Hands Off, Buford!
by Dave on May 11, 2009 1:45 PM PDT
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PrintA friend of ours from France, Julien, directs our attention to this article from the French website l'Equipe. It contains an interview with Blazer forward Nicolas Batum. This is the excerpt in question:
A un niveau personnel, cela a aussi été une bonne année, car j'ai beaucoup joué, ce qui était quand même inespéré en début d'année. 18 minutes par match, je ne l'imaginais qu'en D-League. Pas en NBA. J'ai été 76 fois titulaire durant la saison régulière, dans une équipe qui gagne, c'est bien. Je suis content. Et apparemment, cela a plu. Les Blazers sont contents, et les Spurs(qui le voulaient le soir de la draft) me suivent toujours. Après notre dernier match à San Antonio, RC Buford (le manager des Spurs) est venu me voir pour me dire : 'Tu seras bientôt en noir et argent.' Mais je suis bien à Portland...
Julien offers this translation:
Personally, it has been a very good year, because of the time i spend on the court. At the beginnig of this season, nobody expected that i played that much. 18 min per game, I imagined it just in D-League, not in NBA. I've been 76 times a starter during the regular season in a winning team, that's good. I'm happy. And apparently, a lot of people are happy. The Blazers are happy and the Spurs (franchise that wanted Nicolas so bad during draft night) still observing me. After our last game at San Antonio, RC Buford (Spurs' general manager) came to told me : "You will be soon in black and silver". But still, i'm great in Portland.
Now I know that side conversations between players and officials from other teams go on all the time. They aren't meant for public consumption. But "You will soon be in black and silver" is treading pretty close to the fighting line with me. I wonder how close to the tampering line it treads as well? That doesn't seem entirely acceptable.
That aside, has San Antonio got anyone you'd take at this point for Batum? Anyone they'd reasonably give, that is. Or was Buford just hoping the Blazers would fall asleep at the switch and let Batum drift into unrestricted free agency off of his rookie contract somehow?
Thanks to Julien for the heads up.
I guess now it's time for K.P. to start whispering in Tony Parker's ear.
--Dave (blazersub@yahoo.com)
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Reasonable?
No one that I can think of.
Of all the things that can be expressed in the printed word – love, hate, fear, joy – true humor is the one that is the most difficult of all. Sarcasm, for example, is an art of delicate subtlety. Yet too many people wield it as a bulldozer – loud, smelly, ugly, and destructive – and think they are being funny.
Is that reasonable?
Of all the things that can be expressed in the printed word – love, hate, fear, joy – true humor is the one that is the most difficult of all. Sarcasm, for example, is an art of delicate subtlety. Yet too many people wield it as a bulldozer – loud, smelly, ugly, and destructive – and think they are being funny.
Are the Spurs going to win a title with the team they have?
No they are banged up and old. The only way they can do it is with cap space, and/or picks. (IE rebuild) It doesn’t makes sense to trade the Larry Legend of the Spurs to another team, Ginobli yes, but considering his age and the severity of his ankle injury who will take that on? The Thunder passed on a budding star center due to turf toe. The problem is the very thing the Spurs need is what they have to give up, youth.
Again the Spurs window is up. Do not overvalue over aged players with injuries. Timmy’s knees and hips are like KG’s, but possibly worse. Think how many more games he has on those knee’s due to the playoff games you tack on. All phenomenal players retire at some point, he’s not retiring tomorrow but the point is he’s not the million dollar man. Ginobli is looking at Griffey’s Reds years, and that is being optimistic.
The Spurs are at a point of trading quantity for quality. The trade makes sense for all parties. The Spurs rebuild while staying in possible contention if the cocoon pool reopens towards the end of the season. We are in the best situation to give up solid upside quantity for a quality player. Trade Batum as a SF, Blake and Sergio to fill Parkers vacancy, (Outlaw, Freeland, and Koppenafeelin plus 2 first round picks and 2 2nd rounders. This is my Pritchslap version, more likely it would include a name like Pryz. and Spur garbage.
But the point is you build a team to compete for a title, and that window is over. They need to rebuild with youth, and you have to at least admit we are set up to be one of the most ideal teams to work with in that regard.
by Titlein2011 on May 11, 2009 11:45 PM PDT up reply actions
The Spurs are old, but Tony Parker is not.
He’s only 26 years old. I don’t see them giving up Tony Parker without getting a TON in return. He’s the only piece that they can really build around. Even if Duncan and Ginobli are done, they dont give up a top 5 PG just to rebuild. They can do that well enough keeping him around.
If that means they can’t get more players in, I don’t think they’re going to lose sleep over it. They’ve already shown a remarkable ability to find players that other teams rejected and turned them into a team that won 54 games, with Duncan, Ginobli and Parker all injured for long stretches. I can’t imagine them giving up Parker for anything less than a sure thing.
Of all the things that can be expressed in the printed word – love, hate, fear, joy – true humor is the one that is the most difficult of all. Sarcasm, for example, is an art of delicate subtlety. Yet too many people wield it as a bulldozer – loud, smelly, ugly, and destructive – and think they are being funny.
Agreed. BTW, didn't Parker single-handedly beat us this season?
It’s not like they can’t still win games.
Let’s assume the worst for the Spurs, that both Duncan and Ginobli retire. Now the team consists of TP and the seven dwarves. They’d still win a lot of games with that crew, but they’d probably be in the lottery next summer. Maybe they get Tiago Splitter to come over. Maybe they unload a bunch of contracts and pick up a marquee free-agent from the Splendiferous Free-Agent Class of 2010. Suddenly they have a new Big 3 and away they go. Buford would be an idiot to give up a star point guard for some flawed youngsters and role players. This whole conversation is nothing more than another Blazer Fan homer fantasy.
Id give up Batum and a lot more for Parker
and then maybe we can get Prince from Detroit….
I know i know, im dreaming
But maybe just maybe
"Grayg"
-Nate
yeah
batum + sergio + fernandez for parker, in a heartbeat.
if we post those pics we have of buford and pop
in the thunder down under dressing room maybe
by GreatOden'sRaven on May 11, 2009 5:01 PM PDT up reply actions
Not a chance
The Spurs view Batum as a piece to fit around one of the big three. He might grow into something special in time but not yet. They would never trade part of the core for a surrounding piece.
