Bill Simmons of Grantland.com -- also known as "The Sports Guy" -- picks up the "Portland Trail Blazers should trade for Phoenix Suns guard Steve Nash" idea again...
----------------------------
But what if the Blazers offered Raymond Felton, Nic Batum (whom they just passed on extending) and $3 million for Nash, with the wink-wink caveat that Phoenix then had to buy out his buddy Grant Hill's contract so Hill could sign with Portland? Could you go to war in the 2012 playoffs with LaMarcus Aldridge, Gerald Wallace, Marcus Camby, Wesley Matthews, Jamal Crawford, Hill, Kurt Thomas, Craig Smith and a rejuvenated-by-the-Pacific Northwest-and-a-title-shot-and-Rip City Steve Nash? Hell yeah! I haven't been this excited for a fake trade in years. Naturally, that means it won't happen.
----------------------------There was some discussion on Monday as well.
ed: bumped to front page
4 months ago
halo_on
114 comments
0 recs |
Email
PrintComments
...and more
So yeah, during a normal season, “Felton for Batum to rent Nash for three months and hopefully re-sign him” would seem excessive. But this season? You should bang it out without blinking. Same
Rip City Baby...People have no idea what is coming.
Follow my twitter @PDXBlazersFTW. Lots of random Blazer Posts from links I find around the blogosphere.
It would be nice to close out games with Hill and Nash.
Both of those guys are ice water in clutch situations.
Nash
Crawford
Hill
Wallace
Aldridge
Yes please!
by Oden Mad, Oden Smash! on Feb 1, 2012 9:40 AM PST via mobile reply actions
Nash is enough 'quick fix'
tossing in Batum for Hill, no thanks.
Nice for Phoenix.
by Berkeley on Feb 1, 2012 10:14 AM PST up reply actions 3 recs
exactly. Can we trade one of your oldest players with one of our youngest?
However I wouldn’t mind trading Matthews for Hill…
Matthews for Hill?
at his age and current level of production?
"If I had a dime for every basket I made today, you'd still suck!" - from the book 'John Dies @ the End'
poor We$ getting lumped in with the rest of our terrible guards
Guy is in a slump but he’s still at 40/35/87 and is probably the best jump shooter on the team not named Nico, LMA or Kurt.
If Ray and Jamal were at those numbers we’d probably only have 4 losses.
Not one of their oldest - two of their oldest
Camby, Thomas, Nash and Hill on the same squad? Oldest team in NBA history? For a championship run?
Funny stuff.
Law of Logical Argument
Anything is possible if you don't know what you are talking about.
by blacknoiseNW on Feb 1, 2012 11:59 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
I would not
"If I had a dime for every basket I made today, you'd still suck!" - from the book 'John Dies @ the End'
by sammymohawk on Feb 1, 2012 12:19 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
If we wanted to do that we shouldn't/wouldn't have waited this long
"If I had a dime for every basket I made today, you'd still suck!" - from the book 'John Dies @ the End'
I keep hearing this wide open argument
But just watching the Heat…ugh I hate to even think about them winning a championship, but they look BETTER this year.
I do not like the idea of giving up Batum for Nash
"If I had a dime for every basket I made today, you'd still suck!" - from the book 'John Dies @ the End'
by sammymohawk on Feb 1, 2012 10:12 AM PST reply actions 1 recs
Batum has too much potential
For one year of Nash.
by llamaiguana on Feb 1, 2012 10:13 AM PST via mobile reply actions 4 recs
you mean HALF a season o' Nash.
"Coach said to always be careful around Greg, because Greg costs a lot and even the slightest amount of basketball can damage him." -- The Onion
by RedUniInLA on Feb 1, 2012 11:12 AM PST up reply actions 2 recs
Come on guys
Nic Batum is a rare, multi-dimensional talent who hasn’t even approached his prime yet. You don’t give that up for a couple geezers who have maybe a season left in the tank. Not unless you’re an eyelash away from winning a championship. The 2012 Blazers can’t even win a road game!
