Byron Scott did not adjusted to his team. Just as he did not in New Jersey. These guys might not be a contending team - but they should play better than what we have seen them play since, basically, the playoffs last year. It seems that Sarge might be much more of a player's coach than him.
Peja does not have a poison pill contract. That's something that takes effect on extensions. Also, we can not trade Miles' contract. I just believe OKC would have more to offer, and cheaper options. I think a package with Aldridge talent wise could get close, but with his extension, I doubt he would take that on. Funny, though, that there is a legit possibility Paul could become disgruntled soon. I doubt anything comes of it. Another possibility, though, is Deron Williams. Will he be happy if they continue to lose?
With Deron they had an end in sight. They are likely to get a very high draft pick next year from NYK and there is a chance they can get some cheaper talent in some kind of a Boozer trade. With NOH - the situation does not seem that good.
I agree the future looks much better in Utah. I think they should try to trade Boozer now, personally, for any sort fo young talent they can find. If they fall into the lottery, that's two lottery picks for them. Maybe they can somehow find a taker for Okur and or Kirilenko? The thing is, will they just draft two guys in the lottery? If they trade those lottery picks, they can probably have a really nice, quick rebuild, but will Williams be happy hitting his prime when a team is moving closer to somewhat of a youth movement?
Maybe we could do a three way trade with New Jersey like I outlined in another thread giving New Jersey Aldridge and giving NO a big expiring contract from NJ or Devin Harris. I feel like it would take a three way trade to get it done. I think if you are tagetting Paul you trade anyone but Oden...even Roy. You don't obviously go Roy + LMA for Paul but LMA and any combination of non-big three players to get Paul is a no brainer. You should definitely talk to other teams to get contracts to fit and talent enough to whet NO's appetite. God I hope KP is at least talking to NO.
What is there to adjust to? West hasn't been performing like he was in the past couple of years, Okafor basically gives them a power forward to play center who's not nearly the defender that Chandler was and the rest of that roster is mostly over the hill, under-aged or just plain garbage. I see New Orleans having a personnel problem, not a coaching problem (well ... I think they definitely have a coaching problem now).
I just checked and Aldridge's PPP and Pedja's would negate each other. You could basically swap the two.
A legitimate shot? The refs would have to throw games in such a fashion as to make the Lakers vs Kings and Dallas vs. Miami series seem fair to prevent us from having a dynasty that would make MJ jealous. Roy + Paul + LMA + Oden + ME at small forward wins you 10 rings period. Stern would have to act to get Bosh and LeBron to both sign in Miami to have a prayer of stopping a Portland Dynasty.
Just checked where? Peja does not have a poison pill provision on his contract. PPP is only on contract extensions for rookies.
Check the salaries. Someone mentioned that Peja had a PPP provision. So I checked the contracts and they are very similar. If that's not the case, then it doesn't apply.
CP3, Roy, LA AND Greg? Hell... I'd be willing to pitch in to help ease the cost. I got 100 bucks right here for the Blazers for nothing in return if they make it happen!
He does not have a PPP. LMA does. So to NO, he counts as the first year of his extneion, 10.7 or whatever. But to us, he is less than that.
I thought we would lose tomorrow before this happened. Now I think it helps. I was under the impression that the players liked Scott. I doubt they like the GM more. The players have to be pissed to have this guy come him and think he can do better. On another note I always hated Scott so I am not sheading any tears.
LMAO! I was just thinking about that comment above with KP wanting CP3 instead of Webster. Wouldn't that be ironic if KP somehow got CP3 using Webster?
Sorry my bad then. I didn't know if Pedja was or not. I was just going by what someone else posted and brought up Aldridge also being a PPP.
I'd start by taking Oden and Roy off the table. If bids escalated the price to the point that Roy had to be in the deal to make it happen, I'd reluctantly trade Roy. IMO, Chris Paul is the most valuable player in the NBA after LeBron James. If Oden had to be in the deal, it would be tougher. In some sense, it's obvious to me that Paul is more valuable than Oden. But half the attraction of having Paul is to see him team with (what I believe will be) an elite big man. My dream would be to somehow make Aldridge the centerpiece, with additional young players going out (Rudy, Bayless, Batum, Webster, Outlaw...some combination of these) and draft picks. Further ideally, Batum stays, since I think he has a chance to be a special player...but he's no deal-breaker. I don't know how that would work, though, with Aldridge's PPP status. Also, I realize that New Orleans probably doesn't want a big salaried player, but that could be worked around, perhaps, by Portland taking back a large contract in addition to Paul. It's very messy, now that Roy and Aldridge have been extended...Portland no longer has cheap stars or near-stars (except Oden, whom I really don't want to include). And, of course, New Orleans probably won't seriously consider dealing one of the best point guards ever anyway.
Adjusting to them means respecting them and treating them like veterans, not like a bunch of kids they were when he got there. It looks like they just shut him out. The above post about him being an ass during training camp is what I suspected (I did not know that) - but these guys seemed like they did not care anymore. Again, this team might not contend - but they should not be blown out the way they were recently. The reason they were blown out - was because they shut him out and stopped caring one bit (with the possible exception of CP3). That was my opinion last year in the playoffs and from the little I saw them this year - they did not seem like they are listening to him at all.
I'm just somewaht playing devil's advocate here, as I don't think Scott is that great of a coach, but shouldn't Paul, as the leader of that team, get "his" guys to follow the directions of the coach? Be able to get everyone on the same page and playing hard and together. I know there are veteran guys that could just be stubborn or whatever. Fine. But I imagine if guys stopped caring and playing hard here, Roy would call them out, get them to follow along and on the same page. Not to say he is a miracle worker, but I couldn't see him letting us fall apart like they seem to be, and let guys just tune out the coach. Unless Paul is also tuning out the coach.