I guess now it's time for K.P. to start whispering in Tony Parker's ear.
Or maybe it’s time for KP to start whispering in David Stern’s ear: The Spurs are tampering with our players. – Elgin
Brandon Roy: Strengths-remarkably efficient player who appears to effortlessly score and facilitate. Weakness-he’s just a figment of your imagination. - Canis Hoopus
by 22baylor on May 11, 2009 1:52 PM PDT reply actions 2 recs
Exactly Elgin
Offseason:
Trade For Mike Conley Jr
Sign Antonio McDyess & Othello Hunter
Draft Kevin Seraphin/Edwin Jackson(Eurostash)
by TheGreatDane17 on May 11, 2009 2:26 PM PDT up reply actions
Say
We want Darius Miles salary off the cap or we are going to sue the spurs for tampering
Offseason:
Trade For Mike Conley Jr
Sign Antonio McDyess & Othello Hunter
Draft Kevin Seraphin/Edwin Jackson(Eurostash)
by TheGreatDane17 on May 11, 2009 2:27 PM PDT up reply actions
cant believe i'm going to say this
but stern does not like the spurs.
There is no “journey” storey to sell, and no great electric flashy personality to market.
TV Ratings when the spurs play in the post season tend to be lower as well.
Also no way you get TP i’ll eat my own legs and crawl across the desert’s of central australia with a boomerang in my mouth before i let them trade the French Bonanza.
" Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes, that way when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes. "
He already is in silver and black
And red, and white.
DUH, BUFORD.
Maybe Batum misunderstood and the guy said he’d look BETTER in silver and black. Batum never got my note reminding him that the Spurs cost him a lot of money by making other teams think he’d die of the same thing his dad died from.
I say we threaten litigation against the Spurs and get back Tony Parker and their lottery picks starting 3 seasons from now. Fair is fair.
Mortimer
actually
as i said to dave in my e-mail. The Spurs was the team that Batum wanted before the draft. After the polemic about his heart’s problem, a lot of teams run away from Batum. The last workout for Nic was in San Antonio. And after 10 minutes, Gregg Popovich said : “that’s the guy we need” Exactly the same situation for Parker several years ago. Batum was reassured and he knew the Spurs will pick him at 26th.
But Houston stole Batum with the 25th pick. Batum was so angry and so disappointed by the time, and so the Spurs….
Just a thing, maybe the Spurs want Batum but they will never trade Parker, it’s Popovich son…
Batum is gonna to impress you a little bit more every day...
IF they don't give us Parker
They won’t get Batum. Nuff said
Offseason:
Trade For Mike Conley Jr
Sign Antonio McDyess & Othello Hunter
Draft Kevin Seraphin/Edwin Jackson(Eurostash)
by TheGreatDane17 on May 11, 2009 2:23 PM PDT up reply actions
Batum for Duncan
Then I’d do it.
"...we have so many experts who think that you have to play defense, you have to rebound, you have to be a possession coach, you have to execute. I just laugh. Explosive offense is not as intimidating as dominant defense. But it is scary when you don't know how to stop someone." - George Karl, Nuggets coach
Julien
Thanks for e-mailing Dave with this news, and translating. Your english is very good and my french is very, very poor. – Elgin
Brandon Roy: Strengths-remarkably efficient player who appears to effortlessly score and facilitate. Weakness-he’s just a figment of your imagination. - Canis Hoopus
The pleasure is for me Elgin
Parker and Batum will play together for the first team during the summer. France is in a tough situation, the national team needs his best players to catch the final spot for European Tournament and Portland makes the right choice by letting Nicolas Batum played for France ths summer. I will be glad to give you some news about him during the summer.
Batum is gonna to impress you a little bit more every day...
I look forward to it!
Brandon Roy: Strengths-remarkably efficient player who appears to effortlessly score and facilitate. Weakness-he’s just a figment of your imagination. - Canis Hoopus
one correction
Houston didn’t steal Batum. We did. They made the pick for us, as is customary on draft day, but the trade was already a done deal before they picked him.
How did you guys win that?
"We scored enough points. We scored 107, they scored 105.
-Nate McMillan Postgame, 3/4/2009
But Houston is the ennemy franchise
not only because they drafted Batum.
Also because they now have Luis Scola, drafted by the Spurs, exactly the kind of players that Spurs needs
Batum is gonna to impress you a little bit more every day...
spurs gave them scola
for basically nothing to clear space
by GreatOden'sRaven on May 11, 2009 4:29 PM PDT up reply actions
Doesn't matter
it’s a lot of regrets for Spurs.
Batum is gonna to impress you a little bit more every day...
GREAT ODENS RAVEN
god i love that user name best ever.
And yeah the pain of Scola’s loss will never heal..
" Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes, that way when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes. "
The sooner Duncan retires
The sooner we can grab Parker (he is only 26).
"The brownies,'' Fernandez said after the game. "The brownies are good for me to make three-points.''
Wow, thanks for front-paging this Dave.
It’s very unlike SA to make a comment like that, and have it reach public consumption.
I agree with folks here: If SA wants him that bad, they’ll now have to give up even more than before. We know how badly they want him now.
I’d really miss Batum. But I’d have to strongly consider giving him up in a reasonable package for Tony Parker.
what...NO NO STOP
" Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes, that way when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes. "
Hah, you have nothing to worry about
Nobody here really believes we can get Tony Parker. It’s just really clear there’s not much else we want from San Antonio (with a few folks making exceptions, as you’ve exclaimed about elsewhere). Nothing personal, but Duncan is aging, and Ginobli has injury concerns (not that I think SA would do a straight-up trade of either for Batum anyway!). Beyond that, nothing that fills a hole on the Blazers.
Some people really seem to despise this whole thread. I find it to be one of the most entertaining in a while. I think everyone here knows we ain’t getting Tony Parker without giving up one of the Big Three.
The only players on the Spurs roster making less than Nic are George Hill and Ian Mahinmi
Then Mason, at $3.5 million and Bonner at $3 million. A Hill, Mason/Bonner combo? Mhm, nope. Throw in the draft rights to Tiago Splitter? Maybe have a phone call, but still not really.
"Officiating has to be a science, not an art" - Rick Carlisle
Udoka is at $1 million, but he is a free agent. No need for a trade even if the Blazers might take him back as a vet defender.
