Stop with the Batum trade talk

what happens when Wallace gets hurt next year? Because he almost always does during any given season. Having both those guys at the small forward position makes it the only position in the rotation that doesn’t need work this off season. I would love if the Blazers went all of next year with Babbit ’s only playing time being during garbage time.

Our roster is a mess. And Batum is the only valuable commodity that does not have a starting role on the team as currently constructed. We need a back up PG. We need a center (Camby looked really old this season, and Oden’s on the shelf until January at least). We need a backup center. We need a backup power forward. We can’t possibly fill all those needs with the 21st pick.

Something is going to be done. All the trade posts (which should be going in the Trade Drawer by the way) are trying to guess how that might happen.

while we shouldn’t trade him just to trade him, it would be foolish to refuse to move him

the roster as it stands right now is not working. It needs BALANCE, if trading BATUM is that BALANCE, I’m all for it if it makes sense and it’s the right player. I’m not into gambling on players just to make a trade. I like Batum, but we don’t need another Outlaw situation on our hands. Not that Nic isn’t already better than Outlaw ever was, but still we could have traded Outlaw and parts for something instead of nothing. Dangle Nic and see what rises to the surface. If it makes sense, pull the trigger. Nic’s going to rot on the bench and become disgruntled if the continues to hear all the talk about other teams wanting him and he just sits on the bench. Find out at least.

You put us all on notice! Batum is here to stay, let the record show that It’s calling like bells, refreshing sounds and smells
carelessly aged
fossils and shells
waiting
in wishing wells.

he’s a smart player who plays lock down D, drains threes and occassionally posterize someone (Pau Gasol haha TWICE), and will stuff you if you try to score on him

he doesn’t play “lockdown defense” – he’s a good defender, but he’s not a lockdown guy, he’s nowhere near the level of defender a guy like Ron Artest was in his prime

He does hit the occasional open threes, but he’s not a consistent shooter. Also, he can’t create his shot off the dribble, and isn’t an effective penetrator.

Will stuff you if you try to score on him? He averaged a whopping 0.6 blocks per game – yeah he’s a big time shotblocker

Look, I like Nic Batum, and I’m not in a hurry to trade him. The statements above might sounds negative, but they’re actually truth. Right now he’s a 22 year old with potential – but at some point he becomes a 25 year old that still can’t drive, can’t score off the dribble, and isn’t a totally elite defender. When grading guys in the draft, college seniors (22 years old also) are considered limited on potential because of their age, and we shouldn’t treat Batum any differently. He’s a decent young player, but he holds more value around the league than he’s really worth – so if we can turn him into a good player at a position of need – you do it

I love Nic, but to get a PG that can lead us to that Championship.. he probably has to go

J kidd or barea, Mavs would have gotten killed by us in the first round. Tony Parker and the spurs in 07.. as he was the finals MVP? 03-04 Pistons, Billups. Isiah thomas? pistons.. must i go on?

and neither Nic nor Wallace are PF’s. We can’t afford to have so much trade value at one position when we have so many other needs. Who goes just depends on which brings in the best deal. My guess is that Nic will go because he is over-valued right now by some teams, but he won’t be over-valued after another season of coming off the bench behind Wallace.

So I’m not exactly eager to open up a new construction site, even if Batum could be our most valuable tradeable asset in terms of player value and not just contract value. Leave Britney, err, Batum, alone!

Batum can be traded for another young player. Jrue Holliday being one of my favorites

Sign Batum to an extension and trade him. This would allow more salary to come back in return potentially netting us both a point guard and a veteran big man.

Just thinking out loud here…serious dollars in this proposal. If you like Batum and want to keep him; the Blazers were better with Wallace no doubt but…..

I’d rather we traded Wallace than Batum and I am really shocked that that many feel that way. Gerald may have been an All-Star but he will never be one again but Batum has a chance to become one someone soon.
Plus Nash has what like 2 years left and its not like he can play 35 minutes a night. If we had him then we’d have to nurse him along like we do with Roy, Oden and Camby. Thats almost half the rotation questionable for every game. Not a pleasant thought plus there is Wallace’s problem with getting his head knocked out to worry about too.
Batum has to stay unless we get an All-Star that is under 30 at least.

Put Wallace, Miller and Rudy’s salaries at about 19 – 20 mil/yr Expiring contract, young shooter and a decent veteran. It seems GM’s look for these kind of deals.

We gotta dump 1 of the 3 Rudy, Batum or Wesley. we can’t have 3 key players who can’t make an open shot from 3. to me, Rudy goes as he provides only shooting. Both Wesley and Batum provide hustle and have room to grow. Rudy has maxed out in my opinion already. He gets killed on defense, but his steals hid the fact he gets lost and misses assignments.

Batums shot is more consistent, but until he drives to the hoop, he won’t get better. Wallace, Batum and Aldridge has great potential for challenging people. Pair them with a Oden and Roy at 20+ min a game and that’s a heck of a lineup that can defend anyone athletically. If Armon can develop a jumper and go right, then he can fit in this scheme really well.

Nates Defense is predicated on Switching and athleticism versus actual defensive talent.

we can’t overvalue players like Batum, especially when there are certain ways to improve our team.