasons we don’t make that move. And it sounds like it might have been more painful in terms of accepting bad contracts or giving up talent to get Wallace.
yeah
that was my thought. I imagine PA is watching the budget along with others right now. I’m sure he’ll spend, but the spending needs to be a serious slam dunk.
The goal is not to be better, the goal is to be the best.
KP doesn't take what is offered, he takes what he wants.
"I determined early in my career, the only important statistic in basketball is the final score." Bill Russell
You have here a classic case of people failing to adequately discount future consumption over present consumption...
Tubing this season is a HUGE cost that no one wants to face, because people have somehow convinced themselves that this crew is really the 4th best team in the Western Conference, not the 9th…
Why is Channing Frye still here? Anybody??? Anybody???
The mythical "way better deals" in the free agent market don't take into account what happened in 2008-09.
But nobody seems to remember how KP’s inaction in 2007-08 turned out either… Everybody likes draft day theatrics and the myth of 10 straight world championships down the road if only we tube into the lottery enough times in a row…
Why is Channing Frye still here? Anybody??? Anybody???
we weren't going to make the playoffs last year, even with a move
this year is different— we could have moved into the top 2-3. Now its possible we’ll be 9th, though I’m significantly more bullish on our playoff hopes that you are.
Boomshakalaka
With Devin Harris this year, we make a run deep into the playoffs.
That’s where inaction got us.
by Free Bayless on Feb 19, 2009 6:45 PM PST up reply actions
Oh lordy
We could NOT have gotten Harris last year.
I ain’t specifically addressing this comment at you, but people gotta stop thinking every rumor they read about could actually happen just how the rumor says.
Morty
You’re right. I don’t claim to know for a fact that the Harris offer was a real possibility. I was just trying to make a point that sometimes a high upside gamble can reap major rewards, and “staying the course” isn’t always the most productive, even if it looks the safest.
by Free Bayless on Feb 19, 2009 6:59 PM PST up reply actions
I'll agree with that
KP to team “we kept you, now freaking STOP people going to the basket or you’re gone this summer!!!”
The goal is not to be better, the goal is to be the best.
How good did Orlando just get?
Rafer Alston for Brian Cook?
I want to be tucked in by Greg Oden and have him tell us stories about the old days.
Greg Doden really brought the extra D tonight!
Pretty good
But we don’t have to worry about them until June.
These are my principles. If you don't like them, I have others. -Groucho Marx
maybe this knocks Houston down a peg?
that could help us to get into the playoffs. we are going to need all the help we can get.
I don't know, how good was Houston with him?
Oh.
Blazer Fan
by leeroyjenkins on Feb 19, 2009 12:54 PM PST up reply actions
So what happens with Bayless?
He was probably assuming Sergio getting traded would be his chance to get some consistent playing time. Now that Sergio’s here for at least the end of the season, Bayless is gonna blow. I can feel it.
He gets stuck with spinters in his back side.
Which is a big part of the reason I was hoping we’d do a deal for Jefferson. If we had moved RLEC, Outlaw and Rodriguez for Jefferson and whatever else we could manage, then we’d have room for Bayless.
I thought that last night, one of the things we were missing, besides Oden’s defense was Bayless’ drives.
"She turned me into a newt!
A newt?
...I got better."
I thought that deal involved Ridnour
Would the Blazers just have cut the guy?
If I were Bayless, I'd be pissed too.
Seeing all your classmates out there doing well, while you’re stuck on the bench even after you’ve proven that you deserve more playing time… this is what annoys me about Nate the most. Sometimes I think he actually does the opposite of what makes sense because he doesn’t want to look like he’s being influenced at all.
maybe if Bayless sends his agent crying to the newspaper he'll get promoted
"..[Travis Outlaw] could jump, grab a rafter, eat a sandwich, and then dunk.."
tmundal 12/30/07
Hey, it worked for Sergio. Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.
Honestly, if his agent demanded a trade, I wouldn’t blame him. I would rather play on a crappier team as a rookie and get the experience and burn required to prove yourself then be a year behind because your coach wouldn’t play you.
too late to demand anything, ay...
sometimes I think “Fear” is has too much influence in the decision making…
"..[Travis Outlaw] could jump, grab a rafter, eat a sandwich, and then dunk.."
tmundal 12/30/07
I think they should make Sergio ride the pine
Bayless is the PG of the future. This season is about making the playoffs and gaining experience. Why don’t we give experience to the young guy that is a part of the future. Say we lose 1 or 2 games because we play Bayless instead of Sergio…. great worth it to me (although we will probably win one or two more). Not to mention it is fun to watch the guy. He has done everything the coaches ask and more. Didn;t he have like 8 assists last game? I said it when we got him he is a guy that has been a scorer because that is what was asked of him… ask him to be a true PG and he will do it…. it will just take a year or so IMO.
THIS IS A WATERSHED DAY FOR PORTLAND - paraphrasing Jason Quick. And then there was...
“I think something big is gonna happen… I believe it will be a watershed day for portland tomorrow…We’ve been hearing names like Vince Carter, Richard Jefferson, Danny Granger, Andre Miller”
If you are hearing names when you are all alone, that makes you:
a) A journalist
b) A general manager
c) A madman
Brandon is one of those quiet assassins. - Chris Paul
well he is definately not a journalist..
so C) a madman
"Brian (Outlaw is Rejector) is now on the fan saying he put this on to see what would happen " - 123_G.O._RipCity
by Outlaw is Rejector on Feb 19, 2009 12:47 PM PST up reply actions
The books
I’m assuming Channing is renounced and Freeland is brought in.
49.7 Million dollars owed to…
Position: Name (Contract in Millions)
PG: Blake (4.0) / Rodriguez (1.6) / Bayless (2.1)
SG: Roy (3.9) / Fernandez (1.2)
SF: Webster (4.3) / Batum (1.1)
PF: Aldridge (5.8) / Outlaw (3.6) / Freeland (0.8)
C: Oden (5.4) / Przybilla (6.9)
7-8 Million Under the Cap
2 Million dollar trade exception
1st Round Pick
3 2nd Round Picks
I prefered the 12+ million trade exception myself
But sure, I’m sure teams are cool without that extra 10 million.
Do you really think KP renounces players after fearing to part with any talent today?
We won’t have more cap space than the full MLE. Which everybody and their brother have.
Brandon is one of those quiet assassins. - Chris Paul
Well... would you rather have Frye and an MLE
or that 8 million dollars to use in a lobsided trade or a 8 million dollar FA
Freeland will get some great long-term offers in Europe
It is really not sure KP will be able to convince him to come over even if he wants him
Brandon is one of those quiet assassins. - Chris Paul
Didn't the article in the fall
Say that Freeland really wants to come over?
He tried to come to Summer League this year, but his team nixed it.
I think he’s as good as here if KP decides to invite him.
by TheThinWhiteDuke on Feb 19, 2009 1:23 PM PST up reply actions
God, I hope not...
Freeland should be able to do the same things as Frye at a much lower cost.
Why is Channing Frye still here? Anybody??? Anybody???
That was meant more as a baseline
could Freeland really be much less productive than Frye has been? Unless Frye starts throwing up 9 trillions left and right, probably not
By golly, we're on a pace to be the youngest team in the year with the best chemistry in the league next year!
Why is Channing Frye still here? Anybody??? Anybody???
I wake up and trout's still here?!
