Sessions/Conley & Blair/Bass

by ericking on May 25, 2009 2:22 PM PDT

We all know the Blazers need two spots filled this off-season: a starting PG and a backup PF. Tons of names have been flying around these boards, but to me, there are only 2 clear options at PG and 2 clear options at PF. The question is, which combination of the 2?

At PG, I like Mike Conley Jr. and Ramon Sessions, but right now I'm leaning a little more towards Sessions due to the fact that the Bucks might be letting him go for nothing because of his high contract demands. However, both are young, have room to grow, and can probably be obtained without giving up one of our main 7 players.

At PF, I like Dejuan Blair and Brandon Bass. Again, while I'd be happy with either, I think Bass will be easier to acquire since he is a free agent and Dejuan Blair is in the draft (and rising higher every day). Both these players can be a rebounding force and can even help out some on the offense. Plus, I don't believe either of them is expecting a starting role next season. Is this correct?

So, having a combo of either Conley and Blair, Conley and Bass, Sessions and Blair, or Sessions and Bass are what I think the Blazers need. I'm leaning towards Sessions and Bass, though.

With those players added, this is how I'd like the top 10 positions to look like next year:

Sessions/Bayless

Roy/Fernandez

Batum/Webster

Aldridge/Bass

Oden/Pryzbilla

Are there any other better combinations of starting PG and backup PF out there? Let's be realistic, too, as I don't want to trade the whole team to get someone like CP3, even though that would be awesome.

Finally, who do you think KP is going after? I know he likes Sessions for sure. He also likes Rubio, but that's a whole other discussion.

Poll

What combination of players would you like to see?

Ramon Sessions and Brandon Bass

60 votes

Ramon Sessions and Dejaun Blair

22 votes

Mike Conley Jr. and Brandon Bass

102 votes

Mike Conley Jr. and Dejaun Blair

44 votes

These are terrible options/need something else

23 votes

251 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

I would like to know

How do you propose to acquire Sessions and Bass, considering they are both FAs and the Blazers don’t have enough cap-space (unless maybe, if they were to renounce Outlaw, Blake and Frye?) to afford both of them?

Is there something I’m missing, here? Surely the trade exception that was acquired in the Ruffin deal won’t help KP/Penn grab either of these players

(and of course I have my doubts that Bass would agree to come to PDX and only play 10mpg behind LMA…assuming good health for LMA/Oden/Przy)

by two4larue on May 25, 2009 2:37 PM PDT reply actions

you have a good point

however, bass has been playing off the bench this year, so i think it’s realistic to assume he could do it again. has anyone heard otherwise? Also, if the blazers don’t have enough cap space to sign both, i think they should first focus on the right pg as that is the more immediate need, but I’m sure KP can work his magic.

by ericking on May 25, 2009 2:43 PM PDT up reply actions

Well, there's a difference

Between playing behind Dirk on your rookie contract and choosing to play behind a much-younger LMA for years to com at your next port of call. If Bass doesn’t want to compete for the chance to be a starter at this point of his career, I’d have serious questions re: his heart and professional motivation

by two4larue on May 25, 2009 3:07 PM PDT up reply actions

If we got Conley I'd be happy with just about any power forward

Antonio McDyess, DeJuan Blair, Brandon Bass, Leon Powe… Conley Jr would make this offseason a success.

by as11osu on May 25, 2009 2:55 PM PDT reply actions

I really really really want to see Dice in a Blazer uniform next year.

10 and 10 off the bench is awesome, plus he’s done a good job mentoring Jason Maxiel. I would love to see what he could do with Aldridge.

I know less than half of you half as well as I should like, and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve.

by haildablazer on May 25, 2009 2:58 PM PDT up reply actions

Can Kevin and Paul entice McDyess to come out west?

It’s not like they’re trading for him, and he has no choice. I think it’s going to take a serious sales job. They have the team’s potential to win a ring (soon) to offer, but will that be enough to convince Antonio?

