Poll: What SF Offeason Moves Should We Make?

What SF Offeason Moves Should We Make?

We have 3 good SFs, and if we bring in another, we'll have 4. What do we do with them all?

 

I voted to bring in starting SF, trade Outlaw, make Martell the backup. But I think "bench or trade Batum" is too harsh for my line of thinking. I think you find spot minutes for Batum depending on matchups. But Martell is much more valuable at this point, so I don't think Batum should take his minutes.

Outlaw, as we've talked about, is garbage. I felt that way long before this playoff series, but the fact that he disappeared in the playoffs only cemented my argument. I won't shed a tear if he is sent packing this offseason.

-Pop

 

I voted "other" which is "Take care of the point guard position first if possible, then decide what to do with the 3 spot." A lot of what the Blazers should do depends on just how much of a playmaker we end up with going into the next season at the point. If we keep Blake and use Jerryd as a backup (assuming Sergio really does want a change of scenery) then we will need a considerable upgrade at the 3, a guy who can distribute and create his own shot in the mold of Caron Butler or Tayshaun Prince.

 

Batum is the best defender on the team. I'm hoping we bring in a starting SF that can guard the other team's best wing player.

 

good point, but I was limited to 10 options!!

 

I'm keeping my fingers crossed for Tayshaun Prince.

Dude would be perfect for this team.

-Pop

 

I haven't crunched the numbers or run a trade-checker on this (plus I think a lot of it is going to depend on where the salary cap comes in this summer), but I'd be willing to part with a combination of the following:

• Travis Outlaw
• Sergio Rodriguez
• Channing Frye
• Jerryd Bayless
• Steve Blake (although I'd want confirmation we'd have a plan for a starting PG not currently on the roster)
• Martell Webster (begrudgingly)
• 2009 draft pick(s)
• Cap room (we can take back more than we send out due to our salary situation)

Now obviously I wouldn't part with ALL of that, but the experts can decide what combination of the above parts satisfies Detroit's needs. My guess is they will be interested in picks and cap room more than any of those other players.

I realize it's a pipe dream. But KP could pull it off. I'm just not sure Prince ranks as highly on KP's board as he does on mine.

-Pop

 

Keep Batum. Trade either of Outlaw or Webster to remove logjam and whoever wins the starting position in training camp starts.

PG upgrade (either starting or backup) is more important.

Unless you get a great option like Butler available (or Deng) - there is really no reason to do too much with the current SF position. Batum will get better, much better - and either one of the other two can fill the backup role as time goes on.

Personally - I think Outlaw's ability to create his own shot is more important for the 2nd unit - but whatever works and whatever trade scenarios happen dictate which one stays and which one goes.

 

Tayshaun is only 29. And he's started every game for the last five seasons, and he only missed two games in the season prior to that (started 490 of the past 492 regular season games, 593 out of 595 total games if you count playoffs). He's a guy with an incredible work ethic and takes care of his body for the rigors of a NBA season.

So I don't see any signs of him breaking down. His numbers were down slightly this past year, but I think that's more of a product of the system Michael Curry had. Tayshaun would thrive in Nate's system, I think.

And for those of you who love the +/- or the PER statistic, Tayshaun ranks pretty highly at his position.

-Pop

 

I wonder if the Bulls would really like to offload Deng and Hinrich for cap relief and Outlaw/Blake (I know, I know - an oldie but a goldie). Salmons has taken over for Deng and Rose will take more and more of Hinrich's time, and already does enough so Hinrich is overpaid for his role for them. (This is assuming that they realize they HAVE to re-sign Ben Gordon.)

 

...but in general, I don't see SF as an area of concern. PG is much more pressing, not just because Blake is sub-par but because SF is a position so often manned by role players anyway, and because Batum has enormous promise. I wouldn't care one bit if we stood pat at SF. I would be very disappointed if we stood pat at PG.

 

Prince's PER is 15.09, meaning he's pretty much an average offensive SF. Obviously, given his excellent defense, he's an excellent player, but to say that he has a good PER is just false.

For me, unless a great deal appears, keep Batum as your starter. Aggressively look for an upgrade at the PG spot, using Webster/Outlaw/Rudy?/etc. to acquire him. Whoever is left can play backup SF.

 

There seems to be a lot of concern about the PG position, and rightfully so. However, what I wanted to point out with this monster poll is that we have THREE good SFs - each good enough to have valid complaints about not playing. If we bring in someone to start, probably TWO of them will have to leave (though we could use Outlaw as the backup PF again).

The results so far: No one wants Outlaw as our starting SF next year. Many would prefer an Outlaw trade.

 

I don't get the fascination with Hinrich and Deng.

Hinrich doesn't strike me as much of an upgrade from Blake.

And Deng is a horrible outside shooter (just over 28% from three-point range in his career) and a mediocre perimeter defender. His game is basically free-throw-extended and in, which contrasts mightily with the games of Brandon, Greg, Joel and LaMarcus. Defenders would basically sag off of Deng and cheat to help on the other guys. Not to mention that Deng has been injury prone (played in only 49 games this year, coming off of last year when he played only 63).

-Pop