I have to disagree on that one.. look how our offense has been since Rudy went down.. we need those consistent outside threats to open up the middle for Greg and LaMarcus.. and it opens up the lane for Brandon.
I didn't catch the game where it happened, but remember when Martell exploded for like 20+ points in a quarter without missing a shot? Yeah, not many scrubs can do that. I don't think he's overrated because we haven't really been high on him the past few years. This year was supposed to be THE year for him, but whether or not he does break out, he's still an excellent role player.
The problem with Martell is if he isn't hitting threes he doesn't do much else to help the team. Batum gives the team key contributions even when he isn't scoring.
Martell adds some good rebounding for his position IMO and decent D. (not on the same level as Batum though)
Actually, last year was supposed to be his big break out season. He opened the season as the starting SF and played well for the first 5 games. 21 Pts, 13 Pts, 15 Pts, 20 Pts, 17 Pts. There was pregame special on him before game #6. Martell talked about how he worked out with Kobe in the summer and worked out day/night. Also, that the bagged junk food and was eating fish before every game. I was thinking "Wow, this guy just might be turning the corner". That night, he had 2 points. The next game he had 5 points. So much for turning the corner. The rest of the year he was the same up/down player we'd come to know in his first two seasons. That one quarter against Utah was great, but it was ONE QUARTER. Forgive me, but I don't want to hear anymore about Martell breaking out.
per minute his Rebounding rate as a 3rd year 21 year old trails Nicolas as a rookie 20 year old... he also trails in Assists, Steals, Blocks and the Blazers are winning a lot more with him on the IR. What does all this mean? STOMP
Is it really necessary to point out everytime someone says they wouldn't trade player X ever that somebody else would? It kind of goes without saying right? I mean if it was an inconceivable offer like LeBron James for Nicolas Batum then I think we could all agree we would do it. I think the thread starter is talking about conceivable trade offers, not anything far fetched. Oh, and I've never heard of players as young as Martell Webster actually improving. It's too late for him, he's out of his prime and should be given up on...
I think Batum, Webster, and Outlaw can coexist fine (and all bring different things). While it'd be unorthadox, I think Travis should stick at PF (mainly), but he is a 3/4, and Webster and Batum are both 2/3's. Webster could swing up to a Rashard Lewis type of 4 too, and eventually w/Oden we'll be able to do a dribble drive thing every once in a while where he's the only guy close to the rim. Trade Bayless/Blake for Steve Nash and the SF situation is fine... Nash/Sergio/Koponen Roy/Rudy Batum/Webster Aldridge/Outlaw/Freeland Oden/Pryzbilla A little jammed but we always have injuries, Steve's old and needs rest on his back, and we could lessen the load on Brandon (and his conspicuously absent heel this year) After Nash retires (or leaves) I think we'd be fine at: (say 2011-2012) Roy(34)/Sergio(14) Rudy(28)/Webster(20) Batum(28)/Outlaw(12)/Webster(8) Aldridge(34)/Outlaw(14) Oden(30)/Pryzbilla(18) Everyone's got their minutes there: Roy(34), Aldridge (34), Oden (30), Webster (28), Rudy (28), Batum (28), Outlaw (26), Pryzbilla (18), Sergio (14). And as to those who say Roy can't play point...Rudy would be the one pushing the ball up the court and Batum would be defending 1's, what would Roy not be able to do at that point? Roy/Rudy/and Sergio would all need to be the main playmakers, but I think Martell and Batum will both develop into much more capable playmakers (w/better handles) in the next couple of years, and there'd be a LOT of shooting on that team to spread the floor for post guys. Batum can guard opposing 1's (that Brandon can't) and that's a great, tight, 9-man rotation of (at that point) Veterans, with playoff experience (following a year or more with Nash).
I love Batum. I consider him our future at SF. I think he has been an unsung hero for our team this season. Like another BlazersBlood said, he is our glue guy. Our Shane Battier guy but with a much bigger upside. I love Webster, but I think Nic deserves to keep his job.
What's funny is we thought SF was our weakness, now if Webster comes back strong it will be one of our strengths.
Pritchard has the advantage of watching the Blazers practice. I'm sure he sees Batum and Bayless and the rest of them doing things during practice that we never get to see. Also, the players around the league talk about these kinds of things, and GMs have their ears to the ground, as well. I was kind of amazed when I read that Batum was the most sought-after Blazer during trade talks this year, but now I understand why.
Actually, Batum proved last night that you don't have to hit threes to spread the floor. Carter would sag off him and Batum would just cut to the open spot on the floor, scoring over and over. That's what really impressed me about Batum last night. He was much more active at getting himself open in position to drive, rather than just camp at the three point line. It's like somebody said to him, "Look, you aren't a great three point shooter, so stop trying to be Martel Webster. Let me show you how Darius Miles got that fat contract." There's really no role for Webster on this team anymore. Rudy is a better, more confident shooter. Batum is a defender, rebounder, slasher and overall player. Bayless is better at attacking the rim. Outlaw is more clutch and capable of creating his own shot. It's kind of like last year when we realized there just wasn't much Jarret Jack brought to the table that Roy or Blake didn't do much, much better. I suppose I should qualify that--there IS a role for Webster as a backup for when better players than him get injured (as Rudy is now). So yeah, we do miss him in a third-stringer role.
Batum, Fernandez, and Bayless are getting more love right now than Oden. Who would have thunk it before the season started??
I don't really see it. Webster is young, but we've got guys who are younger who've shown a lot more with less opportunity. Webster's got a great shooting stroke, but he's also got a fragile mindset. And although the stroke looks good, he's a career 37% three point shooter. Decent, but nothing special. Overall, he shoots just 41%, which isn't even really decent. Webster's got some athleticism, but it's not like he can leap like Outlaw, speed and muscle people like Bayless, or has Batum's insane length. Webster had that crazy-good quarter where he dropped over 20 points. But for most of that year he was one of the worst starting small forwards in the league.
