Canzano Reporting that Portland's Inquired about Nash

He says that a local radio station down in PHX gave him the info.

 

And then he went on to pull the "two years away" card.

Such bullshit.

This Blazer team is ready to win right now.

 

I'm so torn on this. I realize Nash could be a major, necessary piece to a championship. I just don't want to give up assets unless I feel for sure he puts us over the top. I'm not sure about that.

 

True or not, I've got to say I am so glad Paul Allen didn't sell the team. It's really nice having an open checkbook when most of the teams in the NBA are trying to dump salary to stay under the luxury tax.

Given the current economic challenges in the NBA I bet KP is going to get all kinds of interesting phone calls during the off season.

 

This team couldn't win on the road against anything resembling a good western conference team, and some of you really think we are ready to compete right now?


Steve Nash is an obvious upgrade, but I still think the dynamic with Nate's slow pace would be a sight to see. If Nate continues to play at the pace he has then bringing in Nash makes no sense.

 

It certainly is an interesting off-season considering the current economy. I guess if you have billions...one of the top 5 richest people in the world...you can afford to spend a little to help your team.

I just hope KP/Penn can decipher what is a good deal and what is taking advantage of money bags when other GM's come calling.

 

Let's put a hypothetical out there...

If POR was able to acquire Nash let's say in a deal centered around Bayless.....which I think would be possible...

and then POR was able to manuever other assets to acquire a young PG, like a Stephen Curry (my choice), or a Jonny Flynn, Jrue Holiday, Tywon Lawson, Jennings, Maynor...

Would that be worth serious consideration?

 

I don't consider Nash a good defender (rather have Kidd) and he generally works better in a running offense (which Nate keeps talking about), but can that all fall into place with Nash here?

Tough call for me. I would rather keep Bayless (anxious to see what comes out of his time this summer with Oden), draft a backup PF and pickup a veteran FA (Miller, Sessions).

 

Somewhere 'shamelessblazer' is whacking it to the news of our interest in Nash..

 

Yeah, the slower pace is an interesting issue -- it reminds me of the Schuler era. I still wonder if the Drexler teams of the 90's owe something to Schuler being a disciplinarian and harping on fundamentals. By the time he left, the team was well on it's way to being fundamentally sound. Then Adelman showed up, opened the floodgates a little so that the pace picked up, you throw in the addition of Buck and the rest was danged good history (well, other than winning a championship.)

The let the cake bake thing usually refers to the players, but Nate is still a young coach and it could be applied to him too. He's got a good coaching philosophy and he's a good teacher, but I think the next step in his progression is to learn how to also coach to his team's abilities. Throwing in a veteran that he trusts that can run uptempo might be the way to get him over the hump.

If he doesn't make that next step (while I'd be bummed to see it), I wouldn't be shocked to see Nate let go. And I'm guessing in a situation like that, who ever replaced Nate would look like a genius.

 

Nash really doesn't interest me at all. He doesn't fit our system. I'd much rather have Andre Miller or Jason Kidd. Nash has about as much chance of being successful here as Sergio imo.

 

Hi Canzano! Thanks for the shoutout!

 

How can we say that until we see what moves are made this off-season? As currently constructed they are maybe (big fat maybe) a second round team, but probably not ... just think of how many years those Clyde teams had first round exits until they got Williams? Right now this is a really nice regular season team, but has too many question marks to be considered a real contender to the title.

 

They'd want Bayless, but I think they'd be pretty interested in a package including Steve Blake, Travis Outlaw, and Sergio Rodriguez. I believe that satisfies the CBA. I'll have to go back and look. They could cut Steve and Trav, save $7.6M immediately and still add Sergio as an inexpensive yet talented PG. Rebuild mode. That would bring PHX's payroll to $66M, right around where the luxury tax should be. They save about $13M in luxury tax (assuming the threshold drops to $65M).

We'd still have some pieces to continue to improve, namely Bayless, Fernandez, #24, the 2nd rounders, Batum, Frye, the traded-player exception ($3M), and still some cap space (how much I haven't figured out).

The next obvious targets could be Tayshaun Prince, Caron Butler, Richard Jefferson, Mike Miller, or Vince Carter.

I might be more inclined to go after Jefferson, thinking that the price would be less and possibly a deal could be struck to receive their draft pick as well.

Interesting to consider adding Nash, Jefferson, and another lottery draft pick.

 

Bad mental picture, but one I thought of when I heard the talk on the radio!

 

As previous posters have pointed out, Nash was not good under Porter's system, which is a similar defensive-based, half-court offense that Nate employs.

I do not have a problem with his age.

However, I do have a problem with the TOs (especially in the 4th qtr) and complete lack of defense. Those attributes lose you playoff games.

Besides, in the recent head-to-head games this past season, Blake actually out-played Nash.

There are better options.

 

At the same time, you have to wonder if merely bringing in Nash might up the number of easy buckets the team gets a night. It has been years since the Blazers had a point guard with floor vision to hit the bigs. The last one who was actually an excellent passer (not counting Pippen) was Porter. Strickland was washed up the last time he was here. I sit back and think about all the times last year where the team just flat out missed Aldridge and Oden open under the hoop or ahead of the pack, and I think it would be nothing but gravy if Nash played here.

 

Is it plausible that nate would change to an uptempo offense if he had confidence in a heady faster-paced guard

 

I would give up Bayless and change (depending on the change) in a SECOND to get Nash and for the reason just mentioned, that he plays the pick and roll brilliantly. Oden would flourish. HOWEVER, I do not believe that Phoenix will give him up. The Phoenix fans would openly revolt. And they've just committed to a coach who will run D'Antoni's system.

 

As consistent as Nash has been over the last few years, his age still concerns me. At some point, likely sooner than later, he's going to start breaking down and needing major rest. Would we have the talent to spell Nash for long stretches? I'd rather see Bayless be groomed for the position this year.