Could the Spanish Armada become the French Connection?

by bfan on May 1, 2010 9:32 PM PDT

Lots of posts about offseason moves lately, so I can take this down if need be. But I haven't seen this idea mentioned yet and thought it deserved its own thread.

Before anybody jumps on me too hard, I'm basing this idea on one major assumption: San Antonio is a smaller market team. With nearly $64 million already committed to their 5 most expensive players for next year, and a luxury tax expected in the area of $68 million, something has to give.

That said, George Hill's emergence in the second half of the season and the playoffs has seemingly made Tony Parker expendable for San Antonio. If they feel Hill could be their future starting PG, they may be ammenable to trading Parker this offseason rather than pay him $13.6 million only to see him go into free agency.

A trade centered around Andre Miller for Tony Parker could work in both teams' best interests. Miller + Webster for Parker would give San Antonio a good weakside shooter to replace Mason, Bonner, and Bogans depending on who they lose. Miller + Prz for Parker would increase San Antonio's cap number but probably help their cash situation if Joel's contract is paid by insurance. San Antonio might demand Rudy in a deal for Parker, which we should probably consider, though making San Antonio TOO good could hurt us in the long run.

I like Miller and think he's done a good job this year, but he's getting old and we need a PG of the future. Can't miss a chance to get someone like Tony Parker. Not to mention Parker and Batum should have some mojo playing with the French team. A move like this could rejuvenate Rudy a bit (if he's not included in the trade) because that's a team that's destined to run. Might mean we need a new coach, though. I think whoever we move along with Miller is pretty easily replaced through free agency anyway.

Bottom line is that Miller could start for them, doing a lot of the things Parker does for less money. They groom Hill in a bench role for one more year until he's ready to take over full-time when Miller's contract expires. Parker becomes our PG for the next 4-5 years. He's 28 in a couple of weeks, and not as fast as he used to be, but I think this improves our team.

I don't know, just thinking out loud I guess. What do you guys/gals think? Seems like a reasobable deal financially and strategically for both teams.

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Only way this deal goes through is if you got some kind of incriminating photos or some genuis blackmail plan against the spurs org.

/cambyfive

by CroRupt on May 1, 2010 9:45 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs

I would love to see Parker in a Blazer uniform

but I have the feeling that any trade talk with RC Buford would begin and end with Nic Batum, which defeats the whole purpose of your wonderful dream

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

by two4larue on May 1, 2010 10:09 PM PDT reply actions

What about Aldridge?

Trade for Ronny Turiaf.

by IndustrialRevolution on May 3, 2010 12:13 PM PDT up reply actions

and leave a big gaping hole at the 4?

Sure, Dante and Camby can fill in there, but they’re supposed to be backups for LMA and Oden. Parker wouldn’t make up for the loss of Aldridge.

by HailOden! on May 3, 2010 1:02 PM PDT up reply actions

Aldridge for Parker

Then look to move Rudy/Webster/Bayless for a 4 like Turiaf

Trade for Ronny Turiaf.

by IndustrialRevolution on May 3, 2010 6:13 PM PDT up reply actions

Turiaf is a role player on a (high) lottery team

Not a starter on a contender. And do you realize you just listed the players who take up almost all of our bench minutes? What do we do when Parker is tired and injured? Play Mills?

by HailOden! on May 3, 2010 7:10 PM PDT up reply actions

Turiaf is not a starter on a playoff team, probably not even on most lottery teams.

Unless the goal is to build a team with a bunch of French guys I don’t see the point.

by Nick Van Excellent on May 3, 2010 8:39 PM PDT up reply actions

I made this suggestion on PtR a couple months ago.

Miller, Pryz & Rudy for Parker. The people I talked to were actually receptive, although Buford is obviously going to be more difficult to deal with then the fans. When someone said Batum instead of Rudy I told them that’s a deal breaker from my perspective. My mancrush for Batum run’s to deep. No way No how. Batum stay’s a Blazer!

Somebody step up! - Mike Rice

by We-B-Dunkin on May 1, 2010 10:34 PM PDT reply actions

only if eva longoria agrees to sit in section 236, row k, seat 12 for every home game

but she would only sit courtside so no.

by 64-18 on May 2, 2010 12:09 AM PDT reply actions

She does have a business in Portland though

If I had a dollar for every crappy analogy that I ever came up with I probably wouldn't have very much money actually.

by Tyler Durrden on May 2, 2010 10:37 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions

what business does she have in Portland?

by Natsthecat on May 2, 2010 4:22 PM PDT up reply actions

I'd have to look it up, but I believe it's something to do with green design.

