Now that summer has finally started it is time to talk trades. I still feel Portland needs a quality back up four to play spot minutes. Detroit has reportedly been shopping Maxiell, and I think he has real potential to fill the biggest hole in the Blazers. Brandon Bass is another piece that I feel we can nab in a pinch.

Jason Maxiell and Brandon Bass are very similar players on paper. Both have been in the league for four season, about 6'7 or 6'8 and 250-270 lbs. That is a bit undersized but both are still capable or playing spot minutes at center because they are strong and physical. I like Maxiell more because he is a bit more polished and athletic. That athleticism helps him be a better defender than Bass, and allows him to keep up with some of the bigger small forwards in the league. One possible trade I like for him is this http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=24bkbtv Detroit gets some youth in Pendergraph and Dante. They also can get some salary relief with Ryan Gomes's contract which can be waived for about 1 million if I am not mistaken. The Blazers get a nice banger for their trouble.

Brandon Bass is a nice player that got lost behind Orlando's massive front line this season. He didn't fit in well because he didn't have the range or Rashard Lewis, the defense of Matt Barnes or the size and strength of Gortat and Howard. Because of this he might be available for the right price, which I think is this http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=2a893tf Orlando gets a nice three shooter in Rudy and some salary relief in Gomes, while we get a solid back up power forward. We might be giving up too much of our trade gold with this move but we still have Joel's appealing expiring contract to work with. What do you think and enjoy this weather