“Aww naww hell naww”
what happend KP?
yes people, I wake up at noon..
Well, just made my decision easier
I’ve been on the fence about renewing my season tickets ever since I was informed that they were going up 50%. The lack of a trade to upgrade the team made the decision for me to not renew. I like the players on the team personally, but there are some unnaturaly fascinations with some of the players on this team that I just don’t understand. I don’t doubt that there will be significant changes this summer to the team, but I’m unwilling to commit the kind of money the team is asking on the chance that might happen. I have been and will continue to be a huge blazer fan but I will now just live with having to see only a handfull of games from now on and watching the rest on television.
by bigdaddy4838 on Feb 19, 2009 12:49 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
Good more tickets for everyone else
I don;t think the sell-out streak is in jepordy.
Very serious
Sorry, but the increase on my tickets alone is enought to take my family on a vacation. Simply comes down to what is more important.
by bigdaddy4838 on Feb 19, 2009 12:55 PM PST up reply actions
You must get Comcast
if you can see the rest on TV.
by antediluvian on Feb 19, 2009 12:56 PM PST up reply actions
Yep
I grew up in podunkville, I live in the city for a reason.
by bigdaddy4838 on Feb 19, 2009 12:57 PM PST up reply actions
Blazer fans have no idea
of the suffering of Cubs fans.
There is no charge for awesomeness. Or attractiveness.
by EngineerScotty on Feb 19, 2009 12:53 PM PST up reply actions
Steve Bartman?
The Blazers have one a title since I’ve been alive…
There is no charge for awesomeness. Or attractiveness.
by EngineerScotty on Feb 19, 2009 12:56 PM PST up reply actions
Good come back!
I just stopped laughing about that last month!! And it happened in 2003!
2-4 the who
Oh no you didn't (fast forward 10 years)
Oden over KD?
Remains to be seen.
It took about six years for Bowie/Jordan to look foolish.
There is no charge for awesomeness. Or attractiveness.
by EngineerScotty on Feb 19, 2009 1:11 PM PST up reply actions
The problem is that
we can’t know for sure which deals were available to us.
Vince for RLEC+Frye is an obvious yes for me, but we can’t know if that was on the table
I heard NJ wanted
RLEC, Outlaw and Bayless…. good deal? Plus NJ’sGM has a history of sticking to his guns.
my hunch
is that KP didn’t not deal because of lack of cojones but rather he tried to low ball other GMs and they wouldn’t bite..
"Slum dunk? You just go to the rim, and crush.. crush the ball in the rim."
- Nic Batum
Thorn is a bad trading parter for KP. Both hard headed like moufflons
Brandon is one of those quiet assassins. - Chris Paul
I can't imagine why anyone would suspect KP of doing something like that!
"She turned me into a newt!
A newt?
...I got better."
Exactly
The other GM’s thought that the Blazers were gonna trade RLEC no matter what so they wouldn’t take a low ball offer. That is the thing about playing hardball you have to stick to your guns.
yes.. great way of putting it
KP isn’t just dealing today. he’s setting precedent.. he wants to be able to maintain his gambler pritchslap rep around the league.. and to do that.. he had to stick to his guns..
"Slum dunk? You just go to the rim, and crush.. crush the ball in the rim."
- Nic Batum
I think this is a big mistake
I think we’ll be lucky to make the playoffs this year unless we step up our play significantly.
by Hawthorne Wingo on Feb 19, 2009 12:54 PM PST reply actions
Steve's contract
end at end of season
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=contracts/090212&sportCat=nba
Playoffs?!
Everyone is convinced the Blazers are making the playoffs, after last night? Count me out. That was a sad performance against a pitiful team. The Blazers needed to make a move to make the playoffs.
by Polish Chocolate on Feb 19, 2009 12:55 PM PST reply actions
Repeat after me....
A win is a win is a win. They count the same in the standings. You don’t get to move up higher in the standings if you crush a team as opposed to barely slip by them.
No style points in the NBA.
by antediluvian on Feb 19, 2009 12:57 PM PST up reply actions
This team is making the playoffs
You cannot nitpick wins. It’s pretty simple. Ante is right. A win is a win is a win. It’s the ‘Tom Campbell Theory’ (the all time leader in wins in Oregon hs baseball): All you have to do is just make the playoffs, and play your best ball when you get there, and who knows what will happen.
Don’t give up on this team because they played a close game against a non playoff team at home. It’s the freaking NBA. Everyone is good. Bad teams beat good teams. I’m pretty sure the Phillies lost some games to the Pirates last year. It happens. This is a playoff team.
I want Greg Oden to tuck me in at night and tell me stories about the old times
This team plays worse defense than any of the other western playoff contenders.
… Except Phoenix. That doesn’t exactly make me comfortable.
This idea of “All you have to do is just make the playoffs, and play your best ball when you get there, and who knows what will happen.” is mistaken about this team, because we haven’t struggled because of some mysterious lag in play, that can be corrected in time for a playoff run—it’s pretty predictable when you have a very, very poor defensive team getting behind early and often in games and struggling to win when the intensity goes up.
Phoenix, the number 9 team, is only 3 games behind us… I don’t think it is a given at all that they will make the playoffs.
Why do I feel that the reason some people here are cheesed
is not because of who we didn’t acquire—but because of who we didn’t get rid of?
Legions of fans seem to be PO’d that Sergio and/or Trout are still Blazers….
There is no charge for awesomeness. Or attractiveness.
by EngineerScotty on Feb 19, 2009 12:55 PM PST reply actions
lol i noticed that
"Brian (Outlaw is Rejector) is now on the fan saying he put this on to see what would happen " - 123_G.O._RipCity
by Outlaw is Rejector on Feb 19, 2009 12:56 PM PST up reply actions
Also people are only thinking of this year and next.......you make that kind of move (the kind that kills your salary cap)
when you are ready to contend for a championship
Its not that we're cheesed
about Outlaw and Sergio still being on the team, at least not in my mind.
I was just hoping we were going to upgrade the defense by getting someone in who could do a better job than Outlaw, and make room for Bayless who is definately an upgrade when compared to Sergio’s defense.
"She turned me into a newt!
A newt?
...I got better."
All kidding about Rex eating Sergio aside
Bayless will get his chance.
There is no charge for awesomeness. Or attractiveness.
by EngineerScotty on Feb 19, 2009 1:01 PM PST up reply actions
I'm not upset about missing out on Vince
I’m upset about Wallace.
But yeah, any deal that gets Outlaw the heck out of Portland makes this team so much better.
Can you please post that
about 150 times in multiple threads so we can really get it. Thanks – not, – Elgin
Since when do we need to ponder to froth? - jscot
I do not approve of ....not
But Elgin has a real point here.
We all know what you think should be done, from multiple posts on multiple topics.
Enough. Please.
by TheThinWhiteDuke on Feb 19, 2009 1:30 PM PST up reply actions
who wants to buy my custom Blazer jersey with RLEC on the back????????
it’s on firesale
Yes on Proposition #9 (RLEC must go!!!!)
You can have them custom made....
"..[Travis Outlaw] could jump, grab a rafter, eat a sandwich, and then dunk.."
tmundal 12/30/07
yeah it is. i'll wear it to the next game and when the game ball is being passed down,
i’ll wrap it in it
Yes on Proposition #9 (RLEC must go!!!!)
