Would you leave the team the way it is? Would you fire Nate and put in a new coach? Would you try to make some trades and re-energize this team? Blow it up?
I would start with a visit to Jin Wah, in Beaverton. Maybe for Dim Sum. Then head to Du Kuh Bee and sign Ha.
There's not much you can do right now. Have to see what the verdict is with Roy and then when Oden gets back. Until then, any trading is kind of useless. I'd send some feelers out for Gilbert Arenas and Stephen Jackson though.
I would fire Nate and hand the reigns to Caleb Canales until we can find a decent replacement next offseason. Why not? I would send Miller, Camby, and Joel to Philly for Iggy and Brand. I would do this because Miller, Camby, and Joel constitute a lot of money that could come off the books for a team. If the Blazers aren't competing for a championship, or maybe not even the playoffs, it's silly to keep Andre and Camby around. I love their game, but I would rather retool, bring in a guy like Iguadala, and free up time for Johnson. Iggy might not be Roy, but he's a good wing and a decent scorer. Brand is an albatross, but he could take over in the paint until Oden comes back. http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=27omzv5 I'd start Johnson, and give him sufficient time to prove whether he is, or is not, a capable starter at point guard. I would move Roy to backup shooting guard and backup point guard so he could still log some minutes, try to work on his jumper, and hone a different game that will be effective. Johnson/Roy/Mills Iggy/Roy/Rudy Batum/Matthews/Babbitt Aldridge/Cunningham Brand/Oden (until healthy)
I am not sure yet. There is a lot of information to think over as how to best attack this situation. Right now I am looking over contracts on the books, players ages, and what is needed to turn this team around to figure out which pieces we have which can still bring talent back to the team, without hurting it anymore. It might not be possible to turn it around without hurting the team more. Things I am looking at: 1. Camby is still en effective player but only has a couple of years left. Is he a piece we can use to bring in talent or future talent? Is it worth more to let him fall off the books? 2. Decide on the coach now and either move forward or stick to your guns. Build a team that is meant to take advantage of the coach you committ to a system to maximize effectiveness. 3. Which pieces do you keep if you decide to retool? 4. Are there any specific players in the draft that we might want to target but give up talent for a while in order to make it happen? (Is Kyrie Irving a guy that is worth going after?) 5. Do you spend a broken season just developing talent and or giving players playing time in order to inflate their trade value by showcasing them? 6. Who is going to be the primary scorer of the team going forward? Does the team have a go to guy? Can we accelerate a player into that position if needed?
1. I love Camby, but I think he's a tradable asset and I think he was only worth keeping around if we had a legit shot at making noise in the playoffs. Right now it doesn't appear as if we will be competing for a championship, and hell, even the playoffs might be in question. If this is a lottery team, Camby is wasted. I'd move him. 2. It's hard to pick a coach at this point in the season, but I'd fire Nate, try to promote someone that might inspire the guys, and then replace if need be during the offseason. Just look at the Cowboys. They crushed one of, if not the best, teams in the NFC after their coach was switched. We might see a similar change from the Blazers. I honestly would be tempted to try out Caleb Canales because I certainly wouldn't want Bickerstaff and I don't like any of the names that are out there right now. 3. We keep Johnson, Batum, Aldridge, Oden, and Matthews. We keep Roy because I don't think anyone would take him right now. Rudy is a question mark. If his value is up, you move him. If it's still down, you keep him. I'd move Miller, Joel, and Camby for sure. 4. I'm not sure about the draft. I'd have to look around. 5. I don't think we have a primary scorer, unless Oden can fill that role. I'd try to make a move for a guy that's a proven primary scorer.
If Roy is done or on a downward curve as a player, getting another legitimate scorer is going to be necessary if the Blazers want to remain potential challengers for a title in the next few years. As I see it, the best chance of adding a significant player this year is through a deal involving Joel's and/or Andre's ending contracts. This type of deal isn't likely to happen until just before the deadline. I'd say that getting Oden out on the court in order to determine if he can contribute this year is essential in order to figure out whether Joel can be traded.
