but I remember Nate saying that he was impressed by Lamar’s work ethic during the USA Basketball workouts a few years ago. So maybe there IS a match here (but right now after getting “jilted” by one free agent it’s hard to be optimistic…)

There’s no doubt that Portland can outbid L*A for LO’s services, if they want him bad enough. But will Lamar “want” Portland? He may have some respect for Nate, because of their USA basketball experience, and Odom does feature the size and many of the skills that KP was looking for, in Hedo. Lamar is “better off” when he’s not the 2nd or 3rd “option” on a team—and that’’s a good thing in Portland—because no one would want him to be “the guy”. Just another soldier to help “beat L*A”

The best part of all? Mike Rice will have to learn how to pronounce “Odom” vs “Oden” every night! That in itself will be “worth” all of the inconsistency and “off” nights that seem to frustrate the fans who have followed LO, over the years.

Well, not just “any” SF, that’s true. But you can’t really say “I think KP knows that” when he was doing everything he could to acquire Hedo this afternoon! (Jason Quick said on Thursday that he has never seen KP and NAte be “so sure” about bringing in a nedw player as they were with Turk)

The last thing I’m advocating is “make a deal just ot make a deal” (I think Battier would be a good fit, we’ve been discussing him for quite awhile, around here.) He may not be the best choice, for the reasons I outlined above. But we do know improving the team’s BBIQ and “going for it” are, in fact, what the Blazers are interested in doing right now. The “Turk pursuit” should’ve made that very clear to everyone

I don’t think that KP is going to shink back like a scolded puppy and sit on the 9 mil of cap-space, just because he got left at the altar by Hedo and his wife. The only question that remains tonight is: who is “plan B”? Is it really a point guard? (Quick said KP wasn’t looking to upgrade that position, but that was “before” the Turkish defection.)

I’m perfectly willing to “focus” on the team’s needs; this morning they thought they needed a better SF. Are you so sure they changed their mind in the last 8 hours?

Yep

Shane isn’t the penetrator and creator that Turk is (few big men are)

What do you think of Odom? He’s got some handles, and could play the 3/4 like Hedo?

I know Lamar likes the beach, but as we found out with Hedo “money talks” and now that L*A has Artest, I doubt they’d try to outbid the Blazers