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Did we give Utah enough "Poison", and its' implications...

 

I love the idea of getting Paul Millsap, but I just don't think it is going to happen.  I understand that Portland wanted to force Utah to make a move, but have we really accomplished that?  Boozer opting to stay in Utah was more poisonous than anything we have done. Utah doesn't want to lose Millsap,  but I see no reason why Utah and New York wouldn't do a David Lee sign n' trade for Boozer, since that would take care of Utah's PF issue, and give New York a one year Boozer rental that doubles as an expiring contract.  So Utah would basically be in the same spot, since they were going to just let Boozer walk anyway. The only differences in that scenario is that they'll end up with Lee instead of Millsap (two players in similar molds), and we would be deeper at the PF spot.  Was our offer sheet really "poisonous" enough? 

One thing I thought of tonight is just how much adding a player like Millsap to the team makes as much sense, if not more sense, than someone like Turkeyglue.  If we were to add a player of Millsap's stature, the Trailblazers would arguably have three of the best positional tandems in the entire NBA.  We would have what I believe is the best SG tandem in Roy & Rudy.  We'd have the best PF tandem in Aldridge and Millsap.  We would also have the best C tandem in Oden & Przybilla.  Not too shabby.  Feel free to argue if you can think of better positional tandems in the league.

I'm in favor of leaving the SF postion alone, assuming that Martell Webster comes back healthy, which is a huge question mark.  I think Batum and Webster are solid enough, are very athletic, and can shoot the ball well.  I think Nic will continue to improve. With a bit more bulk, I'd love to see him expand his game to where he could post-up some people using his long arms and jumping ability as an advantage.

I think the most realistic possibility to improve our PG spot with someone who would fit the bill would be to land Kirk Heinrich. If we land Millsap, we'd certainly have to trade Blake and Outlaw for salary matching purposes to get him.  If we don't land Millsap, I think we'd have to do Outlaw, Bayless, + Cap Space to get him.  At this point, I'd be fine with either scenario. I used to be big on Bayless, and I still very much like him, but at the same time, I am tired of banking on potential when it comes to players.  It seems like 2 out of 3 players that are highly touted because of potential end up as disappointments. I'd rather have a sure thing.  If our PG postion consisted of Heinrich as our starter, and Blake as our backup, I would be very content with that. Kirk is an above average PG, and Blake would be one of the best if not the best backup PG's in the league. So that would make another really solid tandem.

Depth Chart

SF  Batum, Webster, Cunningham

PF  Aldridge, Millsap (please God!), Pendergraph

C    Oden, Przybilla, (Bring Back Ha)

SG  Roy, Fernandez, ? ? ?

PG  Heinrich, Blake, Pooh?, Maybe a Brevin Knight?



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RIght now

Centers are stronger in Orlando, Dwight and Gortat.
In a year or two ODen and Prizz will rule.

"Knowledge will get you from A to B. Creativity will get you anywhere." Einstein

by Garden of ODEN on Jul 16, 2009 2:51 AM PDT reply actions  

Isn't

Gortat going to Dallas?

Brandon Roy, 'nuff said.

by johnv59 on Jul 16, 2009 12:09 PM PDT up reply actions  

Thanks

I missed that news while on vacation and “untethered from info”… :-)

Brandon Roy, 'nuff said.

by johnv59 on Jul 18, 2009 10:31 AM PDT up reply actions  

I think Pau/Bynum is also a stronger Center rotation currently

As for 4’s, maybe Garnett/Wallace?

"B-Roy is the best shooting guard I have played against"

-Ron Artest

by premthegrem on Jul 16, 2009 3:00 AM PDT reply actions  

pau's a 4. for lakers, it's bynum and mbenga

"There are a few teams you have to watch out for in the fourth quarter."
"Yeah, but Portland definitely is not one of them."

-New Orleans Hornets broadcasters at the end of the third quarter with the Hornets leading 74-59. Portland later ends up winning 97-89.

"They don't mind him shooting that shot at all. Rudy Fernandez is not that great of a 3pt shooter."

-New Orleans Hornets broadcasters right after a Rudy Fernandez missed 3pter. Rudy Fernandez finished the game with three 3pters on six attempts.

by Tofu Anonymous on Jul 16, 2009 7:07 AM PDT up reply actions  

Pau will play more C minutes than DJ

Just because his primary is the PF slot does not mean that Jackson will hesitate to play him at C for a fair amount of minutes, especially if Lamar Odom returns to the fold.

by dprodigy19 on Jul 16, 2009 7:37 AM PDT up reply actions  

gasol played more center minutes for la

than any other player on their roster. mbenga barely saw the floor.

by colinmarsh on Jul 16, 2009 6:13 PM PDT up reply actions  

By multiple accounts Utah is determined to match the Blazers’ $32 million offer sheet

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 16, 2009 4:27 AM PDT reply actions  

why do people keep spelling hinrich heinrich

"There are a few teams you have to watch out for in the fourth quarter."
"Yeah, but Portland definitely is not one of them."

-New Orleans Hornets broadcasters at the end of the third quarter with the Hornets leading 74-59. Portland later ends up winning 97-89.

"They don't mind him shooting that shot at all. Rudy Fernandez is not that great of a 3pt shooter."

-New Orleans Hornets broadcasters right after a Rudy Fernandez missed 3pter. Rudy Fernandez finished the game with three 3pters on six attempts.

by Tofu Anonymous on Jul 16, 2009 7:06 AM PDT reply actions  

His own coach calls him Kurt

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 16, 2009 7:34 AM PDT up reply actions  

That's on his parents.

"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 Jul 16, 2009 8:36 AM PDT up reply actions  

Heinrich is the usual spelling

In Portland, there are 2 Hinrich, 49 Heinrich in the white pages. I’m sure Kurt is used to it.

by levelhed on Jul 16, 2009 8:33 AM PDT up reply actions  

Usual?