I still believe in Greg Oden. The Blazers' medical staff? Not so much.
I'd change my handle to "bringback'09," but I'm too lazy.
by hurryup09 on Feb 1, 2012 10:13 AM PST reply actions 2 recs
What about this?
http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=7o7objg
We talk Childress off their hands and give them cap relief in Camby’s EC. We keep Felton to spell Nash.
I doubt...
they give up Gortat in a deal for Nash, however they may want to part with Lopez.
We need to keep Batum around.
I think you read
that New Jersey was trying to get rid of Lopez. I haven’t heard anything about PHX trying to do so. Of course that doesn’t mean its not out there.
I dont see it happening...
Batum is our second best player and our best 3 pt shooter and defender. More likely would be the Blazers taking on Childress’ contract and giving up picks and/or rights to euros.
We need to keep Batum around.
Our "second best player"?
You’d think you’d want your second best player starting. Hmmm, must be a conspiracy.
"Tom Lawson McCall, Governor or Oregon, invites you to visit . . . Washington, Idaho, Nevada, or Afghanistan." --Pair of bumper stickers on our baby blue 1966 Plymouth Fury III when I was growing up in Portland, BC (Before Championship).
ya...Cause Ginobili started his entire career too.....
It doesn’t matter who starts. Ginobili was the second best player behind Duncan for YEARS and he came off the bench. It’s rare, but it does happen. The problem is that Batum isn’t our second best player. Maybe 3rd or 4th.
who is better than Nic?
other than LA? The only one you can really argue is Wallace, and I cant give that honor to someone that inconsistent. You gotta be able to play on the road.
We need to keep Batum around.
I agree, but history says that he'll turn it around
Wallace was an Allstar and All NBA defensive player. He’s still a better player than Nic, which is why Nic would probably be 3rd in my book. Now..next year or the year after? Probably not. Nic has his inconsistencies too, don’t get blinded by those rose colored glasses.
well..
I’m of the opinion that Nic and Wallace are our best two tradeable assets. The way we improve for the future by obtaining talent/picks or an allstar is by packaging one of them. We need to choose one imo and I believe it should be Wallace who is traded for the best deal we can find. He will opt out of his contract and walk if we don’t deal him. I would not re-sign him as his game is built on athleticism and when that fades he will be merely a bad contract. Nic may be slightly overpaid this summer but he would be more worht the investment.
We need to keep Batum around.
by Ptblazerfan on Feb 1, 2012 11:22 AM PST up reply actions 2 recs
That, I absolutely agree with
I think we need to look really hard at making a big time deal involving Wallace and put Nic back into the starting lineup. Who knows what kind of deal we can get for a Felton, Wallace, Camby package, but somebody needs to explore that idea.
I agree...however...
I think right now would be a bad time to make a deal, with the way Matthews and Felton are playing, waiting until the deadline might be our best option. Right now they are playing so poorly that we woudl be selling low. They can’t play much worse so hopefully they can pick up their play and we can get something done at the deadline. Camby on the other hand, might be a good time to trade him if we can get long-term help at the 5 in return.
We need to keep Batum around.
agreed, but dealing Camby has to bring back a C
We do have pieces to land some big time players, I just doubt other teams would be interested.
That's do-able
Wallace+Camby+Felton for Nash+Childress+Gortat.
Throw in a young player and/or cash to make Phoenix happier. Every deal they get is potentially expiring. They would have salary commitments for Frye, Warrick, Dudley and Morris (assuming Wallace opts out) next year. Rebuild!
Childress would come off the bench for Portland, Gortat and Nash would start.
by Rodney Gustafson on Feb 2, 2012 2:47 PM PST up reply actions
i really want us to explore that monta route by giving up gerald
he and aldridge could make a great duo. and LA would not take a backseat like he did with brandon because he will be more established on the team, and of course, better than monta.
PHILLY!
