The Trade: Things We Know/Things I Wonder
by jscot on Feb 25, 2011 1:10 AM PST
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I had to end my year-long Bedgecation to rec the Joel and Dante appreciation threads. Two of my favorite players gone, which hurts, but I love Crash's game. Joel made this team better for years, and now he makes it better in the way he leaves. Hopefully, he'll come back and make it better still.
We Know: Paul Allen still wants to win now, and still is willing to back it with lots of cold, hard cash.
I Wonder: Did Cho want to blow up the team, and lose the argument?
We Know: If the Vulcans are pushing for cost savings, they lost.
I Wonder: Are all the rumors about the Vulcans pushing for cost savings simply a ploy to make it seem to players and trading partners as if PA is cost-conscious, letting Cho drive a harder bargain?
We Know: The rumors about dumping Andre and Marcus were rubbish. This team is still trying to win now, despite all the injuries.
I Wonder: Did Cho ask Marcus to threaten retirement so people would quit pushing to include him in trades? The easiest way to have Joel be the trade asset, rather than Marcus, was for Marcus to be perceived as untouchable.
We Know: Dwight Jaynes still has a source inside the Blazers.
I Wonder: Why?
We Know: Quick was wrong when he said the Blazers were likely to stand pat.
I Wonder: Did someone feed him that line because they were playing hardball with Charlotte and wanted MJ to think they were walking away?
We Know: That the road to the Finals still goes through L.A., and that Crash solves our big matchup problems with them (assuming Marcus is healthy) by giving us someone to defend Artest and Odom.
I Wonder: Is the Blazers braintrust confident of Roy's return and thinking we can actually give the L@kers a run this year?
We Know: That Charlotte has had L.A.'s number for years (both home and away), and Crash has been a big part of that.
I Wonder: If some of that L@ker/Bobcats Kryptonite will rub off on the Blazers.
We Know: It's a good day to be a Blazer.
We Know: Paul Allen still wants to win now, and still is willing to back it with lots of cold, hard cash.
We Know: This has been a fun team to watch this year, and it's about to be even more fun.
We Know: It's a good day to be a Blazer.
We Know: Paul Allen, probably the best owner in the NBA, still wants to win now, and still is willing to back it with lots of cold, hard cash.
We Know: Get Marcus healthy and we've got an amazing defensive team.
We Know: It's a good day to be a Blazer.
We Know: Paul Allen, probably the best owner in the NBA, perhaps in all of professional sports, still wants to win now, and still is willing to back it with lots of cold, hard cash.
We Know: It's a good day to be a Blazer.
I Wonder: If Gerald Wallace knows that it's a good day to be a Blazer?
We Know: That the Rose Garden will fill him in on that.
It's a good day to be a Blazer.
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I think with our roster healthy, especially Marcus and Gerald,
we would have a good, 7 game series if we faced L.A. in the playoffs. But I think ultimately, Kobe and the refs/David Stern would be too much to overcome.
This move was for next year and the return of ODEN
Just imagine that, a starting lineup featuring Dre, Matthews, Crash, Aldridge, and Oden, then a bench with (1st round pick pg), Rudy, Batum, Camby, plus maybe a veteran FA signing. We’ll be beastly.
by gtbassett on Feb 25, 2011 2:05 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
I had to snicker at this
Damn you Dwight Jaynes!!!
me too
I wonder: has it really come to this? Can Roy’s name now be tossed around like he is just a bonus if he plays and if he doesnt, well then whatever…. I thought this was our man… the cities golden boy…. our savior…. thy Führer.
Yeah but then
Wes Matthews happened. Roy is now superfluous.
These are my principles. If you don't like them, I have others. -Groucho Marx
superfluous?
Hardly
Harry Bosch: "Everybody counts....or nobody counts."
by 92wastheyear on Feb 25, 2011 3:18 PM PST up reply actions 2 recs
nope
Harry Bosch: "Everybody counts....or nobody counts."
by 92wastheyear on Feb 26, 2011 10:58 AM PST up reply actions
True dat
If limiting his minutes to about 25 keeps him on the floor the next few seasons I am pumped, lets hope that works!
"Oh Yeah!" ~ Kool Aid Man
Um, even on bum knees, Brandon Roy has got handles that are demonstrably better ...
than that of Wesley Matthews, who’s also not a reliable crunch-time performer like ol’ #7.