I would
But I have some yarn that might, maybe, one day turn into a RLEC Jersey, and a better one than yours, so…. no, I’ll keep my yarn and it’s potential, thank you very much. I want to go to battle with my yarn.
Well, you and your yarn are gonna get beat by me and my alpacas, which represent MUCH FINER YARN than your yarn to make a potential sweater six years from now...
I’m going to win 10 back-to-back gold medals in the sweater-knitting competition at the National Wool Festival!!!
Why is Channing Frye still here? Anybody??? Anybody???
......of course I won't be able to enter this year, since I just have a bunch of alpacas and don't know how to either spin yarn or knit...
Why is Channing Frye still here? Anybody??? Anybody???
............ but I'll have LOTS MORE ALPACAS next year!!!!!!1
Why is Channing Frye still here? Anybody??? Anybody???
I'd rather stick with the vicunas we already have. They're smaller than
alpacas and you can’t shear them as often but their wool is very beautiful and so much more valuable.
"Aneurysm".
When Outlaw wins a game on a last-second shot, it’s called an "annthefaneurysm". QualityPie
Wow @ the laughable overreactins happening on this site right now
It’s not a safe place to be. I think the Oregonlive folks have invaded or something. Yikes.
See you in a few days when the sane people come back.
Blazer Fan
+1
It does look suspiciously like the O-Live comments section.
by antediluvian on Feb 19, 2009 12:58 PM PST up reply actions
And we should know
If LeeroyJenkins is saying CALM DOWN, maybe you should calm down (wink).
by Mortimer on Feb 19, 2009 1:02 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
I gotta go to class
If you must leap from a tall building, please try not to hit me on the way down. thanks
Oderint dum metuant
First
"Brian (Outlaw is Rejector) is now on the fan saying he put this on to see what would happen " - 123_G.O._RipCity
by Outlaw is Rejector on Feb 19, 2009 12:57 PM PST reply actions
Zeroeth
I’m a computer geek. We all count from zero.
There is no charge for awesomeness. Or attractiveness.
by EngineerScotty on Feb 19, 2009 12:58 PM PST reply actions
I'm sad that we can't talk about RLEC anymore
That thing lived up to its 13 million dollar price tag. Completely overachieved.
I don’t even remember how we got it, but the ride was awesome.
The cake is a lie. Do not bake it.
We need to play Bayless
I am so mad at Nate right now. If he doesn’t start playing Bayless more I will be forced to make more empty threats.
Nate and KP read these posts, you know...
if you rant enough, they may Become Concerned.
There is no charge for awesomeness. Or attractiveness.
by EngineerScotty on Feb 19, 2009 1:06 PM PST up reply actions
They better listen to me
I am about this close ( ) to not buying my 2 or 3 300 level seats this year.
making the playoffs this season is very important for this team's development
we need to start playing a LOT better.
Boomshakalaka
I think you're safe
but my 51 win projection is a little dubious. – Elgin
Since when do we need to ponder to froth? - jscot
Well if we keep having close games
against teams like Memphis, I’m not too sure we’re going to be all that stellar in the last 29 games.
Its not just about getting to the playoffs. I’d love to see them win a game or two in the post-season. That’s not to say we have the opportunity to win the West or any other pie in the sky scenario, but that they need to play with the urgency necessary to actually compete in the series they do get into.
"She turned me into a newt!
A newt?
...I got better."
maybe now that they know what the roster will be going forward
maybe they start playing better. Maybe.
something to hope for if you can get past the abject terror of not making a trade this afternoon. – Elgin
Since when do we need to ponder to froth? - jscot
Question
Did someone actually think at one point that Raef LaFrentz was worth 12 million?
Mark Cuban did!!
"Brian (Outlaw is Rejector) is now on the fan saying he put this on to see what would happen " - 123_G.O._RipCity
by Outlaw is Rejector on Feb 19, 2009 1:00 PM PST up reply actions
Oh I should of known
It was tough to follow basketball during those years.
Factions are starting to be shaped for this war
Seems a lot of the smarter posters are on one side while the other is …
"Brian (Outlaw is Rejector) is now on the fan saying he put this on to see what would happen " - 123_G.O._RipCity
by Outlaw is Rejector on Feb 19, 2009 1:00 PM PST reply actions
The great Travis Outlaw war has begun...
There is no charge for awesomeness. Or attractiveness.
by EngineerScotty on Feb 19, 2009 1:07 PM PST up reply actions
It seems to be heating up.
Instead of proxy wars in indochina or afghanistan, we’ve now got the green berets shooting at the russkies.
Time for a good nuclear exchange. Might help the economy—
There is no charge for awesomeness. Or attractiveness.
by EngineerScotty on Feb 19, 2009 1:11 PM PST up reply actions
Careful now
No need to throw the first grenade.
"She turned me into a newt!
A newt?
...I got better."
lol
"Brian (Outlaw is Rejector) is now on the fan saying he put this on to see what would happen " - 123_G.O._RipCity
by Outlaw is Rejector on Feb 19, 2009 1:03 PM PST up reply actions
no joke
now I’m remembering why I don’t usually hang out in open gameday threads. Well, it’s been fun, in a way.
Like I say -- steer clear during an ugly loss. And today was a 20 point blowout to the Bulls...
Why is Channing Frye still here? Anybody??? Anybody???
Anyway, time do do some work
while I’m at work…
There is no charge for awesomeness. Or attractiveness.
My sense is that PA wanted to save money and was only going to sign off on an RLEC trade if it was an absolute steal for the Blazers
Maybe I should be pissed at PA instead of KP. This was the time to do a good trade, even if it wasn’t a steal.
Boomshakalaka
Patience
Is the hardest skill to master.
There is no charge for awesomeness. Or attractiveness.
by EngineerScotty on Feb 19, 2009 1:04 PM PST up reply actions
If Quad-rillionaire Allen is worried about cash it is a sad day for all of us
more leaks daily out of his ass than I will make in a lifetime
"..[Travis Outlaw] could jump, grab a rafter, eat a sandwich, and then dunk.."
tmundal 12/30/07
Anyone whose money isn't in the bank
needs to be worried.
Hell, even banks are kinda scary—there isn’t any place to put a gazillion dollars and have it be FDIC insured.
There is no charge for awesomeness. Or attractiveness.
by EngineerScotty on Feb 19, 2009 1:05 PM PST up reply actions
that's why he should spend all of it amusing us!
"..[Travis Outlaw] could jump, grab a rafter, eat a sandwich, and then dunk.."
tmundal 12/30/07
Stimulus package
There is no charge for awesomeness. Or attractiveness.
by EngineerScotty on Feb 19, 2009 1:08 PM PST up reply actions
exactly!
maybe he should mail us each a grand and we could buy tickets with it….
"..[Travis Outlaw] could jump, grab a rafter, eat a sandwich, and then dunk.."
tmundal 12/30/07
Seriously speaking though -- this non-pull of the trigger today is indicative that Paul Allen is feeling it, too...
Why is Channing Frye still here? Anybody??? Anybody???
yeah or just anticipating a further meltdown/firesale on the horizon
"..[Travis Outlaw] could jump, grab a rafter, eat a sandwich, and then dunk.."
tmundal 12/30/07
Little sidetrack: Paul Allen can be cheap/tight-fisted and stubborn you know
I have seen him let a perfectly fine TV station go to waste because he didn’t want to invest in it and then lost interest in his toy. The talent on that station was enormous, many of those guys went on to co-found their own successful ventures. Right now he is losing money on a cable station, which is next to impossible in a monopoly.