SBN must've changed the software lately, because this comment has been coming up a lot
You recced. Sometimes it just looks like a flag until you refresh the screen.
Your right it is now a rec on my profile page.
Loud pipes save lives!
Bad knees break hearts!
Time for an exorcism.
he will be...
when Wallace is traded, or walks at the end of the year. My guess is the former.
We need to keep Batum around.
he's closing, and that means more than starting
"If I had a dime for every basket I made today, you'd still suck!" - from the book 'John Dies @ the End'
Hilariously ridiculous
Shh, just be quiet, Simmons.
This nearly makes my head explode, crazy that people take him seriously. Y’all should know to ignore this guy.
Simmons reads all these comments.
And he is funny.
by Oden Mad, Oden Smash! on Feb 1, 2012 11:30 AM PST via mobile up reply actions
ummm..I think it will happen. Crawford already comes off the bench. And
I think Batum will start at the 2. Not a stretch. Matthews just has to keep up the good work.
Next
No thank you on a rental of Nash, even if he is good, it’s not worth losing a prospect as good as Batum for right now. If it was Nash 3 or 4 years ago, I’d say go for it.
If Nash were 3-4 years younger that Suns would be asking for Aldridge in a trade.
"It feels good to give the fans Taco Bell."
- Luke Babbitt, 1/23/2012
exactly
so why bother with this noise? It’s too much to give up, especially if we’re losing Wallace this summer.
Only reason we would do this
is if management thought it would bring us rings.
Well I can't see the future
and I would say it increases our chances. Though chances to win a ring in this league if you aren’t the Celtics or Lakers is very slim.
I can't tell the future either
But even with Nash we won’t go past the second round if we have to gut our team to do it. If we were getting Nash and Gortat, that’s a different story.
Here’s the reality though: There are only 2 PG’s in the league that are worth going all-in for at this point, because others are either too old or aren’t available. Those 2 are Deron Williams (even if he is a rental) and Rajon Rondo. It’s true that Rondo can’t shoot, but he more than makes up for it in other areas. Williams may bolt, but that should leave us with enough cap room to be a big player in free agency. Nash, as good as he is, just isn’t in that same echelon anymore.
For one thing, there's that pesky matter of "defense"
You know: that thing a team does when the other team has the ball. Nic Batum is a very good defender, able to cover multiple positions—a huge asset in defending the pick & roll. Nash is, well—you need to cover your eyes when he tries to guard somebody these days.
I still believe in Greg Oden. The Blazers' medical staff? Not so much.
I'd change my handle to "bringback'09," but I'm too lazy.
Come to think about it
Batum is a Nash stopper on offense by posting up Nash, and on defense from his long arms ans shadowing Nash. We would not want to give them that luxury.
hg
We're not even going to extend Batum...
Why not get something for him while we can?
wait...when did that happen?
I’m pretty sure he’s going into RESTRICTED free agency, right? What makes you think Portland won’t match any off he gets this summer? Come on man..use your head. It’s not the end of the world with Batum. Portland is keeping their financial flexibility open by not extending him yet. If he commands 8 or 9 mil per, then fine…I think Portland will match, but he only has a cap hold of like 6.5 mil…..SO….Portland essentially has that extra 1.5-2.5 million of wiggle room for a free agent this summer by not extending him and waiting to match another offer. Batum will be a Blazer for a VERY long time. Rest assured.
Restricted is the point
The Simmons’ wording reads as if the Blazers passed ENTIRELY on extending Nic, when what they really did was pass on extending him at the point of negotiation that they were at with his agent before the deadline to extend during the season occurred without acknowledging that the team has the option to match any price-setting offer tendered to Nic in the offseason.
"Coach said to always be careful around Greg, because Greg costs a lot and even the slightest amount of basketball can damage him." -- The Onion
This is correct
The Blazers want Nic, they wouldn’t have held out this long on trading him if the plan was to just let him walk. We are going try to and go big in FA this year and then when we are done with that match w/e offer comes in on Nic or offer him our own.
well if Nic is board...
then that works. That would mean that he would have to wait to sign an offer sheet. Otherwise we only have 3 days now to get things done before we have to match. But yes, I think a big reason we waited on extending him was the cap hold.