"They say it has no memory. That’s where I want to live the rest of my life. A warm place with no memory."
yeah, but
if the new CBA permits teams to dump one big contract in 9-12 months, how could Portland justify not using it on #7?
Regardless of skills, I think the Blazer’s front office has to consider Brandon as a short-timer, and plan the future Blazer roster as if he won’t be a part of it. Wallace could be seen as a part of that potential “transition”—both monetarily and for what he offers on the floor
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
I, too, will be intrigued to see how things play out with Brandon Roy if there's ...
an amnesty clause provided in the new CBA. If that’s so, then this team will have to replace Roy with a wing player who’s got handles and can create opportunities for his teammates around him. Neither Wesley Matthews nor Nic Batum are able to provide that, either.
"They say it has no memory. That’s where I want to live the rest of my life. A warm place with no memory."
the Blazers will have plenty of assets to pursue that kind of player
and I know you’re already rooting for Iggy
at least Paul Allen showed that he’ll take on another long-term contract, Iggy’s will look even more attractive a year or two from now, depending on how the 76’ers are doing then, they may be trade partners, like Charlotte just was
I do still expect Matthews and Batum to improve over time, BTW
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
I really can't see Oden Starting next year.
Even if he is healthy, and that is a huge 7’1’’ if, I think it is fair to say that you will be looking at a less athletic oden at the least. At worst you see him revert back to the rookie/sophmore season from where he fouls every play and can only play 20 minutes a game. I don’t see him coming back in the form he left in. He hasn’t played in close to 2 years by the time he will see the court again.
by PortlandPhil on Feb 26, 2011 8:48 PM PST up reply actions
If Oden is healthy...
next year, the whole Stern thing may go down the drain.
Oden gets plenty of press when playing well. Especially given the whole Oden/Durant thing.
People love to see big men dominate.
Believe me….the media would capitalize on this and the ratings would be strong.
Also LMA…he will be a star by next year.
And Wallace…from an EASTERN CONFERENCE TEAM…people know who Gerald Wallace is…
So I wouldn’t be so sure of the Stern thing…next year.
by Natsthecat on Feb 26, 2011 3:15 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
my long held theory (dates back to the '70-80s)
You’ve got be 10 points better than the L*kers in a series-deciding playoff game to overcome the ref bias
ask a Kings fan, they know what this is about
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
by two4larue on Feb 26, 2011 3:58 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
but it's a lot easier for Boston, than teams like Sac-to and Portland
the Celtics have the east coast and all that built-in tradition going for them
Kendrick Perkin’s injury swung that series in game 6 last year. Boston kept it close in game 7, but Rasheed was no replacement for a real banger like KP
and so Boston went out and signed Shaq and Jerm during the offseason, and they’re still looking for more size to add to their roster, right now
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
And it
Now all we need is the rest of the roster to get into "how can everybody help Nicco and Oden" mode. -- Oden Mad, Oden Smash! Sep 29, 2010 7:47 PM
Fail ... And it's alot easier to have a fair series in the finals.
Stern wants LA in the finals. Them or Durant.
Good luck San Antonio and Portland.
Now all we need is the rest of the roster to get into "how can everybody help Nicco and Oden" mode. -- Oden Mad, Oden Smash! Sep 29, 2010 7:47 PM
But what I am wondering is
Does Paul Allen want to win now? Is he willing to back up that desire with cold, hard, cash?
Is it a good day to be a Blazer?
Rec.
I am intrigued by your thoughts about Camby’s retirement comments.
Taxes don't kill jobs.
by shenanigans on Feb 25, 2011 6:16 AM PST reply actions 2 recs
How many times must he demonstrate that before we quit asking?
Wallace is yet another example of Paul putting out the money to improve the team. Brandon, Rudy, Marcus, Nico are just a few other examples of his commitment.
by lee3022 on Feb 27, 2011 10:42 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
PA has proven to my satisfaction that he has an undying passion for making our team a winner
while other teams are settling for mediocrity, or trimming salaries, PA has continued to push the envelope and get us the best players available
everyone who calls themselves a Blazer fan should hope that PA continues to be healthy and prosperous – - – we are incredibly fortunate to have PA as the owner of our team
Win the day!
I am thinking that
either my sarcasmeter or your sarcasmeter is not working. It is clearly one of them that is broken.
Compare my post to the OP and I think you will see what I mean.
Taxes don't kill jobs.
