OT: And The Butler Plot Thickens ...

It depends on what Butler is looking for. He's never struck me as a "gotta feed me" type of player. He's struck me as content to play an all-around game, score when the team needs it and play solid defense. If that is his mentality, then he'd be a great fit. If he wants a primary offensive role, then it may not be a fit.

 

Not to sounds harsh but doesnt anyone know if since the Wiz owner passed away today if that will impact what happens with the team as far as trades or selling the team?

 

I'd love for Portland to get Deng. I've wanted Portland to try and get him at the bottom of his market for the past year or two. Now, I assume the price has gone up, since he's shown evidence of getting back to past form. I wonder what the Bulls would ask for. I wouldn't trade any of Roy, Aldridge or Oden, but if there were other pieces the Blazers have that the Bulls would be interested in, I hope Pritchard checks it out.

 

I think we should we targeting Battier. Houston isn't likely to make the playoffs this season, and I think they could use a couple young guys. Either that, or do a Miller for Battier straight across trade. I think Rocketeer was bitching about how Brooks couldn't feed Yao. Miller would be great for that.

I think Battier is the perfect fit for this team. He's a three point shooter, high basketball IQ, and an amazing defender.

 

Couldn't agree more. Battier seems like a perfect fit, and Houston seems like an ideal trade partner since they have some back up PF's as well. With DC's performance last night, backup PF may not be as important as it was.

I wonder if Houston would trade for Blake and/or Outlaw and one of Webster/Rudy. Obviously I would rather not include Rudy. Blake and Outlaw would be ideal as it would solve several problems all at once.

 

If only it was that easy.

 

I know right? The players I want to keep are the big 3 plus Rudy, Bayless and Batum. I'd also like to keep Joel, but I'm not sure we will be able to once his contract runs out. Cunningham is intriguing but isn't in my untouchable camp yet. Even Bayless could be had for the right price. I'd be loathe to trade Rudy, but would do it for certain players. Batum to me is nearly as key as Roy, LMA and Oden. Just my evaluations FWIW.

 

Blake/Outlaw would be perfect and balance our team out a ton!

With vets like Battier out on the court you can risk playing Jerryd more at point guard too.

Miller/Bayless
Roy/Fernandez
Battier/Webster
Aldridge/Cunningham
Oden/Pryzbilla

and Battier doesn't have many years left either right? Batum can step right into his place next year.

Does houston have any semi-obnoxious contracts we could take back to make it work? Could we give up a draft pick?

 

Anybody that thinks teams are going to give up more than a mediocre player for Outlaw and Blake in some kind of trade are seriously deluding themselves. These teams have scouts you know (well except for the Grizz) and it's a poorly kept secret that while both have had turns at being productive players, they both have some pretty serious holes in their game.

For instance, Battier is well regarded as one of the true lockdown wing defenders in the league, he may be on the tail end of his career and not nearly as productive as he's been in the past but Blake+Outlaw =/= Battier in my opinion. I just don't see how GMs like Ernie Grunfeld or Daryl Morey are giving up guys like Butler or Battier without at least getting a good young prospect in the deal.

Start using names like Nicolas, Rudy, Bayless, and/or Miller in some combination with either Blake or Outlaw and I think you start to maybe catch somebody's interest; even though Blake and Outlaw are expiring deals pairing those two together in a trade package is highly unlikely to blow anyone's skirt up..

 

Miller and Battier make virtually the same amount of money. As much as I would hate to trade Miller, I could see that trade happening. Houston gets a point guard who will feed Yao and we get a small forward that shoots, plays D, and doesn't make stupid decisions.

 

I think people are convinced that expiring contracts have enormous value, despite that not turning out to be true last year (and it wasn't just LaFrentz...Cleveland had an equally good expiring contract in Sczerbiak and couldn't find a good deal).

I think expiring contracts can be part of a deal for an impact player, but that package had better also have real player value...which means including some combination of Bayless, Batum and Fernandez.

 

I feel exactly the same way you do. I think Miller on the team has been incredibly important to Oden's development (psychologically, if not physically), but I can't imagine Dre being real happy with his situation here. On the upside, Battier is used to playing with a dominant big like Yao and one would think those instincts he developed as a spot up shooter and post entry passer would serve him well if he came to Portland.

The only question I have is that Brooks and Lowry seem to play pretty well as their 1-2 punch at the point guard spot; do they really need or want Miller?

 

I'm just going off what I've heard from Rocket fans. While Brooks is an amazing scorer, he has supposedly been terrible at getting Yao the ball. When Yao comes back, I imagine they would love to have a point guard who feeds the post. Maybe we could pry Lowry away from them. I don't know.

 

What?

 

You're right... I mean to say amazingly short scorer.

 

I really like Lowry's defense (a true ball-hawk) but his shooting from distance is pretty spotty, which would seem to put us right back in the same position we are right now with Miller, that said I'd probably take him if the Rockets were offering him. My guess however is that Morey prizes him pretty highly, especially after being able to steal him for a song from Memphis.

 

It's really quite sad that we haven't stolen any players from Chris Wallace. I wonder if he hides under his desk every time KP tries to call him.

Secretary: "Mr. Wallace, I have Kevin Pritchard on the line."

Chris Wallace crawls under his desk.

Wallace: "Tell him I moved away."

Secretary: "Moved away?"

Wallace: "Yeah... tell him I moved to Abu Dhabi."

Secretary: "Okay..."

 

Chris Wallace's secretary is not in the office getting calls. She is on an away mission, acting as an advanced scout.

 

Ahahahaha!

I wonder if he checks his car to see if the break lines have been cut whenever the Blazers roll into town?