Let’s face it: The guy is a coder at heart who got really lucky with Microsoft by teaming up with Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer, not a smart businessman.
Okay, that was my Paul Allen rant vent for the day. Thank you, I’m good now. Back to blaming KP
Brandon is one of those quiet assassins. - Chris Paul
I'm not even blaming Kevin
It just boils down to this -
Fact 1: Our defense is very bad.
Fact 2: It did not improve.
That is not a good thing.
It did not improve, right now today.
There is always the summer, the draft next year and the year after that.
That's the beauty of infinity: there is always another year...
Why is Channing Frye still here? Anybody??? Anybody???
I'm excited for 2010
It’ll be nice to read the “just wait for the summer of ’11” posts. I look forward to those.
It will next year
Which is probably what KP is concerned about.
Rookies generally play lousy defense; moreso when they are one-and-done rookies.
It. Will. Get. Better.
There is no charge for awesomeness. Or attractiveness.
by EngineerScotty on Feb 19, 2009 1:09 PM PST up reply actions
Didn't realize Travis was still considered a rookie.
by bigdaddy4838 on Feb 19, 2009 1:13 PM PST up reply actions
All points well taken. But Nic CAN play defense. And so can Rex. So maybe we just need to invert what EScotty said...
The answer to the Blazers’ defensive woes — MORE ROOKIES!!!
Why is Channing Frye still here? Anybody??? Anybody???
yeah he works on reverse Dog Years = = 7 = 1
"..[Travis Outlaw] could jump, grab a rafter, eat a sandwich, and then dunk.."
tmundal 12/30/07
Not Travis.
Trout is who he is.
He’s our backup 3/4 and designated gunslinger off the bench; his D doesn’t bother me.
I’m more bothered about opposing guards waltzing down the lane, and of opposing 4s like Wilcox generally abusing LMA on defense. And of Oden fouling out faster than Steve Johnson on drugs. These things I expect to improve without trades.
There is no charge for awesomeness. Or attractiveness.
by EngineerScotty on Feb 19, 2009 1:15 PM PST up reply actions
Did you watch the game last night?
Even as out of shape as Miles was he was still quicker than Travis. Notice I said “quicker”, which has nothing to do with speed. Travis has no instincts on defense and is always at least a second late to react. 5 years of coaching has done nothing to change that.
by bigdaddy4838 on Feb 19, 2009 1:18 PM PST up reply actions
That's why I said
“Travis is who he is”.
He’s got piss-poor reflexes, and will regularly get beat on D.
But he’s got skills on O that nobody else has.
The trick is to maximize the latter and mitigate the former. Not having depth at the forward spots (Martell hurt, Frye regressing) means we gotta play Travis big minutes against guys who can hurt him.
With some depth, he becomes a weapon who can be used when he is on and sit down when he is not.
There is no charge for awesomeness. Or attractiveness.
by EngineerScotty on Feb 19, 2009 1:20 PM PST up reply actions
But I think that is a bigger problem
The offense that Nate seems to want to instill (and could be totally wrong here) is more of a motion offense, one not designed to isolate (aside from the putrid iso’s he runs for Brandon at the end of the game that I can’t stand). Travis can jump (which by the way is not a skill) and when he is on he is on, but when he is off he is horrible (see a few of the recent games for example). I’m willing to give Travis the benefit of the doubt that the trade talk had him messed up. But I truly think us relying on his offense is only hindering he development of this TEAM.
by bigdaddy4838 on Feb 19, 2009 1:24 PM PST up reply actions
He's not saying Travis is or will become good at defense
We all agree he is awful at defense and will always be (in my opinion).
He’s saying, our defense will get better from other KEY players, not a bench scorer like Outlaw.
Yeah
Brandon, LMA, Oden—their defense will improve. Blake and Sergio? Travis? I don’t think so, or I at least have my serious doubts… and I never wanted to trade for a new SG, PF, or C, but SF or PG.
We will improve without trades, but not where we MOST need to improve.
My thoughts exactly.
Not the end of the world, but the end of probably the height of our chances to make a great deal.
Still have a lot of chances this summer. But the bottom line is that our defense is very poor, and it did not improve.
Come on Norstroll,
It was Gates and PA who were responsible for forming Microsoft with Allen being the big tech guru. Ballmer would be nothing if not for those two.
Brandon Roy just destroyed everything in his path. There's your rational analysis -- Dave
He was instrumental for the company and should get all the credit for that, while Ballmer was the finance and marketing guy
Allen is also not shy to re-invest his money into interesting ventures or give it to charities, which is great. That said, I have dealt with both Bill Gates and Paul Allen, and can say first hand that Allen is not always the smart businessman and can get very peculiar and stingy ruining good opportunities in the process. Talk to some people in the Valley what they think about Paul Allen and Vulcan ventures, there are quite some people who hold him in less regards than sports fans. The Blazers budget is not the same as Paul Allen’s budget, and while the organization is very aware of this many fans tend to forget that. Also the talk about “hey, he is so filthy rich he would lose more money bowing down to pick up 100 dollars from the ground” is a nice economic image, but that’s not his character. The man has some quirks.
Brandon is one of those quiet assassins. - Chris Paul
That's enlightening stuff to me.
It’s easy to accept since it’s well known that Allen has made a number of bad business decisions costing him hundreds of millions. I tend to see him through rose colored glasses because there’s big advantages to having an ultra rich owner. And like you said, he has made some wonderful charitable contributions (the Ellsworth Creek drainage preservation in my local area is one I’m very grateful for) and I love some of those “interesting ventures” he has tackled.
Brandon Roy just destroyed everything in his path. There's your rational analysis -- Dave
I don't get why KP was supposed to make a deal, any deal.
If there wasn’t a good deal out there in his opinion, he would be stupid to make a deal.
You don’t pay twice what a new car is worth just because you’ve got a hankering for a new car.
Yeah
But you don’t keep your old beater instead of trading it in at minimal cost for a shiny new Ford Wallace just because you and the car have good chemistry.
Err…
no, but if you have a guarantee that the beater turns into cash in the summer, you at least gotta consider driving it a little bit longer.
Rule #1 of nitpicking is to get it right.
What if you are not driving a beater but a nice two year old pickup and you think you need a
new one with cruise control and heated seats?
Do you use your children’s college fund to buy it?
With this metaphor
VC is a 1999 BMW with 150,000 miles on it and costs 14 million a year for 3 more years.
But it can still go 120 mph and doesn't seem to leak oil...
Why is Channing Frye still here? Anybody??? Anybody???
Doesn't SEEM to
But this particular car’s make and model never lasts past 33, and by “never” I mean “in almost every case”.
If we got him, okay, but I won’t regret not getting him.
M—
i just saw Travis, Sergio, and Channing give a big group hug to Raef.
Yes on Proposition #9 (RLEC must go!!!!)
So back to the logjam
Bayless buried at the point, upcoming bottleneck at SF when Marty returns. Look, I LOVE stockpiling talent, but at some point you have to consolidate. I’m very concerned that next time we are trying to make a trade, we can’t rely on other teams highly rating our ‘potential,’ and won’t have enough chips to get anything done.
by samuelleejackson on Feb 19, 2009 1:09 PM PST reply actions
Don't worry
We’ll pare down our roster to who we wanna keep soon enough.