Sneaky
“I Wonder: Are all the rumors about the Vulcans pushing for cost savings simply a ploy to make it seem to players and trading partners as if PA is cost-conscious, letting Cho drive a harder bargain?”
In fact that is so clever, that I fully believe that it is not true. Anyone that clever would no doubt become incredibly rich finding such sneaky ways to make money. The only thing that would be that sneaky would be sueing major gobal websites for huge amounts of money on a small technicality. Oh wait…
Also, “I Wonder: Is the Blazers braintrust confident of Roy’s return and thinking we can actually give the L@kers a run this year?”
I would say no, but I think we could make it a series. And the story and hype of making it so far with those injuries would probably make them enough money to pay for Wallaces contract, and possibly even attract some major FAs for sign and trades.
Portland could coast along with their superior talent and stay right with us. Now that Portland woke up, the hammer cometh down.
Bayless > Daffy Duck after 3 cans of rockstar
Vulcans are logical
But they are not clever, nor devious enough to come up with such a brilliant plan. Only Klingons could have given rise to something like this. P’tahk!
These are my principles. If you don't like them, I have others. -Groucho Marx
vulcans are logical,
but they know how to follow the CAPTAIN’s orders.
Thank you PA. Emotional investment appreciated.
It's not that clever
I mean, even rich people don’t like throwing money away. In fact, some of the biggest tightwads I’ve known are those with the most wealth. That’s how they got that way! Not true in PA’s case, but still, it doesn’t take a genius to know that walking into a business meeting saying “money is no object, we’ll pay whatever it takes,” is not a good negotiating position.
Nice work, jscot
IMO this should be a regular featured bit every few weeks. You’ve already given it a great name: Things We Know/Things I Wonder.
I’d read it and rec it every time.
Wherever you may be; good night, eeeeeeverybody!
by you'vegottomakeyourfreethrows on Feb 25, 2011 6:59 AM PST reply actions 12 recs
I'm happy to oblige
"If I had a dime for every basket I made today, you'd still suck!" - from the book 'John Dies @ the End'
We Know: The rumors about dumping Andre and Marcus were rubbish.
I think Cho’s top priority was to move Miller for Devin Harris and Utah beat him to the punch. He “slipped up” yesterday and said “Acquiring Gerald was NEAR the top of our list.” Then he quickly corrected himself and said “Really at the top of our list.” Typical GM speak. He’s not going to say we didn’t succeed in our top priority but we got this done.
The Przy for Wallace trade was a no brainer. It doesn’t mean they weren’t trying to do other things too, or that it was their top priority.
"You're not too smart, are you? I like that in a man." - Matty Walker in Body Heat (1981)
by BlazerFanSince1970 on Feb 25, 2011 8:42 AM PST reply actions
last time "we didnt get our top priority"
we avoided the steaming pile of horse pooh (aka Hedon’t Turkeyglue) and “settled” for Andre Miller (aka our most consistent guard)
by POV on Feb 25, 2011 8:45 AM PST up reply actions 2 recs
I'm happy Cho didn't make any bad deals. We will never know if he or Paul turned down any "good deals",
because we will never know all the details of proposed trades, or what might have happened to proposed deals as they would finally get ironed out.
"You're not too smart, are you? I like that in a man." - Matty Walker in Body Heat (1981)
by BlazerFanSince1970 on Feb 25, 2011 8:56 AM PST up reply actions
I, too, am glad the team "didn't make any bad deals."
There’s still time in June to move Andre Miller for value, too.
"They say it has no memory. That’s where I want to live the rest of my life. A warm place with no memory."
this^
as I wrote below, winning 22-11 without Roy and 7-8 without Camby had a lot to do with this deal
if the team was 29-27 instead of 32-24 at the deadline, Miller would be playing somewhere else
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
by two4larue on Feb 26, 2011 3:12 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Rec...for ruining my night.