I would fire Nate and hire Mike Budenholzer. Then test the market and see what we could get for Aldridge.
I'd probably start shopping Camby around to see what he could net. A LOT of teams would really like to rent his services for a championship/deep playoff run. With Roy in the shape he is, we're just not contenders anymore. With Przybilla and Oden coming back, I think he's a guy you try to sell while the selling is good. I'd also plan on really trying to angle for a way to waive Roy's contract in the next CBA with another Allen Houston exception. That deal is brutal if he winds up being another, well, Allen Houston. I don't see why we'd fire Nate now. This is exactly the sort of situation where Nate shines. Shit is broken, and we need to cobble it together. Besides, he's getting more productivity out of Miller than Miller's had in his very, very long career. Aldridge, Johnson and Batum are all advancing. Why fire him? I guess maybe if you are worried because he can't coach an uptempo team....but really, is tempo what's holding us back? When Oden and Przybilla return, is the plan to have them sprinting every time up the court? I kind of like methodical half court basketball, especially if we have 4 seven footers who can dominate the paint in Oden, Prz, Camby and Aldridge. Slower-paced basketball certainly doesn't seem to be holding Andre Miller back, despite popular ideas about him being a "fast break point guard." Anyway, there's not a ton of things Cho can do right now. Mostly he just needs to sit and watch how the team adapts to a post-All NBA Roy world.
I think you try to take a look at secondary type stars who could help and step in here if Roy is down for a while, but not at the risk of mortgaging too much to get them. Obviously, you never know who is or could be available, but guys like Iguodola, Montae Ellis. Someone who could take over the scoring role if and when we need it, but with a healthy Roy, could still contribute. Another option, with their season already looking like crap, possibly, is Kaman. I'm not a huge fan, but he has another 10 million after this season, so i could see Sterling wanting to move him and his contract. Maybe Joel, Babbitt and N.O.'s 1st would get it done? I know it is a relatively low offer, but it basically gives them two first rounders, and salary savings. For us, we get a low post scorer to play alongside Aldridge and Camby. Doubt him and Oden could pair effectively, but gives us low post scoring insurance.
First, keep the players you have that can play and contribute. To me, those are Camby, Cunningham, Batum, LA, AJ, Matthews and Rudy. The jury is out on Joel & Oden. Second, once the mass hysteria dies down over Roy, buy out his contract in full if it will create cap space. His real productive playing days are over. Just do it now. Yes, it hurts, but only for a little while. Third, look at trading Miller’s expiring contract and a draft pick for a decent journeyman PG, if possible. If not, keep Miller and draft wisely. This isn’t so bad. All we’ve lost fur sure is Roy. Big loss, I concede, but if Oden can stay fairly healthy, we’re still not a bad team and one that can make a playoff run.
no. I'd force him to grow the stache. Can you imagine...the Stache and Patty Cakes TV show? would be awesome.
So we dump Roy, assuming he's basically shit. And we have to provide a draft pick with Miller to get a journeyman PG? Shit. Glad you aren't GM. Fuck, Chris Paul has the same issue as Roy in one knee. Everybody think he's now shit as well? Or does it only apply to our players?
The Blazers are in a really bad spot right now and getting out of it is going to be tough. I don't think you can trade Camby or Miller. Camby because we don't know right now if either center will be back and effective. Miller because Armon Johnson is not even close to ready to be a starter. Portland may need accelerate AJ's growth by giving him more then spot minutes though. That would have the added benefit of lessening Andre's load which in turn makes it more likely he stays healthy for the whole season. I don't envy Cho one bit right now. There really isn't a magic bullet move that can magically turn the season around. We are probably looking at making the playoffs as a low seed and getting knocked out in the first round. That's ok. It will make me nostalgic for the early to mid 1980's.