Right now there are too many questions marks to just get rid of people to get rid of people. Some we are sure about and were looking to move, but if the deal ain’t good the deal ain’t good and while I think we can get to the 2nd round as is, I dunno if VC or Gerald Wallace has us beat the Lakers.
Only Roy/LMA/Oden maturing has us beat the Lakers, not a trade for an available SF.
We need time to improve, not an immediate trade— ESPECIALLY when a similar deal can be made in the summer if that deal need to be made.
Gerald Wallace would be awesome. We’re still going as far as Roy and Oden take us, and they aren’t beating the Lakers this year.
Mortimer
I know some people on this roster who won't develop from a ? to a ! in a matter of a year ;-)
For a small premium, I would tell KP which ones those are. Though I bet he already knows and wouldn’t take that offer.
P.S.: Are guys like Wallace and Granger really going to become cheaper than when they are injured?
Brandon is one of those quiet assassins. - Chris Paul
There is no chance we had a chance to Granger
ZERO.
And Wallace is back playing; I just bet Charlotte did a similar thing to the draft last year and tried to strong arm us, thinking we HAD to get rid of RLEC.
(I know, maybe the draft stuff didn’t happen, they really wanted Augustin, but I’m just underlining we never know how it really went down).
Yeah, just saying: It was a good opportunity
KP had Granger at the high end and Jefferson as the fallback rumor to hardball other GMs. Carter and Wallace in the middle. And he did neither. That’s the disappointing part. I think he overvalues some of his players, while other GMs fear to be “pritchslapped”. Bad combo for negotiating about interests and what is best for both sides instead of bargaining. Maybe KP should attend that HNP course over the summer.
Brandon is one of those quiet assassins. - Chris Paul
No way is Martell effective when he comes back
Next year maybe but he will do nothing if he makes it back this year…. note: I have been wrong before.
by Escrote on Feb 19, 2009 1:12 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Look at it this way
If we would have caved into NJ or Charlotte or Milwaukie demands, that’s it. We are locked into one of those contracts, and from here on out would be operating over the cap.
By playing chicken with them and not blinking, we essentially get a do-over. We can still work a deal for any of those 3 guys this summer, or perhaps for someone else instead who wasn’t available now.
Rule #1 of nitpicking is to get it right.
In the meantime
We fight for our lives trying to make the playoffs, with no guarantee that any of those teams will want to trade with us over the summer.
by samuelleejackson on Feb 19, 2009 1:12 PM PST up reply actions
Good
The fight will be good.
There is no charge for awesomeness. Or attractiveness.
by EngineerScotty on Feb 19, 2009 1:13 PM PST up reply actions
Making any of those deals did not guarantee we still wouldn’t be fighting for our lives to make the playoffs this year. And yes, there is no guarantee that they will be, but the prospects are at least as good that they will be.
The only guarantee in play is that if we had made a deal, we would have been capped out for the duration, and all future flexibility was gone. You don’t do that unless you are certain. I guess KP wasn’t
Rule #1 of nitpicking is to get it right.
Better to make no deal than a bad deal
And if you ever watch Deal or no Deal, you know that the banker’s offer is ALWAYS lowball.
There is no charge for awesomeness. Or attractiveness.
what if oden's knee needs to be scoped?
minor in the long run, but hes out for a month. this might change playoff plans.
ignacio
Oden isn't the one losing his man at the 3point line.
If we tighten up defense, we’ll be in a lot better shape for the playoff run.
We're good without him
Which is why we’ll be great when he is older.
A scope is fine, but discouraging. I worry about that more than a non-trade.
If it needed to be scoped, I'm sure they would have seen that on the tests they've already done.
"She turned me into a newt!
A newt?
...I got better."
Yeah, but they have to have a good enough reason to go in.
There’s no evidence that the knee isn’t getting better, or that the chip is floating around. The tests they did were probably geared to tell them all the pertinent info they need to make a decision.
"She turned me into a newt!
A newt?
...I got better."
i really like watching him play and want him back
and arthroscopic surgery is pretty minor, so i would probably avoid this site because of the overreaction among some, but today’s news wasnt good. more swelling and oden is out at least through sunday. the blazers softballed and underplayed the other knee injury if you recall. so im concerned.
ignacio
got a link to that news?
I hadn’t heard anything new about his knee. Did Ben put up his post practice report already?
"She turned me into a newt!
A newt?
...I got better."
I'm not mad that Trout is still here...
he seems like a great guy.
I’m concerned that we still need him to play 25-30 minutes a night. I was hoping for a trade to bring us someone who could upgrade our defense at forward and get to the line regularly. I thought Jefferson would have been a good addition.
I don’t see us as more than a marginal playoff team so long as Trout is playing long minutes. I would be happy to have him on the team in a diminished role, but he is simply not good enough to play this much for a team with serious playoff hopes.
by Hawthorne Wingo on Feb 19, 2009 1:19 PM PST reply actions
Lack of a trade
might force the guys we got to get better.
There is no charge for awesomeness. Or attractiveness.
Here's a tidbit for the overreactors via John Hollinger's ongoing chat
Rob (portland): Early grumblings out in Portland is that KP has lost his “golden boy” image today, amongst the fan base. Not a good day for Portland and their fans. Do you agree? Letting Raef walk for nothing is not what the fans wanted. People are mad.
John Hollinger: (4:01 PM ET ) I think the Blazers might have oversold expectations as far as what the LaFrentz contract could reap, but that’s about all they’re guilty of. They wanted either a difference maker on the wing or at the point, and the deals weren’t there to be done once Washington and Charlotte wouldn’t play ball. So I commend them for not forcing it.
Blazer Fan
REPEAT: I COMMEND THEM FOR NOT FORCING IT
Blazer Fan
by leeroyjenkins on Feb 19, 2009 1:23 PM PST up reply actions
Since when has John Hollinger become the resident trade expert at ESPN?
Brandon is one of those quiet assassins. - Chris Paul
Look at all these rumors surroundin’ me every day
Was anyone traded recently that would have made the Blazers better?
"I determined early in my career, the only important statistic in basketball is the final score." Bill Russell
YES THE ENTIRE WORLD
That’s why I say— if it turns out we truly needed one of ’dem, we can get them.
Tyson Chandler was ALMOST the best player traded, and he wasn’t. And he isn’t very good.
No one was traded, no missed opportunities, we’re still good.
you didn't want Larry Hughes?
He’s top 5 in the league in tattoos. – Elgin
Since when do we need to ponder to froth? - jscot
In fact, KP is good at destroying opportunities
Now that it’s over, I can confirm that our Diogu trade helped to push the Bulls-Kings deal through and prevented Salmons from going to the Rockets (with Mavs or Spurs also very interested). Direct playoff competitors didn’t improve. That’s KP’s true strength, outmaneuvering the competition.
Brandon is one of those quiet assassins. - Chris Paul
My "source close to the negotiations" confirms this :)
Seriously. The Spurs offered Udoka and Bowen, the Mavs Stackhouse and another piece but Sacramento wanted to put Udrih in and get more, and Houston wanted to find a stopgap for the McGrady situation.
Brandon is one of those quiet assassins. - Chris Paul
Forward that to jksnake99!
He has lost his faith and needs to be reminded there are more than 1 way to improve your team than just a blockbuster trade.
That’s awesome, you got sources… I want sources.
GIMME SOURCES.