I remember seeing her on the news about a year ago when they did a story about its launch.

If I had a dollar for every crappy analogy that I ever came up with I probably wouldn't have very much money actually.

by Tyler Durrden on May 3, 2010 6:38 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions

I am glad that you have such a high opinion of our players and would love to see that happen

but it would take Roy to get Tony Parker

Draft Cole Aldrich

by jlarose78 on May 2, 2010 6:40 AM PDT reply actions

I think you overestimate Parker's worth.

He’s great, but he’s not even a top 5 PG anymore. It’s not his fault, it’s just that with the influx of new talent the demand has gone down for players at his position.

The Spurs would be interested in Joel if he would be healthy by the playoffs. He’s a near perfect fit next to Duncan and they’ve wanted him forever. Miller is nearly the same caliber player as Parker (Parker only made 10 three pointers this year) and his age doesn’t matter as much since the Spur’s timeline for rebuilding is going to coincide with Miller’s age.

The Spurs only have two options.

1.) Rebuild now, which isn’t an option since they won’t ever trade Duncan and just resigned Manu.

2.) Go on another title run. Which means they need another big man next season WAY more than they need two great point guards.

by Nick Van Excellent on May 2, 2010 1:05 PM PDT up reply actions

Okay maybe I was a little extreme

They would probably give up there 27 year old star PG for LaMarcus as well

Draft Cole Aldrich

by jlarose78 on May 2, 2010 3:16 PM PDT up reply actions

Their 27 year old star PG has come off the bench the last 12 games.

I don’t think it would take LA, Oden, Roy, or Batum.

by Nick Van Excellent on May 2, 2010 4:00 PM PDT up reply actions

did not know that, is he hurt?

Draft Cole Aldrich

by jlarose78 on May 2, 2010 4:06 PM PDT up reply actions

he was hurt, not anymore

I don’t know whether or not that 12 games means anything. Pops might have just thought that it was more important to keep Manu in the starting lineup, since he was playing so well, which meant benching Parker for second unit scoring. Then again, it might be that Parker’s got one foot out the door. Too hard to tell.

But why would they resign a 32yo SG (that’s his age, right?) for 3yrs and then trade a 27yo PG b/c you want to get younger? That theory doesn’t make sense to me…

by HailOden! on May 2, 2010 6:22 PM PDT up reply actions

What if they got Aldridge

Parker would make up for the points lost & would immediately increase our points in the paint – They get younger.

Trade for Ronny Turiaf.

by IndustrialRevolution on May 3, 2010 12:17 PM PDT up reply actions

no

Our frontline is thin and injury prone as is. That’s a horrible idea for us. Plus, we’d have Parker, Miller, and Bayless (not to mention possibly Mills, Kopenen, and Rudy) all needing minutes at the PG spot. If we trade Aldridge, it needs to be for an upgrade at the starting PF spot. There’s no way around it (ok, there is, but it sucks)

And, you’re ignoring my point that they don’t actually want to get younger. If they did, they would have waited to sign and trade Manu. Plus, why would SA want Aldridge when they have Duncan? Granted, the man is really a center; but adding Aldridge would be like saying “ok Tim, we’ve pretended you were a 4 for over a decade, now, at the end of your career, we’re going to make accept the fact that you’re an center.”

by HailOden! on May 3, 2010 1:10 PM PDT up reply actions

Yeah.

I also know that the Spurs are playing the best basketball of the year, maybe even the last couple years, with Hill starting. He’s a fraction of the price with better defense and distance shooting.

Not saying the Spurs will trade Parker, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see it. If it’s due to injuries or something else, Parker just isn’t the finals MVP he once was. I’m not even sure he would be the best guy to stick next to Roy.

by Nick Van Excellent on May 2, 2010 6:55 PM PDT up reply actions

Hill has been playing extremely well in his stead

and is about 13x cheaper. If Joels contract gets paid for we might be able to grab him.

I was thinking this a while ago we could trade, Miller, Webster and Rudy works on the TM and could give the spurs outside shooting.

We could bring back Outlaw as a shooter from the wing and draft a shooting wingman

Bayless and Roy= Fire and Ice (TM)

Spread the word

by SpyderRyder on May 3, 2010 12:25 AM PDT up reply actions

I don't think this is as crazy as some of you seem to think

Parker’s numbers were way down this season. How much of that is the ankle, hip, and hand injuries and how much is an indication that he may have peaked at the fairly young age of 28, is open for discussion. Parker’s PER was actually below Miller’s.

