What Concerns Me Most? Martell Webster

by ericking on Jul 10, 2009 11:13 AM PDT

Note: This isn't a post on who to trade for or sign, except for this quick intro.

Hypothetically, say this scenario happens:

1. Give Millsap an offer that the Jazz can't match. He joins the Blazers.

2. Trade Outlaw and Blake for Hinrich.

Our roster for next year would look like this:

Hinrich/Bayless

Roy/Fernandez

Batum/Webster

Aldridge/Millsap

Oden/Pryzbilla

When I look at this roster, I think it looks pretty solid. Our 2 main priorities this offseason were to gain a starting PG and a backup PF. This scenario adds both missing pieces. However, the Blazers haven't seemed to have the same offseason priorities as many of the fans have. Throwing 50 million at a SF, not a PF or PG, seemed rather unnecessary and confusing to me. I eventually came around to the idea, but since that trade didn't happen, I've had this lingering concern of wanting to know why we've been chasing after SF's so much. Then it dawned on me:

What if Webster still isn't ready by next year and Batum is our only SF after trading away Outlaw? I know that there have been some positive reports lately on Webster, but at this point, I don't really know what to trust. I do know that if there were concerns of the injury being worse than the Blazers were letting on, those concerns probably wouldn't surface until the free agency period was over. I also know that Webster's injury has taken longer to heal than we were originally told. Now, I may be paranoid about this, but after hearing that Bayless and Oden didn't actually train together this summer, I'm not sure what is truth and what is not.

I would love it if we had a healthy Martell for the season. I don't think we'd need anyone else and that him and Batum would be an excellent one, two punch. However, what if he's not ready? What if his foot never fully heals? I want to know what the Blazers will do then and if, by scouring the SF free agency pool, they're already readying themselves for this possibility.

Poll

How ready will Webster be for next year?

Not ready. His injury could be career ending, like Yao's.

53 votes

He'll be fine. Might have to ease back into minutes, though.

163 votes

You're paranoid. Webster's going to start next year.

58 votes

I have no clue. I don't trust Blazer's management anymore.

56 votes

330 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 46 comments | 1 recs |

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Comments

this

is the only reason while I think Outlaw might be still on this team when training camp comes.

Ben II Blazersedge.com || New to Blazers' Edge?

by usmcr3049 on Jul 10, 2009 11:22 AM PDT reply actions

Yup

My concern and my thoughts exactly.

"Fernandez, to my eyes, is the Blazer who walks that walk most comfortably. A lot of Portland's fans (egged on, dare I say, by their local broadcasters) lament things like how Ron Artest or Yao Ming get to hit Brandon Roy's arms.

But I suspect Fernandez sees all that and thinks: We get to hit arms! Cool!"

http://myespn.go.com/blogs/truehoop/0-39-135/On-Playoff-Experience.html

by ratbastird on Jul 10, 2009 1:00 PM PDT up reply actions

yah, agree

If he is on the team his minutes will likely diminish as Webster gets his groove back, essentially ruining Outlaw’s NBA value, but it’s not like he had much around the league anyway

"Tough times don't last. Tough people do."
-Chauncey Billups

by Kelsoballa on Jul 10, 2009 1:28 PM PDT up reply actions

Those are my thought too

except I don’t think Martell will be back before the trade deadline.

To summarize: Wade too quick, Kobe too skilled, LeBron too physical - Batum

by Ltlgto on Jul 10, 2009 2:55 PM PDT up reply actions

I Love Martell

I miss his game alot. As for the injury, I dont know what to believe. He reinjured it after just 1 game, like 10 minutes of play. WWith Yao being out for a whole season, possibly his career, it definitely makes me think Web could be in the same boat. But I still think that Batum and a healthy Web make a great 1-2 punch like you said. Here is a link to why I want Martell back in action- anyone who forgot this will quickly remember what our organization saw in Web.