Morty
Do it like Vecsey and Smith: Talk to the janitor in the arena, and then say "a source in the organization heard of deals"
If it’s the assistant of the payroll keeper, you can upgrade to “a league executive told me”.
Brandon is one of those quiet assassins. - Chris Paul
I'm not a huge Salmons fan
But there is no doubt he’d REALLY help someone like the Rockets or Spurs, not to mention the Mavs.
Getting him moved to the East makes this a WIN no matter what, y’all… if playoffs is our worry.
HUZZAH! We can all be okay with wanting to marry KP again!
Morty
Mavs or Spurs didn't improve, I guess that's ok
But I think if the Blazers are matched up against either of them, the Blazers go home in 5 or less, regardless.
Awwww bring 'em on I say!
WE CAN TAKE ’EM.
The Hornies, the Sunsies, the Rockets (especially the Rockets), the Jazzettes, none got better. We aren’t in danger of missing the playoffs, so if we were doing a deal just to secure the playoffs, I think it’d be a mistake.
If we missed on a deal that made us viable WCF contenders, then yeah, that could be a mistake. I love Wallace, but I don’t think he makes THAT big of a difference, making up the gulf between us and the Lakers and the savvy of the Spurs.
No matter WHO we traded for, our team needs time.
Mortimer
the Suns made a move- firing TP
we still need more data but the early indications suggest they got better.
Boomshakalaka
LOTS mo' data
And like Dwyer points out, don’t let anyone say they stopped running under Porter. They were just as fast paced and loose as before.
Gentry is just gonna get out of their way more. They’re still a team with Amare, who doesn’t even try on defense, and Shaq, who is doing great for how old he is but still not a good fit, and Nash, who i wearing down also.
The Suns needed major help for the now and the future.
Porter wasn’t and isn’t their biggest problem.
Mortimer
Porter was a substantial part of the problem
His substitution patterns caught the ire of fans. Listen to the Simmons/Hollinger podcast from a few days ago—- interesting discussion.
The Suns are still caught in no man’s land between rebuilding and contending, but firing Porter gives them a real shot to catch Portland.
Boomshakalaka
The best move they made was one they didn't do: Move Amar'e in panic
I’m not sure about us, but I’m sure that was the right thing to do instead of selling him for 65 cents on the dollar to the Bulls.
Brandon is one of those quiet assassins. - Chris Paul
And yet he was returned to sender over a toe that isn't even bothering him now
Chandler is a decent defensive big man, yeah, but moving him is not a blockbuster.
No stars were traded, we missed out on nuthin’ is my point.
Chandler is, by far, the biggest name to almost be moved.
Morty
Don't you forget me the Noc
How many gold medals has Chandler? No one, that’s that.
Brandon is one of those quiet assassins. - Chris Paul
Cost Saving Mode
I think this was all about money…PA’s money. If they aren’t willing to shell out the dough to make the big run, maybe I’m not willing to pay 25% more for my season tix next year…especially when the cookie was playoff ticket options for this year.
The current roster has a reasonable chance of missing the playoffs.
This cake has no flavor and just isn’t good enough.
So despite the incredible job done in the last few years to turn the franchise around, bring in quality guys, and put a winning team on the floor, you’re upset because we didn’t flip out and drop a bunch of cash and talent for an SF on a team that isn’t winning a ring this year anyways? Okee-doke. Lemme know if you pass on reupping those tix, I’d love em!
Why didn’t the team have a chance this year if a quality SF or PG was added? Why does everyone think this team has a 2nd round of the playoffs ceiling no matter what moves occured? One starter can make a huge difference. Why wait and hope players hit their ceilings eventually if you can just trade for a player at or above that ceiling?
When you have your shot, you have to take it. The Lakers got Pau and got to the finals. The Celtics traded the kitchen sink and won it all.
Do people really think that this roster with a more seasoned Sergio and Trout playing big minutes is a finals contender as soon as they get more experience?
Irrational fear of making the big move keeps you mediocre…and I think there are still season tix available, no waiting list as far as I know.
I think you are right that this non-move was about money...
Even the richest people in America are nervous.
Why is Channing Frye still here? Anybody??? Anybody???
Man, Greg's body has a lot of problems healing. A guy his age should not be having swelling in his knees
after bumping knees. I’m starting to worry if his body can survive. At least he hasn’t missed as many games as Brandon did his rookie year.
if Greg plays 65-70 games, I'll be reasonably comfortable with his rookie season injury wise
Did anyone really imagine him playing all 82?
There’s reason for some concern, though, for sure.
Boomshakalaka
Oden
I could give a rip about the lack of trade.
What really hurts is that we drafted a 21 year old that cant stay on the court, and we missed out on a top 5 player that looks like he might be one of the best ever.
65-70 games is fine for someone in year 8 or 9. This guy is a ROOKIE! At this rate, he will only play 6-7 seasons before he breaks down and we have to watch Durant set the league on fire.
Your telling me Town and Country is the place to get my new ride??...hehuha
Yeah, I heard of them.
Oden should be a middle of the pack center, which has value. Durant looks like a superstar.
Why is Channing Frye still here? Anybody??? Anybody???
I'll eat my hat
And ban my whole family from Blazers Edge for a generation if, in year 3, Roy and Oden together don’t make the idea of Durant and Roy funny to think about.
Funny ha ha, not funny sad sad.
Durant is cool as hell and I argued for him plenty before the draft, but even with his amazing scoring he hasn’t looked better than, say, Lebron at the same age. A better shooter certainly, but not a more dominant player and talent. If he isn’t that trascendent level of superstar, you take the soon-to-be dominant big man and laugh all the way to the winning bank.
If ya put Brandon Roy on the Thunder, with his playmaking and leadership, he ain’t challenging for the worst record in the league. There’s just a difference in how they play that creates victories…
Durant will become more than he is now, he’s insanely young. But he isn’t redefining the wing for a generation to come, which is what he needs to do to win that argument. It might sound unreasonable, but when you’re dealing with massive dominant big over scoring wing, it’s how ya gotta measure the two.
To me, it is easy to see what Oden will become after he gains some experience. Every big learns to stay out of foul trouble, and the lost season doesn’t help matters. He’s shown so many flashes of totally dominating both ends of the court, and those flashes are glimpses of the future, and not teases.
There is waaaaay too much there to be down on Oden. Middle of the road would mean someone shot Oden in the spine and he was in a wheelchair for life.
Morty
by Mortimer on Feb 19, 2009 6:53 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
are you kidding me Mortimer?
I liked the Oden pick at the time, the microfracture was bad luck, and it may still work out for us, but based on current production, the Oden/Durant decision boils down to choosing between a guy with a 21.1 PER (and rising) as a 20 year old— that’s substantially ahead of TMac— and a guy who’s essentially Brook Lopez with injury issues. That’s not an insult— I think Lopez is going to be an allstar, but wow. Durant has way more value than Oden right now.
If Oden can get some more mobility back, he might become dominant. Its a major, major if though.
The big man vs. wing thing is vastly overrated. Durant is headed for superstardom (not LeBron level, but dominant) and Oden might become dominant but is more likely to be merely really good— a multiple time allstar but not dominant.
Boomshakalaka
How did Durant look like last year?
As a rookie?
Remember?
Not that great. A over hyped chucker— bad percentage, no defense, many thought he wasn’t even the best rookie and only won the award through hype and lots of bad shots leading to okay looking stats, unless you delve out of the shallow end of the numbers. Many of his greatest supporters (the Free Darko crowd, to name a few) had to remind themselves he was only 19.
