Time is now

by ripcitymilehigh on Dec 19, 2010 1:46 PM PST

For Cho to do something. Either trade to get better now, or trade to get better in the future.

With two draft picks this year, cash reserves, and young talent to move (Fernandez, Babbit, Williams, Johnson, Koponen, Claver, Freeland), budding stars to move (LA, Batum), and expiring contracts (Miller, Zilla) the blazers should be able to do something...right? I for one think that moving toward the draft is an easier target, as a lot of the major talent has already changed hands over the last few years.

This year's draft could be great for young PGs that can play with or without Roy. Couple that with a returning (hopefully) Oden solid play at the wings, and a solid collection of role players and this team's future could be bright.

But please build around the PG spot. Most of the guys on this roster (minus Roy) are desperate for a set-up man. In fact, I would argue that this roster as it exists is much better suited for a star PG than a star 2.

The worst thing they could do at this point is continue on, a .500 club with average draft picks and no room for free agents. That could last for a decade, just look at the Nuggets. Come on Cho, come on Vulcans, make a plan and get it moving...the GOE is closing....

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trade deadline isnt until february

plenty of time

Michael Jordan is the Nicolas Batum of America
Andre Miller is da bomb; he is also the greatest thing since sliced bread and more american than apple pie
Hey Rudy! The spinning fade-a-way doesn't work!

by thomasikehara on Dec 19, 2010 2:49 PM PST reply actions

please dont move those budding stars. LA is a star and will be at this years all-star game. He’s the guy to build around. He’s in great shape and his game is getting better all the time. Big deal, he misses 4th quarter free throws. As the reality that Roy is no longer reliable sets in, Aldridge will move in to “the guy” spot. Confidence up! Free throws in! Makes sense to me… There’s too many ifs and where tos right now (and thus far). Things need to feel solid again, then we can get better.
I agree the time is now, but do not trade Batum or Aldridge or Camby! Let ’em become the long-armed three headed beast; the perfect blend of knowledge, potential and skill. And long arms…

by johnshmidt on Dec 19, 2010 3:57 PM PST reply actions

I think Dre does a great job setting up his teammates

If we weren’t down 3 and a half players vs. Golden State it would have been quite a game to see (as long as the half player wasn’t dragging tempo down.)

by panfolk on Dec 19, 2010 4:31 PM PST reply actions

build around LMA, Matthews, and Batum (if you can salvage him now)

anyone else is fair game if you can get back value.

"I want to be traded to a contender" is almost always code-speak for "I'm a loser."
-Dave, 2/5/2010: http://www.blazersedge.com/2010/2/5/1297509/no-amore-for-amare

by douglast on Dec 19, 2010 4:38 PM PST reply actions

better system, better Nic

First, Batum’s personal trainer (Monty) was taken away. Then the starting lineup has been in flux from the get-go this season. If there’s anything we’ve learned about Frenchy it’s that he thrives in structure, we shouldn’t expect him to look good in a summer-league compost of a lineup where everyone’s playing glorified rat ball

Maybe’s he’ll be worth more in a mid-season trade than his potential appears to be right now in a Blazer’s uniform. But I’d prefer that Portland hire a coach that runs a system that will make even better use of LMA, Matthews and Batum and then make a decision re: Nic. He’s certainly not going to cost the team much, salary-wise, in the short term. If Frenchy is still struggling when it comes time to extend him, then pursue a sign and trade with all of his various suitors around the NBA.

When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!

by two4larue on Dec 19, 2010 7:43 PM PST up reply actions

Sell high - unless it's Batum?

Batum’s trade value is likely to drop lower as the year goes on. This is his 3rd year, this is the year he should have stepped into a starting role and established himself. We traded away Webster to make minutes for Batum. Everyone knew this was the year that Batum would play 30+ minutes a game and become a key contributor to the team. Some people even thought he was the 4th member of a Big 4.

So what happened? He got that chance but didn’t step up. He just doesn’t have the aggressive personality to do it. I remember you saying Batum couldn’t get the ball enough when was starting. But look at Matthews. We don’t run any plays for him and he’s averaging about 20 pts a game as a starter in place of Batum. He has the aggression to step up, Batum doesn’t. Move him now before everyone else figures it out too (it may already be too late).

"You're not too smart, are you? I like that in a man." - Matty Walker in Body Heat (1981)

by BlazerFanSince1970 on Dec 19, 2010 8:25 PM PST up reply actions

To be clear - move him now if we can get something really good for him - as we could have a few months ago.

If not, be prepared for him to become a good, solid backup player for us as we rebuild. That’s ok, he’ll do us well. But we could have got much more for him than that a few months ago, and if we still can then do it now while we can.

"You're not too smart, are you? I like that in a man." - Matty Walker in Body Heat (1981)

by BlazerFanSince1970 on Dec 19, 2010 8:28 PM PST up reply actions

apples and oranges

Nic doesn’t have a contract like Miller, Przy and Camby. He’s not even counting against the luxury tax like Webster or Bayless were. Sure, Batum has trade value based on his upside, but that potential could be realized in Portland just as easily as another NBA team, if the right system is put in place before the clock strikes 12 and his rookie contract becomes a pumpkin. Flipping him now would be selling low, relatively speaking.