Hedon’t Turkeyglue
….that made me laugh….out loud…during the quiet tender moment during my wife’s movie I was supposed to be watching. I’m gonna pay for that for weeks.
by Jomo D. M. Greenidge on Feb 26, 2011 8:09 PM PST up reply actions
I consider it a bullet dodged
Not quite as deadly a bullet as Hedo, but we’re a better team with Miller, and I’d much rather have the potential of Oden than the known of Troy Murphy.
this^
Harris is not a clear upgrade over Miller. Maybe in 2-3 years he will be, but there’s no guarantee that Devin is even healthy in 2-3 years
The Nets wanted too much from Portland; props to Joisey for getting D-Will. Cho made one heck of a deal and I’m sure there were a half-dozen other proposals where the media will never learn the details (to protect the players involved)
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
Andre Miller will hopefully get to a conference semifinals for the first time in his lengthy career ...
this year, but that should then be the end of his time in Portland. Next, move Miller’s non-guaranteed contract in June for something of value — as well as select a 1 who can spread the floor and defend the perimeter with tenacity (e.g., Nolan Smith) in the 2011 NBA Draft — and go forward from there.
"They say it has no memory. That’s where I want to live the rest of my life. A warm place with no memory."
I don't have any trouble re: moving Miller in June, if the deal is favorable
I just thought ‘Dre was needed in Portland’ lineup right now, and (if published reports are true) the Nets wanted too much for what Harris offers, or will offer down the road
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
Dre will help Nate integrate Gerald Wallace
Now all we need is the rest of the roster to get into "how can everybody help Nicco and Oden" mode. -- Oden Mad, Oden Smash! Sep 29, 2010 7:47 PM
I don't have any trouble with Miller being back after the lockout, either
much remains to be determined by how the team fares in the first round, that’s the final exam for Nate and many of the veteran players
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
I disagree on a few counts
First off, I think that heading into the deadline, the Blazers had three paths they could take. One was to get younger and build through the draft. One was to go after some vets and try to win now with the current core. The third was to stand pat with what they have, let the vets expire for cost savings (or trade for picks later), and gradually rebuild.
I think the third of these paths was the one they were the least fond of. Ultimately, I do believe that Paul Allen, Rich Cho, and Larry Miller all had come to terms and accepted either of the first two paths. Even the third path was not so bad though. This allowed them to negotiate from a position of strength.
I do believe that both Andre and Marcus were discussed in trade scenarios to many teams. But this was done knowing that the other team would have to make a VERY good offer for Portland to take it. They would have liked Devin Harris, as long as they didn’t have to give up too much besides Miller to make it work.
I also believe that they were in talks with Charlotte, the Bobcats backed away from the table, and at that point Portland felt they had exhausted their options and were going to stand pat. If they thought the trade was going to happen, they would have sat Przybilla (and possibly Cunningham) in the Lakers game rather than risk injury. When Quick reported that they were going to stand pat, that was what Blazer management thought was the most likely outcome, and they were OK with that.
Then the phone rang…. “Called ID say’s it’s MJ. PICK IT UP!!!” :)
by Rodney Gustafson on Feb 25, 2011 8:45 AM PST reply actions 3 recs
I thought the starting of Pryzbilla was a clear indication of backing away from a trade
but….things I wonder. Is Camby still dinged up or were they keeping him shelved for a possible trade?
I don’t hold Quick’s article against him. It seems he was being used as a tool in negotiations and that is often the role of the local media guy.
by Jacksonville on Feb 25, 2011 9:13 AM PST up reply actions
Is there some kind of corollary to "you are what you eat"
It seems he was being used as a tool
I mean, is the guy even shooting 50% at this point? He seemed to take a turn towards the breathless sensational about a year ago, and he seems headed toward Peter Vescey territory.
Yes, Quick is often a fool tool – for the Oregonian, for the Blazers, for himself. Quick wants to be sensational so badly he leads with his chin and has to pick himself up off the canvas frequently. On the other hand I like Jason because he is much thinner than me.
by lee3022 on Feb 26, 2011 12:17 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
I get the distinct feeling that he's feeling the new media pressure from his bosses.
Quick has had moments of sensationalism over the years, but has mostly been reasonable, as opposed to the endless onslaught of sensationalism the past two years.
by zaruga on Feb 27, 2011 3:24 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
I am inclined to agree with this scenario.
I wonder if MJ has Sellers Remorse.
LaMONSTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
by LaMarvelous on Feb 25, 2011 11:10 AM PST up reply actions
They are ready to move on with Gerald Henderson and Derrick Brown
just like the Nets were willing to move on with Charles Shackleford and Anthony Mason (instead of 7 year vet and former all-star Buck Williams) back in ’89
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
You got it
and without the soapbox…..This would likely be very close to how it played out. The best hindsight presented, so far.
