Getting a b/u Center

Yep. Like I said, I think Stotts needs to experiment with Watson running the back up point and having Mo play off the ball. I think the ball would move MUCH better. We still need to do a trade (not a big one, just for some low post help) to make it really work.

 

I've said it a handful of times, and I'm not sure we could get him easily, but giving all of Mo's current minutes (and a couple of Dame's) to Andre Miller and CJ would be my preference.

It wouldn't sold anything on defense, but it sure would make our offense a lot better and we'd get a lot more easy buckets. Andre being given the reigns for 20 mpg with shooters all around and Aldridge would be magical.

Hypothetically: there's a three team trade out there where Mo ends up on a contender, something goes back to Denver, and Andre comes to us.

Also: Leonard, Claver, Barton for Hawes (they get more ping pong balls and Leonard theoretically may work with Noel?)

this 10 man rotation (Hawes is probably the only sub getting 20 mpg) would be great, we'd never be the top defensive team but the offense would be amazing and there's plenty of rebounding.

not by position but more sub patterns:

Batum (basically playing PG right now)/Miller
Lillard/Wright
Matthews/CJ
Aldridge/Robinson
Lopez/Hawes

 

As much as I would love to have Miller, I think that shipped sailed. I doubt Denver parts with him, and I also doubt they want anything we are willing to part with to get him.

 

Is Hawes's defense that bad? He is averaging 9 boards, 1.6 blocks

Hawes is grabbing 19.4 PER, while holding his opponent to 17.6 (+1.8). I know it's not stellar, but isn't that fine for a bench player?

Also, he has a defensive rebounding % of 25.2. The defensive rating is poor (107), but that is more of a team stat.

 

I think he'd pair well with Robinson (he'd play outside on O, inside on D). I also think Frye would (whose interior D is not that bad, especially against b/u players)

 

I think we should keep the Lakers from tanking. Keep them out of the lottery. They need a PG in the worst way. If we are not going to use Earl Watson and we really think we need depth at center.........Watson and Claver for Kaman?

 

This is my favorite best case

 

I would love to get Hawes... but I think we'd have to give up either TRob or CJ.

Of those two, I'd trade Robinson. He's more of a project, and I think Freeland can play inside while Hawes provides offense off the bench.

 

I'd feel really bad for him, but T. Rob makes the best sense for us. I would think Leonard, T. Rob and Barton should easily do the trick. That's a young core that comes back for a player they will most likely lose anyway.

 

This brings up a good question. Who do we prefer to keep in a Trob vs Joel scenario? At first one would easily say TRob. But I have always thought Joel would be a good back up PF. Not as flashy, not as much potential, but solid and more versatile on defense. He is a true 4/5 guy to have on your bench. Trob strictly a 4. Tough question IMO. Obviously depends on who else we have in the middle.

 

I think starting center is the problem, even though I really like Rolo.

I know it may be a pipe dream but I like this trade. It makes sense for Memphis, maybe throw in a draft pick because they are in rebuilding mode and need to move their best asset to get anything of value in return. I think it may actually hurt Portland this year because it makes our bench very thin, but we could go after some bench help this summer and then be a contender next year.

 

The thing is Freeland is fine being a 10-15 minute producer. T. Rob wouldn't mind either, but he needs a ton of playing time to really get into the flow of the NBA. He really needs to be on a rebuilding team that isn't looking to win games, but develop players. Charlotte, Milwaukee, Toronto, etc.

I have no doubt T. Rob will eventually be a beast in this league. I've seen flashes of it! I just don't want to wait until he does, and I definitely think it's unfair for him to sit like he is.

 

LMAO!!!!! Of course you, me or any limped mental midget would agree.

 

Freeland can play with Haws, because Haws is more like LA than Lopez, and Freeland is more like Lopez than Haws. I think this would be a good move for Portland, and it would add another ton of crow on Ben Golliver's plate that is already going to take a century to choke it all down.

 

Having Freeland, Aldridge, Lopez and Hawes as our front court is Beastly, IMO. Freeland won't dazzle you with the athleticism, but we don't need that. What he will give you is someone that can back up Aldridge enough for him to rest. Hawes will carry Aldridge's scoring load during him sitting.

This line-up would also have a very versatile combo: Aldridge and Hawes for the super scoring front-line. Hawes and Lopez for the dual twin towers. Freeland and Lopez for defense.

 

This is how I look at it. I like Robinson, but he's a project. If you bring in Hawes, he provides scoring and Freeland can just do what he does best.... rebound and defense. I think CJ is much more polished and further along than Robinson, so CJ will actually be able to contribute on this team. Robinson is just too inconsistent at this point. Last night he played something like 4 minutes.

If we got a healthy CJ back, and Hawes, I would feel pretty good about our bench.

 

Same here. Mo, CJ and Hawes all can score. No way they couldn't put us around 25 points a game. I would like 30+ a game, but that's probably a reach.

 

25 a game is fine with me. All I want is for the bench to not lose ground. Either by maintaining a lead, or not allowing the other team to build on a lead. That's all I want. We have seen the bench either blow a lead, or allow another team to build on a lead (like last night) so many times this year. It's so frustrating.

 

I think Rolo can be much more of a defensive force if we did not have to worry about him getting in foul trouble. In the first half he guards his man but does not bang with him. It's almost like he has been told not to foul. He plays better D in the 4th when he gets more physical with his man. Maybe he is used to picking up tick tack fouls and is afraid of sitting on the bench or maybe Terry has told him we need him on the floor, "back off".