OT: The Hornets about to blow it up?

Discussion in 'Portland Trail Blazers' started by Fez Hammersticks, Nov 14, 2009.

  1. Fez Hammersticks

    Fez Hammersticks スーパーバッド Zero Cool

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  2. anonymous gambler

    anonymous gambler Member

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    We should go after Okafor- expiring contracts, a good young player or two- This would give us great insurance if Pryzbilla leaves. Possibly, Okafor could play the 4...
     
  3. Fez Hammersticks

    Fez Hammersticks スーパーバッド Zero Cool

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    Meh. He's paid like an All-Star and wouldn't start in Portland.

    Chris Paul or bust!:devilwink:
     
  4. THE HCP

    THE HCP NorthEastPortland'sFinest

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    I promise you on everything that is holy that Okafor is NOT 6'10"! That fool is like 6'8"! Kinda like how they always said back in the day that Charles Barkley was 6'9"!
     
  5. Natebishop3

    Natebishop3 Don't tread on me!

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    Chris Paul or bust!
     
  6. shamelessblazer

    shamelessblazer Member

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    Just let Paul get really mad playing with terrible players then swoop in!
     
  7. Nikolokolus

    Nikolokolus There's always next year

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    Prediction time: George Shinn will sell the Hornets before trading Paul, and even if he was going to trade him it would be for expiring contracts and high draft picks ... two things this team has precious little of.
     
  8. Ed O

    Ed O Administrator Staff Member Administrator

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    Totally agreed. We would go from a rather small team to a big one. He's expensive but he'd shore up the ONE obvious hole on our roster: the backup power forward spot.

    Ed O.
     
  9. hasoos

    hasoos Well-Known Member

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    You know its generally not a good sign with a player when they are traded 2 times before a season has even completed.
     
  10. Boob-No-More

    Boob-No-More Why you no hire big man coach?

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    You mean like Sheed? He was such a cancer in Atlanta he only lasted one game before the kicked his sorry ass to the curb.

    Seriously, there are many different reasons to trade a player. If the Hornets trade Okafor, it will be an obvious salary dump.

    That team is stuck in hell right now. They NEED to rebuild, but Chris Paul will NOT be happy about that. They are 3-8 right now. If Paul misses three weeks with his ankle sprain they could easily be 3-16 or 4-15 when he returns. At that point, it will be almost impossible for them to make the play-offs. Paul was already extremely unhappy when they started 3-5. Imagine how he'll feel if they are 3-16.

    They have multiple big contracts that currently have them paying luxury tax both this season and next - unless they can dump one, or more, of those contracts. They have a cash strapped owner and a fan base that's unwilling, or unable, to financially support the team.

    They need to do something dramatic - sell the team, or start dumping players.

    BNM
     
  11. Natebishop3

    Natebishop3 Don't tread on me!

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    I would trade for Okafor if he wouldn't mind coming off the bench.

    I would do a Blake/Outlaw/filler for Okafor.

    Miller/Bayless
    Roy/Rudy
    Webster/Cunningham/Batum (until he's healthy)
    LMA/Okafor
    Oden/Joel

    And if Joel leaves after next season, we have Okafor play both front court positions.
     
    Last edited: Nov 15, 2009
  12. B-Roy

    B-Roy If it takes months

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    12 million dollar backup? Holy shit??
     
  13. Fez Hammersticks

    Fez Hammersticks スーパーバッド Zero Cool

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    With LMA playing 30-35 min/per and Greg eventually will play around the same, why go out for such an expensive backup when the minutes aren't there for him? Especially on his contract.
     
  14. Nikolokolus

    Nikolokolus There's always next year

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    If we traded for Okafor, it would pretty much guarantee Przy would leave anyway ... so why not just go ahead and offer him up in trade. In this case the Hornets get a decent defensive center who's contract is about to expire and if they really like him he'd be a helluva lot cheaper than either Chandler or Emeka are/were.

    So maybe the trade ends up being Travis' expring deal, Joel and Bayless for Okafor, Collison. The team gets a combo guard who can play spot minutes at the 1, can play off the ball at the two, a wing who will eventually be healthy or will expire anyway and a defensive anchor that they are missing with the departure of Tyson. On the other hand we get a true point guard who can shoot and played good D in College, and a center-power forward rotation of LMA/Okafor/Oden.

    FYI: the Bayless/Travis/Joel for Okafor/Collison trade is a dead match in contract value.
    http://www.realgm.com/src_checktrade.php?tradeid=5284309
     
    Last edited: Nov 15, 2009
  15. Ed O

    Ed O Administrator Staff Member Administrator

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    So you think Portland is better not spending the money and going with Juwan Howard at the backup PF spot?

    I'm not quite sure that makes any sense to me.

    Ed O.
     
  16. B-Roy

    B-Roy If it takes months

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    But 12 million dollars? Really? You can't find someone who is at least a little bit cheaper?
     
  17. Fez Hammersticks

    Fez Hammersticks スーパーバッド Zero Cool

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    Relying on Juwan doesn't make much sense but neither does paying a backup $62m over the next 5 seasons.
     
  18. Nikolokolus

    Nikolokolus There's always next year

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    It's a lot, but if you were to go with a 3 forward/center rotation in the front-court of LMA, Oden and Okafor you'd be getting pretty good value -- more value than paying Joel 7 million a year and a backup the the MLE for instance.
     
  19. B-Roy

    B-Roy If it takes months

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    But you're assuming no injuries or foul trouble.
     
  20. Nikolokolus

    Nikolokolus There's always next year

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    That's why you keep guys like Howard for the veteran's minimum around, plus Cunningham and when healthy Pendergraph can probably give you 5-10 non-detrimental minutes a night. Injuries are always a concern, but I think this move would be worth the risk
     

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