However, there is one thing I don’t agree with….the part about Larry Miller being a part of the decision. IMO He’s just the guy on board with PA. and essentially a head nodder/public relations guy.
Now this may be a good thing, but as a “go to” guy when it comes to player/business plans, I doubt he could contribute much…..This is just my personal perception of him and is based on his public accounts and presentations to date.
never-the less a good analysis on your part
Up and running.........and almost defending.
I think Larry Miller is an overpaid errand boy
When they need research done on a guy, they send Miller. Need someone to represent the owner at negotiations? Miller’s your guy. Need someone to actually make a decision? Nope.
by Rodney Gustafson on Feb 25, 2011 1:43 PM PST up reply actions
negative
Michael Born and Chad Buchanan, KP’s guys.
by superfly05 on Feb 25, 2011 4:36 PM PST up reply actions 2 recs
there's scouts, and there's execs
you need both to make a deal, Chad and Mike could not have acquired Matthews without Larry
and Miller had a large hand in hiring Cho, of course
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
Hard for us the analize his role
After Pritchard, Miller has been seen as a more assertive player. He did choose Cho before he sent him to Finland for a blessing. Larry’s success with NIKE also looms large. He has a solid resume. He also serves as an able ambassador to the business and political worlds.
No...we still have our bag of balls
Harry Bosch: "Everybody counts....or nobody counts."
by 92wastheyear on Feb 25, 2011 11:07 AM PST up reply actions
it's as close as we'll likely get
the combination of the Camby and Wallace deals rivals the Pau deal, though
I think the Bowie-Buck deal in 1989 is a better comp, Wallace and Williams were at almost exactly the same age when they were dealt, although Gerald entered the NBA a few years earlier
the impact of Crash remains to be seen, but he offers the toughness that the roster lacked, just like Buck did, back in 1990
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
by two4larue on Feb 26, 2011 3:34 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
About the Vulcans
Keep in mind that the rumors we hear about them are primarily from John Canzano’s completely unsubstantiated assertions. He’s built a cottage industry telling narratives about how things supposedly work on the inside.
Because we want to feel like we know the people who make decisions about the team and how they operate, we are inclined to believe whatever we hear, and in doing so, we often forget that what we hear is completely unverified and probably unverifiable.
Point is, there is little reliable information about who influences what decisions related to the Blazers. All we see is the output of the decision-making process, and what we can infer from that. So we know Paul Allen is willing to pay some additional lux tax money to improve the team now, and we know nothing about what the Vulcans do.
by sanjait on Feb 25, 2011 9:52 AM PST reply actions 2 recs
Totally agree. Anyone that claims Paul Allen will or won't do, or has or hasn't done, a deal based on the luxury tax is blowing smoke.
The Vulcans don’t tell Paul Allen what to do. They may advise him, but they work for him. Not the other way around. At the end of the day Paul decides what to do with his money, and he still has plenty of it. The Blazers have always seemed to be one of his favorite hobbies and passions. Until he loses interest, he’ll keep spending money on his favorite hobby, just like we all do. He’s just got more money to spend than the rest of us.
"You're not too smart, are you? I like that in a man." - Matty Walker in Body Heat (1981)
by BlazerFanSince1970 on Feb 25, 2011 11:49 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
if money was no object
Cho would have used Oden’s injury exception to improve the roster, last December
Paul’s sister and the Vulcans still want the franchise to break even, never doubt it. Paul is banking on the team "making some noise’ in the playoffs. That means generating more revenue than just from 2-3 home playoff games, this spring
Nate’s on the hot seat. Deliver during the post season, or tell your story walking—and that’s how it should be
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
Rubbish. Prove that.
Cho would have used Oden’s injury exception to improve the roster, last December
You can’t use an injury exception to get a player unless there is a player you want that another team is willing to give up for nothing except a draft pick. There simply wasn’t a player available.
Every time you start this nonsense about how the Vulcan’s and Paul’s sister dictate what he does you are dead wrong.
"You're not too smart, are you? I like that in a man." - Matty Walker in Body Heat (1981)
by BlazerFanSince1970 on Feb 26, 2011 6:42 PM PST up reply actions
Nice to have you back, '70
Ornery as ever. Does the thought of watching ’Dre for the next few months have you out of sorts?
