Brainstorming: Focusing on Others

by Salem Stephen on May 18, 2009 6:07 PM PDT

I am about five pages into an article about decision-making in the NBA. I was originally planning on finishing the piece and then posting it, but I realized that the beauty of the Blazers Edge community is that with the high caliber of individuals here, discussing the issue before I have finished the paper will make for a better end product.

The premise for the piece began with a debate over trading for Chris Bosh. My friend felt that Aldridge was a better fit for Portland and would grow to be a better player. I actually agree that Aldridge is the better fit (though I doubt he will be the better player.) Being the consummate devil's advocate, I said that even if Aldridge is the better fit (and becomes the better player) Portland should still trade for Bosh. In the end, I actually believed my argument.

I stated that if Portland didn't acquire Bosh, Miami or Chicago would be the front runners to acquire him. Even worse, if Bosh went to free agency, OKC or Cleveland could acquire him.

In the end, I argued that Portland should do its best to ensure that the players they trade away don't end up on teams that will look to compete in the foreseeable future while targeting the talent most likely to go to our greatest threats.

So even if the team is worse off in the long run, we have a better opportunity to win a championship by ensure that we don't have to face a team with LeBron/Bosh; D-Wade/Bosh; D-Rose/Bosh; or Durant/Bosh.

Based on this, I am on page five of a piece on league-wide analysis of decisions. It focuses on how teams should not only maximize our own teams ability, but stifle your strongest competition's best opportunities to improve (pointing out obvious moves.)

Thus far, to a certain extent, Wheels' "sign 'em so they can't play for someone else" has some merit to it.

So what do you think of the premise? Any input would be greatly appreciated.

BTW: I actually value harsh criticism... so if you think it is a terrible idea, don't hold back.

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this is a terrible idea

and I wont hold back

bayless leaves over my dead body

by thomasikehara on May 18, 2009 6:15 PM PDT reply actions

The Blazers occasionally do engage in such deals, though bringing Bosh in just to take him off the market would be extreme

Example: The Ike and cash for Ruffin deal. That helped push through the Miller + Salmons to Chicago deal. Salmons was rumored to be going to a Western Conference rival, likely the Rockets, Mavs or Spurs, if that deal had failed. By getting involved Salmons got shipped out of the conference and the Blazers landed a traded player exception.

by Norsktroll on May 18, 2009 6:44 PM PDT reply actions

trade LaMarcus for Rubio...

..then Chris Bosh will see himself as the missing piece for a Dynasty and sign in 2010!

(I’m only half not-serious. I do think Rubio is a special talent, and I also think it would take LaMarcus to pry him loose. But the danger would be that Nate wouldn’t like his game…)

by meru on May 18, 2009 7:08 PM PDT reply actions

..but don't trade LaMarcus for Bosh straight up

I really like Bosh as a person, but he’s an undersized PF and severely overrated. LaMarcus is bigger and a better defender, even if Bosh is a better scorer and rebounder.

by meru on May 18, 2009 7:09 PM PDT reply actions

May help in small deals, overall though Its an interesting theory

but in the end you are stuck with your team. Back in 99’ the Blazers did nothing but stock up talent and it cost them dearly! Bickering and infighting to say the least. I think when facing compition you have to be concerned about your team, or weaknesses and short comings. Take a look at the Yankees, they have every high profile free agent, but they still can’t win. You have to build a team that fits your culture, style and chemistry. There will always be the Stocktons, Malones, Barkleys, and Ewings that are talents, but never win. Its just the way the game is in basketball. Someone will be the scorer on the other team, his stats look good, but more often than not useless for your team. A perfect example is the Olympic team, you have a assembly of unbelievable talent, yet only one person shoots the ball, and really only 6 or 7 of the 12 are effective players on the team. So in my book its almost like a video game theory, cause it really doesn’t apply in the real game of basketball. One last example is the Rockets this year, you take away McGrady, Motumbo, then Yao and these guys still compete until the end, nearly upsetting the lakers. So its fools gold in my opinion and I hope that helps in anyway.

by TeamChemistry on May 18, 2009 7:20 PM PDT reply actions

this is not the most helpful comment I know,

but the times I’ve watched Bosh, which I admit is not a whole lot, I was left thinking he was overrated. He’s a great player, but I don’t think he is a caliber above everyone but lebron and kobe and cp3. I felt that in important moments he did not come through. He is not mentioned in talks about clutch players, but isn’t he the 1 option on his team? 82 game clutch list has him at 20 or so. He is a great all around player, but exceptional at no particular thing. Great stats, his rankings in many areas is great but you know how good players can look great on bad teams. Don’t get me wrong, he is a great player, I’m just not sure he’s a player that gets you a championship.
More to your point, it seems like planning your team around what you think it will do to other teams rosters is reaching. We really never know where players will end up, and even if they will be as effective there. I think you make the best team you have, and bend other teams to your will. Who cares what players they have, we have made a team that will beat them all! Can we do that without Bosh? I think so, he is a funny guy though.

by twggyy on May 18, 2009 7:50 PM PDT reply actions

If we take on Bosh

then some other team will get Lma. How does stifle our competition? unless you can work a three way trade and get LMa shipped off to Charlotte (or some other middling eastern foe that’s not Cleveland or Orlando). You can’t buy all the talent. Bosh is nice Lma is nice, neither appears to be able to will their teams to victory (which is okay because we stilll have Roy).

by NWfan on May 19, 2009 9:44 AM PDT reply actions

If we take on Bosh

LMA is in Toronto who matches any offer for him as a Restricted Free Agent. Which means we could keep both players away from the competition for the foreseeable future. Since Aldridge would play in the Eastern Conference on a non-playoff team, he has little chance of hurting us. There is a low risk of Aldridge becoming Jermaine O’Neal v2.0.

by Salem Stephen on May 19, 2009 11:00 AM PDT up reply actions

Interesting premise

but I would think you would want to get quantitative on the odds that the scenarios you are trying to prevent would actually happen. I agree that a CLE with Bosh and LeBron is scary and you might want to prevent it, but how likely is it that you as a 3rd party need to take action to prevent it?

Life is exhausting when you are this stupid.

by jonestr on May 19, 2009 10:07 AM PDT reply actions