Oden gets the same benefit of the doubt, to me. Plus, when he’s stayed out of foul trouble, he has almost always been very effective. Dominant, ever. Unguardable. As a super raw, dumb, stupid, stinky slow rookie.
I’ll know I’ll take my judgement over impatient whiny fan-boys who change their mind based on the most recent boxscore. Durant needed time last year, and Oden needs time this year.
And when Oden is out of foul trouble, he has been MUCH much much more effective than Durant was last year.
It’s okay to disagree. I just don’t think I’m wrong, and lucky for me it’ll take time to tell. And lucky for me, I’m Mortimer!
Mortimer
he was awful last year, agreed
with each passing day it becomes more and more clear that PJ Carlisemo was ruining him.
Durant is younger than Oden way, way, way ahead of Oden. Microfracture played a huge role in that development, but we can’t guarantee Oden ever gets back to his full mobility. If offered that trade straight up, I’d do it in a nanosecond… and I like Oden a lot.
Still, Oden’s per minute numbers are only a little better than Brook Lopez (and this is giving Oden the benefit of the doubt that he’ll be able to stay healthy and out of foul trouble eventually). I’d take Durant over a slightly better version of Lopez with more upside— and until proven otherwise, that’s what Oden is.
Boomshakalaka
Per minute schper schminute
Watch Lopez, watch Oden. Watch them on their worst day, on their best.
Lopez is no Oden. He’s better than I expected, but he’s stiff, mechanical, not a raw gooey mess like Oden is right now.
My point is, give Oden his rookie year before he’s doomed to be middling, just as Durant got his to prove he wasn’t just a lanky gunner who wasn’t good at gunning.
Ya can’t guarantee Oden will get his true mobility back, but we’ve seen it back some games and others it has gone away. That is consistent with microfracture recovery. So is the time it takes for the player to return to normalcy. I don’t see why it would be any different for Oden, who was younger and had a smaller ouchie than anyone else who has recovered from the surgery.
Just takes time, and he deserves the benefit of the doubt for his rookie year even if he HADN’T had micro.
I wouldn’t trade Oden for Durant, because Durant doesn’t make us a championship club. We’d be incredibly weak up front. The potential of Oden being That Guy is why you drafted him, when you knew Durant would have better numbers to start his career off with, and that potential for championships is why you stick with Oden.
Is Durant/Roy/LMA winning anything aside from 55 games in the regular season, before losing to the team with the good center/wing combo? Do they beat the Lakers in 2, 3 years even? With Przy and LMA in the middle, I say hell nah.
Durant is a better basketball player right now. I betcha Oden wins more games in the near future. He’s not as skilled, coordinated, fluid, or as complete as Durant is now. But I’ll bet dollars to donuts Oden will be more dominant on BOTH ends, the kind of dominant that wins playoff series.
Judge Oden’s rookie year to Durant’s rookie year. Oden’s rookie year is a LOT more useful, and helps us win a lot more than not. Durant’s rookie year would not help ANY team trying to make the playoffs. It was a year for development without helping a team win. Oden is developing, and helping us win.
Like I said, Oden deserves to have a run through his first year and figure crap out, even if he didn’t have the micro procedure. Durant was always going to come out of the gates with better skills and numbers, so it can’t be a shock he’d still be in the lead after what Oden had last year. What Oden gives us matters a LOT more than what Durant gives.
Mortimer
Oden's having a better rookie year than Durant did-- I fully agree
I don’t evaluate players based on how agile and athletic they look. I evaluate them based on how productive they are. Right now, Durant’s a lot more productive. Its way too early to make final decisions, but based on the early evidence, Oden won’t come close to reaching Durant’s level.
Boomshakalaka
But... wait...
Oden is having a rookie year that is better than Durant’s…
But he won’t come close to reaching Durant’s level of productivity?
Why aren’t you comparing rookie year to rookie year? If Oden is having a BETTER rookie year than Durant had, AND is much more raw than Durant was or is, AND is coming off an injury, AND suffers from foul trouble, AND isn’t on a team that features him and even largely IGNORES him some nights…
Well, I think Oden has a teensie eensie chance of being as productive as Durant. Based on the early evidence, Oden is doing BETTER than Durant did!
When you’re talking about raw players, especially big men, you HAVE to take into account their agility, athleticism, and strength. Brook Lopez will be a good big man for a long time. No one will ever confuse him for Oden, especially once Oden re-learns how to use his big ol’ monster body.
We haven’t seen Oden’s 2nd season. We’ve seen Durant’s 2nd year right now. Durant is awesome. Durant was NOT awesome last year. Oden is better than Durant was his rookie year, and Oden has a looooooot more room to grow. You’re taking Durant’s 2nd season and using it to compare to Oden’s rookie season, which isn’t very fair or accurate.
Oden has had a rough year, and he’s still been a better player than Durant was last year.
Ya don’t think maybe, like Durant, his 2nd year will show a jump in productivity? Even if he DIDN’T have all the micro, team based, big-man-develop-slower type stuff?
Mortimer
stat geeks in the know (like Kevin Pelton)
compare players at the same age, not the same level of experience. Durant is younger that Oden. Its rare for a player to make as big a jump from year 1 to 2 as Durant did, and in KD’s case coaching had a lot to do with it. Oden might make as big a jump, but the odds are against it, I’d say.
Boomshakalaka
Our gameplan holds back Oden plenty
As would getting better perimeter defenders.
If we featured him more on offense OR Roy and Friends knew when and how to pass into him more, he’d be well above double digits PPG-wise, and if we had some decent defenders he wouldn’t be in constant foul trouble.
If he isn’t in foul trouble, his elite level rebounding gets a chance to stay on the floor for 30 minutes a game.
Changing those things will produce a MUCH bigger jump in production, than moving Durant from SG to SF and yelling at him less.
You cannot compare players at the same age when they are different positions and playing styles. Compare Durant to McGrady, Dirk, other SF/PF versatile wings. Ya don’t compare him to a raw center and say the results mean anything.
Durant got the benefit of the doubt his rookie year. Oden deserves the same. Their age isn’t that far apart at all, and since Oden is a big man his “NBA Age” is quite a bit younger than Durant’s.
Oden, and his production and how to evaluate it, is all about the future. You can’t just look at the boxscore with someone like him, and all of his extenuating circumstances (lost year, plus on a winning team that doesn’t feature him). If Oden doesn’t regain most of his athleticism, he would be the first recent case not to. Since his surgery was the most minor, that isn’t very likely.
Besides, we’ve seen Oden make moves just as athletic as before the injury. That means it is lying dormant, much like Amare’s was before he was fully back from the surgery. Or, Jason Kidd. Or Z-Bo (though obviously he’s a special case who didn’t have athleticism to lose).
You simply cannot ethically (in a stats sense) compare Durant’s style and game and numbers to Oden’s style and game and numbers. They are different worlds. It’s like comparing Przybilla to John Salmons… what is there to compare? They do different things on different levels. Which one, ultimately, helps his team more?
They help in different ways, of course, but one way is more consistent with winning basketball games. The other way is the “better player” when your just talking about stats.
