Plan B...How about Tashaun Prince

by dg77 on Jul 4, 2009 11:16 AM PDT

So now that fate has come down mightily upon the shoulders of the Blazer kingdom and rid us of the pestilence known as the Turkish Michael Jordan (Isn't that like Yakof Smirnoff being called the Russian George Carlin), we can now focus on a player who will possibly contribute in both the first and last years of the contract they have with us.

I say that player should be Tashaun Prince. Like Hedo he is a veteran, although Prince is a year younger. Additionally, both players can shoot from various distances and handle the ball well. Both players have also been considered to be good teammates. In a simple analysis this is where the similarities end. Unlike Hedo, Prince is a superior on the ball and team defender. In addition, Prince has Championship winning experience. Furthermore, that experience was on a team without ego (as far as a professional athlete can be considered to be without ego...I know it's an oxymoronic thing to say). Conversely, one could surmise that Hedo's decision to relocate to Toronto was not motivated by basketball related reasons (this is contrary to my Blazer-centric view of the world) , and therefore, winning basketball games is not his priority.

To make a Prince acquisition work the Blazers would have to make an uneven trade; however, it doesn't seem they would have to include any pieces they haven't already been discussed; i.e., Outlaw, Blake, and Trade exceptions. And if this trade was made the Blazers should be able to sign a FA (as long as the signing occurs before any trade).

Thoughts?

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i would love to have him but will detroit be willing to give him up?

"shaq and zach randolph have the same trainer... "

best one liner i ever heard.

by bowdown on Jul 4, 2009 11:19 AM PDT reply actions

SI reporter, Ian Thompson says,

The Pistons remain frontcourt-thin while they wait to see if 34-year-old big man Antonio McDyess returns to provide short-term relief. Eventually they may have to improve that area by moving 29-year-old small forward Tayshaun Prince, whose contract expires in 2010-11 at a salary of $11.1 million, or 31-year-old shooting guard Rip Hamilton, who will be the more difficult player to deal with four years and as much as $50 million remaining on the books.

by dg77 on Jul 4, 2009 11:24 AM PDT up reply actions

Two words to shoot down the idea of dishing out players and paying lots of money for Prince: Nic Batum.

"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 4, 2009 11:24 AM PDT reply actions

Batum is the future,

but we need a starter for the next 2-3 years. Prince is an ideal fit if you accept the preceding logic.

by dg77 on Jul 4, 2009 11:26 AM PDT up reply actions

He could easily be

the present. I can imagine that next year will showcase many other facets of his game that we didn’t get to see because of the role he was assigned. I think Batum is it.

by LewisClark on Jul 4, 2009 2:19 PM PDT up reply actions

we only do the move if it is Tayshaun for Travis straight up, to give Detroit an extra bit of cap space for one more signing.

by Cablinasian on Jul 4, 2009 11:29 AM PDT up reply actions

KP already showed his hand

He wants an experienced player and apparently not a point guard, probably a small forward that takes a little pressure off Roy. Prince has tons of experience and he’s also a small forward. I also think he can take pressure off of Roy. AND DON’T FORGET, Prince was on the Olympic team and Nate was on the coaching staff.

by axel360 on Jul 4, 2009 11:34 AM PDT up reply actions

I forgot that Nate and Tashaun were on the Olympic team together.

And I agree that we aren’t terrible at SF; however, unless we can merge Outlaw’s offense with Batum’s defense next year we are a couple of years of being force at the SF position.

by dg77 on Jul 4, 2009 11:39 AM PDT up reply actions

I like this merge idea....Batlaw to the rescue

we have the technology, we can rebuild him….

by mathrockerpdx on Jul 4, 2009 12:28 PM PDT up reply actions

a rational Gm doesn’t make that move, but Dumars just signed Villanueva and Ben Gordon for five years each.

by Cablinasian on Jul 4, 2009 11:40 AM PDT up reply actions

I really don't think we are terrible at SF

by axel360 on Jul 4, 2009 11:30 AM PDT reply actions

our perimeter D is

apart from batum but he is too young right now

"shaq and zach randolph have the same trainer... "

best one liner i ever heard.

by bowdown on Jul 4, 2009 12:07 PM PDT up reply actions

Prince>Hedo

by axel360 on Jul 4, 2009 11:36 AM PDT reply actions

Agreed

"Intent is prior to content, the question is, does this generation really want truth?"
"Cogito ergo sum" -Descartes

by Shribby on Jul 4, 2009 11:58 AM PDT up reply actions

Most definitely

as travis would say

"shaq and zach randolph have the same trainer... "

best one liner i ever heard.

by bowdown on Jul 4, 2009 12:07 PM PDT up reply actions

Very much agreed.

by MDBlazerfan on Jul 4, 2009 12:48 PM PDT up reply actions

More Prince and Blazer fodder from "bleacherreport"

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/211894-joe-dumars-i-take-it-back-you-are-a-genius

1. Tayshaun Prince to the Portland Trailblazers or Utah Jazz

They have a Dire-Need for a SF and the recent spurning of Hedo Turkoglu, has led to some trade rumors for Tayshaun Prince. The Pistons could ask for Channing Frye and Joel Przybilla, which could be a good deal for the Pistons having a major hole to fill with both Dice and Sheed gone.

As for the Utah Jazz, the team could send expiring contract of Carlos Boozer to Detroit in a straight swap of players.

The inclusion of Channing Frye in this discussion indicates poor reporting, but nonetheless, at least somebody else is discussing the idea.

Also, the reporter asserts the Detroit draft and free agent signings marks the end for Prince.

Daye is SF
Summers is SF
and Charlie V. plays like a SF

by dg77 on Jul 4, 2009 12:13 PM PDT reply actions

Two Thumbs Way Up

by TrailBlazerChief on Jul 4, 2009 12:21 PM PDT reply actions

Do you guys think Detroit would give up Prince?

by axel360 on Jul 4, 2009 12:34 PM PDT reply actions

Yes

He’s only got two years left on his contract. They have too many SF’s and Prince is the most expensive per year player of those SFs. I would argue that Charlie V. is more of a SF than a PF, which makes Prince that much more expendable. And they have pressing need to find post players, which they probably can’t without a trade or freeing up cap-room.

by dg77 on Jul 4, 2009 12:43 PM PDT up reply actions

It is interesting that Detroit drafted Daye. He is basically Prince jr. Replacement?

by water on Jul 4, 2009 1:31 PM PDT reply actions

Totally in favor of trying to get Prince

But I have a hard time believing Joe Dumars would be willing to give him up. Unless he’s really looking for more cap space for next year, I don’t see Detroit accepting any of the players that KP might be willing to give up. Prior to the Ben Gordon signing I think he might have taken Rudy, but probably not now (not that I’d want to give him up anyway).

by MDBlazerfan on Jul 4, 2009 1:33 PM PDT reply actions

Of course Detroit would give up Prince

For Travis or Rudy and Joel.

They need a big. Joel would have to be part of the picture.

If KP believes Greg is ready to play 35 mpg without fouling out every other game, he might pull the trigger on that. Then, he could use the cap space (which we would still have) to grab Millsap or David Lee, and we would mostly go with a three man rotation (Oden, Aldridge, Millsap or Lee) at the 4-5.

Would it be worth it? I would say if we can get Lee or Millsap, and keep Rudy, and get Prince for Travis and Joel, it would probably make us a much better team. Hopefully, we’d have enough cap space left to get some kind of journeyman backup center, but mostly LMA would be our backup center in that scenario. I would hate to see Joel go, though.

Prince is very, very good.

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

by jscot on Jul 4, 2009 2:04 PM PDT reply actions