Webtser scores 24 in a quarter vs the JAZZ!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KuMoDA39Jh4&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fvideo%2Egoogle%2Ecom%2Fvideosearch%3Fq%3Dmartell%2Bwebster%26hl%3Den%26emb%3D0%26aq%3D1%26oq%3DMartell&feature=player_embedded

by cavejunctionblazer on Jul 10, 2009 11:23 AM PDT reply actions

sorry wrong link

Dont know how that happened, but here is the right link.

Martell scores 24 in quarter vs UTAH
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMVXnJDBtnI&feature=fvw

by cavejunctionblazer on Jul 10, 2009 11:24 AM PDT up reply actions

Your forgetting about our rooks… Pendergraph and Cunningham can both play some 3… as can Rudy or Roy if need be

by The Arkitect on Jul 10, 2009 11:26 AM PDT reply actions

Good points

I don’t know about Pendergraph, but Cunningham could play there. I think he’ll have to prove himself first, though. After drafting him, most fans didn’t even he’d be able to make the team. Also, Roy could play some 3, too, but I wouldn’t want him to play out of position too much.

by ericking on Jul 10, 2009 11:30 AM PDT up reply actions

Cunningham said himself he doesn't yet have the handles or the outside shot of a SF in his video chat

Pendergraph even less so, he is a PF/C.

If you want to trade our spare parts for Devin Harris, I have three quarters I would like to trade for your dollar

by Norsktroll on Jul 10, 2009 2:16 PM PDT up reply actions

i dont trust people like this...

no need for hinrich reallly want the blazers to lose roy/LMA ?!?! paying hinrich more then blake for the same identical player is stupid.. we will not trade up blake + one for a crapy players…. i respect your ideas but poeple need to look at hinrich’s numbers hes not much better then blake maybe in a 1-100 situation half of a point more if that…….if we do something we pickup andre miller

by These Refs Suck on Jul 10, 2009 11:39 AM PDT reply actions

The thought with Heinrich

is that he is a defensive upgrade over blake. Stats dont measure defense, which is why he looks very similar. But also keep in mind that Heinrich was a bench player last year. Not really fair to compare bench stats to starter stats in the first place.

That being said, Im not a big Heinrich fan anyway. I think we can do better

by TrailBlazer4Life on Jul 10, 2009 11:51 AM PDT up reply actions

good point

he was a bench player. so why does everyone think he will come to portland and be an allstar?

fire nate before its too late

by pipgras on Jul 10, 2009 1:22 PM PDT up reply actions

Are you saying trading for Hinrich means losing Roy/Aldridge?

Please explain, as that doesn’t make any sense. Also, Hinrich is a large upgrade. First of all, any numbers you’re looking at are probably from last year. Hinrich’s numbers were expectantly down because of Rose taking over the starting 1 spot. Hinrich’s career numbers are significantly better than Blake’s career numbers. Also, Hinrich is a huge upgrade at defense, which is really what we need our starting PG to improve on most.

by ericking on Jul 10, 2009 11:55 AM PDT up reply actions

The BIGGEST reason to love Heinrich...

He’s a Nate PG. Nate has had a mahcrush on Heiny for a couple years now.

by DephlatorMouse on Jul 10, 2009 1:50 PM PDT up reply actions

Don't call him heiny

"It's just senseless! 33 million for 2 years of Z-Bo? Might as well pay 33 million to get kicked in the balls 82 times a year."-Eric in Madison(Canis Hoops)

by YikesItsCameron on Jul 10, 2009 4:54 PM PDT up reply actions

heiny it is!

by LewisClark on Jul 10, 2009 10:33 PM PDT up reply actions

problems with your 2 moves

1) there is NO offer we can make that the Jazz can’t match.
2) This presumes this trade has ever been, and continues to be available. I’m dubious.

How did you guys win that?
"We scored enough points. We scored 107, they scored 105.
-Nate McMillan Postgame, 3/4/2009

by douglast on Jul 10, 2009 11:44 AM PDT reply actions

#1 Isnt true

The Jazz wont match a huge offer… it would be financial suicide.

The only way they match is if the are confident that they can move boozer.

by TrailBlazer4Life on Jul 10, 2009 11:52 AM PDT up reply actions

disagree

they want millsap long term. 8.5 million with raises is not exorbitant. they will match that and can trade boozer anytime up to the deadline.