We need to keep Batum around.
The Blazers also want to bring over Joel Freeman
We don’t know what we expect from Greg, As far as meeting offers or letting him walk, we don’t know about GW as his market value, We don’t know about Felton or Jamal, Thomas, and even the Rhino, also which direction the Blazers are going, Either blow it up or mend it. therefore, now is not the time to expand Batum.
hg
by BBK on Feb 1, 2012 1:25 PM PST up reply actions
Really? We're going to match any offer?
At a time when we also need to extend Wallace, find a point guard (Felton expires after this year), and a center (Camby and Oden both expire after this year), we’re really going to spend probably Afflalo-esque money on a backup to the small forward we’re going to be signing anyway? (I know that Wallace is on the fence regarding staying, but if we trade for Nash and become a championship contender, I guarantee he changes his mind.)
Let’s also be perfectly honest here. Nic is a fantastic role player who shows flashes of brilliance, plays good-to-great defense, and can hit threes. From what we’ve seen, throughout all four years of his career so far, he will never ever ever be more than that. Not an All-Star, not one of the three best players on a championship team. He just doesn’t have elite skills; good ones, yes, but not elite. I’m totally down to trade a decent point guard and a good role player for a guy who’s still one of the best in the league at his position and would be perfect to run our new up-tempo offense (Nash). I don’t know about Simmons’ Grant Hill idea though; maybe the Suns could throw in Robin Lopez instead, to help give Camby some relief during those back-to-back-to-backs?
Yes, we're really going to match any offer
Batum won’t command more than 9 million this summer with all the other free agent noise that’ll be going on. We’re losing Wallace because he wants a raise…so we’re going to be content holding onto Batum and Aldridge as our core. I disagree with you that he doesn’t have “elite skills,” and so do about 29 other NBA GM’s.
PG and Center- Yes, we will need to address those positions…again… However…Joel Freeland should hopefully be coming over. He just signed a new contract in Spain, but his buyout is only 1.5 million or something like that. If he comes over, I think he’ll be pretty decent, especially if we can get him for about 3 or 4 million. At PG, who knows what Portland will do. If Felton turns it around, I could see them resigning him, other than that, the list of candidates is pretty thin. It’s not like we’re getting DWill. I haven’t looked to see who’s going into restricted free agency at PG, but at C you have guys like Roy Hibbert and JaVale McGee who Portland could potentially make nice toxic offers to with their cap space, and then match Batum in the process.
Just try to remember that Portland isn’t going to be looking at only solidifying their PG and C spots, they need to address their SF spot too, and they’ll do that with Batum after letting Wallace walk or deal him in a sign and trade if he’s not traded at the deadline.
by Eric Loftin on Feb 2, 2012 8:59 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Everyone was down with letting Batum walk to clear cap space over the summer.
Why now get up in arms about cashing him in to get a heck of a lot better now. In the other thread about building a championship you guys overwhelmingly voted for the veteran method and yet when presented with a scenario to get two of the best veterans in the game you balk at it.
Talk about mediocrity? That is throwing 40 million at Batum when you still don’t have a true number one option. If it is on the table you make the deal as theorized it puts us in a two year championship window. You recruit hard for Brooks (who has a history with Nash and Hill) you push hard for JR Smith and Kenyon Martin (who have history with Camby). You go for a championship hard. You count on Nash, Hill, Camby and Thomas to stay hungry for their last push at a ring.
The worst case is the vet’s all retire and we use our cap space over the summer to make a toxic offer to Batum that we don’t think Pheonix will match.
by Oden Mad, Oden Smash! on Feb 1, 2012 11:44 AM PST via mobile reply actions
Really? I don't remember that
Everyone was down with letting Batum walk to clear cap space over the summer.
