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Bring Back Ime Udoka? We could do a lot worse.


With all the summer's purported "disappointments" on the Free Agent market, it'd becoming clear that the "Big Splash" the front office was hoping for is not going to happen. Barring a sweatheart deal with a team looking to offload salary, we may be better off at this point merely shoring up our bench with a veteran roleplayer or two.

Star-divide

What kind of player would best fill this role for us? For me, it comes down to 4 attributes:

 

  • Able to hit an open jumpshot, preferably from 3-point range.
  • Solid defensively.
  • Won't mind sitting on the bench for long stretches if our younger players are doing well, or create locker-room tension.
  • Won't break the bank, leaving us with some roster flexibility at trade deadline time.

Is it just me, or is this not a perfect description of what Ime Udoka brings to the table? Sure, he's not a game-changing type of player. He's not going to light up your stat sheet every night. At the same time, he's a hard worker, stingy on perimeter D, can stroke the three from the corner when he's open, and could probably be had for about half the available room the Blazers have under the cap. Say a 3-year, $15 million deal, with a team option for a fourth year.

I don't know how much bias I have about Ime. Certainly, I was a big fan of him when he was here. At the same time, his last two seasons in SA have been less productive than his year in Portland. Would bringing Ime back be a smart move from a basketball perspective? Or is this just wishful thinking on my part due to my love of Ime?

Poll
Should the Blazers re-sign Ime Udoka?
Yes!
48 votes
No!
40 votes
Maybe!
31 votes

119 votes | Poll has closed

Comment 17 comments  |  0 recs  | 

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Bring back Ime

we have plenty of “back-up” small forwards. Why would we ever bring back Ime and especially for more than the veteran minimum.

by The Natural ala Mode on Jul 20, 2009 4:36 PM PDT reply actions  

no point in making a deal just for the sake of making a deal

by Rep- on Jul 20, 2009 4:42 PM PDT reply actions  

Why?

So we can give him 20 mpg at the ‘3’ instead of Batum or Webster? Talk about stupid. Ime isn’t going to push us over the hump to winning a title, therefore any time he gets is time that would be better spent developing our younger talent.

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 20, 2009 4:45 PM PDT reply actions  

The only reason to bring back Ime is...

if we are expecting to get in some brawls this year. I heard that he is a real brawler. Is that what Brandon and KP meant by toughness?

"It's not who jumps the highest -- it's who wants it the most" Buck Williams

"and if EVERYONE confronted with a tough, disgusting situation pulled out, I don't think I would have been born." Mortimer

by Fund A Mental on Jul 20, 2009 5:04 PM PDT reply actions  

I wish he popped a couple of L@kers when he was here.

The Kings have the best bench I’ve seen. There are easily 14 guys on this team good enough for every bench in the league. Now if we could only get some starters, I’d totally jizz in my pants.

Kings fan

by dyshooter182 on Jul 20, 2009 5:26 PM PDT up reply actions  

I'd rather have Bruce Bowen

he’s got a non-guaranteed contract with Milwaukee, and I don’t see them keeping him. BB’s good friends with Monty and he’s not going back to the Spurs. If he gets cut by the Bucks then offer him the veteran minimum and keep him around playing sparingly during the regular season, then unleash him on K*be in the post season. (If Bowen does “something rash” and gets himself suspended…well no great loss!)

But it would be so worth it to have Bruce around to teach some “clutch and grab” perimeter defense to Batum, Cunningham and Webster…and he could do a clinic on “101 ways to get under the skin of your opponent”

When reached 39 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!

by two4larue on Jul 20, 2009 7:22 PM PDT up reply actions  

Also a good option.

I’d be happy bringing either one of them in on a vet minimum contract.

by MDBlazerfan on Jul 20, 2009 7:24 PM PDT up reply actions  

I love Ime, hate BB... and would much rather have Bowen.

I was stoked when Ime made the team (PSU pride baby!), but this team is in a much different place than we were three years ago. I’m all for anything that ends Outlaw of out town and forces KP to sign a legitimate backup 4. I think Bowen would be a great mentor for Nic and Martell. Ime? No way. Unless we want to sign them both try out the new all small foward lineup Nelly has been dreaming of…

by sevyms on Jul 20, 2009 9:48 PM PDT up reply actions  

i dont remember ime being a brawler

not to call him a wuss or anything, he is a tough player, but I dont remember him fighting when he was on the Blazers

by cavejunctionblazer on Jul 20, 2009 5:53 PM PDT up reply actions  

Ime has always played the 3

he’s only 6’5" and 215lbs

"It's not who jumps the highest -- it's who wants it the most" Buck Williams

"and if EVERYONE confronted with a tough, disgusting situation pulled out, I don't think I would have been born." Mortimer

by Fund A Mental on Jul 20, 2009 5:10 PM PDT up reply actions  

if we are going to bring in another small forward

he should be either a clear upgrade over the ones we have, or someone the lots of potential. Ime is neither

bayless leaves over my dead body

by thomasikehara on Jul 20, 2009 5:28 PM PDT reply actions  

Bring him back

But only on a veteran’s minimum contract (or slightly more). Great locker room guy and he could certainly help Batum become an even better defender. It also allows Outlaw to be traded without having to worry about relying on a guy coming back from a bad foot injury and a rookie 2nd rounder to back up Batum.

You offer him a two-year deal around the vet minimum with the second year only partially guaranteed. If he signs, you have a solid veteran who won’t rock the boat, has great character, and who could certainly contribute if the injury bug hits. If he doesn’t, you’re out nothing.

by MDBlazerfan on Jul 20, 2009 7:23 PM PDT reply actions  

subtraction by addition

i think adding yet another small forward to the roster would cause far more trouble than good. the blazers need to move one of their 3’s, they definitely don’t need to add one.

by colinmarsh on Jul 20, 2009 7:26 PM PDT reply actions  

sorry

doesn’t matter, unless he’s clearly a cut above Martell AND Travis AND Nic, no way do we need another SF.

by austinpwnz on Jul 20, 2009 9:05 PM PDT reply actions  

yes

but only for the vet minimum

by Falcao on Jul 21, 2009 7:50 AM PDT reply actions  

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