ah, another trade where we are sending out our last 5 or 6 guys from our bench and getting back pretty good players.
The only way we get Amare is if we offer Bayless or Aldridge. Outlaw and a number of scrubs won't do the deal. Let's not forget that Amare is still an All-Star. He still has value.
1. It's "I". You are not the Queen. I assume. 2. Only if you have a serious Maris obsession. And that does indeed appear to be the case. 3. I've been saying this since we drafted Bayless. And that includes watching just about every game in Summer League. So I think I can "own" that opinion for myself. If you mean top 5-10 scoring per minute, then I might concede that - at least, a couple of years from now. But if you mean actually performing the functions usually asked of a point guard, then I think you're just wrong. Bayless has a skill that is in short supply on the Blazers (head down, drive to the basket) where only Roy and occasionally Sergio can penetrate, but league-wide it's not that rare. As I have said many times, Bayless is a pint-sized Cory Maggette. And like Maggette, that kind of player is always best used off the bench. Incidentally, my ten-year-old says it's pronounced "Tor-timer" (like "old timer") is that right? I always assumed it was pronounced like "Mortimer".
they've been trying to mold thomas into a player in chicago for 2.5 years, and if anything he's regressed slightly. he may still have a lot of potential, but i doubt his current trade value is higher than bayless (not that i think bayless' value is really that high). however calling bayless nothing but a short SG with no chance to ever start for most teams is just dumb (no offense). he will never be the passer chris paul is, but neither will anyone else. otherwise his potential upside certainly is as a star-level scoring PG in the mold of billups, nelson, mo williams etc. if anything his PG skill set and development on both sides of the floor are ahead of where all 3 of those players were at his age, and he's more athletic. i'm sure phoenix would love to pick him up as possible successor to nash.
I believe your son is right and it is a video game character and I think it is pronouced like "old timer" but I could be wrong. I guess we have just different opinions on Bayless. I have watched him play all his college games and SL and Blazer games and I have a way different opinion on his abilities. He was way better then Westbrook and Mayo in college and I believe he will also be better in the NBA. We will just have to wait and see but IMO he is going to be our PG and better then anything we could trade for. I think what you are seeing in the last few Blazer games is just the tip of the iceberg with his skills. He is going to be a great shooter and that will make him almost unstoppable plus he has better PG skills then Westbrook or Mayo already.
My mistake. I didn't realize you were in fact three years old. Now I feel bad for arguing with you. You know, you and Maris really do deserve each other.
Oh, so you don't think you overreacted to what was an obvious joke? You made a comment about Bayless being a shooting guard, which is an obvious Marisism. Your response was a gross overreaction, so now I'm having some fun with you. I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings.
Hmm. You might have something with those players. Of course, something in common with all of those players is that it took a WHILE for them to come into their own, and it also took the right environment. And actually, the only player on that list I like is Billups. I wouldn't like either of the other two on Portland. The best case scenario for Bayless is probably Devin Harris. But (a) Devin Harris is taller and even quicker and has longer arms. (b) Devin Harris had more years to develop in college (and didn't he actually play PG there?) but still was a backup for a long time in the NBA. (c) Since Devin Harris has become a star, it's in a system where he is the #1 option. That's okay for NJ but do you really want that for Portland when we have Roy, Aldridge and Oden?
Phoenix gets SSSSSSSSSWWWWWWWWWWWWWIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNNNNDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEDDDDDDDDDDDDDD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I shouldn't really respond, but it always amazes me when people act as if my disagreeing with them or thinking they've said something stupid is a sign that somehow they've hurt my feelings. Why on earth would you think that? I don't think anything you've said reflects your opinion of me, and even if I did I would be crazy to give a shit, because nothing you've said gives me cause to value your opinion. So don't worry, you don't have to be sorry. I hope that brightens your day.
Okay, ignore the fact that you overreacted to something that really shouldn't have drawn your ire. You think that Bayless is a shooting guard and that he won't work on this team. I compared your opinion to Maris'. I didn't call you dumb. I didn't say you were stupid. In fact, the post didn't even really mention you at all. So why did it bother yo so much? Hmm? Or are you just voicing something that has irritated you for a while now? Sorry, but this: Was an overreaction to this:
I would rather deal with Detroit then any of these other teams mentioned. Not sure how the salaries work, but if we can steal Maxiel and Prince from the Pistons we are playoff contender now and for the next several years.
I'd hate to give up RLEC. He's been shooting the lights out every night, and grabbing about 15 rebounds a game. We'd be crazy to trade that kind of talent. Plus, he has the coolest initials in the league . . .
I know, right?!? It's starting to be an all too common battle rythm here. Give up pine-foder and pull in multiple starters...and in all this the team giving away the biggest piece is getting least in talent back?!? I don't see it. Like I stated above...there is no way Phoenix would seen Deng's name float around and except Outlaw instead...and also put out....with Nash leaving after next year...Bayless would be a must in any trade talks involving Phoenix and Portland. I know, I know....you like and want him in your future plans...but you have to give up talent to get talent...and when an (26 year old!) All-Star is being dealt (even if it is to the other team in a three-way) they can and will, if not from Portland, get a package of young talent and picks for Amare from somebody else.
Are you saying that it doesn't happen in this league? After just about every trade somebody says that one of the teams got screwed by the other, and not just in trades involving Memphis. We tend to look at trades solely from a talent viewpoint, whereas GMs have to worry about the bottom line. And in this economy, that's going to be more and more of a concern. Except, perhaps, if your owner is still fantastically wealthy... Look at Deng's contract. And look at his injury history and performance last year. He's a big risk. Outlaw, on the other hand, is cheap, more spectacular, and low risk. It's funny: since I made this proposal, the common wisdom seems to be that Chicago will get Amare without giving up Deng at all. If you thought Phoenix was being screwed by my proposal (which saves them a lot of money and, at least the second version, gets them Thomas, supposedly now their main target), what do you think of that? Anyhoo, I've got another 3-way, because a new rumor says that Golden State is interested. So how about: Portland gives up: RLEC, Travis Portland gets: Stephen Jackson (my main incentive - he's a huge playoff performer) and Ronny Turiaf (good guy, better defender as backup PF than any of ours) GS gives up: Brandan Wright, Stephen Jackson, Ronny Turiaf GS gets: Stoudemire and Goran Dragic Phoenix gives up: Stoudemire and Dragic (dumping a failed draft pick) Phoenix gets: RLEC, Outlaw and Wright. I think Phoenix make out like bandits here: big money off the books, Wright is a great young PF and Outlaw is cheap and solid. Would we do it? I think Jackson would be a big risk, big reward player: he transformed that team when they acquired him and he does have a championship ring. I'm not sure GState would give him up, because he is their Captain Jack, but on the other hand, they have just a ton of perimeter players. GState of course gets Amare. Mind you, Amare without Jackson is a risk - who's that team's leader now?
I actually like this a lot. Stephen Jackson has some questionable shot selection (who doesn't in a Nellie ball system?) but is otherwise a pretty complete player and I love Turiaf's game. I'd do it.
Golden State cleans up in this situation. Amare becomes an MVP candidate on that team. I really would not like this deal as a Portland fan... Jackson and Turiaf? Ick. Ed O.
