Ric Bucher (ya, we know) reported that the Bulls are in serious trade talks with the Blazers, and every player on the Bulls is available. Now I'm sure Paxson would love to add Brandon Roy to play next to Gordon, or Aldridge in the frontcourt, but given the success those two have brought Portland, I doubt that. Webster and Outlaw don't make sense, we have small forwards. Channing Frye also doesn't make sense, we have a logjam there, and thats not the type of player you make a move for. That only leaves one big fat white injured elephant as the possibility. Greg Oden. Now I can't see us just leaving Oden in no man's land, so I would assume we would try to keep one big player...probably Gordon. I think this would actually end up being a BIG trade in all senses of the word. Most likely trade I came up with was: Bulls Trade: Luol Deng, Kirk Hinrich, Joakim Noah, Joe Smith, Chris Duhon, Aaron Gray, Viktar Khryapa. Bulls Receive: Greg Oden, Raef Lafrentz, Darius Miles, Taureen Green, Josh McRoberts. We'd be left with: PG-Ben Gordon/JamesOn Curry SG-Thabo Sefolosha/Adrian Griffin SF-Andres Nocioni/Demetris Nichols PF-Tyrus Thomas/Josh McRoberts C- Ben Wallace/Raef Lafrentz We'd officially be in tank mode for the rest of the year, going for that high lottery pick. Portland would be adding borderline star Luol Deng, used to be good might be again some day Kirk Hinrich, vet Joe Smith, good young bigs Noah/Gray, vet Joe Smith, fan favorite Khryapa, and a backup point in Duhon back. These guys could help them make a serious run at the title this year. They get out of their two worst contracts, Lafrentz and Miles. This is the type of loot you would expect for a #1 pick...and before it would have been too much to give up on the Bulls end...but given the circumstances (and Oden's injury) this could become a real possibility.
Your kidding me right? Deng, Hinrich, Noah + fillers for Oden AND McRoberts AND Green? Why would Portland do this when they're actually winning with the lineup right now and could do more damage next year when Oden does play? Portland doesn't need those Bulls players, they already have Roy, Webster, Jack, Outlaw, Aldrigde and Frye. This is one of your worst trade proposals.
Um... leaving aside the fact it's Bucher talking about this... no way it's for Oden. I was just thinking earlier today that Portland is one of the few teams that would probably be a very good fit for Gordon. Defensively you've got a big guard next to him so he only has to play points defensively, and you've got up to three shot blockers behind him (Aldridge, Oden and the Vanilla Gorilla). And offensively, he spaces the floor and can shoot without having to play the point because Roy effectively runs the offense. What do they have that we want? Maybe LaFrentz (expiring next year) for Wallace (expiring in 2 years) and a pick and/or the rights to Rudy Fernandez? I think the idea of them parting with Roy, Oden or Aldridge is complete fantasy.
Kirk would be a nice guy to combo with Roy, too. But man, it would be a worse deal for us than the Chandler deal if we gave away Gordon or Hinrich or anyone else just to shorten our obligation to Wallace by a year.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Denny Crane @ Jan 22 2008, 09:56 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Kirk would be a nice guy to combo with Roy, too. But man, it would be a worse deal for us than the Chandler deal if we gave away Gordon or Hinrich or anyone else just to shorten our obligation to Wallace by a year.</div> Indeed. I think Gordon is worth more than that, but in looking over the Blazers roster, I don't see how a deal works that doesn't center around that. The one thing I see is that the Blazers have several assets moving forward: * Rudy Fernandez, a 6'5" G prospect they picked 24th in the 1st round last year, who's currently averaging 20ppg in the ACB Spanish league. * Their 1st round pick. Getting those guys would give us two potential replacements for Gordon at a fraction of the cost. And of course, a lot more uncertainty about how they pay off. They'd probably throw in Jarett Jack, who's sort of a poor-man's Gordon but bigger and with better D in the short run. I think salary wise things still don't match up though, unless they add Pryzbilla, who's contract is long so i don't really want him unless Wallace is going out. Plus, he actually plays for them, so they'd probably not want to let him go without Wallace coming back. If I'm them, I'd be very wary of taking on Wallace, but with Paul Allen as the owner, Nate McMillan as the coach, and with a variety of guys who can replace him, Wallace might be very good for them. So in the final analysis, a workable trade might be something like: Bulls send Wallace, Gordon, Aaron Gray Bulls get Przybilla, LaFrentz, Jack, rights to Fernandez
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ghoti @ Jan 22 2008, 10:11 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>This thread is ridiculous.</div> The discussion is getting better and I changed the thread title to something less inane
I think you guys are placing too much value on Oden. The guy looked horrible in summer league, and underwent microfracture. I cna't see the Bulls trading Gordon. But if the Blazers end up with Gordon-Roy-Outlaw-Aldridge-Oden next year as their starting lineup, other gm's can thank Paxson for putting the finishing touches on a dynasty.