"Officiating has to be a science, not an art" - Rick Carlisle
I just don't think Pritchard would stay on the line for any players you've mentioned
He values Batum too much. Plus he knows the Spurs value him.
Is Udoka still the defender he once was?
I bet he could still have a positive effect on others though.
Offseason:
Trade For Mike Conley Jr
Sign Antonio McDyess & Othello Hunter
Draft Kevin Seraphin/Edwin Jackson(Eurostash)
by TheGreatDane17 on May 11, 2009 2:24 PM PDT up reply actions
Thet are NOT Udoka fans over at pounding the rock as far as I can tell. It sounds like Ime is bringing good perimeter D and not much else anymore.
by dario argento on May 11, 2009 3:18 PM PDT up reply actions
good god you can't have george hill either!
" Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes, that way when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes. "
Hands off my Batum!!
That sentence doesn’t violate site rules, does it Dave?
"We don't back down to nobody." --Joel Przybilla
if Buford wants Batum
just send over Parker…
How did you guys win that?
"We scored enough points. We scored 107, they scored 105.
-Nate McMillan Postgame, 3/4/2009
Agreed
How bad do you really want him, Buford?
1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21... I know...
by FibonacciSequence on May 11, 2009 2:14 PM PDT up reply actions
in all seriousness
Parker is the ONLY player on their roster I would trade Batum for. Duncan and Manu are great pieces (when healthy) for a couple years, no doubt, but you have to wonder how much they have left.
Obviously they wouldn’t do the deal for TP straight up, and likely would not do it at all for anything short of Oden or LMA, but you could start the conversation with something like Rudy/Batum/Outlaw for TP
How did you guys win that?
"We scored enough points. We scored 107, they scored 105.
-Nate McMillan Postgame, 3/4/2009
I'd trade Batum for Ginobili
He’s one of the best players in the league and would make us a favorite to win a title next year.
draft dejuan blair
on talent that's a no brainer-- and I think Manu has some good years left for sure
but how would you figure out minutes between Roy, Manu and Rudy? You’d have arguably the 3rd and 4th best SGs in the league, and then another starter quality SG besides.
not exactly
the opposite of exactly. Finding minutes for Roy Rudy and Manu is not a problem, especially when you consider how good Roy has been playing and defending the SF this year. We’re +12 / 48 minutes when he plays it, and its not a small sample size either. He played 13 minutes of his 37 per game at SF. Absolutely no reason to think that Roy can’t be a SF.
It sounds cool
Atlanta made a similar mistake back in the day with da kine. You can’t have three of your best players at the same position. When the dookie hits the fan, you want all your best players on the floor and it’s better if you can spread it out by position.
If you're willing to allow the opponents PG an easier matchup
there is no reason offensively Rudy and Manu on the wings with Roy at the point doesn’t work. I think that’s what you’re trying to say. Defensively having 2 of the 3 guys on the court through the entirety of the game is definitely a possibility. I just don’t see why people can’t wrap their minds around Roy at SF. He was literally GREAT, like LeBron great in limited minutes there this year (13 minutes). He’s better suited to defend the position, and he’s also better suited to take advantage of small forwards that try to defend him as well. Its a total win win. Its not really even outside the box thinking. Nate has done it all season long.
I wouldn't.
I have long-term injury concerns about Ginobli. There have been a lot of bad rumors coming out of his last surgery, that he’d never be the same.
I dunno
he has always played relatively few minutes and doesn’t have a lot of NBA mileage on him… I would take the gamble. If he’s healthy, we win the title.
draft dejuan blair
once again
we agree… we are getting to be like TiR and Ann.. agreeing all the time.. LOL
by GreatOden'sRaven on May 11, 2009 3:13 PM PDT up reply actions
. . . or if someone disappeared him.
Brandon Roy: Strengths-remarkably efficient player who appears to effortlessly score and facilitate. Weakness-he’s just a figment of your imagination. - Canis Hoopus
He said in his recent fanpost at about the 2:30 mark
that it was his last appearance in BE. Haven’t seen him since, but if some new guy named mortinorangecounty shows up, I’d be suspicious.
What if
Ginobli keeps getting injured & Spurs get a head start on their rebuilding by getting possibly Scottie Pippen 2.0 with less dribbling skills(in his rookie year)?
Offseason:
Trade For Mike Conley Jr
Sign Antonio McDyess & Othello Hunter
Draft Kevin Seraphin/Edwin Jackson(Eurostash)
by TheGreatDane17 on May 11, 2009 2:25 PM PDT up reply actions
Pippen 2.0 probably not, but he looks like he may be a Prince 2.0 with perhaps more offense, and that would be outrageous on this roster.
by dario argento on May 11, 2009 3:22 PM PDT up reply actions
he seems to have a great work ethic
and the athleticism and defense are there… just needs to become more of a playmaker to get to Prince’s level.
draft dejuan blair
Nic is definetly a better offensive player than Prince
The kid can drive ! He’s only 20 years old never forget that.
Batum is gonna to impress you a little bit more every day...
I have high hopes for Batum
and he’s definitely better than Prince was at his age. Prince later developed into almost a point forward, at times, in the Detroit offense… Nic hasn’t done that quite yet, though he does have good passing ability at this point.
draft dejuan blair
he's definitely a better offensive rebounder
his 7.0 ORB% is really, really good. Pippen and Prince are both below 6 in their career ORB%.
draft dejuan blair
now this is an excellent point..and may solve our problems at the point.
Nick as a point-forward like Pippen was. We could run that lineup with Roy + Rudy + Nick. He just needs to walk the ball up and start the offense/dish to Roy or find Rudy off the screens. This lineup has so much offensive firepower in 2 yrs:
Batum
Rudy
Roy
L-Train
Oden
Please, for the love of all that is holy, please stop using the following: "Book it.", "FTW", "Epic" & "Fail".
...no seriously--stop.
Exactly Cablinasian
That is why I said Pippen is his ceiling. He is already better then Tayshaun was at that age, a great sign.
