Finding that elusive center

That's nice for him. How many games did we win again?

Rasheed liked that, too. But Larry Brown made him play in the post, the big meanie.

 

Don't be concerned. It will not harm you.

 

Hey, is it possible to sign Batum to a 8-9 million per year contract and trade him+Mathews (6 mil)+6th pick (2-3 mil) for Dwight Howard? It'd give Orlando good pieces to rebuild around and the Blazers could try to lure in Deron Williams for cheap afterward.

 

They would probably ask for both picks and a resigned Batum + babbit. I would say yes in a heartbeat but no way in hell Dwight signs an extension here. Would make sure we got Derron in FA though.

 

The reason that fails is because we are desperately short of talented players. We only have 3 or 4 right now. Why trade two of them for 1 in return? It makes us a worse team. We need to add talented players quantitatively at this point in time. If we can build up to 7-9 talented players we can start thinking of a 2 for 1.

 

If that nets us Dwill to I don't care what other players we put next to them, thats scary as shit just in its own right.

 

If D-Will were to take a pay cut, the Blazers could land free agents.

Then, the Blazers play their poker face and convince Orlando not to take the 11th pick by informing them Batum+6th pick+filler is the best they'll get. This rings true since the other lottery teams are rebuilding and the contending teams don't have high enough draft picks.

If the Blazers retain the 11th pick, they draft a Rip Hamilton type of player in Jeremy Lamb or go after Terrence Jones, a less explosive Josh Smith. If not, go after free agents.

Either way, this leaves the Blazers cap space to re-sign Hickson and a few options:

• If they have Lamb, they bring over Claver or convince Gerald Wallace to sign for cheap (long shot).
  
• If they have Jones (Portland kid), Blazers sign a weak SG like Shannon Brown. Or gamble on an old McGrady.
  
• If they have neither (traded #11 to ORL), bring in Claver, draft Evan Fournier, and spend on left-over free agents to fill space up.
  
• Another option is to trade the 11th for Orlando's 19th pick. Then, focus on getting Terrence Ross (another Portland kid), who'll provide the shooting that is needed to get attention off of Dwight and LMA. Also, bring in Claver for further shooting ability.

Ideally, the offense will flow through our Big 3. Everyone else will be a roleplayer.

Then, the Blazers bring B-Roy in as the head coach. Okay, not really, but he does have the leadership qualities necessary. Otherwise, hire a coach that Dwight and D-Will won't have bad history with (no Van Gundy or Sloan). Maybe Phil will see this an another opportunity to acquire rings?


This plan is a long shot, sure. But I think it's worth the risks involved. Otherwise, we're doomed to mediocrity and first/second round exits.

 

First, DWill isn't taking a pay cut to play in Portland. Get serious.

Next, stop dreaming about draft picks being go to players. It may happen eventually, but to think we're just going to get two NBA ready can't miss in the lottery isn't sound judgment. Lastly, for those who think we can trade the team away for one greatly talented player who will carry us to the promised land by themselves... this is the NBA, kids. Any player can be defended. It makes several talented players to make the grade.

 

But why not dream about these far-fetched scenarios? I think it's better than pretending that waiting will somehow help this current Blazers team ascend further into the playoffs (if they even make it next year).

You're definitely right that draft picks don't pan out right away. Thus, the Blazers have to do something drastic if they want to "reload". Boston had to give up their future for their Big 3 and the Clips had to give up Eric Gordon+1st rounder+decent player for CP3. At this point, the risk either leads to success or a massive rebuild. I'd prefer either of those to 1st/2nd round exits for the next decade.


Also, D-Will has made it clear that he doesn't care about small markets or large markets. He just wants to win. You get Howard, Williams will want to join.

http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/nets/2012/04/deron-williams-discusses-his-decision

And if you get Howard-LMA-Williams, then veteran free agents will follow, if not this summer, then the next (more cap space). That's the kind of direction and flexibility Williams is talking about right there.

As for being stopped? Almost anyone can be stopped. That's why you have three elite players, not just one or two, who can score at any time.

Aldridge, Williams, and Howard are in their primes. Physically, Howard can't be stopped. It doesn't hurt Howard that Aldridge compliments his game extremely well. Last but not least, Williams will score and dish the ball to the big men and three point shooters. Statistically, he has played his worst ball in New Jersey, so he would want no part in Brooklyn's rebuild. Put him next to two all-stars and his game will thrive.

Sure, having depth and versatility helps. But the last thing I want the Blazers to be is the Hawks, Pacers, or Sixers of the West...teams with potential star players who play team ball but have no star power.


That's just my opinion though. We'll just have to agree to disagree for the time being.

 

Sounds like a Blazer to me ...

 

I guess I'll put this tidbit here, from Buchanon:

Speculation? Sounds like a...we're not going to really get into the BIG RFA big men, which probably makes some sense, with the likely high price.

 

Ruuuuudy....Ruuuuudy....Ruuuuudy!!!!!

 

This would be a real long shot, but could the Blazers offer Aldridge to Orlando for D. Howard, and then sign D. Williams? That isn't insane, right? Aldridge would be as good as most anything else they get (add in filler if you like).

Aldridge + Matthews for Howard works. Then you sign D. Williams to a max deal, then reup Batum, Hickson?

Howard probably doesn't want to come to Portland, but if Orlando wants the deal, and Williams strongly considers it couldn't it work?

D. Williams
E. Williams/Batum
Batum/Babbit
Hickson
Howard

 

Aldridge is better than any offer Orlando will get, but Howard has a sick attraction to Brooklyn.

On second thought, he's so weak-minded that he'll probably stay wherever he winds up, so you've convinced me.

 

Oden gave his grantland interview as a coded message to warn off black people from ever coming to Portland. Better sign Kamen instead.

 

Lopez is half Cuban and half white, maybe he would be ok in Portland?

 

I think Oden was making a reference to all the bars and strip clubs in Portland. He was advertising!

 

He can move to SE, where they're all white communists. He'll fit right in. Hell, I'll sell him my house!

 

How did Oden forget about them? You can't throw a typewriter out your window without hitting a stripper in Portland.