Givony's notes on Blair, Casspi

by two4larue on Jun 16, 2009 11:36 AM PDT

-We’re hearing that DeJuan Blair is in pretty good shape at the moment, and he continues to have very strong workouts that are easing the concerns teams have about his knee. Blair’s draft range looks pretty steady between 12 and 16, although he will work out for teams above and below those picks. Don’t be surprised to see a team like Oklahoma City or Portland try to make a move for him on draft night, as both organizations are reportedly very high on him.

-One team that might be interested in moving down in this draft is New Jersey, as they are reportedly very high on Israeli Omri Casspi, but may not want to invest such a high pick on him.

http://www.draftexpress.com/blog/Jonathan-Givony/#Early-Entry-Withdrawal-Deadline-Rumor-Mill-3260

NJ is at pick #11.

KP could set up an arrangement to deal Sergio, #24 (and other picks?) to NJ for #11, assuming Blair is available at 11 and Casspi is still on the board at 24.

Edit: my bad, I didn't see Norsktroll's excellent Fanshot on this same topic, down below.

http://www.blazersedge.com/2009/6/16/911095/daily-dejuan-blair-indiana-workout

Tweet Comment 14 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

From the boards I have seen (many), #11 is a winner for Blair. And #24 is a winner for Casspi.

Is that worth Travis???

"A bizarre and extremely rare hybrid Blazer/Laker fan, Timbo has always struggled to contain the Beast Within, like Dr. Jekyll, Bruce Banner, or Ted Kennedy." — Miled Animal

by timbo on Jun 16, 2009 12:25 PM PDT reply actions

It would be for me

I have no idea what NJ wants. Either Sergio or Travis would be fine from my POV. Both of them together would be a stretch. I’d rather add Sergio to this proposal and save Travis for a sign and trade (Hinrich, or another FA veteran)

But Blair is gettable, and it’s good to hear that KP is very interested in him

by two4larue on Jun 16, 2009 12:40 PM PDT up reply actions

I wouldn't be suprised to see Travis moved....

Merlin saw it in his crystal ball last night on Trail Blazers Courtside.

by Escrote on Jun 16, 2009 1:05 PM PDT up reply actions

Rice has been "down" on Trav

since before the playoffs. The Houston series only sealed the deal.

Not enough rebounding and defense to go with all of that athleticism

by two4larue on Jun 16, 2009 1:34 PM PDT up reply actions

I think that's why a large percetage of the BEdge community is down on Trav, including me.

by dario argento on Jun 16, 2009 1:57 PM PDT up reply actions

Nah

Most of us have eyes of our own and have seen the same holes in Outlaw’s game, for awhile.

It’s just that the need to move him along didn’t reach critical mass (for most of us) until after his playoff “performance”

by two4larue on Jun 16, 2009 2:43 PM PDT up reply actions

Dude I was talking about Merlin not Rice

by Escrote on Jun 16, 2009 2:19 PM PDT up reply actions

Do you remember

when Rice first came to the Blazers (before the Swami) he used to talk as a lady in a falsetto, on the air?

I think that’s when the Snapper started calling him “Wild” Rice

by two4larue on Jun 16, 2009 2:44 PM PDT up reply actions

nowadays he only uses the falsetto

when a guy gets nailed in the gro…err…“sensitive area”

by two4larue on Jun 16, 2009 2:45 PM PDT up reply actions

Was "Confucius" ever right before the deadline?

Searching on BE his track record looks murky:

http://www.blazersedge.com/2008/11/4/654008/courtside-notes-from-11-3

Ask Confucius (aka Mike Rice) – Kirk Hinrich will be traded before November 15th. Travis Outlaw as a Blazer after Dec. 1st is cloudy. Batum will be in the top 4 for votes for ROY. Jerryd Bayless very close to be a starter before the end of the season. Greg will not play until the third game of the road trip.

Verdict: Fail. Fail. Fail. Fail. I think correct

http://www.blazersedge.com/2008/11/26/673871/courtside-notes-11-25

Confucius – Western playoffs teams – LA Lakers, Houston, New Orleans, Utah, San Antonio, Denver, Portland & Dallas

Verdict: Win (not in that order)

http://www.blazersedge.com/2009/1/5/710187/courtside-confucius-say-po
Something about David Lee and Caron Butler making great Blazers before the deadline.
Verdict: Since we didn’t do a major deal I suppose he was as wrong as the rest of us.

by Norsktroll on Jun 16, 2009 5:35 PM PDT up reply actions

Nice

is there anyone who you don’t have “stats” on?

by two4larue on Jun 16, 2009 6:35 PM PDT up reply actions

The nice thing is that it doesn't need to include Travis....

