More news on Greg in Jerryd in Ohio

That would be a lot of talent to give up for conley. Honestly Gay comes across as a very me first player which isn't bad if he is your 1st option. Third or fourth option, not so much. Even if he would only make 10-12m that still wouldn't work.

Agreed on the last line

 

Blake had one of the best season's of his career and I was at the Kings preseason game where Martell looked like an absolute freak of nature and showed a nastiness I had never seen before. I would agree with you if you were talking about channing frye, but even then he got injured which he himself said completely ruined all the work he put in during the summer

 

No. Despite the people saying it's giving up too much, he wouldn't do it.

 

I heard on the radio earlier today that Rubio had agreed to work out for Memphis. They already have Marc Gasol on their roster. Adding Sergio AND Rudy would go a LONG way to making Rubio feel comfortable in Memphis. He'd have three of his fellow contrymen on the roster to help him assimilate to the NBA and American culture (southern style).

Well, it actually gives them a bench and several cheap, young bodies. With Gay reportedly seeking a big contract and Conley playing the same position as the player they most covet with the No. 2 pick, they might just do it. Their owner is a notorius tightwad and isn't going to give Gay anything close to the money he's seeking. Mayo is clearly better than Gay, and will also want a max. contract eventually. And although they play different positions, Mayo and Gay play similar styles. So, there is a bit of as conflict there.

The ONLY guy the Blazers give up that I'd be sorry to see go is Rudy, but he's a bench player and we'd be getting two starters in return. So, I'd be more than happy to see this trade happen.

BNM

 

I was just pointing that your two examples showed (or in Martell's case appeared to show) improvement. All in all it is the team's responsibility to keep the fanbase's interest during the slow times so these little tidbits keeps the hype going. So yes team reports are going to be overly optimistic. This summer is unique in that this is Oden's first offseason workout so people are going to hanging on for every juicy morsel that comes from the "insiders"

 

Exactly. Well put. Mike Barrett seems to hype every player as vastly improved over last year (when he's doing is training camp blogs, etc.) but more often than not, the hype is more hyperbole than reality; thus the askance view at offseason reports.

Gramps...

 

Hmm. I'm not sure what people are reacting against. This isn't "Wow, these players have really revamped their game and are about to take the league by storm!" hype. It's not about improvement at all. If it were, the "I'll believe it when I see it" viewpoint would make sense.

This is simply reporting that two young players are working hard and apparently take trying to improve their games seriously. Unless you think that the reporter might be lying, there's no "I'll believe it when I see it" issue. They are working hard. Simple fact. Willingness to work hard on one's game is an important trait that all NBA athletes don't have (which is surprising to me, but inescapably true).

What ultimately matters is what they end up doing on the floor in real games, but it's definitely a big plus that they have strong work ethic. In terms of projections, that matters. A player who didn't work hard would be less likely to improve by age as one might expect.

 

Agreed. However, such reports often lead to rampant speculation of how said players will be vastly improved next year, etc.

While a laud Bayless for his work ethic, I still remain a doubter and hence my grain-of-salt approach.

I hope. I hope. But I also doubt.

Gramps...

 

Indeed, I found this picture which affirms your opinion

 

That's good news if it works. But if that means we're definitely not drafting a PG, I shall be a mite peeved.

I guess that also means Koponen won't be playing, but I guess he'll be playing for Finland, so maybe we can see him in action there.

 

I hereby thank Christ you are not our GM.

What is it about Gay that makes people overlook his atrocious defense and inability to help his team win? I wouldn't trade Outlaw straight up for Gay. He's Gay without the sense of entitlement.

 

While everyone's going gaga over our young players working to get better, I'm sure you'll all be ecstatic about this and optimistic that this skilled young member of our roster will really blossom next year, right?

 

Oh man... quit teasing me again LOL

That woud be huge....

 

That's great to hear. I have this vision of Bayless driving to the hoop and dishing to Oden for easy dunks . . . over and over again.

 

I didn't mean to imply I was in favor of the trade, really.

I am not.

 

If I was Bayless, I too would try to ride Oden's coattails.