It doesn’t take much figuring-out to see how much differently this franchise has been run in the last 5 years (versus the spend-free Whitsitt era) to realize that fiscal conservatism arrived and Paul is indeed on a Blazer budget, relatively speaking. This should be good news to the fans of Portland, because the owner nearly spent the franchise into bankruptcy (which has been the fate of many of his other business ventures) and now, due the frugality of the Vulcans (and the firing of many long-term Blazer employees during the purge) the bottom line is closer to black than red—in a bearish economy, no less!
There have been numerous articles written about this over the years, and interviews done on business as well as sports talk shows, so it’s nothing new or very unique re: my personal opinion. I merely listen, observe, and try to read the tea leaves. I also have my own inside sources, but they’re only a part of the input re: the conclusions I’ve come to and shared here on BE.
So, now we’ve got the return spectre of Paul Allen paying the luxury tax, again. That’s wonderful if the team is doing well in the post season, but not so good if they aren’t. The owner has gone “all in” and now it’s up to the team to validate his confidence. I really hope they can, because that would be better for the city and the fans. I think most everyone (including Paul) was getting tired of rebuilding, although I seem to recall you suggesting that this was the only path worth pursuing, before you left BE in a huff about a month ago? It’s a good thing that the team played on without Roy and kept piling up the Ws, otherwise my “Allen isn’t going to overspend the luxury tax threshold” theory would have had even more ammunition.
As it is, I’m comfortable with Allen’s back-to-the-future largess, because I suspect he has an ace-in-the-hole. That’s the impending lockout and a very-likely amnesty clause that will enable the front office to get out from under one of their contracts and back under the luxury tax threshold—jussst in case things don’t go well this spring in the playoffs.
Either way, it should be an interesting couple of months. I hope you’ll stay onboard BE for the whole ride.
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
Every time Paul gets an opportunity to spend money on a good player he does it. It's that simple.
Look at Roy’s contract, LMA’s contract, Camby’s Extension, Matthews contract (an overpriced gamble at the time), and now Wallace (not to mention buying draft picks every draft day). He could have just let Joel walk away this summer and saved $7.7M a year plus the luxury tax. That’s what he would have done if he was letting finances (or the Vulcans, or his sister) dictate his actions. Instead he trades Joel and adds another $1M plus luxury tax to the player payroll. Even Miller’s contract, the last time we were under the salary cap, was to make sure he spent right up to the salary cap limit rather than save money on player salaries. It’s simply ludicrous to say he’s conservative or constrained by anyone when it comes to paying for players.
Credit where credit is due: Cho pulled off a great trade in the Pau Wallace (err, Gerald Wallace) deal. Yeah, he’s not Gasol, but it isn’t everyday you can get a All-star (one year removed) for the expiring contract of a broken player, a 9th-10th man, and Bayless, It’s exactly the kind of player I hoped he could get next year but he pulled it off a year early.
I enjoy watching Dre. He’s played superb ball since Brandon has been out. But I still would have traded him if a good deal was available because he isn’t going to be around in 2012-13 when we might again have a shot at contending if we can somehow keep Oden around and Roy playing well (25 minutes or so) until then. Obviously Cho tried hard to trade Miller, but Utah stole his guy. So now we look for a big somewhere, and finish out this year. Then we’ll deal with the Dre (and Camby) situation again next year after the lockout.
"You're not too smart, are you? I like that in a man." - Matty Walker in Body Heat (1981)
by BlazerFanSince1970 on Feb 27, 2011 12:54 AM PST up reply actions
Can't we all just get along?
(Oh, sorry, Rodney, we can’t.)
Frankly I think both of these perspectives have a lot of truth in them. Allen is probably both miserly bottom-line guy and passionate dang-the-torpedoes fan. The team is probably both focused on cost reduction and winning potential. I imagine it depends on what day of the week it is.
Not that strong opinions don’t rock (they do) but that, barring any special insight into PA’s mind (some BE reader out there should volunteer to be his “honey trap” and give us all the skinny) all we have are opinions, not truths. And I like both of these opinions. Call me “The Waffler.”
And get on it, whoever wants to volunteer. Granted, PA may or may not rev your motor, but the fringe benefits should be nifty.
by twinsbrewer on Feb 27, 2011 7:25 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
So, you don't think there will be a future attempt to get the team back under the luxury tax threshold?
because I believe there will be, especially if the team doesn’t play more than 2-3 home playoff games this spring, and collect the added revenue from the local Blazermaniacs
When Paul starts writing big LT checks again, the Vulcans are not going to be happy, unless the franchise is generating extra income to balance their budget
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
Simple answer is Paul's answer to that
He has stated he is willing to pay luxury tax for a team capable of being in the final four of the conference. With the injuries he seems to have allowed time for this team to achieve that level.