Offseason:
Trade For Mike Conley Jr
Sign Antonio McDyess & Othello Hunter
Draft Kevin Seraphin/Edwin Jackson(Eurostash)
by TheGreatDane17 on May 11, 2009 10:01 PM PDT up reply actions
Give them Blake and Batum for Parker
I’d be happy with that trade even if it ate up all of our cap dollars. There’s no way Batum goes unless we get Parker back though.
ok
Parker is a 26-year-old star, who is one of the best players in the league.
Batum is a 20-year-old rookie who has shown some promise.
A deal would never happen.
draft dejuan blair
Of course not!
Which makes it the entire problem. The only player Portland would trade Batum for (in a package) is Tony Parker (Ginobli has injury concerns, ditto for Duncan plus age). And since Portland knows SA badly wants Batum, they won’t make a fair deal. They’ll undercut SA with every offer.
SA will likely give up on the hope of getting Batum.
Depends on how bad Buford wants him
Bayless+Blake+Batum for TP is a reasonable offer for them to start to rebuild around
A couple more years out of TD and Manu with Blake Bayless running the pg and Manu Mason at the SG, Batum Finley at the SF and TD and company playing the post. They may want Joel in the deal, which I would definitely listen to
Take away Nate's addiction, trade Travis Outlaw.
I want Kirk Hinrich!!!!!
It probably will never happen
Buford most likely wanted him to pair along side TP (our spanish connection, their french) I highly doubt they are going to give away their perinial all-star for potential and pieces
Take away Nate's addiction, trade Travis Outlaw.
I want Kirk Hinrich!!!!!
im sure the spurs would go for that
bayless leaves over my dead body
by thomasikehara on May 11, 2009 8:07 PM PDT up reply actions
Chances are it was an innocent conversation
about fashion. You know how stylish the French are. Nic is a natural winter, and so he does look great in black and accents of silver, red, etc.
by CatMan2 on May 11, 2009 2:22 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
how about batum, blake, outlaw
and our vast stockpile of 2nd round picks
bayless leaves over my dead body
The Spurs wouldn't hang up the phone on that offer
So while they may not do it, they’d at least sleep on it.
perhaps
they might ask for Joel… or they might say no deal unless Aldridge is in it. Aldridge+Batum I could see them doing but KP wouldn’t do that one (I’d consider it though).
They would love to get Joel
to prolong Duncan’s career. Joel plus Batum for Tony Parker and another player to make the trade work under cap rules? Mason, maybe?
OK, that would do it: Joel and Batum for Parker, Mason, and the rights to Splitter. – Elgin
Brandon Roy: Strengths-remarkably efficient player who appears to effortlessly score and facilitate. Weakness-he’s just a figment of your imagination. - Canis Hoopus
Thanks for all you do to make this a pleasant site for everyone.
Brandon Roy: Strengths-remarkably efficient player who appears to effortlessly score and facilitate. Weakness-he’s just a figment of your imagination. - Canis Hoopus
sorry, didn't mean to offend you
I just think you are drastically underrating Parker’s trade value. We’re talking about a 26 year old all-star and former finals MVP.
I agree
Tony Parker is now franchise player of the Spurs
3 time all star
Top 3 point guard in the league (Paul and Williams)
Batum is gonna to impress you a little bit more every day...
Parker is maybe not the number 1 Pointguard in the league
But he is without a doubt the best OFFENSIVE pointguard in the league. He’s not a shooter, but you can’t guard him when he hits outside shots.
If he played for the Kings ==> 25 to 28 PPG.
Actually even if the spurs lost during the first round, number 2 behind LBJ in PPG
Batum is gonna to impress you a little bit more every day...
I disagree
Chris Paul is a significantly better offensive player than Tony Parker. Its true that Parker scores more points per minute that Paul, but CP3 has a higher True Shooting %, an amazingly high Assist rate, a better assist to TO ratio, etc.
As a pure scorer, Parker might be better, but as an overall offensive player (passing is offense also), Paul is quite a bit better.
Except the fact that
Paul is the franchise player of his team. Without him no playoffs for the Hornets. Actually i was more talking about the ability to score, to make shots. Nevertheless you have a point, Paul is great but still number 2 of the league isn’t bad.
Batum is gonna to impress you a little bit more every day...
I agree with you that Tony Parker is the superior PG.
Better scorer, better temperment, 3 time champ, on his way to the hall of fame at this pace. Chris Paul has lots to prove, just like Brandon Roy but Tony Parker has done it already. The stat worshippers on this site make good points but they believe it too much.
Your opinion my opinion
I keep it civil so it’s no concern to me if you like my post or my tone of voice and it’s no concern if you use all caps and exclamation points. It doesn’t put you in the right or make you opinion more valid. Tell me five years from now if Paul is better, when there’s a little history to base your view.
What happened?
Was sumthin’ deleted? Why are you fighting with Jake already? I don’t see him saying anything mean.
I say that of course Paul is a better PG, but Parker is plenty good. Real good. Paul does everything better though, and makes an otherwise AWFUL team a playoff team.
Morty
Paul is the prototypical PG
Offseason:
Trade For Mike Conley Jr
Sign Antonio McDyess & Othello Hunter
Draft Kevin Seraphin/Edwin Jackson(Eurostash)
by TheGreatDane17 on May 11, 2009 10:03 PM PDT up reply actions
jksnake99
> sorry, didn’t mean to offend you – I just think you are drastically underrating Parker’s trade value. We’re talking about a 26 year old all-star and former finals MVP.
And when you say it like that, I can understand it and still like you.
The only way we know each other is by the way we post. So, post in a way that I will like you.
You are right, my trade was lopsided in favor of the Blazers – but we’re already so loaded, why would we make ANY deals that are not lopsided in our favor? – Elgin
Brandon Roy: Strengths-remarkably efficient player who appears to effortlessly score and facilitate. Weakness-he’s just a figment of your imagination. - Canis Hoopus
this is SAN AN
we are talking about.. not the Knicks
by GreatOden'sRaven on May 11, 2009 3:14 PM PDT up reply actions
I'd say a more possible trade is
Przybilla + Batum + Bayless for Parker + filler
I think Spurs would at least take this offer a little more seriously. Also I think they would do it if we throw in Rudy, but it’d cost us too much to do it.
this addresses their 2 glaring needs: an effective big man alongside TD, a young & athletic wing player.
Plus a young PG prospect who hopefully can be developed into a Parker-lite in the near future.
