Blazinaway~ I'd be very happy to add Asik... that would be awesome. I question if the Rockets would be all that hot on Illyasova when they've got essentially the same sized guy with the same skill set in Parsons. A quality Big commands a premium and Daryl Morey knows that. Maybe Leonard would entice them but... not so sure If the Rockets were to obtain Howard, Asik would be on the trading block though. Those two would be stepping all over each other if they were teammates. STOMP
Chandler plays the 3, Ilyasova plays the 4; they could play together with no problem. Ilyasova's also a much better rebounder than Parsons is.
Yawn. This thread is much ado about nothing. This is how the Oregonian drove Portland into hysteria 10 years ago.
I could be wrong, but I can't think of a single poster who said LMA has demanded a trade. There's a huge difference between that and not resigning here as an UFA, though. As PapaG said, I wouldn't blame him if he leaves in two years. No one would. He's put in 7 (would be 9 by then) professional years where he's been a model citizen and good-to-great player. All of my posts on the subject have been on why the team should trade him this summer instead of at this year's deadline, next summer or deadline 2014-15. Not because he sucks. Not because he's a bad person. Not because he's demanded a trade. Not because he won't have some positive value if traded in 2014 or 2015. Because he's shown no inclination that he's a Blazer past 2015. That's obviously well within his right, and I would wish him well and wouldn't be surprised at all if he had multiple All-Star seasons after 2015. 1. But if he's on the roster (as currently constructed), I highly doubt that we are one of the 12-worst records in the NBA this year. And therefore lose our draft pick in a supposedly great draft. 2. Personally, I don't think you'll get better value for him than this summer. [I think it's ridiculous to equate 16M off of our 2015 cap number (which is NOT the same thing as 16M in cap space) to value gained from having young talent and draft picks, but that's another post]. You could probably sway me with an argument that a fringe contender at this year's deadline may make us a better offer then than someone will now, but when you think that 50-ish games with LMA will probably make us good enough to have to give up our draft pick then I don't think the value comes out the same way. 3. CLE tried the "hey, if we build around the wishes of our All-Star, then maybe he'll stay" program with LBJ. Leading to transactions that gave up future value (and present value at the time, honestly) in an attempt (which in hindsight was futile to begin with, but whatever) to keep their star happy. We're all having a hard time coming up with ideas that make this team a contender in the next two years that meet with LMA's guidelines for how he wants to play--just because there aren't a lot of big, relatively cheap defensive-minded folks (either in the draft or in UFA) that we can acquire without creating more holes for our team. I think Hibbert would've been great for the team and for LMA, but that ship sailed. I think that, in a utopian world, we'd get one of the good PF's like Millsap or Jefferson with our cap space and tell LMA to be LaMonster out of the low post and focus a lot more on defense. But I don't think that would help us sign him to his next contract. It's great news that LMA has come out to say that he won't pull a Melo or Deron or Dwight move. As I stated in another thread, I respect the heck out of him for doing it the right way like that. If I was Olshey I would try to set him up with a team he'd like to go to rather than someplace like MIL or SAC. But that doesn't mean that he's vowed not to go the LBJ/Bosh route. And he hasn't come out like Dirk to say that he wants to be here, and will take a pay cut to get better players here.
I agree with all your statements; with the exception that Aldridge isn't an ego maniac like lbj. Also James had a bigger expectation to win a ring. I think Aldridge was quoted that he just doesn't want to make the playoffs "been there, done that". He wants to make it past the first round. I firmly believe we just need to make it past the first round to assure him we are headed in the right direction. If we can do that in two years; I think we have a good shot at keeping him. With that said; we have a good shot; playing the free agency and trade well this summer.