How did you guys win that?
"We scored enough points. We scored 107, they scored 105.
-Nate McMillan Postgame, 3/4/2009

by douglast on Jul 10, 2009 11:57 AM PDT up reply actions

Utah is at the luxury tax level

Matching a Milsap offer would cost them double (the price to match plus the 1 for 1 luxury tax hit) for next year, which makes it a very expensive contract.

by rcandiog on Jul 10, 2009 12:13 PM PDT up reply actions

they will still do it

they will be able to move boozer at some point, which will lesson/eliminate their tax

How did you guys win that?
"We scored enough points. We scored 107, they scored 105.
-Nate McMillan Postgame, 3/4/2009

by douglast on Jul 10, 2009 12:23 PM PDT up reply actions

forcing the issue

Key is if you offer Milsap now, Utah has to react now and pay more than if they were the just bidding themselves. You give them more time, they can get Milsap for less and take more time to put together a Boozer trade which probably doesn’t involve us.

by oregontrail on Jul 10, 2009 12:28 PM PDT up reply actions

i dont disagree

make the offer, its a no lose. but let’s not kid ourselves into thinking Utah won’t match. They will wait the full 7 days, then match

How did you guys win that?
"We scored enough points. We scored 107, they scored 105.
-Nate McMillan Postgame, 3/4/2009

by douglast on Jul 10, 2009 12:32 PM PDT up reply actions

agree

Utah can’t let Milsap go. But if this is the only thing cooking right now (which sounds like it is), I wouldn’t be surprised to see Blazers make an offer soon to at the very least make things a little tougher on the Jazz.

by oregontrail on Jul 10, 2009 12:36 PM PDT up reply actions

what about the signing bonus?

i don’t know exactly how this works, so somone might need to correct me, but can’t we include a substantial signing bonus that the Jazz wouldn’t be able to compete with?

by ericking on Jul 10, 2009 1:21 PM PDT up reply actions

Yes

Whether they could compete or not is uncertain. The team is owned by Larry Miller’s estate, I think.

They are probably not prepared to put together a huge chunk of cash on the spur of the moment for a signing bonus. They would have a week to come up with it. Getting the decision to do it from whoever makes decisions for the family, and then getting the financing (if they don’t have the liquid assets) might be tricky.

If Larry Miller were alive, he could have walked into the bank, talked to them, and had the money the next day, liquid assets or not. But it might not be quite that easy for them to come up with all that cash up front on short notice.

I suspect they can do it if they decide to, though. It might be painful for them.

When I rule the world, everyone will know how to use Excel.

by jscot on Jul 10, 2009 1:56 PM PDT up reply actions

I don't understand

Why would you think that they don’t have the money to match? Because the auto industry is failing? Really?

"Life is a meaningless sequence of events in between Blazer championships"

by broggerboy19 on Jul 10, 2009 10:32 PM PDT up reply actions

You also are forgetting that

We could trade Pryz for a hellofa SF as we can’t keep all 4 bigs anyway.

WWOPD? What would Optimus Prime do?

by Blazer Ninja on Jul 10, 2009 11:54 AM PDT reply actions

Who are you counting as the 4 bigs?

by Cory2669 on Jul 10, 2009 11:57 AM PDT up reply actions

I've thought about this heavily

While I think now is the ideal time to get maximum trade value out of Joel, I’d really hate to see him leave. Also, until Oden proves he can stay healthy, I doubt we’d get rid of him. Who do you think we’d be able to get for Joel? I’d love to see Prince, but I don’t think the Pistons would make that deal.

by ericking on Jul 10, 2009 11:58 AM PDT up reply actions

well..

they don’t exactly have a center. Kwame brown?? I don’t think Joel is going anywhere. But detroit might do a Pryzz plus Outlaw for Prince trade. But I really don’t think Blazers will trade Joel until you see actual output, fewer fouls and injurylessness from Oden.