NO NO NO!
parker is one of the top 10 players in the league this season.
Thats not hyperbole, he just ripped everyone apart he was matched up against, had a 55 point game earlier in the season, shot over 50% (again ) for the season from the PG slot, handed out 7 Assists a game and chipped in 22 points.
He just scored 31 points in a half for the love of Thors Pants vs Dallas because everyone else was off having a picnic or in hospital with sore bits.
You don’t get him for role players! I DEMAND A COMEUPPANCE for this dalliance
" Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes, that way when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes. "
Tony Parker is a great player
and he will not be traded. There is no point to even mentioning it.
draft rodrigue beaubois
by Cablinasian on May 11, 2009 10:48 PM PDT up reply actions
Yeah, the San Antonio Spurs aren't trading Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, ...
or Tony Parker; thus, most of these sidebar discussions today are rendered as moot points.
Besides, Paker is the younger, healtier and more productive player
of San Antonio.
Batum is gonna to impress you a little bit more every day...
if sergio is unhappy in our current style of play
think of how he would feel in SA
bayless leaves over my dead body
by thomasikehara on May 11, 2009 2:25 PM PDT up reply actions
at least we run sometime
bayless leaves over my dead body
by thomasikehara on May 11, 2009 2:57 PM PDT up reply actions
Spurs don't have cards
Just regrets… to miss Batum during the draft.
They have no players that could interest the Blazers except Parker.
But Parker is the real leader of the Spurs now, he is untouchable.
Batum is gonna to impress you a little bit more every day...
Man!
I love when ppl dig up these juicy bits. Great stuff.
If I'm not workin', sleepin', eatin', drinkin', depletin', or sweatin'....I'm reading BlazersEdge. Well....actually only two of those are true.
by feedjockey on May 11, 2009 2:30 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
I hope Sophia doesn't hear about this...
She’ll make the SAS public enemy number one!!!!!
Take away Nate's addiction, trade Travis Outlaw.
I want Kirk Hinrich!!!!!
We'll take Parker, Ginobili, and Duncan.
For Batum and Randolph. No?
They don’t have any pieces that we could realistically get without giving up a lot of key talent. Keep him here. I love his game.
Batum needs to age
he could end up being a force in years to come, and is already a better defender than certain other small forward types already on the team that have had YEARS to mature, and didn’t show up in the playoffs when it counted.
They are not one season away from contending for a championship, and Batum should be developed for the championship run that will start soon, not traded away from trash.
Fire Mark Mason. He's a dork, and he projects that we are ALL dorks
Fire Brian Wheeler. Homers suck.
Trade Trout, or sign someone reliable to soak up his minutes.
....Now I'm done
Sounds like a deal for Nic is already in the works.
It would have to include another team.
I have no problem with what Pop said to Nic. I would draw the line at Pop promising to offer Nic $10 million/six years plus under-the-table drug cartel money if he calls Nate the n-word 17 times in a row at a meeting.
Sheed sign and trade to Spurs, Prince to Portland, Nic to Spurs, something to Detroit. I have no idea how that deal would look in total, but that or Parker are the only pieces that I could see landing Nic in San Antonio.
"Officiating has to be a science, not an art" - Rick Carlisle
by Norsktroll on May 11, 2009 2:41 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Rasheed should definitely consider the Spurs
when he is trying to line up a gig for next season. – Elgin
Brandon Roy: Strengths-remarkably efficient player who appears to effortlessly score and facilitate. Weakness-he’s just a figment of your imagination. - Canis Hoopus
Sheed and Duncan together sounds like an impressive front line.
How much do they have left in the tank? Or the knees?
Duncan will be good for a while longer
As long as his feet don’t go and he can get up and down the court.
Sheed would fit well as Duncan’s co-frontline pardner but he didn’t look too good this year. Maybe it’s cuz they weren’t very good and he doesn’t wanna try for a not very good team… but he wasn’t playing defense, shot worse jumpers than ever before, and rebounded even worse than ever.
Sheed was more rep than actual goodness. Maybe it’s oldness, maybe just disillusionment with Detroit’s run coming to an end… I dunno. I think it’s a lil’ from column A and a lil’ from column B.
Morty
We traded up and nabbed him fair and square
I have a feeling Portland, San Antonio and Houston are going to be in a lot of these squabbles in the future – we’re all after the same type of player.
Nic Batum is our future all-star 3. Five years from now, he’s going to be unbelievable.
I watched Scottie Pippen play well over 1,000 games on TV or in person. Maybe upwards of 12-1400. Hard to count since he played for my two favorite teams for a very long time. But I feel qualified to say this: Batum is ahead of where Pippen was as a rookie when Pip was two years older. I’m not saying he’s guaranteed to be a H.O.F.‘er like Scottie is, but he does have that potential. He’s got the work ethic, the physical tools and the right attitude. I can’t wait to watch his career unfold here in Portland.
Besides, Texas sucks.
Favorite player of Nic ? Pippen :)
He often said to french tv that if he can have the same career than Scottie, it would be a dream.
Batum is gonna to impress you a little bit more every day...
A handful of rings for Nic as a Blazer, as Pippen did with the Bulls
would be very exciting. – Elgin
Brandon Roy: Strengths-remarkably efficient player who appears to effortlessly score and facilitate. Weakness-he’s just a figment of your imagination. - Canis Hoopus
Parker ftw
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=ofozno
"Respect everyone, fear no one." -TP
I was just in the middle of translating this, Julien m'a piqué mon boulot ;)
Here’s the first part of the article, what Julien translated comes right after.
We discovered a new universe with the playoffs. Our first game was arduous, but we learned quickly. We got hurt too often at the beginning of the game. We gained a lot of experience, because before the start of the playoffs, only Steve Blake had really experienced it. And we played with restraint in the playoffs, like we were afraid of making mistakes. We only relaxed after 20 minutes (?). Everyone tells us all the time that we’re a team for the future, that we have everything we need to be champions in two years. But we don’t get ahead of ourselves. This season was good. We wpm 54 games and reached the playoffs. The objective, between 48 and 50 wins, was achieved. Finishing fourth in the West while being the second youngest team in the league isn’t bad… The playoffs were a learning experience. The coach compared our situation to that of the Spurs in 1997, when they had Tim Duncan and knew how to build a team that won four NBA titles. We have a good general manager, a good coach, a good staff, and a young team full of potential. We’re constructed for the future. We’re still young. We still screw around, we warm up with a dunk contest, it’s our group’s mentality.