Love your profile pic btw, always get a kick out of it
"If I had a dime for every basket I made today, you'd still suck!" - from the book 'John Dies @ the End'
I think Batum for Nash is a bit too much
I think it comes down to: what are other teams offering?
Orlando would have to offer Ryan Anderson to beat a Portland trade that doesn’t include Batum. Redick and Nelson doesn’t make sense for a rental. Their most likely offer would be Nelson and either Q-Rich or Orton. However, their 2013 pick would have a lot of value, if included.
Atlanta could offer Marvin Williams and Hinrich, and take back some combination of Childress, Frye, and Warrick.
Philly’s a pickle because it would be unwise to trade Lou Williams or Jrue Holliday for Nash, but they’d have a log jam if they didn’t, and have little else to offer. With Rod Thorn, though, there’s always a chance they’d be willing to do Nocioni and Holliday for Nash, which makes them better now, and beats a Portland trade.
Indiana could offer Granger, or take Nash back using capspace and send George Hill or Darren Collison, but trading those youngsters for a rental doesn’t seem wise.
Boston can offer Rondo, but if I’m Ainge, I’d demand a first from Phoenix.
Utah and Toronto might also be willing to trade Devin Harris or Jose Calderon as a salary dump.
Thoughts?
Phase 1: Collect underpants
Phase 2: ???
Phase 3: Profit!
the more PHX loses
the better chance Nash is traded and Im sure we would be up there on the list of possible destinations. So I would say root for PHX to lose.
We need to keep Batum around.
I think Batum and Felton is fair.
But yeah I agree there’s not many teams can offer a lot for Nash giving that he wants ton win now and that he’s old. He’d want to go to a contender and most contenders don’t have potential young talents that equal batums.
In reality I’d be more down to trade Wallace and Felton and e will for Nash and say warrick/Dudley or hill. Why? We all are assuming that Wallace will demand offers this summer and we won’t be able to lock up both our SF…. This trade would commit to winning now and commit to Batum as well.
And… We would still have the flexibility in the summer for FA, rebuild or even make another run ( assuming Nash and camby would sign a 1 yr deal.)
by Hoi on Feb 1, 2012 2:47 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
Absurd. I want Nash. But no way I give up more than Felton and filler. Batum is NOT filler.
Throw in Nolan Smith or get Nash to promise the Blazers he will sign a 2 year deal this summer and I’d throw in Williams.
"You're not too smart, are you? I like that in a man." - Matty Walker in Body Heat (1981)
by BlazerFanSince1970 on Feb 1, 2012 12:05 PM PST reply actions 2 recs
This is just stupid
Mortgage our future for half a year of Steve Nash. Yeah he would help the 3-point shooting, but his defense is so bad it counteracts that. This would be the dumbest move EVER! It would make us, maybe, marginally better, which is not what we need. Do we want to continue being bounced in he 1st round year after year? Because if you bring Nash here other PGs in the West will carve him up & we’ll be one and done again. No thank you. Just get Batum & Wallace their extensions this summer, drop Felton & Crawford, and find a decent PG. Thats all it will take. Oh and maybe if Greg Oden one day decides to play ball again we might have the center position semi-shored up.
Suns arn't goin to give nash away for nothing. Any team is going to want something back for a stud
Let me ask you this though, if nash said he would resign with teh blazers before the trade would you think trade Batum and felton for him?
I don't think Nash is eligible for an extension
I’m not sure how it works, but apparently that’s what Stein and Hollinger said.
Phase 1: Collect underpants
Phase 2: ???
Phase 3: Profit!
What im saying is what if he agreed taht after this year he would sign with the blazers
Kind of how other stars have done else where
thatw ay its not just a half season rental... its more like a 2-3 year deal
if that were the case would you give up batum? these are just hypotheticals anyways
Poop. That was pretty clearly implied in your original comment, too.
I get ya. I dunno that I would give up Batum, just because he’s been playing so well and Nash is almost 38.