yep, Illyasova is a 4 and Parsons a 3, Illyasov would be a great fit next to Howard and they can have Leonard who gives them a nice backup tp develop
while it's true that Ilyasova has primarily guarded 4s while in Milwaukee (which places him in prime rebounding position), thats probably more a reflection of the Bucks lack of quality size and doesn't invalidate my point that he's essentially the same player (size/skillset wise) as Parsons. Certainly they play the same role on offense. They would both spread the court on offense, but I don't see either as a quality defender which is the main reason why I doubt Houston would be that interested. STOMP
I agree Brian. I've never understood how wanting to trade Aldridge instantly makes you a basher or a hater. I just think he wants to leave. I'm not sure if I'm in the tanking boat, but I don't see how we turn around the team completely in the next two years. Realistically we don't even have two years to convince him. We have to convince him next season, because after that it will be trade him during the offseason or trade him before the deadline, otherwise we risk losing him for nothing. So we have one year to convince LaMarcus Aldridge that we will be competitive. Not sure what kind of progress he wants to see from us though. Playoffs? Second round? What?
Nate; he was quoted that he wants to make it past the first round. At least that's how I read it in the exit interview.
Do you realistically see us doing that? Let's assume that Houston gets Howard (because that seems like a very good possibility right now). I think the top teams will look something like this (no particular order): OKC Houston Spurs Memphis With LAC, Denver, Golden State, and maybe even Minnesota in the mix (if they're healthy). So who do you see us beating in a 7 game series? Spurs? I could see us beating the Spurs. I don't know if we have the bench or defense to beat Memphis or OKC. Houston will be a mystery. It will be interesting to see how good they are (if they get D12). I just don't know if I see us getting out of the second round. I think we will most likely make the playoffs if Neil can get us a center and a better bench, but I think a lot of it hinges on how good Lillard plays. If he steps it up another notch and reaches All-Star status, we might be able to get HCA and that's huge. Also, if Batum can pull his head out of his ass I think that will help as much, or more, than any free agent we acquire this summer.
I can definitely see us getting past any of those teams if we take care of these three needs. 1.) defensive starting center 2.) a back up veteran big 3.) a back up wing defender. I think we need to use Matthews, Leonard, freeland and cap space to get ER done
Willing to give up on Leonard so quickly? Who are you thinking? Tony Allen, Asik, and Jermaine O'Neal?
That's not bad actually.... As far as Leonard is concerned; I don't know how long we can wait if we want to keep Aldridge.
So you want to completely mortgage the future for a guy that some of us think will leave regardless in two years?
Yes. Some of us think if we win he stays. And asik and tony Allen are hardly a mortgage of the future. They are pretty good the last time I checked. As far as jerm is concerned; he's maybe a 1-1.5 mil player. Someone we could get for just vet min.
Dealing away Leonard and sinking a decent amount of money into Allen is definitely going for a "win now" approach, which could backfire if Aldridge leaves in two years. Leonard is raw as hell, but he has an offensive game that could be All-Star quality. He brings excitement, and I could see him putting up 15 to 16 ppg if he polishes his game. Hell, if you put him next to someone like Chris Paul I bet he looks like an All-Star next year lol.
http://blogs.trailblazers.com/BroadcasterProfile/BroadcasterBlog/tabid/188/EntryID/5003/BroadcasterID/4/Default.aspx
Well, that's good then. Blazer management better get to work (as I am sure they already are), as I agree with Brian above that the team really only has one year PLUS next summer to build this team around LaMarcus and make BIG improvements to the roster. Not one poster on this board has put up a legitimate plan to remake the Blazer roster into a solid playoff team in just one summer. There are too many holes to fill and the free agents (after the stars we wont get) are not the right match for the team. However, if the team is better and has a deeper roster and a center that doesn't suck, and a plan for how they can continue to improve next summer, LaMarcus might extend with the team. I think the Blazers should try to see if they can get involved in any trades this summer and pick up a center that way, rather than free agency. If Dwight moves that will create a cascade with centers possibly shuffling around (Asik, Gasol). Also, some teams are preparing to tank for the 2014 draft, and will look to get rid of players that are not in their long-term rebuilding future. (Maybe Atlanta?) After that, they can fill out the roster with whatever cap space they have left.
That's because it is almost an impossible task. Not only do we have to replace Hickson, but we need a bench. If they can get Asik and Tony Allen, that would go a long way to getting us back into the playoffs, but it seems like we're looking at bigger names like Bynum, Mayo, etc.