At the end, there’s a part about Joakim Noah saying that he’s no longer a fan of KG because he talks too much on the court…. Pot, meet kettle.
by #10 on May 11, 2009 3:15 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
Nic just wants to stay friends with Noah hoping he decides to play for France, too ;-)
"Officiating has to be a science, not an art" - Rick Carlisle
Father or Mother is a National
you can play for the team. I think it might even be grandparent
by GreatOden'sRaven on May 11, 2009 4:13 PM PDT up reply actions
his father is Yannick Noah, the great French tennis star
His mother is a former Miss Sweden, I believe.
Easy
His father is french ==> Yannick Noah : great tennis player ! Reggae star in France now.
His mother is from Sweden ==> former model.
Born in New York City but only move to Big Apple at the age of 13 to live with his mother.
Since the Gators won in 2006 and Noah gets MOP, French National team is interested.
He already asked and received french passport, he is part of the 29 players who were selected to be part of France National Team for 2009/2012.
Batum is gonna to impress you a little bit more every day...
Oh Duh
how did I miss that… Thanks! But kind of weird since he wasn’t born there.
Brandon Roy, 'nuff said.
he could also play for Sweden
if he wanted to
by GreatOden'sRaven on May 11, 2009 4:19 PM PDT up reply actions
Actually, he had already made the choice to play for France
But The Bulls wanted him to stay this summer to develop his body. (Thanks Portland for Nic) It’s not sure he will play this summer. He grew up in france and move to US at 13. But NYC is his hometown (Rucker Park Player :) ) Family is french
Batum is gonna to impress you a little bit more every day...
Parker was born in Belgium, american dad, mother from Holland ...
Batum is gonna to impress you a little bit more every day...
but grew up in france?
how is he a french nationalist?
by GreatOden'sRaven on May 11, 2009 4:20 PM PDT up reply actions
TP grew up in France
because his dad was a pro baller, in France. – Elgin
Brandon Roy: Strengths-remarkably efficient player who appears to effortlessly score and facilitate. Weakness-he’s just a figment of your imagination. - Canis Hoopus
It seems
the rules for Nationalism are getting looser these days. I mean, if you were born in another country, grew up some in the USA, you couldn’t play for our team. Kinda interesting.
Brandon Roy, 'nuff said.
Tim Duncan and Carlos Boozer would beg to differ
but you’re right that the rules are loose, just look at Kaman (no, don’t literally look at him, I wouldn’t wish that on anyone), who is “German” because of his great grandparents.
Noah had the choice between 3 countries.
But probably because of his dad national career in tennis, and the perspective to play for a national team in his life decided him
Batum is gonna to impress you a little bit more every day...
The language lessons around here
Are a really good thing,please continue with them. French was my Dads first language and I grew up in a Mexican part of town so I speak both with a good accent.Our Spanish friends have improved my reading skills and I was suprised at how much I could read before having to refer to your very good translation,thank you
by southern oregon on May 11, 2009 4:43 PM PDT up reply actions
Yea
I took two years of French in high school a long time ago, and it’s amazing how much of it I can still understand when reading it. But speaking it… that is long gone from my vocabulary….
It is cool to see it on here, welcome to our international fans!
Brandon Roy, 'nuff said.
thanks guys
we are just as excited as you about Nicolas Batum.
Batum is gonna to impress you a little bit more every day...
can you translate the entire part of Noah's bash against KG?
I am really interested to know!
Noah is no longer a fan of Garnett
Joakim Noah didn’t just lose in the first round of the playoffs. The Chicago Bulls’ French big man also lost all respect for his childhood idol, the vociferate Kevin Garnett. All this without KG even being on the court… It has to be said that the Celtics’ star didn’t need to play to get himself noticed, given that he yells at and insults everyone all the time, from the first minute to the last. Even if he knew it without really knowing it, Noah bore the full brunt of the comments.
"I don’t care about him. I totally don’t care about him" he admitted before leaving for vacation. "He was my favorite player, before. Not anymore. He talks all the time. He’s clearly passionate about his team, especially when things are going well. He’s a great player. But now, I hear stories about him, I see how he is, and I’m no longer a fan." Coming from a player now hated by all Celtics fans for his incessant activity and his shouts on the court, the commentary could be surprising. But in this movie of "aggravated aggravator," the next installment, next season, should absolutely be passionate. Because as Garnett works on verbal provocation with a dictionary with every known insult in the English language, they both share a crazy passion which should create sparks when they meet again on the court.
if anyone can think of a decent way to translate this
I’d be eternally grateful.
S’il le savait sans vraiment savoir, Noah a pris pleine poire les débordements de l’excité de service
If he knew without really knowing it, Noah took hard in the face the other excited fellow’s outbursts
is how I did, but I doubt that’s well transcribed (but the article is really poorly written in french as well…)
"Noah took hard in the face the other excited fellow’s outbursts"
thank you, that helps me understand the original sentence better. Bear in mind though that what you wrote could be interpreted to mean something very different ;)
I thought what I wrote
didn’t have a lot of meaning but I just couldn’t do any better.
Now that I’m re-reading the sentence I realize it could mean something having a sexual connotation, am I right ?
A little bit
Hard to the face has potential, it would be more sexual if it was something like, “finish on the face.”
Noah's comments translation
Joakim Noah didn’t only lose in the first round of the playoffs. The Chicago Bulls’ french interior has also lost all the respect he had for his childhood idol, the vociferating Kevin Garnett. All that while KG wasn’t even on the court… It needs to be said that the Celtics’ star doesn’t have to play to get himself noticed, considering the fact that he’s screaming and insulting everybody anytime from the first to the last minute. If he knew without really knowing it, Noah took hard in the face the other excited fellow’s outbursts : "I don’t care about him. I really don’t care. He used to be my favorite player. He isn’t anymore. He talks all the time. He’s clearly impassioned for his team, especially when things are going okay. He’s a great player. But now, I hear stories on him, I see how he is, and I’m not at a fan at all."