Parker, in spit of having a big name, isn’t perfect. He is a poor defender, shoots less than 30% from 3pt. range and has missed quite a few games in the past three seasons. Hill is an emerging star, and SA may be ready to let Parker go. Whether or not we could make a good enough offer to get him is highly debatable.

I certainly wouldn’t be willing to trade Batum. Miller, Rudy, and Pryz for Parker would be potentially intriguing for both sides. Rudy’s attitude and Pryz’s health would be big concerns for SA. Parker’s enthusiasm and health would be real concerns for Portland. It would all depend on what other offers SA would receive.

by upper left corner on May 2, 2010 7:36 AM PDT reply actions

I think Miller was better than Parker this season.

It was health related, but still.

by Nick Van Excellent on May 2, 2010 1:06 PM PDT up reply actions

Don't forget that those are two expiring contracts

Still, it seems crazy to even think of being able to trade for Tony Parker.

by robrun2 on May 2, 2010 9:56 AM PDT reply actions

Parker's contract is expiring, as well

Which makes me think the Spurs will hang onto him, unless they get blown away with an offer

I tend to overvalue PGs who have been the MVP of an NBA finals.

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

by two4larue on May 2, 2010 4:57 PM PDT up reply actions

We sunk the Spanish Armada.

We´d send the French Connection to prison.

by amlmart1 on May 2, 2010 10:00 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs

I was kind of hoping this was a 'trade for Rodrigue Beaubois' post.

This could happen, maaaaaaaybe. Doubt it though. I think SA is willing to pay luxury tax for the last few years Timmy is around.

You can measure skill and talent with your eyes, but productivity is shown through statistics.

by austinpwnz on May 2, 2010 3:51 PM PDT reply actions

Roddy would be siiiiiiiick

I’d give up Bayless (one of my favs, and our #2 scorer on per minute basis), plus whatever else it took, if we could make that trade. We won’t though. Cuban has already said he’s untouchable.

by HailOden! on May 2, 2010 6:24 PM PDT up reply actions

You mean Rudy and Sergio are going to start smuggling Heroin?

That won’t help us…

Geriatric Dunk Squad!
3/7/10 - Andre Miller Tomahawk jams on the Denver Nuggets.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-JVgm7F1QA
1/4/10 - Juwan Howard dunks on Chris Kaman.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTkOqDgLb6s
4/12/10 - Marcus Camby drops 30 and 13 on OKC to cement 50 wins.
http://www.nba.com/blazers/media/camby_chant_041310.mp3

by Eat Politicians on May 2, 2010 11:05 PM PDT reply actions

wait to get Tony Parker in the off-season next year...

It would be easier…..

Go to Heaven for the climate, Hell for the company.

by jenstcy on May 3, 2010 8:53 AM PDT reply actions

Aldridge

Anyone think the Texas teams are gonna be interested in him? I think so. They have pieces we could use.

Parker? Brooks might even be a better fit. Roddy or Dirk? hmmm

Don’t be surprised to see Cuban go after Bosh :O

Trade for Ronny Turiaf.

by IndustrialRevolution on May 3, 2010 12:22 PM PDT reply actions

They'll want to dump their crappy players on us, if they even go for it

First of all, Cuban won’t get rid of Dirk. Dirk will die in a Mavs uni. Bosh and Aldridge won’t play well alongside Dirk, because they’re all too similar. Cuban knows this. He’s also not giving up Roddy; he’s already said he’s untouchable. Cuban’s man-crush on RB is bigger than Paul Allen’s was for Rudy, and, might I add, more justified.

San Antonio won’t put Aldridge alongside Duncan. Especially with Blair in the mix. They don’t need him, and he doesn’t get gritty enough for Pop’s system. We’re better off standing pat than taking Parker for LMA. It’s not like we NEED someone at the 1 pronto; Miller and Bayless are more than just fine for now, and Parker wouldn’t be that much of an upgrade.

Houston will NEVER trade Brooks. Unless it’s for Chris Paul or LeBron James. They might actually want Aldridge as a consolation prize if they miss out on FA target number one, CB4. But for what? Scola and Hayes? Mini-Mart? It’d be one thing if we were desperate to move LMA for some reason. We’re not.

by HailOden! on May 3, 2010 1:23 PM PDT up reply actions