Re: Do We Even Need TurkeyBoy? That is the hope. That's why I'm luke-warm on jumping the gun for Turk. Better opportunities may present themselves with more phone calls and discussions. On the other hand, it's very possible that Pritchard has decided that more work won't yield results and he doesn't want to be left with no chair when the music stops. I like Ariza and Childress a fair amount. Sessions, too, but I can easily imagine that he's off the table now. But I assume that what I see in them, Pritchard is aware of, so if he deems Turkoglu the better match for the team, I'm willing to go along. Until I feel that Pritchard is hurting the team with his judgment, I'll trust his judgment.
Re: Do We Even Need TurkeyBoy? I wholeheartedly agree with you. I am not anti-Hedo, as he would (IMHO) be a clear upgrade over Outlaw. I just feel we are using a valuable asset that could be used to leverage a trade for an upgrade at PG. I am puzzled that the team seems to feel an upgrade at SF is more pressing than PG. If Bayless was clearly a better prospect than Batum, it would make sense....but everything we have seen points in the opposite direction.
Re: Do We Even Need TurkeyBoy? I have to third this notion. Hedo is ok, I suppose, but doesn't really thrill me all that much. Portland appears to be barking up the wrong tree. I can only hope that the Hedo signing turns out way better then I think it will.
Blazers looking like they are standing still Vince Carter Shaq Ron Artest Sheed Richard Jefferson Ben Gordon Trevor Ariza All name players that are on the move, and not one of them with the Blazers anywhere near their radar. And on the Blazer's minds? Hedo. HEDO. A second-rate SF who for some reason impresses the pants off of KP and Paul Allen. The Blazers got lucky with Roy, Aldridge, and Oden. They snuck Rudy Fernandez under the noses of the rest of the NBA. But that's the end of the rope for this crop of Blazers, I'm afraid. The rest of the league isn't going to give backwater Portland, Oregon's Blazers any more breaks. Just like the early 90s Blazers were unable to secure any top-flight free-agents to keep the ball rolling and help give the core additional shots at a title, so too will this Blazer group. Oh they'll get close.. maybe get into a Finals here and there, when the Lakers or the Spurs... two teams that players want to play for... have a rare off year. But titles? I'll believe it when I see it. Yes, I'm cynical, and yes, I'm depressed that with almost 10 million in cap room, and with players seemingly moving at will, the best the Blazers seem to be able to do is HEDO FREAKIN' TURKOGLU. No point guard upgrade. No backup PF. Unless KP has the balls to pull off a miracle blockbuster that sends somebody of note to this backwater burg, which hasn't happened since an aging and breaking down Scottie Pippen came to PDX, I'm pessimistic about the future, unless "Bake It" works, and Bayless/Roy/Webster/LMA/Oden really is the future of the NBA.
Re: Blazers looking like they are standing still You should convert to being a Laker fan, they might make you happy then?
Re: Blazers looking like they are standing still I'm going to give you a pass on this one since you are new. But just know that I've punched family members for Laker-oriented quotes lighter than this. Don't push me.
Re: Blazers looking like they are standing still Good lord, such a lot of drama. You do realize we're only 48 hours into the free agent negotiating period, don't you? You do realize we still have almost four months before the season starts and plenty of time to make a trade for a new starting point guard or back-up power forward, don't you? What makes you think signing Hedo will prevent either of those things? Adding him frees up other assets that can be used in trades. What makes you think Kevin Pritchard is done making deals for the summer after just two days? Before you jump off the Burnside bridge over this, you might want to wait and see what our opening night roster looks like. Better yet, give them the chance to play a few game together before you declare the whole thing a complete failure and give up all hope of ever contending for a championship. We have our core in place. We know what Roy can do. We've seen steady progress from LaMarcus. Oden is the key. If he develops into a top flight center, all we need to do is surround those three with complimentary role players. That's exactly how I view Hedo. He will take a huge burden off Roy and make Oden better. If he does those two things, he's worth whatever Paul Allen and Kevin Pritchard are willing to pay him. BNM
Re: Do We Even Need TurkeyBoy? George and Wheezie's oldest son (Lionel's older brother). He was a great talent, but squandered it on expensive drugs and cheap women. They don't talk about him much. Sort of like Richie Cunningham's older brother, the big basketball star who went off to college and was never mentioned again. BNM
If you were to say to me "Would you take Hedo at 2 million a year" I would say hell yes. What a bargin. What a player. He will help so much. But we are all hung up on the 5-50 number. Hedo is a atmospheric upgrade over Outlaw. I think even Chris will agree with that. I'm not going to worry about the numbers. I'm going to worry about next year. Hedo has always been a great team mate and citizen, and you can't say that about all the other guys that have signed. Carter, Jefferson, Artest, even Ariza have had issues with coaches over the years. Hedo has always been a good glue guy.
I think with the moves the Lakers have made.. we will be needing Hedo now.. there is no Ariza. Hedo is all thats left at the 3. We need more firepower with Ron Ron in LA.
You know, it strikes me as odd that when most teams are cutting back and dumping salary, that we are spending money to make the team better, yet people are complaining like Pritchard and Allen are destroying the team and it's chances to ever contend. Folks, Hedo makes the team better, and all he costs is some of Paul Allen's money. It's not like we are giving up someone of value to get him. He's a big upgrade over our current crop of small forwards. Why is that a bad thing? Of course, I remember several people bitching and whining when we traded Telfair to Boston for the pick that eventually got us Brandon Roy. I also remember some very vocal Draft the 'Stache supporters who were bitterly disappointed that we passed on Morrison and "settled" for Aldridge and Roy in the 2006 draft. I remember all the LaMarcus Softridge jokes and the criticism that Roy will be at best, and average NBA player with little, or no upside. Seems there are always some fans who are going to be upset at any move the team makes. I'm totally thrilled that we have a very young team that won 54 games - and are about to get better. Maybe I'm too easy to please, but I remain supremely optimistic about this team's future and thoroughly convinced that the addition of Turkoglu instantly increase are chances of going far in the play-offs this coming season. He makes us better now and his presence will help our young core gain valuable play-off experience as we advance beyond the 1st round for the first time in a decade. BNM
Here's why, my reasoning in a nutshell: SF wasn't the Blazers' biggest issue by a long shot. Webster will be back with a vengeance next year. The PG situation in Blazerland stinks. Blake isn't "the man", and Bayless isn't anywhere near ready. Sergio's gone, so what's left? Also, with Frye gone, whose backing up LaMarcus at PF? Outlaw? There were holes last year, and the Hedo signing plugs a minor one, IMO. I hope KP has more bullets in his arsenal.
So, he is going to give us a 12 PER season again, like his best year in the NBA so far, after coming back from a year long injury with no basketball activities? This is the kind of productivity that sends you to the Lottery... You are right that Portland's #1 problem is at PG - but it is because there are two issues that the Blazers lack that really good point guards can do - Create for others and defend the quick opposing point guards. Hedo solves one of these problems, just not from the PG position. So we are half way there. Of course, bringing another play-maker allows Roy to expand less energy on offense and concentrate a little more on defense - so one suspects that even if we do not make any other moves - there is a good chance our perimeter defense will be a little better. Also - we now have attractive, cheap trade chips to move for a PG upgrade (namely, Travis - who gave us the same production per minute that Rudy Gay gave Memphis but is an expiring on a very cheap contract).