Durant is awesome, I won’t ever take anything away from his game. I actually argued FOR him before the draft. I often said that I figured Oden would be the correct pick, but I hoped Durant could be the transcendent talent that negated even a dominant force like Oden. I hoped Durant could be like a Lebron. He isn’t, as of now. If he isn’t, then you go for the dominant big man and don’t even worry about it (and yes, when Oden stays out of foul trouble, he is dominant, and we’re only scratching the surface).
You place more important on stats, which is cool, and I place more importance on what I see. We’re like the odd couple of Blazers Edge. To me, you have to analyse the two how I am analysing the two (based on what I see, not cold hard numbers) because of how raw Oden is. The numbers just don’t matter— it’s how he moves, how he is developing, imagining what that raw ability will BECOME once it is refined and learns itself.
Oden will be a monster. Durant will be a monster also (and already is in many ways). One type of monster wins more. Always.
Especially if Durant is NOT the current Jordan. The currant Jordan is Lebron.
Mortimer
you are really reaching
The idea that if a wing is not as good as Jordan, then its better to have the big man (even if the wing is a lot better) is crazy and flys in the face of “BPA.”
Oden’s going to be a monster. He’s not going to be the force that Durant will be (is), though Oden might win more (but that’ll be because of Roy).
Boomshakalaka
No. it ain't unreasonable
What is unreasonable is taking Oden’s rookie year, with all of its trials and tribulations, and extrapolating that level of play over a career compared to Durant’s change from rookie to sophomore. Durant had the same poor play mixed in with awesome nights. Same as Oden. Oden’s NBA age is younger, you can’t just compare 21 vs 21 because of their birthdates.
Roy was a 22 year old rookie, but if he had been in the NBA since he was 20, he woulda’ played better at that age than he did coming out of school. Do ya get what I’m saying? Age isn’t the big deal here (though it matters obviously, but only when their is a vast difference). Ya gotta go by their year in the league, it’s much too big of an adjustment.
Coupled with the micro and being on a good team, it’s just not easily comparable to Durant. Aside from both having up and down rookie years— but Durant has done well in his 2nd year, and you think it’s unreasonable to expect Oden to have a similar bounce?
I think you’re having a failure of the imagination once again.
Now, to your point… I am not saying Durant has to be as good as Jordan. But when you got a force like Oden, you only take Durant if he is a trascendent player for his era. Someone who, no matter where or what he plays, is the best player— period. Durant ain’t that, he’s a very good wing.
There’s a short list of very good wings who were part of a championship club without a dominant big man leading the way. Ya got Jordan (and it is never a good idea to use Jordan as a precedent for why a wing can win it all), and kinda sorta Larry Bird. He had tons of good teammates though, and like Jordan you can’t use Bird as a precedent. They are way too unique and transcendent.
Oden IS and WAS the best player available because he will create more wins. Only a fantasy dude would say the better stats is the better player, that’s silly.
Back to my Pryzbilla and Salmons example— who is BPA? Stats wise, Salmons. Real world team and winning wise, Przybilla is the BPA.
Oden could EASILY be better and more forceful than Durant— he’s a better rookie, more dominant physically, and has all the tools. You are too caught up in how he is playing now, as a rookie, forgetting that Durant played so-so as a rookie as well, and you think that this is somehow the only Oden we’re gonna get.
Once Oden is fully developed, he’ll be more important than Brandon Roy. Roy will be the heart and engine of the team, but Oden is what makes us win championships. Roy won’t be able to do it on his own.
BPA = Who Makes You Win the Most. Regardless of position and all that, BPA is who makes you win. A dominant big man ALWAYS beats dominant wing, unless the wing is a Lebron/Jordan level talent. If Durant is not that level, he will be beat by a guy like Oden.
I think most people’s biggest problem with Oden is that they aren’t able to imagine how his play WILL develop and mature… they can’t see that his body is still just developing, he’s learning how to use it, and all the little things he does so well now will just become better and better. They get caught up in the ‘right now’ of Oden, when you must use your judgement and imagination to predict what he will become.
When you say “Oh, Oden will be a monster”, I think you’re saying it because all the experts have said it over and over. I’m not sure that you actually can see WHY he’ll be a monster, and that’s what is holding you up and making you think that it’s silly to suggest Oden could be as impactful as Durant is.
All rookies, are rookies. Give ’em their rookie year to learn, and then later on it is fair to say with more certainty what they will become. Especially with a big man like Oden, who is raw as cookie dough but still more dominant than Durant is with his scoring (yeah, even now some games) in helping us win.
Take the last time we played OKC— Oden played better than Durant. He won that “match up” And Oden didn’t even play that well! He’s capable of so much more, and a guy like that will get there.
Ya just gotta be patient, before saying knee jerk stuff like “he will never be as good as Durant”. That’s silly. Hell, Bayless could become better than Roy someday— ya never know with rookies, especially ones who are athletic as hell and have a good work ethic.
(I don’t think Bayless will become better than Roy, but based on their respective ages and how athletic and smart Bayless is, ya never know.)
Ya gotta close your eyes and remember all the good things, the good games Oden has had. Someday soon, almost every game will be like that.
He will be completely unstoppable.
Durant will score a lot. A rich man’s Carmelo Anthony. That is VERY cool, and a very nice player to have, but Durant needs an Oden more than Oden needs a Durant. And Roy is our Durant already, if ya get my drift.
Big men, win. I love scoring wings, they are much more fun to watch, which is why I wished Durant was good enough to take over a dominant big man. He is amazing, but not THAT good.
Oden was BPA, and will soon reflect that on the court. Numbers schmumbers.
You can also email me at mortimerfromblazersedge@gmail.com if ya like.
Mortimero
That's not realistic for ANY big man
All 7 foot bigs get hurt from time to time.
If Oden’s injury is normal and in-game, you got nothing to worry about. If you’re arguing he is unlucky, well, I wish I had his luck.
If his feet or joints can’t handle his weight, ala Yao or Bowie, then worry. That ain’t the case.
Ya really, really, can’t worry about in-game injuries and make them indicative of anything more than an injury from playing basketball. Durant is good, Oden will be one of (if not THE) best center in not too long. Everything is there.
Aside from Dwight Howard, I can’t think of a center who hasn’t missed a ton of time throughout their career, or dealt with nagging ouchies. It just doesn’t work that way (and Dwight is helped by actually being 6’9 and change when he was drafted, and not a big 7 footer type like Przybilla or Oden).
It’s about how he got injured, and why, and not simply that he got injured.
Mortimer
You like Outlaw's defense?
Dissent isn’t being a chicken little. It’s simply an comment on an overwhelming problem with the team.
Take off the red and black glasses. We could go deep in the playoffs, for sure. With this roster? Not likely, and that’s not likely to get better until we learn how to play perimeter defense and stay in front of guys.
The economy:
It’s pretty dismal. We’ve likely not seen yet anything close to the bottom. This certainly affects the owners, but also the fans who will have less to indulge on expensive sports tickets. Combine the two factors and it’s certainly reasonable to conclude that players mega salaries could be on a steep decline.
It was extremely prudent of Allen and KP to wait for prices to fall …. especially since PA is in better position to weather the storm than most owners. Highly attractive bargains are likely bubbling up. No different than if you or I are looking to buy a house; there are bargains out there right now for those with some money, but think about what the situation could offer a year from now.
Brandon Roy just destroyed everything in his path. There's your rational analysis -- Dave
There was gonna be a trade
but someone put their foot down. They were gonna swap out some pieces, ah I mean players, until someone sais “Chicken.”
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