And I’m not overvaluing him. There are a lot of non-All Stars and players in this draft (cough, Gilchrist, cough) I’d deal him for, just not old ones.
Phase 1: Collect underpants
Phase 2: ???
Phase 3: Profit!
Granthill wooooo
Is sort of what that should have Said
62-4 baby
by thomasikehara on Feb 1, 2012 12:34 PM PST up reply actions
no way hill trades
the PHX rejuvenation training staff for bob’s house of personal trainers that have managed to keep Greg Oden on the floor for the past 4 years.
by bunk moreland on Feb 1, 2012 1:25 PM PST up reply actions
Bill Simmons wants to be a GM badly
Is he trying to petition for the Blazers position? Haha
by tyeforshee on Feb 1, 2012 12:47 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
Blazers go from Young Up-And Comers!! of just a few seasons ago
to having the three oldest players in the NBA (with Nash also not too far behind)? No thanks.
I don't always root for an NBA franchise, but when I do, I prefer the Portland Trail Blazers.
Nash then sign hill
Dang… I see rings in June.
by Hoi on Feb 1, 2012 2:12 PM PST via mobile reply actions
No way Batum for Nash
Batum for Nash+Hill? Closer, but I still don’t see it. Respect these Years only goes so far. We’re going to have more experience than a typical battalion at this rate. I would do Felton + Wes or Crawford + Smith or Babbitt for Nash and Childress. Not the best trade on either side, but that’s how trades go really.
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=7a8vk6q
If there was any way we could pry Frye or Lopez off of them, that would be huge though. It works with Wallace instead of Matthews, but not sure they need another 3 with Hill/Dudley.
Thinking about this again
This might actually work for the rebuild project. We throw all in for Nash/Hill, and try for the ring. If that doesn’t work we try Deron/Howard, with extending Nash if we can only get Howard, then resigning who we can. If none of the above work, let them all walk or short contracts, trade LMA for picks and tank hard. An interesting thought anyway.
by Batumshakalaka on Feb 1, 2012 2:43 PM PST up reply actions
Just my little take....
Felton and Batum for Nash is a bargain……
People over value potential way too much. In order to succeed one needs to take on high risk and high rewards. Being said I think chances of winning a ring with Nash this year is higher than winning a ring with Batum any year.
We all got to understand that even though we would get Nash as a “rental”, it’s not just to get into the playoffs or get out of the second round. It’s to win a ring and win big now!
by Hoi on Feb 1, 2012 2:30 PM PST via mobile reply actions
people in Portland put way to much value on Batum!!! whats up with that…look at what nash would get you over the next few yrs….batum with this line up will never get you past 1st round
flawed reasoning
"If I had a dime for every basket I made today, you'd still suck!" - from the book 'John Dies @ the End'
And what happens when Nash is done in 2 years and Batum is playing at a high level entering his prime?
Vegas huh? Awful close to Phoenix….
Exactly
At this point in his career if Batum is your third or fourth or perhaps fifth best player you aren’t winning anything. Look at Chicago. They have Rose, Boozer, Noah, Hamilton and Deng who are all better. Heck, Brewer and Taj are better than Batum at defense. Let’s say Batum is better than those two. He is still the the sixth best player on that team. Take off the blinders Blazer fans.
by Oden Mad, Oden Smash! on Feb 1, 2012 10:55 PM PST up reply actions
Even take Portland.
You have Oden, Aldridge, Wallace, Felton, Crawford, Canby and arguably Matthews all as players who when they are right are better players than Batum. I would think with all the times AK1984 beats the “skrew mediocrity” horse to death you guys would be willing to give up solid rotation player for a 2 time MVP. I would rather go for it all in the next two years than be mired in mediocrity for the duration of Batum’s Ben Gordon esque contract his agent desires.
by Oden Mad, Oden Smash! on Feb 1, 2012 11:01 PM PST up reply actions
Too bad I don't expect Pheonix to be willing to part with Nash for a pittence.