Coming from a player now hated by every Celtics’ fan for his relentless activity and his screams on the court, the comment can surprise. But in this irritating irritated comedy, the continuation, next season, should be absolutely fascinating. Because if Garnett is operating in a verbal provocation mode using a glossary of every insult known in english, the two are sharing a crazy passion that should create some twinkles when they meet each other again on the court.
Thanks for the new sig.
"...the two are sharing a crazy passion that should create some twinkles when they meet each other again on the court." --Blenzer translating Julien translating Nic talking about Noah and KG.
I'm pretty sure we don't get Parker withour giving up Roy
And good heavens, are people REALLY saying they wouldn’t give up Batum in a package for Duncan? TIM FREAKING DUNCAN??!!!
no i dont think so
i think duncan is just so completely off limits we wouldnt consider it possible
by GreatOden'sRaven on May 11, 2009 3:17 PM PDT up reply actions
Trying to acquire Duncan
would be Portland trying to emulate Boston, no thanks. Timmy is great but he is slowing down in production. Maybe Phoenix could swap Amare for Timmy; withj neough geritol that might win a championship.
I would do it if we won a ring
in a second…
you cant be promised a ring by being a good young team. better to win one and fade than be a perennial contender and never win (late 80s- early 90s Blazers are best example)
by GreatOden'sRaven on May 11, 2009 5:02 PM PDT up reply actions
if we win that title
im cool with it
by GreatOden'sRaven on May 12, 2009 1:50 PM PDT up reply actions
A few years ago no one on this roster was untouchable to get Duncan...but the guy is 34. He would be HUGE risk to trade for now.
by dario argento on May 11, 2009 3:28 PM PDT up reply actions
I'm pretty sure that
LMA+Batum for Duncan wins us the next 2 or 3 titles..its not going to happen but I think people here are WAY undervaluing the Spurs Big 3. Tim Duncan is still the best 5 in the L not named Howard.
I'd still take Duncan in a heartbeat
by GreatOden'sRaven on May 11, 2009 4:11 PM PDT up reply actions
Reallly, you didn't like Duncan in the Dallas series?
30/8, or 25/10/7 lines don’t do it for you for an injured player?
Plus, can you think of a better mentor for Oden in the entire world?
An Oden/Duncan/Webster/Roy/Blake lineup sounds like it fits pretty well to me. Plus we could let Outlaw get all the regular sason minutes at the 4 he wanted, then just play Timmy D 40 per game in the playoffs!!
Or say they’d rather have Oden…A Duncan/LMA/Webster/Roy/Blake lineup sounds just fine.
Frankly I would rather have Duncan than Parker even now. Sine they are both a pipe dream, we should consider them being equally available.
A re-signed LMA + Batoom
And any and all fillers – picks et all for Tim Duncan.
Bayless/Roy/Martell/Duncan/Oden with Blake/Rudy/Trout/McDyess/Przy backing up.
Yes, if we had Duncan on board, insert your FA would literally sign for anything to jump in on the action.
this might be more like it
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=o8s28q
plus a 1st rounder from us
by GreatOden'sRaven on May 11, 2009 3:18 PM PDT reply actions
Well thats what it would take to get Parker
Chances are.. we aint got a shot
by GreatOden'sRaven on May 11, 2009 4:11 PM PDT up reply actions
A question for Julien
How is Rodrigue Beaubois viewed in France? He’s been a player that I’ve found very intriguing as a potential second round pick. Do you think he is a legitimate NBA player?
draft dejuan blair
Rodrigue exploded a month ago.
He carried his team through the final 4 of Eurochallenge, his team lost in Final. His beginning of the season was a disappointement. He had new responsabilities at the point guard position. Is he ready for the NBA like Batum ? probalby not. But still as a prospect, he has VERY high physical skills, very strong body, quickness, good shoot. He entered to the draft this year. He could be a good pick, but he needs time to develop his game. He’s more a scorer like Aaron Brooks profile than a true point guard. Rubio seemed to be more ready for the NBA (this guy is a genius )
Batum is gonna to impress you a little bit more every day...
interesting
I know the Blazers really like him last year when he came in for a workout.
I think a team like Portland, who could give him two years to learn and develop, would be a good fit for him. He’s raw, but seems to have all the physical tools necessary for NBA success.
draft dejuan blair
Fine Buford, help us complete our Spanish collection with Rubio...
And we’ll give you your French connection between Parker and Batum.
I only would Give Batum
if we can also give the spurs Darius Miles Contract. Then we could go after some serious free agents out there next year
We don't have Miles as a player, just his stupid salary on our cap :)
There is even a high chance he won’t play in Memphis anymore. Memphis is currently holding D-League workouts to find better cheap defensive wing players. Oh the irony. But that is a whole ’nother story.
"Officiating has to be a science, not an art" - Rick Carlisle
Batum for Expiring Contracts
I know Batum has lots of potential but this is a team loaded with talented young guys, some of which are going to be wanting more money in the next couple years. The Spurs have LOTS of expiring contracts. Why not trade Batum for pure cap space (guys like Bowen, Oberto, Thomas, or Finley) and ensure that the Blazers will have the financial flexibility to keep other players around in the future.
Also, I don’t think Buford’s comments were inappropriate. I feel like GMs are allowed to say they are interested in a player and want them to come to their team.
Nic's salary over the next three years
$1,118,760; $1,196,760; $2,155,365. Not much cap space to clear there my Spurs friend.
"Officiating has to be a science, not an art" - Rick Carlisle
I think Ariza had a better year than Batum did, for sure
Ariza is 3 years older, though, and Batum is ahead of where Ariza was at the same age.
I like Batum's ballhandling and passing and off the ball play better right this moment as well
I see big time point forward capabilities in Batum. The silly jerk will fit us perfect!
I think he’ll be good enough to even dribble the ball up court and initiate offense in a few years. Already a better ballhandler than Rudy, Webster, Outlaw, etc…
I don’t think he’ll be an allstar (though that would be suh-weet o’ course), but a star role player type. More versatile than Ariza, who is a great guy to have on a squadron as well.
Morty
Batum is precious because of his profile.
Except Rudy Gay (more an offensive player) there is no small forward of his age with such skills
Batum is gonna to impress you a little bit more every day...
sa as every franchise :) Batum is unique !