Surely he’ll have multiple offers to consider this offseason

by two4larue on May 25, 2009 3:12 PM PDT up reply actions

I would love to have him on the team too

but I’m sure the Cavs would jump all over him. He wants a ring NOW and the Cavs are probably his best option. Plus, like you mention, he wants to stay in the east.

by Roybot on May 25, 2009 3:17 PM PDT up reply actions

Dyess

Get a cheap free agent or late round pick for him to mentor, much like Maxiell & Amir Johnson

Offseason:
Trade For Mike Conley Jr
Sign Antonio McDyess & Othello Hunter
Draft Kevin Seraphin/Rodrigue Beaubois(Eurostash)

by TheGreatDane17 on May 25, 2009 4:01 PM PDT up reply actions

Adrien

Jeff Adrien from UCONN is a good player who could use somebody like Dyess to mentor him. Plus we wouldnt need to move up in the draft. We could get him in the second round. Maybe get our point guard from the 24 spot like Patty Mills.

by quezadaz on May 25, 2009 5:23 PM PDT up reply actions

Unless we trade up

There is no way we draft a point guard, that would be a lateral move at best. There just isn’t a good enough guy available that late in this draft.

I know less than half of you half as well as I should like, and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve.

by haildablazer on May 25, 2009 8:24 PM PDT up reply actions

I gotta go for Conely and Bass, even though...

…my main motivation for bringing in Conely would be to put him on the floor with Oden and see if he’s got the magic potion (which, admittedly, may not be the smartest reason).

I like DeJuan Blair too but I think it is important to our playoff hopes that our reserves are experienced pros.

"The Edge... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who really know where it is are the ones who have gone over."

by GonzoFan on May 25, 2009 3:43 PM PDT reply actions

Also, Bass fits better with Przy off the bench than Blair would

by as11osu on May 25, 2009 3:54 PM PDT up reply actions

Dont think it will happen

Bass has said that he wants to stay in Dalls and he wants to be a starter somewhere. I dont see him coming over to Portland to play backup to L.A. I think its more realistic that we can sign Jason Kidd and then draft a PG to play behind him. Then we can adress the PF spot in Antonio McDyess through free agency and Jeff Adrien through the draft

by quezadaz on May 25, 2009 5:32 PM PDT up reply actions

Hendrix

is a better choice for the Blazers backup PF than Bass or Blair.

Blair currently is 285lbs and has a problems keeping his weight down. He IS a tenacious rebounder but does not yet have the necessary all around skills.

Bass is trying to land a starter’s spot and probably would not have the right attitude to accept the leftover minutes playing behind LA.

Richard Hendrix was originally selected by the Warriors with the 49th selection in the 2008 NBA Draft and waived by them on 18 December, 2008 in order to make room for Monta Elis.
Hendrix, 22, did not appear in any regular-season games with Golden State this season and was assigned to the Bakersfield Jam of the NBA Developmental League on November 14. In 37 games with the Jam, the 6-7 (250# – 7’3" wingspan) forward averaged 14.6 points, 11.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1 steal and 1.6 blocks in 31.5 minutes per contest. He was named to the 2009 NBDL All-Star Game on February 3, 2009.

Richard is a better fit for us.

by spencerbutte on May 25, 2009 5:20 PM PDT reply actions

I think we should sign him

But not as the primary backup for L.A.
We should sign somebody like Antonio McDyess also to get more veterans onto the team.

by quezadaz on May 25, 2009 5:34 PM PDT up reply actions

A veteran would require

major minutes and $$$. Hendrix would relish any minutes and cost very little to acquire.

Hendrix has that big body to wear down opposing “Bigs” and he knows how to score.

by spencerbutte on May 25, 2009 5:42 PM PDT up reply actions

Blair HAD problems with his weight

but he has really worked this offseason and lost a lot of weight. I love the dude

My avatar is 3 years into the future for sure...

by Taskmaster on May 25, 2009 10:01 PM PDT up reply actions

this pg situation is keeping me up at night

mc jr makes so much sense with his penetrating distribution, age, speed and at least adequate stroke. Getting hinrich would be clean in the sense it would take travis and blake and unclutter the pg and sf positions……but is he THAT much better then blake? i dont want to move bayless unless it gets us a YOUNG starting point, not the nashes of the world. I would love to pick kp and nates mind on bayless and how he fits with broy. i would hate to give up on him too early and not just because of his explosiveness but that fire in the belly…..that anti social, awkward competitiveness that fuels him. sessions is interesting, like a younger miller, but would it take a sign and trade? And if so which of the 3 points, not worth bayless imo. In reality, whatever kp does is EXACTLY what i want to do….and if we did very little id be ok because the more i watch these playoffs, the more i think were close. We got 13 games better with growth and now we have 4 very good rookies that will improve. i see blazer fans commenting on other teams sights and its funny, were so excited our cup overfloweth. excuse the spelling if needed…..thanks Dave and Ben, keep up the good work

"show me a good loser and i'll show you a loser" - coach

by chikndnnr on May 25, 2009 6:17 PM PDT reply actions