Not that Nash would be all that jazzed about coming here.
by Oden Mad, Oden Smash! on Feb 1, 2012 11:05 PM PST up reply actions
Felton and Crawford at their best aren't as good as Batum
and Camby’s non-paint defense is almost as bad as his offense. Nor is Hamilton better than Batum.
But yeah, otherwise, I agree with your reasoning, except that Nash is really old. That’s the only reason not to trade Batum for him. Wallace, LA, and Batum are the only guys I’d leave off the table, including draft picks.
Phase 1: Collect underpants
Phase 2: ???
Phase 3: Profit!
I'm a sucker for point guard play.
Nash, Chris Paul and John Wall are my guilty pleasures outside of Blazer basketball.
Why no love for Rip? He’s only an NBA champion with higher scoring and assist numbers than Batum will ever likely put up. As with Nash I imagine your beef with him is his age?
Camby may not be able to shoot it but he has a slick handle for a seven footer, is a team leader, a excellent passer and (believe it or not) an underrated rebounder. If we could somehow get Camby scoring 10 points per game at over 50% shooting we would be talking about him being an all-star.
by Oden Mad, Oden Smash! on Feb 2, 2012 3:59 AM PST via mobile up reply actions
Rip now is not Rip then
Batum is better currently
"If I had a dime for every basket I made today, you'd still suck!" - from the book 'John Dies @ the End'
How about some future first rounders instead of batum?
It’s not like Portland will have a top 10 pick anytime soon, especially when they are filling their hands with rings…
by TheShougPanther5 on Feb 1, 2012 6:52 PM PST via mobile reply actions
Take that deal and there will be weeping and gNashing of teeth.
Yes, I know it was a horrible pun.
"She turned me into a newt!
A newt?
...I got better."
yeah...
sure batum is overvalued….. but at this point so is nash…. as good as he is at certain things…. he still doesn’t play defense…. and how long does he have left!?…. i’d rather mortgage some extra and look for a young player who can be here for years…. giving up all your assets for a non-asset seems ridiculous…
if the Suns won’t take trade without batum involved, than the trade doesn’t go down….
don’t quite feel the same about wesley though….
The team will look significantly different going to the off season with or without this trade
The team is going to have a ton of cap space and will still need a PG and a center.
Batum isn’t the future of the team. Cornerstones get their extensions. This Blazer squad is LMA and whoever you can put around him.
I see no harm in taking a half season gamble on Nash. He’ll instantly transform the offense and considering the defensive lapses from Felton this season it won’t be much of a downgrade defensively.
I also wonder if there’s a way to get Gortat back too. Add Camby, E Will and some cash? It’s not like Gortat is a rebuilding piece anyway. He’s a low usage center who can play some D, set picks, rebound and hit a jump shot. I don’t know if there’s a better realistic option (not that this trade is realistic) for this squad.
Actually, this one (http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=83uqkab) seems the most realistic for both teams. The Suns get 2 young pieces to (somewhat) offset losing their two best players, some cap relief and the Blazers would likely throw in some cash.
The Blazers get a Nash rental to take a shot at a deep playoff run, a good center In Gortat who fits the team at a position of serious need and the PNW favorite Channing Frye. The cap space difference for the off season, assuming the Blazers would have matched any offers for Batum, is only around 5 million. That gives the team around 22 million in space if Wallace opts out and about 12 million if he opts in.
#7
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
NBA Playoffs Content Module
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
FanShots
Quick hits of video, photos, quotes, chats, links and lists that you find around the web.
Recommended FanShots
Recent FanShots
In Association With
Ball Don't Lie - NBA - Yahoo! Sport
- Behind the Box Score, where the Boston Celtics are moving on to the conference finals
- NBA Playoffs Fan Fiction: San Antonio Spurs vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
- The Indiana Pacers? Gone till November
- Shaquille O’Neal is in a Chinese beer commercial, too (VIDEO)
- ‘Deep Thoughts’ and Cheap Thoughts: San Antonio Spurs vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