Matthews and Batum can easily coexist in the same starting lineup, so this doesn’t have to be an either/or question. The only hold-up is Roy’s status, and what the next head coach chooses to do with Brandon, assuming he’s still on the team following the lockout and the new CBA.

Bottom line, I’d rather have the bird in the hand (Frenchy’s future) than to move him for unknown assets (draft choices, a different young player) before ever having the chance to see Batum developing outside of Nate’s system. McMllian does not inspire confidence in most of his young players, and that has become even more apparent after Monty’s departure

When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!

by two4larue on Dec 19, 2010 9:23 PM PST up reply actions

BTW, after 13 games, Bayless' PER is now up to 19.7 with the Raptors

Small sample size, to be sure. Jerryd’s in a system that plays to his strengths? There’s no doubt about that

The lesson? Batum could be the next Bayless in a month or so, if he’s traded to a team with a coach who knows how to use him correctly. I’d rather hold onto Portland’s young talent and flip the coach

When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!

by two4larue on Dec 19, 2010 9:33 PM PST up reply actions

I said only for something really good. I didn't say trade Batum for draft picks or young potential.

Batum is a totally different case than Miller or Camby. They need to be moved because their value will definitely deteriorate in the next 2 years and they won’t be around to help a rebuilt Blazer team anyway. So I trade them for some 1st round draft picks and/or a young player with a lot of potential. i.e. we get the best we can for them while they still have trade value.

But in Batum’s case, he would be around to help a rebuilt Blazer team 2, 3, 4, 5 years from now. So the only reason to trade him now is if one thinks his trade value will decrease from the overly hyped level it was at a few months ago AND if you can get a very good starter level player for him (plus other assets) now (probably the starting PG of now and the future since that is going to be our biggest unfilled need) that is young enough to help us for many years to come. i.e. you trade Batum to get a sure thing better player for the future, not for draft picks or young potential because we know that Batum will still contribute for us for years to come.

In my opinion, Batum is over-hyped and his future while good is not nearly as great as some people think (all-star level etc). So if we can get a better player for him we do it now while his trade value is at what I believe will be an all-time high. But it may already be too late.

I know your feelings about Batum because you said you wouldn’t have included him in a trade for CP3 last summer. Now you are blaming Nate for his lack of stepping up this year, but I think you are wrong. Batum had the same chance as Matthews to show what he could do as a starter and failed to do it. I still believe Batum is a good player, but I don’t think he will ever be nearly at the level you see him.

McMllian does not inspire confidence in most of his young players

I disagree. Roy did fine under Nate. LMA’s doing fine under Nate, and growing this year just like I told you he would (you disagreed). Matthews looks like he will do fine under Nate. If not for health, Oden would have (and maybe still will) do fine under Nate (well maybe not Nate now). Good players will succeed because they are good players. Marginal players like Bayless, Jack, Sergio (not even marginal), Trout, etc. will fail in some systems and do better in others. It’s not the coach so much as it is fit and opportunity for marginal players, and eventually most of them become just what they were destined to be – marginal players.

"You're not too smart, are you? I like that in a man." - Matty Walker in Body Heat (1981)

by BlazerFanSince1970 on Dec 19, 2010 11:55 PM PST up reply actions

Actually you did agree

I said Nate does not inspire confidence in most of his players, and you named the very few exceptions who have received regular PT and weren’t jerked in-and-out of the lineup during their first years in the league

Matthews had the benefit of a year in Utah before joining the Blazers, he also has a full MLE LT contract that has made it more necessary for Nate to play him. If Wesley had been drafted #55 in ‘09, do you think McMillian would have played Matthews 20-25 mpg? Really? Based on what? Certainly not Nate’s track record in Portland.

As far as Oden goes, remember “2 fouls and out” for the rest of the 1st half? That was hardly confidence-inspiring

Batum misses Monty, but Nic can overcome that. What Frenchy really needs help with only a new coach and system can provide

When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!

by two4larue on Dec 20, 2010 8:25 AM PST up reply actions

KYRIE IRVING HERE WE COME!

Nicolas Batum is the future of the Blazers

by gtbassett on Dec 19, 2010 5:22 PM PST reply actions

But seriously

If we could land Irving, and he could become an elite, or even just a very very good pg and if Oden could ever get healthy, I think we’d be ok, Irving/Matthews/Batum/LMA/Oden would be quite the lineup.

Nicolas Batum is the future of the Blazers

by gtbassett on Dec 19, 2010 5:23 PM PST up reply actions

I've been thinking...

and I agree better rebuilding than mediocrity. I like Camby/Pryz/Dre as a core of veterans and would hate to see them go, however.

by panfolk on Dec 19, 2010 5:45 PM PST reply actions

After looking over the schedule

I believe the best we can do is 46-48 wins at best with the current roster. Waiting to the ASB to acquire a player for a playoff push is probably too late.

Rebuilding is not going to be as easy as blazerland believes especially if Allen insists on getting more durable players.

by 7677maniac on Dec 20, 2010 9:54 AM PST reply actions