His last name is HINRICH. It’s black and white as can be.

by Balian on Jul 16, 2009 9:12 AM PDT up reply actions  

Umm

In the NBA there is 1 Hinrich and 0 Heinrichs.

This is all that should matter :-)

The Princess of Blazersedge

by Zaig on Jul 16, 2009 11:03 AM PDT up reply actions  

That's on his grandparents.

"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 Jul 16, 2009 8:36 AM PDT up reply actions  

They are used to seeing "Hein"eken

Big D from Blog-A-Bull - "Pritchard is such a genius that teams just give him players for free."

Greg Oden - The only other rookie with more than 500 points, 400 rebounds, and 65 blocks in under 1400 minutes played. Since 1946

by FiveOhThree-RipCity!! on Jul 16, 2009 8:51 AM PDT up reply actions  

$$$$$$$$. Utah does NOT want to be into the luxury cap and they need to shed salary with a DUMP.
but I see no reason why Utah and New York wouldn’t do a David Lee sign n’ trade for Boozer, since that would take care of Utah’s PF issue, and give New York a one year Boozer rental that doubles as an expiring contract.

"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 Jul 16, 2009 8:35 AM PDT reply actions  

That was written with the assumption Millsap is gone. Then they are throwing only 10 Mill

to one PF, instead of 18-20 Million at two. Utah knew they were going to have to pay some bucks for one or the other….maybe not as much as what Portland’s offer will cause though.

Can I buy you a fish sandwich?

by silkybrown on Jul 16, 2009 8:53 AM PDT up reply actions  

The Off Season and what Turk Taught Us

This Off-Season I have been looking at the positive things that have happened with these contract negotiations, Take Turk for example Toronto had to pay 5 years 53 Mil to keep a 30 year old player, thats a lot of loot and will hurt them later down the road especially if they resign Bosh, next is Milsap a contract that Utah will more then likely match, so what, we forced them to do something they did not really want to by paying a lot to keep him, even more so if they can not trade Boozer, So I say we go after Odom next and do the same thing, Lets inflate his price a little, the Lakers are not going to let him go anywhere if they want another championship, and believe me if they intend to keep Kobe they do. We have Cap space going into the season. thats not really that bad of a worse case, considering we screwed a few teams financially in the process.

Draft Cole Aldrich 2010

by jlarose78 on Jul 16, 2009 8:53 AM PDT reply actions  

Some good points ....

I agree that we should look at the positives coming out of this off season. I think that we have a good chance to be a better team this next year just based on the growth of the players we already have and the addition of injured players.

As for the idea of going after Odom and “do the same thing” I have to disagree. I don’t think that it looks like the Lakers are ready to sign Odom for the 10mil+ that he is looking for. So if we go out and make that offer just to try to inflate the amount that the Lakers are going to have to pay, I think that it will end up backfiring on us. We will end up paying 10mil+/year for a 30 year old player that will hurt us down the road especially when we go to sign our younger players to contracts. That is the same thing that you were knocking on the Raptors for doing. Add into that the fact that the majority of the fans can’t stand Odom and you are getting a very bad deal.

I think that we need to walk away from this off season and look at the lessons learned. Maybe we go after somebody via trade during the season, but I don’t think that we should just settle for signing the “biggest name available”.

by NickPDX on Jul 16, 2009 9:37 AM PDT up reply actions  

Maybe...

I could see spending something more in that range on him but all those signing bonuses too? Also it doesn’t seem like Odom is interested in a deal that “small”. He is looking for a big contract since this may be his last chance to get those kind of dollars, coming off a ring year too.

We’ll see what KP decides to do. Like I said no matter what we do, I have faith that we will be a better team next season regardless.

by NickPDX on Jul 16, 2009 11:48 AM PDT up reply actions  

Pooh?

I assume youre talking about Derrick Rose. If so, there is no way he’s going ANYWHERE this year.

"Everyone knows who you are; but only your friends know why."
- Rich Amato

by CoRBBall on Jul 16, 2009 10:55 AM PDT reply actions  

Pooh Jeter...

currently playing on the summer roster (UofP grad), is who he is talking about I bet. I don’t see him having a chance of making the rotation and certainly not as the third PG. If anything he could be the 4th PG (if they carry that many) and would be on the IR all season.

by NickPDX on Jul 16, 2009 11:40 AM PDT up reply actions  

Non-Lethal Dose

“Did we give Utah enough ‘Poison’?”

No.

If Millsap was worth having, and its seems he fits the Blazer bill as ‘motivated, talented and young’, then they should have offered another $5,-$8 million, up to whatever was the max they could offer, and really pushed to get him. All this talk of Paul’s deep pockets, yet when it comes to “Deal or No Deal” they resort to a gimmick instead of putting up enough money to get the talent. Just Cash; no trade required.

The “Poison” would have been to go All In.

Do they really need to hang on to a marginal remainder of Cap space?

When you have a chance to get superior talent grab it. I would rather have a young Millsap than and old turkey anyway, so why not pay him the same.

by Sashland on Jul 16, 2009 12:32 PM PDT reply actions  

how does utah "flinching"

help the blazers? if they wanted millsap they had to offer the max to have any hope of getting him. the deal they made was a sure thing that utah would match it.

honestly i’m fine with it as i don’t think millsap made any sense for the blazers but i can’t find the strategy in their bid for millsap.

by colinmarsh on Jul 16, 2009 6:16 PM PDT up reply actions  

No

We will know that we have given Utah enough poison when the entire front office and coaching staff keels over dead. – Elgin

Without you out there, we're nowhere here

by 22baylor on Jul 16, 2009 1:22 PM PDT reply actions  

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