I would like that! Welcome to the board! Links to your summaries are sometimes posted here and they are most excellent. Good to have you aboard and hope you post regularly. Gramps...
Why are those two goals (bolded) mutually exclusive? See previous comments about Odom and Kirilenko. Are they better talents than some of the starters? No doubt. See also Havlicek. My main points: 1. The Wizards wouldn't give up Butler. Not only is he their best player, he's quite young and he's quite cheap. Why on earth would they give him up? The owner is not Donald Sterling, he actually cares about his team. 2. We don't need players who are primarily scorers at SF or PG, and it's players that are primarily scorers who get to be All-Stars. (I can name 3 exceptions: Rodman, Mutombo and Ben Wallace. Any more?) If we're acquiring a former all-star, he'll be a scorer. And... 3. You can always use scorers off the bench. Of course, that's what Outlaw already is, but (a) we're getting Webster back, and he can fill it up too, and is less of a black hole, and (b) we don't have a good backup PF. Imagine Aldridge sitting out for a while - wouldn't that screw our chances to do anything? I would actually get more excited about getting players like Shane Battier or Derek Fisher or James Posey because I genuinely believe in the importance of good veteran "coaches on the floor" (the Lakers' big turnaround started when they re-aquired Fisher: Memphis's free-fall started when they swapped Battier for Gay). But I can't see anyone calling that a "blockbuster trade"
True, he makes these quotes. True, never been a mid-season trade by KP. Makes you think. And if the player coming back were Jamison or another over 30 players, or another player that would come off the bench, it does seem that KP would be reluctant to pull the trigger. He is in the middle of "baking the cake" and he makes a so-so move that may or may not be a big help for a year or two? On the other hand, if he could land an early-prime talent the caliber of Butler, and doesn't have to give up a lot, and had to make that move mid-season, I think he has to do it. I think he would do it. Fuck the cake. Start over. Mix a much better cake and stick THAT in the oven. Maybe Discovery is on to something.
That's definitely a smaller set of exceptions, rather than the rule. And with our depth at the big three positions (Joel backing up Oden, Rudy backing up Roy), power forward is the only spot where we MIGHT be able to get a bench player that would immediately be one of our 4 or 5 best players. It's conceivable that we'll find a backup power forward that is not as good as Aldridge but better than most of the guys on our team... I just don't find it that likely. It's much more likely that we upgrade a position like the 1 or 3 with a good player that gets plugged right into the lineup. Gerald Wallace would still be my choice, because I agree with you that Washington giving up Butler (for Gerald Wallace? nah...) isn't very likely. Ed O.
Just to remind, we on this board are not snoozers, and have tread this road before, ie, wondering about Butler and other small forward possibilities. Discovery made an excellent post, adding current info to the subject and pulling it all together. I think looking at what we posted in the recent past is useful. I will bump thoses posts. Interesting there seemed to be a consensus among a portion of the group that Washington would hardly consider "dumping" Butler - a broken down Arenas or over 30 Jamison, sure. But why Butler? I thought that Gerald Wallace might be not only more cheaply obtainable, but possibly a better fit as he is more of a defender and off-ball offensive talent than Butler, who is more of Roy in a Small Forward body. I will add, that either one would be a fantastic get and worth pursuing. Not knowing anything about it, I wonder if there is a difference between them in the "culture" arena or in BB IQ. It could be that Wallace is not considered a smart player. Not sure. One of these guys might have been ruled out by KP for these reasons. Eddie Jordan fired, steal Butler idea: http://www.sportstwo.com/forums/showthread.php?t=129921 Teams calling about RLEC, steal Butler idea: http://www.sportstwo.com/forums/showthread.php?t=130019 PreSeason poach Gerald Wallace from hapless Bobcats idea: http://www.sportstwo.com/forums/showthread.php?t=127011
Not sure why. But from listening to radio conversations between the local media and Jazz management over the last 10 years it has been quite apparent. Even though I have not heard anything lately. My guess a lot of it stems from how much Paul Allen has been willing to spend. They seem a offended/jealous that Portland has an advantage over them when money is concerned. It is one thing that an LA or New York has an advantage because they are a big market team, but their hate that Portland does too. Plus they are a little arrogant with the way they do things. "They do it the right way". So when the Portland players got into trouble they loved taking shots at us. They would laugh when the local radio station would have their daily Blazer Police Blotter segment (For about a year) The funny thing about it is that they were no saints. The voice of the jazz was a raging drunk. (arrested numerous times for drunk driving), they had a player who committed statutory rape, players who were busted for pot, and assault. They have been complimentary lately, but I know their true colors will show through when we pass them again. They are a division rival, so I don't blame them too much. But they are still hypocrites IMO
yuyuza1, I just posted a thread to the Blog notes I did to the 12/29 Trail Blazer Courtside Monday. http://www.clubblazers.com/blazer-blogs/trail-blazer-courtside-t1506.html
"Sir, some of the fans are catching on to the fact that the team may not be *that* good this season." "Curses! Tell Mike&Mike to unleash another trade rumor to confound and distract them."
Butler is the one that makes the most sense. IMO, he's a complete player on the offensive end. He can shoot from 3 and mid-range. Butler can also post up and slash. He's definitely the type of player that would instantly make us a lot better. He's not a bad defender either. His game, IMO, is very Paul Pierce-esqe. A true All-Star stuck on a crappy team. He'd be huge for us.
Even though Butler was injured last year for the All Star game, he was selected by the coaches to be on the team, and until the 2009 All Star game is played, Butler would be considered a "current" All Star player. My guess is Marion, who last was an All Star in 2007. His $17 million comes off the books at the end of the season and he will most likely not re-sign with Miami. Miami could trade for Outlaw and LaFrentz, and only pay for Outlaw's salary for the remainder of this season since in 9 games, LaFrentz's salary will be picked up by an insurance company. Marion gets an audition with the Blazers for about 30-40 games, starting at SF with Webster backing him up, if he even returns this season. If the Blazers decide to keep him, they sign him in the off season and if not, they have a whole bunch of cap room to use on a free agent. I think this works for Miami in that they get a young player in Outlaw, they can start Beasley, and they can go after Boozer in the off season. Marion gives the Blazers a player who can guard a lot of different sized players and gives them a little more scoring punch at the 3 slot.
Plugging Marion into the rotation in the place of Outlaw would be very, very interesting. Marion might be a terrible fit, and he might be a troublemaker, and he might be a big negative... or he could be the guy that provides a lot of what we're missing in terms of experience and flexibility at both ends of the floor. It would be a big gamble, but given that his contract would come off the books, I wouldn't mind that kind of deal... although clearly I'd prefer Wallace or Butler. Ed O.
Who says Caron Butler is available? We know Gerald Wallace is (or was). That was reported. Same with Marion. And others. But, what information do we have to indicate that Butler is even "possibly" available?
It is interesting to note that the issue that Marion had in Phoenix, apparently also happened to Diaw and Raja Bell. I wonder if some of the issues might not be so much Marion, Bell and Raja, as it is Stoudemire.
