I have been thinking long and hard about how this team can return to its contender status and what trades might facilitate that and I have come to the conclusion that there are none. I like this team and think they can compete, but I also see that they have a pretty low ceiling right now. Problem is, there are no franchise changing trades to be made out there. What we had in Roy was a ticket to the big show. One of only five or six players that could take a franchise to the next level. Without him we are just a good scrappy team that can compete for the playoffs but not the ring.The idea that we can somehow make a trade that will get us back in contention is false. Those players that give you that opportunity are not going anywhere, and especially not to portland. We are not getting, LBJ, Wade, Paul, Kobe, Peirce, or anything near that for any package we could put together, so why make wholesale changes? I like a lot of players like Wallace or Iggy, but those are second or third guys on a championship team. Right now we have a good mix of young talent and productive vets, our best move would be to use our Medical exemption and maybe picks to get some more depth and fill a hole or two. Carl Laundry comes to mind as does Brandon bass, something small but effective could really solidify this team and then next year we have somewhere around thirty million to work with if we let our expiring contracts go. Thats plenty to add a big peice or two to an already decent core. I am as excited as anyone about a big trade to right the ship, but I just don't see the pieces out there to make a real difference ( contending for a title). I say we see what Rudy, Batum, Mathews can do along side LA, miller, and Camby. Who knows, this group coup be a lot more special that they are getting credit for.