Then that's a departure from his previous position
as I wrote above, the team hasn’t demonstrated the ability to win a playoff series in 10 years, and yet Paul is willing to pay luxury tax “seed money” to increase the odds that they’ll get past the first round this year? The pressure is on Nate to deliver (even more than in the past) and “injuries” will not suffice as an excuse for failure, this April
Let’s get it on, it’s about time the franchise and the fans started thinking of the team as a contender again, instead of moping about “what could have been” if Oden and Roy had stayed healthy, and talking about blowing up the roster and always looking towards the future
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
JSCOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOOOOOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Awesome to see you posting again!!!!!!!!!!!
I would have recced this just because you posted it, but on top of that you wrote some great stuff!!!!
WE KNOW: IT IS A GREAT DAY TO BE A BLAZER FAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LaMONSTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
by LaMarvelous on Feb 25, 2011 11:13 AM PST reply actions 1 recs
You have been sorely missed Jscot..
Nice work as usual.
RoadBlazer
Jaynes and Quick
I thought Jaynes was looking pretty stupid with his “deal is done” and now it is Quick that has egg on his face. Nice insights from Quick…
by LicketyBrindleDowntheMiddle on Feb 25, 2011 12:32 PM PST reply actions
The deal wasn't done til 11:53am per Cho
Jaynes jumped the gun
Harry Bosch: "Everybody counts....or nobody counts."
by 92wastheyear on Feb 25, 2011 3:19 PM PST up reply actions
but at 12 noon Dwight tweeted (snarkily)
that the Blazers were “left out of the party”
Doubly-delicious crow-served-up-cold irony: Jaynes ran with his source, then doubted his source, and ultimately was burned on both cheeks
priceless
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
by two4larue on Feb 26, 2011 3:41 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
has anyone wondered
if joel’s great performance against the lakers swayed MJ?
"Know wonder" is a great rule to live by.
Welcome back, at least temporarily, jscot. I myself had recently been on a mini-Bedgecation. The negativity was getting me down. Now, though, I feel restored, and I’m eager to share my newfound joie de vivre and positive, affirming nature with my BE friends.
I see that this post, your latest opus, has characteristically been greeted with wild and uncritical acclaim. Yet, I find little to recommend it. Where is the research, where are the statistics, where are the pictures with the circles and the arrows on the back of each one? Where, in short, is the substance that we had all come to expect from a jscot fanpost?
You may have fooled others with your rhetorical tricks, sir, but my practiced eye has dexterously dissected your desultory declamation. And, perhaps other equally astute and meticulous readers of this site will have noticed your futile attempt to pad this flacid fanpost with what amount to unnecessary and redundant repetitions.
smh
I hold it true, whate'er befall;
I feel it, when I sorrow most;
'Tis better to have loved and lost
Than never to have loved at all.
--Alfred Lord Tennyson
by CatMan2 on Feb 25, 2011 2:56 PM PST reply actions 2 recs
know wonder I like you
Harry Bosch: "Everybody counts....or nobody counts."
by 92wastheyear on Feb 25, 2011 3:20 PM PST up reply actions
as far as your signature line goes--from Men in Black
Jay: You know what they say. It’s better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.
Kay: Try it.
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
A reply worthy of a jscot post
Or is it the other way around? Either way, nice to see you both back!
Rumor has it that Dos Equis first approached Aldridge, but Aldridge turned thrm down because the real 'most interesting man in the world' would not have to prove it in a commercial. - Canis Hoopus 1/7/11
great post
I say give us health and bring on the Spurs or Lakers
"If I had a dime for every basket I made today, you'd still suck!" - from the book 'John Dies @ the End'
Nice to see people returning for the fun,
after all, that’s why we are fans.
This has been a fun team to watch this year, and it’s about to be even more fun.
It’s a good day to be a Blazer.
We Know: Paul Allen, probably the best owner in the NBA, still wants to win now, and still is willing to back it with lots of cold, hard cash
Well said.
rec
Interesting Series of Questions....
…personally? I’ve always thought the “Vulcan is Running Everything” or “Evil Vulcans are intefering with Blazer hopes and Dreams” mythology was just BS created by some of the local media.