Having Blair as a “PART” of the answer at PF would be nice. Travis is the current back-up PF, but everyone including B.Roy knows we need more of a rebounding/defensive presence as an option for the PF2. I could see Portland being successful offering Sergio + #24 + either #32 or #38 and then from New Jersey’s side #11 and which player either matches Sergio’s $$$ or could salary match a sign-n-trade Frye + Sergio… forcing Portland to take back somewhere between $900K and $5Million-ish (if Sergio plus a Frey, Outlaw or Blake). Who New Jersey could spare would be maybe 29 year old PG Kenyon Dooling ($3.3M), FC Josh Boone ($1.2M), PF Sean Williams ($1.5M), SF Jarvis Hayes ($1.9M), SG Maurice Ager ($1M), SF Trenton Hassell ($4.3M), or GF Chris Douglas-Roberts ($500K)…..

New Jersey could bring in PG Sergio Rodriguez, #24 SF Omri Casspi, and a very solid player at #32 or #38… and maybe even Channing Frye who really is better at PF than their current starter 6’10" 24 year old Ryan Anderson. I know Travis would be a bigger upgrade, but at #11… it just isn’t a high enough value to get more from Portland. New Jersey would be making a killing talent wise and definitely be able to address multiple needs on their roster. They don’t have a backup PG and Sergio answers that need. The Nets want Casspi and would get him out the draft, and add potentially two or more picks. Frye would also be a great addition and with his age and skill set. On that short list of players noted above KP would have a few different options of filling in depth on our roster by doing this move.

by Portland Dynasty on Jun 16, 2009 9:42 PM PDT up reply actions

NJ has a trade exception that would cover Sergio's contract

Here’s Norsktroll’s spin on the deal (from his Fanshot, below)

Reportedly New Jersey likes Omri Casspi, but doesn’t want to draft him at #11. We send Sergio, #24, #38 second round pick, and $2-3 million in cash (New Jersey is one of the teams in need of money) for the #11. They can absorb Sergio with a trade exception for Williams (was a deal to the Warriors I think). They need a backup for Harris, with Dooling being more of a combo and also their first SG backup. We draft Blair at #11

According to the ESPN trade machine, NJ has a trade exception for M. Williams that’s worth 1.26 mil. Sergio’s contract is 874k. So, there’s no need for KP to take any Net’s salaries back to make this deal happen.

by two4larue on Jun 16, 2009 10:36 PM PDT up reply actions

I didn't think you could use Trade Exceptions in combo with picks?

I mean, I bet KP knows how to manuever through the waters to get a deal like that done by calling it two transactions or something…… It is time for Pritchslapping to commence… draft day shennanigans…

I think getting Pick #11 New Jersey could be done by packaging Sergio+#24+#38+$2M. Portland then drafts DeJuan Blair or Tyler Hansbrough at #11 to be our backup PF, which ever KP and Nate deem worthy for this roster.

After that, Portland could Purchase #21 from New Orleans who wants to sell the pick for $1M or so (According to ESPN Insider Rumors, for what that is worth)… then Portland could draft Omri Casspi before New Jersey gets the chance.. PRITCHSLAPPED!!!!

Or Portland could trade newly acquired #21 + PG Steve Blake + #55 + #56 + 2010 2nd Rounder & Cap Relief to Washington Wizards for #5 & FC Etan Thomas’ bad contract. Portland then drafts PG Stephen Curry at #5. That is the youth movement that Nate doesn’t want to have, but they would be a scary group for sure. Washington wants to “win now” and what better way than to add a steady hand like Steve Blake and his reasonable contract. Also the contract is non-guaranteed so it is easy cap space if they want to go a different direction… also could allow Portland to re-sign Blake. But Washington definitley doesn’t want to cater to a Top 5 prospect. They want a role player to compliment Caron Butler, Antawn Jamison, Gilbert Arenas, Brandon Haywood and company…

The other option is to use #21 + PG Steve Blake + #55 + Cap Relief to CHICAGO for PG Kirk Hinrich and #16. Blake would be a great backup to Rose and would be less than half the cost of Hinrich. Giving up 5 slots in the draft is worth it to them. At #16 Portland could draft BPA…. which is a dangerous weapon when yeilded by Kevin Pritchard.

I am so stoked for the draft-day transactions!!!!!!

by Portland Dynasty on Jun 17, 2009 2:58 PM PDT up reply actions