I don't think so. First, Marion had issues under *D'Antoni*. Every other player in the known universe loves playing for D'Antoni. Second, Nash was openly distraught when Diaw and Bell were traded. Not so much with Marion. Agree with you that Stoudemire is not the player they should be trying to make happy at the expense of everyone else, though. As to trading for Marion: meh. Marion's strengths are rebounding, shotblocking, and (used to be) defense. We're fine on rebounding now. Batum is probably already as good as Marion at shotblocking and defense, and is more versatile. Marion is the ultimate role player, in the "damning with faint praise" sense. He's got all of the downsides of Gerald Wallace (only really good in a transition game, not obviously high bball IQ, can't dribble, can't shoot) only much older. He's not worth the short term disruption, and he wouldn't be around for the long term. Just Say No - especially if the price is Outlaw, who is the most beloved teammate of several of our current players. I'm betting that KP seriously considers several trades but backs away from all of them as not worth the risk of disruption. Unless we go into a serious nosedive that is.
If I were Philly i would dump Iggys contract. It is huge and they have Thad Young. I know a lot of Blazer fans love the guy. Not me but others. But he would give us energy, defense, and can attack the basket. Good player but over paid IMO. I would give them the Spanish Armada plus a young SF. Philly would be stupid to turn us down.
Pippen was the beginning of the end for us. He destroyed the chemistry of the team with his ego and sapped the team's respect for the coaching staff, rendering them ineffective. Houston couldn't wait to dump his big salary and big head. It's not like we forced them to trade him for scrubs. They wanted to. I believe Cato played longer for Houston than Pippen did for us BTW.
Cato playing longer for Houston than Pippen for us is completely irrelevant. That team should have won the 2000 Championship. Pippen was our 1st or 2nd best player most of that year and we traded a bunch of scrubs for him. The only one who came back to bite us in the ass was Brian Shaw...On the Lakers. To say Pippen added nothing to our team is simply ludicrous
I loved Pippen on our team, well really for that one year in 2000. I still can't believe to this day he was a Trail Blazer. The guy was glue, and hit some huge shots for us in the playoffs. Stacey Augmon, Kelvin Cato, Walt Williams, Brian Shaw, Ed Gray and Carlos Rogers? Are you kidding me... that was probably one of the best trades Trader Bob made to make our starting five of Damon, Steve Smith, Pippen, Sheed and Sabas... I loved that team.
Pippen provided the direction on offense that Stoudamire certainly never did or could have...the team's offense fell apart the season following his retirement. He may have been a small forward, but he provided the best point guard play the team has had this decade. And his defense was extremely valuable despite the fact that he was declining. Dunleavy and Cheeks both made comments about how they relied on Pippen as a coach on the floor, so they apparently didn't feel he destroyed the team's respect for them. The Pippen deal was the perfect example of a consolidation trade for a veteran team. Pritchard needs to do his own "Pippen trade," but one tuned for a much younger team.
Patterson was GM at the time (Blake for Magloire was his trade in the first place), and to really really really nitpick, there's that epic Green for Von Wafer blockbuster. In any case, it seems like I've seen this thread before.... trade is coming says someone with inside sources, or MB "shushed" on radio, or or cryptic clues from KP, etc. Color me skeptical, if hopeful. Interestingly, Jan 19th against the Bucks will be our 41st game, after which RLEC becomes covered by insurance. With Webster hopefully back, that will be two big obstacles out of the way.
RLEC, Channing Frye and Bayless to Denver for Carmello Anthony. Denver gets ton o cap relief, plus young talent, and free look at Frye. We get stud allstar SF
Carmelo Anthony would be good for the Blazers, but can't imagine a division or conference rival in the middle of a playoff race willing to trade with Portland. Could you imagine if Carmelo help Portland win the division and also Denver misses the playoffs. One more thing to add to Caron Butler. There has been a rumor out there for almost a year of Lakers trying to trade back Caron Butler, because he is Kobe's friend and Kobe was very disappointed Laker management traded him away. Lakers are rumored to be offering Lamar Odom & players for Caron Butler. If the Lakers get Caron Butler, then a Kobe, Butler, Gasol & Bynum would certainly challenge for NBA Championships for the next 4-5 years. Kobe, Butler, Gasol & Bynum vs. Roy, Aldridge, Oden & (i.e. plug any other SF (Wallace, Maggette, Marion)) I would still would rather see Butler on the Blazer team then the Lakers.
What do you propose we trade for Butler then? He's most likely not going to go for any less than one of the big 3.
My thoughts We are NOT getting Caron Butler. I do not care how bad the Wiz are, we won't get him for an expiring and change. Not to mention, they have no need for one of our bigger assets (Bayless) Michael Redd is a good thought, since he would only have 2 years left on his deal, but I question his defense. I love Gerald Wallace, but his deal sucks and is pretty injury prone. Rashard Lewis..not a chance in hell David Lee is the guy I really want, even though he isn't a SF, we need an active backup PF who can do it all. I think the more energy players we get, the better.
David Lee would be a great backup to LaMarcus, but Lee's agent is looking for $10M a year for Lee's service. As a backup and matched with Joel, it would be a pretty good duo, as long as the other three are Rudy, Martell and Bayless to shoot the outside shots.