Batum is gonna to impress you a little bit more every day...
yes
he has a unique skill set and fits Portland really well. He’ll be a Blazer for the next ten years.
draft dejuan blair
by Cablinasian on May 11, 2009 3:58 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
maybe a three way trade
don’t like the risk of giving them miles’ contract just for the chance of signing a free agent. and no one besides parker is attractive on their team, manu is a little old, but i woudn’t be pissed if we got him, otherwise the spurs don’t have much to give us. Pritchard was brought up in that program so its no wonder he thinks a lot like buford does
Why might San Antonio do this (without an established star in exchange)?
Extremely high regard for Nic.
They are in rebuilding mode and are willing to trade a superstar for 3 or 4 very promising young Blazers/picks…
Joel to support and extend Tim Duncan’s career.
Tony Parker is unhappy in San Antonio.
Others?
Parker isn't unhappy is San Antonio
He was just a little alone during the first round withour Ginobili, a half of Duncan and a band of older guys !
But Pop made him. The Spurs made him, he had no reason to leave this organisation. But the Spurs doesn’t have a lot of possibility. They can blame the Rockets and try to make a good deal. Because Nic could be a tremendous fit for the Spurs.
Batum is gonna to impress you a little bit more every day...
Tony Parker would be amazing
with backup PG Blake…oh wow man that would be sick. Give em’ outlaw!
Every time Outlaw fades away in a shot, a kitten dies. Save the Kittens, don't fade!
It would have to involve Tony Parker
And they’d say no because it would kill their plans for a “French Connection” marketing campaign. Maybe we could get the french connection to go with our spanish armada . . .
Things happen for a reason they say, but I say there's a reason things happen.
ROOKIE COMPARISON: Batum vs. Pippen vs. Prince
Note that I included Prince’s 2nd year because he only played 10 minutes per game for 42 games in his rookie season.
In my opinion, Scottie Pippen is an outlier and should never be used in comparisons.
Heck, I’d wager it’s more likely that Nicoals Batum becomes Tariq Abdul-Wahad than Pippen.
Yet, realistically speaking, Batum’s best-case scenario is Tayhaun Prince and his most likely scenario is Mickael Pietrus.
disagree
Batum is a totally different player than Mike Pietrus. They are great when they have to defend 1on1. The can hit 3s, taking some rebounds. But i have seen them playing in France, Mike is a 2 and he is 6-6.
Nicolas a 3, he is 6-8 and i don’t talk about his huge wingspan. Offensivly and defensivly, Batum has more weapons.
Batum is gonna to impress you a little bit more every day...
Hmmmmmm
batum’s agent is very smart starting spot defense ftw
No way kp let’s him go…. Over my dead body.
Ethically (sp?) speaking however buford bettah check himself yo! I know people that know people if ya know what I’m saying ;)
-Sophiabia biaaaah
Though patience be a tired mare, yet she will plod. - William Shakespeare
Roses are red
violets in bloom
Sophia’s in love
with Nicholas Batum
-Bow4Meow
Kind of hard to believe
That the Spurs, a team that perenially wins 50+ games and has consistently excelled at finding and defining role players and defense, has no one except the best player on their team that we would want. Yet there it is.
What is this world coming to?
I simply say NO...texas can't have him. he needs lush green vines and crap around him....
not sage brush and cactus…. ( how do you spell cactus plurlelelelll?.)…
besides. lol….really? tony parker? for all the hoopbla around him, he remindes me of a cleaner damon…. and I mean that in a good way. but I think we could do better with less.
The Faith don't panic, the faith freaks out burns out farms and torchs small villages in the name of The Faith.
by faith on May 11, 2009 7:37 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
what I mean is.....
webster joel = untouchable (sorry these are my guy’s :)
roy, aldridge, oden = untalkaboutable
batum rudy travis blake =sure we’ll listen but the chances are slim these are our backup/bench
bayless = eh….for an obvious upgrade sure….
sergio frye ruffin shav … uh bye….. :(
is how i see it…..doubt webster, I dare you.
The Faith don't panic, the faith freaks out burns out farms and torchs small villages in the name of The Faith.
Actually
it’s greener than you’d expect down here in SA. Especially up in the Sonterra Blvd/Stone Oak area.
Come on you gotta listen unto me,
lay off that whiskey and let that cocaine be. ~Johnny Cash
by HurraKane212 on May 11, 2009 10:48 PM PDT up reply actions
LOL
besides. lol….really? tony parker? for all the hoopbla around him, he remindes me of a cleaner damon….
line of the thread
rec
sophia
Though patience be a tired mare, yet she will plod. - William Shakespeare
Roses are red
violets in bloom
Sophia’s in love
with Nicholas Batum
-Bow4Meow
I love BE
Where else can I go to read 200 or so comments on Batum/Parker trades that are less likely to happen than me getting drafted in the first round.
YOu beat me to it. I was going to nominate this for the most delusional thread of 2009.
Good god.
And it’s delusional on about 5 different dimensions is the great thing. There are maybe 10 non crazy posts in the whole thing.
Batumshockalacka
I’m glad Batum called this out in his blog. Too bad Batum aint going anywhere for awhile.
With the Clippers around, all of might get drafted
I mean we have as much chance as that Russian guy the Clippers drafted a few years ago.
Meanwhile….nobody’s movin’ nowhere. Other than the people you already know about.
So while we’re at it….I had a big fun time today thinking we might somehow pry Nowitzki loose and put him at the three. So there!
George Hill
More a lateral move than anything else …
I’m a big fan of George Hill’s. I think he’s already one of the two (Rondo) best defensive players in the league at his position. He’s a very good rebounder. His shooting percentages weren’t great as a rookie, but were fabulous in college and solid in the first half of the season, and I think he’ll be a very good shooter down the road. He gets to the rim well and draws fouls — despite playing only 16 minutes a night, he finished fourth on the Spurs for FTA.
Not a prototypical point guard, in terms of playmaking ability and floor leadership, but when he’s playing alongside a wing like Ginobili or Roy that flaw doesn’t matter … well, as long as you’re just asking him to be a role player.
I think George Hill has the makings of a perfect role player — great defender, very good rebounder, I think he’ll be a very good shooter, and a solid all-round player with a great work ethic and competitiveness (fearless) — I think George Hill would be a great fit alongside Brandon Roy.
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