The Blazers GM has coveted Deng and SF is the position they have looked to improve. The Blazers are not looking to move any of their core. Also, I was informed that Bucher also said that the Blazers and Clippers have had talks about Pryz for Sam I Am. It is becoming pretty obvious that Bucher's sources are not from the Blazers
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (MikeDC @ Jan 22 2008, 09:47 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>What do they have that we want? Maybe LaFrentz (expiring next year) for Wallace (expiring in 2 years) and a pick and/or the rights to Rudy Fernandez?</div> If the Bulls can pry away Fernandez, It would be quite a coup.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jumpman @ Jan 22 2008, 10:33 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>When was the last time Bucher was actually right about a rumor?</div> Right before Spree choked Carlissimo... so like ages ago yeah
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (o.iatlhawksfan @ Jan 22 2008, 11:56 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Any Gm that trades Oden, won't only be fired, but probably seriously injured.</div> hung drawn and quartered
I think you all may be overdoing it a bit. This trade: <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Bulls Trade: Luol Deng, Kirk Hinrich, Joakim Noah, Joe Smith, Chris Duhon, Aaron Gray, Viktar Khryapa. Bulls Receive: Greg Oden, Raef Lafrentz, Darius Miles, Taureen Green, Josh McRoberts.</div> Is pretty impressive for the Blazers. No knee-jerk reaction here. Portland is already a very tough team without Oden, and this deal fills their two weak spots (as-is, without Oden). Hinrich starts at PG, Deng at SF. Duhon gives them a backup PG or $3M expiring contract. To help fill the C position, they get a combo of Noah and Gray to backup Przybilla. Blazers after the trade: Guards: Hinrich/Roy Forwards Deng/Aldridge Center: Przybilla Backup C: Gray/Noah Backup F: Webster/Outlaw/Jones/Kryhapa Backup G: Duhon/Jack/Blake/Sergio I don't think that Paxson would do this deal, it's shedding a lot of talent.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Denny Crane @ Jan 23 2008, 12:47 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I think you all may be overdoing it a bit. This trade: <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Bulls Trade: Luol Deng, Kirk Hinrich, Joakim Noah, Joe Smith, Chris Duhon, Aaron Gray, Viktar Khryapa. Bulls Receive: Greg Oden, Raef Lafrentz, Darius Miles, Taureen Green, Josh McRoberts.</div> Is pretty impressive for the Blazers. No knee-jerk reaction here. Portland is already a very tough team without Oden, and this deal fills their two weak spots (as-is, without Oden). Hinrich starts at PG, Deng at SF. Duhon gives them a backup PG or $3M expiring contract. To help fill the C position, they get a combo of Noah and Gray to backup Przybilla. Blazers after the trade: Guards: Hinrich/Roy Forwards Deng/Aldridge Center: Przybilla Backup C: Gray/Noah Backup F: Webster/Outlaw/Jones/Kryhapa Backup G: Duhon/Jack/Blake/Sergio I don't think that Paxson would do this deal, it's shedding a lot of talent. </div> There is no overdoing it. That trade is absofuckinglutely ridiculous as the Blazers aren't trading Oden. Even with as well as Roy is playing, everything about the future is about Oden
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cpawfan @ Jan 22 2008, 10:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>The Blazers GM has coveted Deng and SF is the position they have looked to improve. The Blazers are not looking to move any of their core. Also, I was informed that Bucher also said that the Blazers and Clippers have had talks about Pryz for Sam I Am. It is becoming pretty obvious that Bucher's sources are not from the Blazers</div> I could see lots of motivations for the Blazers to trade, but I don't know which ones they really hold. A move like Przy for Cassell gives them some kind of short term help I guess, but it's mostly a salary dump. If you ignore his slight overpaidness, the Gorilla still has a nice backup C role even after Oden returns. C- Oden, Przy PF- Aldridge, Frye That's a nice group since both of the backups sort of mimic (albeit in an obviously less good fashion) what the starter does. Interchangeability is nice. So, are they looking to dump salary, or are they looking for a guy that helps in the long run? If it's the former, they'd either want to keep Przy or they'd want to get a replacement for him (if Wallace were willing, he wouldn't be awful). If it's the latter, I don't see any reason for the Bulls to take Przy without moving a major salary (read, Wallace) off the books. I do think they could use another big strong guy, but he's not worth that sort of outlay (say, acquiring him for an expiring contract or two like Chris Duhon) given our current situation (read: sucking and having a quasi big man logjam). Well, maybe if it's something like Gordon (who will be a major salary next year) for Przy+Fernandez...
I think there are several players on the Blazers who are interesting, if not spectacular. Martell Webster is playing out of position on the Blazers. He's a tall shooting guard, not a small forward. We don't have a tall shooting guard who can shoot/score. Channing Frye is also an interesting guy that is going to be less useful to the Blazers next season after the return of Oden. Fernandez is also an interesting possibility. None of these players are going to put us over the hump though. Look, I love Roy, Aldridge, and Oden, but they're going nowhere. Best young core in basketball, bar none.
