Blazers Edge Community Podcast -- Episode 005 (Ben & KP2)

can’t be worse then mchale, and would definitely bring them more media attention even if he fails miserably

I don’t think KP was sold that he would be a “championship quality point guard”. What did the Cavs give up for him? A fairly useless player in Damon Jones and Joe Smith (who has since returned to the Cavs, historical irony), plus Ridnour from the Sonics in a three-team trade. Come on. The Blazers could easily have matched that in terms of personnel, not so much in terms of mutual attraction to Williams. And the Bucks wanted to get rid of his contract – that they had just signed him to.

Something like this could easily happen again if the right player hits the market. But the feeling that KP is a bit enamored with his players and hesitant to give up on young projects is probably also true, as also Bill Simmons insinuated.

for a top 5 pick. if we could get the 6th for telfair and one less year of rlec then in this economy we could maybe get top 5 for trout and a pick

prez becomes big time.

i posted about 5000 comments with the name in my signature… can’t hurt.

It felt like he was taking over the direction and asking most of the questions to KP2 and Prez unless I’m confusing voices. Of course it was a free-flowing conversation (thanks Bill) and it was very interesting, but the same thing happened to some degree when he was on Phoenix Stan’s podcast. Is it because Ben is so used to leading the interview :) Are the Oregonian’s articles in reality full of questions Ben asked — I think he once said he lets the guys on deadline go first to interview the players and Nate while he is just in the background? No offense Ben, just an observation.

I just don’t know if there is an easy solution. The Blazers are kind of like the Vikings, who just need a quarterback. Simmons said they could have had a few all easy like, but all of his knowledge is based off of rumors. My self talk is that the Blazers are in the same situation. Do you commit to the young QB or replace him with someone who’ll be around for more than a year or two, and is there someone like that available? I think Bayless could be the guy just not for another year. If the team sticks with him, then they just need an old vet to crutch the Blazers until then.

I pretty much agree on the PF banger issue too. The Jazz had it the right way behind Boozer with a young guy like Milsap and an old guy like Harpring. I don’t want someone who is demanding minutes behind LA, I just want someone who is deserving and capable of the minutes. I don’t care if he gets them though and neither should an old guy or a young guy. I’m sure KP can get the banger late in the draft or from a trade or free agency. Either way, it’s not a priority.

So to me, there are no pressing off season moves. If KP can’t get a championship caliber point guard to lead the Blazers for the next 5-10 years, then he has to hitch his wagon to Bayless and get a crusty vet point guard. The back up PF situation is an easy patch. That just leave the SF situation, which is a wait and see what we have with Webster and how Batum improved over the off season. After training camp or by the trade deadline is when the Blazers should figure out what to do with all the guys who can play SF on the roster.

From nowhere (D-League, Europe, Asia, etc.) on the cheap that turns out to be championship caliber. I’m looking for the cinderella story, more Batum’s please.

I want to be on with Mortimer and then have Prez ask basketball questions and then see how many times Mortimer and I can go off topic.

In fact, I’ve been talking up Kirk Hinrich like a crazed lunatic since SEPTEMBER of 2008!

“A lot of Jerryd Bayless’ stigma comes from his time at Arizona last season. While in college, Bayless was definitely a me-first combo guard who played hideous defense and couldn’t effectively facilitate the offense. Now, whether or not Bayless can develop by adusting his playing style to enhance his overall game is an unknown quantity, but I wouldn’t bet on it.

That’s not necessarily a negative, however, since Bayless’ sweet mid-range game and tenacity at driving to the basket reminds me of Monta Ellis — as well as Jay Williams, who was performing well prior to his career-ending motorcyle accident — which’ll make him a dangerous threat offensively.

On the whole, though, it’s doubtful to me that Bayless will ever become a true floor general, so he’ll be best suited playing off of the ball alongside a shooting guard who can handle the playmaking duties. Brandon Roy fits that description, although his one-on-one perimeter defense also isn’t stellar.

Indeed, a player like Bayless has deficiencies that must be masked by a well-rounded backcourt teammate — such as Andre Iguodala, who can both shut down his opponent, clog the passing lanes on defense, handle the rock, and unselfishly defer to his teammates — otherwise, he’ll be constantly exposed at the professional level.

Thankfully, though, Roy compensates for all but one of Bayless’ drawbacks. Yet, that notwithstanding, I’m still of the mindset that Kirk Hinrich would ultimately be the perfect complement to Roy. Because their strengths and weaknesses are the opposite of each other, they’d combine to form a well-balanced tandem."

http://www.blazersedge.com/2008/9/13/613680/steve-blake-is-starting-an#8756998

“Kirk Hinrich and Cedric Simmons — who, to the best of my knowledge, has an expiring contract — for Raef LaFrentz and Jerryd Bayless is a fair trade. Hinrich, unlike Bayless, would be an outstanding fit alongside Brandon Roy.

Hinrich plays top-notch defense, too, which is one of Bayless’ many weaknesses — although several folks around here wrongly claim that he’s good at it — thus, there’d be a huge upgrade on that end of the court."

http://www.blazersedge.com/2008/10/31/650905/bulls-blazers-trade#9742364

I was right about Hinrich — as well as Jerryd Bayless, who flamed out this year even worse than expected by a hater like me — and there’s no denying it.

I agree that we should stop talking about Rudy as a possible PG as he just can’t do the basics that you need from that position. I also found it funny that when Rudy was discussed it was even mentioned that he could play the 3. What? When are we going to come around to the notion that playing Rudy as the 2 and Roy as the 3 doesn’t make Brandon Roy any less great. It actually makes him better and more versatile.

Maybe it’s just the equipment…

Scariest moment: Ben suggests that visiting a website will equip someone to understand salaries enough to be an NBA GM…..

I make all my guests freestyle rap while discussing the Blazers.