by oregontrail on Jul 10, 2009 12:33 PM PDT up reply actions

Detroit ha always loved pryzbilla

"It's just senseless! 33 million for 2 years of Z-Bo? Might as well pay 33 million to get kicked in the balls 82 times a year."-Eric in Madison(Canis Hoops)

by YikesItsCameron on Jul 10, 2009 4:55 PM PDT up reply actions

*has

"It's just senseless! 33 million for 2 years of Z-Bo? Might as well pay 33 million to get kicked in the balls 82 times a year."-Eric in Madison(Canis Hoops)

by YikesItsCameron on Jul 10, 2009 4:56 PM PDT up reply actions

Exactly

I have been saying the same thing. I don’t think I have seen a trade proposal yet that didn’t include Outlaw. A lot of people have been saying we have a SF logjam which may not be the case at all. In fact, SF may be the weakest link on the team right now. I think the reason we have been going after SF’s so hard is that to upgrade any other position we need to trade at least Outlaw. If Martell is still questionable we could really be stuck in any trade talks.

by Cory2669 on Jul 10, 2009 11:54 AM PDT reply actions

I doubt

that we’ll end up with Milsap, and it’s not looking like Hinrich is going to happen either. But either deal is really unimportant to the overall post. For your question, it’s just nessecary to assume that Outlaw will be traded, and that no SF will be brought back for him.

So in terms of Webster, I am concerned that he won’t be back to his best form any time soon. However, I don’t think that makes SF our weakest area. What I think will happen (and might happen no matter what) is that Batum maintains the starting job to guard the opposing team’s best wing player. He is then pulled out after 5-8 minutes in favor or Rudy. Rudy plays the 2 guard, while Brandon moves to the SF.

Doing this allows us to continue to develop Batum, while hopefully preventing the opposing team’s best player from getting on a roll. Then we’re able to put in our 3rd or 4th best player for an added scoring touch, 3 point range, and give some relief to BRoy on the scoring side of things.

by Gelvalst on Jul 10, 2009 12:30 PM PDT reply actions

If we trade Outlaw and Webster is injured

Then we will see a lot of Roy/Rudy as the 2/3, which could end up being a good thing since many of the team’s most successful lineups last year had Roy and Rudy at the wings. Cunningham might also get some minutes at the 3.

by trk on Jul 10, 2009 12:30 PM PDT reply actions

If Webster is not ready.

We have Rudy. It just gives him more minutes. He could back up both the 2 and the 3.

by tcwoods on Jul 10, 2009 12:33 PM PDT reply actions

True, This is probably what would happen.

However, Webster is 50 lbs heavier than Fernandez and would match up better on defense against more physical small forwards.

by ericking on Jul 10, 2009 1:19 PM PDT up reply actions

We might see LMA

at the 3 occasionaly against the SFs that are too much for Rudy/Roy to handle. As a practical matter, Rudy would probably defend the 2 and Roy the 3, anyway.

When I rule the world, everyone will know how to use Excel.

by jscot on Jul 10, 2009 1:58 PM PDT up reply actions

You know...

That Cunningham kid doesn’t look too bad – 4 years of NCAA. Could be Trout without the hops but 40 more IQ points and better D…(sorry that was low, love ya Travis!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07eyQ-rnXvw

by Knobby on Jul 10, 2009 12:53 PM PDT reply actions

What concerns me most.

Roy’s contract situation concerns me. Not Webster.

by tcwoods on Jul 10, 2009 1:07 PM PDT reply actions

Seriously

Didn’t think that was going to be an issue.

by ericking on Jul 10, 2009 1:14 PM PDT up reply actions

Roy was just on the radio and said that it was 50-50. Those aren't good odds.

by tcwoods on Jul 10, 2009 1:31 PM PDT up reply actions

Don't kid yourself

He doesn’t really believe that, and if he does, his agent is blowing smoke up his arse.

Roy will get extended and he should be grateful to Paul Allen for it, even if only for four years. The alternative is not that rosy for either side. What the Blazers are doing is good business. You don’t enter into negotiations saying “here, take whatever you please”, unless you like being a doormat.

"Life is a meaningless sequence of events in between Blazer championships"

by broggerboy19 on Jul 10, 2009 10:36 PM PDT up reply actions