If you WANT to believe it? I guess go ahead. But I just don’t buy it, and I’ve never seen or heard any concrete evidence that “Vulcan” has ever trumped “One Center Court” when it came to a Blazer operational decision. And IMO Paul Allen continues to demonstrate that he operates The Blazers as much for success as he does as a bottom line business.
So that’s one aspect I don’t worry about.
"Mother Nature started this fight, I think it's about time we ended it!"
being worried about it or no shouldn't ever affect anyone's enjoyment of the game
but money and parity is a big part of pro sports and it always will be
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
The fan receives a kinetic rush of dopamine when closely involved and his/his teams wins
especially in an exciting manner such as last night. (Friday.) It may be vicarious but it is is similar to what goes on in the player’s physiology and brain.
ignacio
A lot of the “I wonders” boil down to one thing:
Are the Blazers good at employing (psychological) game theory? I think in many cases the answer is yes, under the current regime, but not so much under some of the past regimes.
I particularly enjoy the theory about Camby intentional floating the retirement rumor. Never made sense to me that they would seriously consider trading him unless they were mailing it in and both parties were fine with him going to a contender. You just don’t do that to a guy who’s a great player, a great person, and who agreed to a very reasonable contract just months earlier.
"Ted Thompson's running Brett Favre out of Green Bay was the biggest mistake by a GM in the history of the league."
-Skip Bayless, November 2008
by The Cactus Leaguer on Feb 26, 2011 10:29 AM PST reply actions
this^
it may have been expedient or prudent to flip Camby, but it would have been brutal and could have affected future FA signings
word gets around, treat your loyal veterans right and you’ll attract more, later
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
by two4larue on Feb 26, 2011 3:54 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
I hope PA lives long and prospers
he is a great owner for our team, and we should all be glad he has returned to good health
Win the day!
Welcome home jscot
The wonders of the season have drawn you back to tease and tickle our mindset and preconceived patterns. Nice.
We Know: Paul Allen still wants to win now, and still is willing to back it with lots of cold, hard cash.
I Wonder: Did Cho want to blow up the team, and lose the argument?
We Know: If the Vulcans are pushing for cost savings, they lost.
I Wonder: Ar
e all the rumors about the Vulcans pushing for cost savings simply a ploy to make it seem to players and trading partners as if PA is cost-conscious, letting Cho drive a harder bargain?
We Know: The rumors about dumping Andre and Marcus were rubbish. This team is still trying to win now, despite all the injuries.
I Wonder: Did Cho ask Marcus to threaten retirement so people would quit pushing to include him in trades? The easiest way to have Joel be the trade asset, rather than Marcus, was for Marcus to be perceived as untouchable.
Thumb’s up for this out of the box thinking. Rec.
We know: that Cho wasn’t permitted to pursue Dampier last December, or use Greg Oden’s 3.8M injury exception to increase the team’s potential luxury tax bill.
I wonder: that winning 7-8 games without Camby (and going an unthinkable 22-11 without Roy) had anything to do with Paul’s decision to win now, rather than to let Cho flip Miller, Camby, etc for draft choices?
I know: it’s a good day to be a Blazer because the team finally has a legit banger. This could be another Sam-Bowie-for-Buck-Williams-like watershed moment for the franchise.
I wonder: if they can just all stay healthy for a couple of (nsfbe) months, at least!
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
yikes, formatting fail--not sure what happened, there
my contribution began with
“Thumb’s up for this out of the box thinking. Rec.”
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
What a great post mr jscott!!! Am so happy you decided to come out of retirement?
Not sure you were “retired” or taking a break?
Hope to hear more from you. You are a talented writer.
Yes, nice post!
Curious about the ‘bedgecation’ though. The site needs more perspective from writers like you.
by hellsfrozenover on Feb 26, 2011 4:52 PM PST reply actions
All their base are belong to Jscot.
"The madman is not the man who has lost his reason. The madman is the man who has lost everything except his reason." - G. K. Chesterton, Orthodoxy, 1909
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Actions -> Rec and Flag. Blazersedge works right when you use these two things.
by T Darkstar on Feb 26, 2011 10:16 PM PST up reply actions 2 recs
Joel Freeland
Assuming we have a season next year with the lockout all but a certainty, I hope we can make a run at Joel Freeland and as many other bigs we can find. Counting on Oden is not realistic unless the lockout wipes out the 2011-12 season.
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