Blazer Chatter Thread: One Guy Who's Gotta Stay

I see him growing into an 18 and 8 player.

but he also has a ton of trade value…it’s hard for me to say that if someone wanted to severely overpay for him that he would be completely untouchable. Outside of LMA though, Nic is certainly the most embedded in the core of this team moving forward. I think he will continue to grow and be a very good player for a very long time.

While I really, really like players like Batum, Matthews, Miller, Camby, Fernandez…outside of Aldridge…If you are building a “championship” viable team, I simply do NOT feel The Blazers roster is at a place where we have players that should be kept exempt from the “idea” or possibility of trading them. Even if I really, really like them.

So I have to say, who NEEDS to be kept longterm? Nobody has proven to me that they are that valuable….I don’t feel we have a surefire franchise level player….Aldridge is as close as we have…nobody else deserves that definition applied.

In the cases of Miller and Camby their chronological age makes them expendable. As much as I like them today? They simply cannot be tomorrow.

then Matthews. Everyone else? Hasta La Bye Bye.

Mathews is definitely a close second though

No matter what, there’s always going to be a salary cap. And no matter what, you’re always going to need role players and a decent bench. So even if you decide to blow it up, tank for the lottery, rebuild, whatever, you still need to fill out an entire team. Batum is still on his rookie contract, so that’s hard to judge as he will command more money really soon. But until then, I’d say Aldridge, Batum and Matthews. Aldridge is a proven workhorse that can play big minutes and avoid injury. Matthews is a high-motor team guy, and even if his shot isn’t falling he’s valuable. Batum does have great potential, but he’s also probably our best trade chip.

Even then, he’s 85% untouchable. He may end up being a bust but if not I would hate to have him come back and kill us playing for the Denver, Utah, or NY. I would rather miss out on potential talent and/or draft picks while riding out Nic’s development. Than take the chance of missing out on something truly special.

Nobody fits that description. Batum comes the closest.

He’s our best player.

People who have turned the page on him are making a mistake.

It has to be Lamarcus and Matthews we keep. I think there just both to consistant and don’t get injured. (knock on wood)

Dude is money. The other players, even Batum, are too inconsistent.

I don’t think anyone is off limits, apart from Aldridge. Everyone is going to say Batum here I’m sure. And I really love watching him play. He’s a terrific, rising young talent. But for the right price? I think it’s foolhardy to publically state that he’s off limits. The Blazers have far, FAR too many needs to be closed minded about incoming offers.

..but perhaps Cho is just being smart about Batum. When you say someone is “off limits”, it can artificially raise their value. Maybe that has been his strategy these past couple of months.

Aldridge, Matthews and Batum.

You have them tied up, (or will in Batum’s case), and it’s a good core, solid offense and solid defense in these guys, and young. Roy is untradeable. He’s like a wild card in poker, though…could come back strong, might not. But you’re going to have to give away the farm to move him, I think.

So, you view it as a poker game with other GMs as your competition, except they know your hand. So you are not going to fool anyone. But, you are going to take calculated risks and moves. You need a SOLID 5 guy and a SOLID 1 guy. That’s your core with the other three. Build around that with role players as best as is possible, and you might have something good.

Those positions might be on the current roster, as a possibility (right now), might not be too. So if you’re going to auction off the rest of the roster, you had better be sure you get these two positions filled first. ..then see what you can get as backup players.

Everyone else is tradeable…in this approach.

Rudy is inconsistant, and Roy will be back. Being Rudys friend didnt help Chacho, this is the NBA, not the boyscouts.

My untouchable list can’t be 1.
LA,Roy,Nic,Wes$ .

He’s the best global marketing piece the Blazers have.

This really shoulda been a Batum vs Mathews poll.

Absolutely noone on the active roster outside of lamarcus should be untouchable. Wes plays hard every night but his ceiling is as a complimentary player. Same for Batum. Don’t get me wrong, I like the current roster but if we get a chance to land another all-star/fringe all-star caliber player in return I would make the move.

I want to say Batum, but ask me this time next year and I hope to say “Oden.”

Camby. He has influenced LMA and brings something special for our bigs or the next “Bigs” to learn. He puts it all on the floor. He is amazing. There has to be teachers.

Oh. LMA, Batum, and Matthews and Camby!

Even LMA can be traded. His value right not ought to be at an all time high. Buy low, sell high. That’s how you get ahead.

I still believe it should be Oden.

There are many reasons that other teams covet Batum.
No Blazer Fan should loose site of what he brings to the “TEAM” concept.

How many “STARS” are going for the “Big Market” locations?
Do you really want to rent a STAR for a year or two instead of keeping Batum? I say, NO!