Blake for Gortat?

Yes. Take Brook Lopez, and go.

 

Right. I forgot about the part where we fire the whole coaching staff.

 

I disagree. Joels contract ends soon I believe. We will still need a backup center.

 

Right. And like I said, getting Gortat would mean that we would either have to give up on Greg (unlikely) or Joel.

Joel > Gortat.

 

Way wrong. Gortat is a defensive threat and can score. Joel can only score if it is a total gimme.

 

I know Joel can opt out, but he's taken a huge step back this year. Unless something changes in his game, his salary next year ($7.405MM) will be better than anything he can garner on the open market.

 

I just don't think you swap one of the most efficient centers in the league, our enforcer, a fan favorite... for a dude that is a relative unknown. I'll stick with Joel.

 

I'm guessing his numbers are going to jump. I have this distinct feeling he'll be playing a lot more minutes now. I don't know why. Call it a hunch.

 

So true.

 

He really isn't a relative unknown. He got major minutes on a team that went to the finals last year, and I considered him a vital cog of that team, as that team, much as the Blazers, was in rough waters any time Howard got in foul trouble. Gortat was a very able fill in during those periods. I understand Joel is a fan favorite. Unfortunately, fan favorites are half the reason Portland gets its teeth kicked in season after season. Guys like Pryzbilla, Sergio, Outlaw and Blake are loved by fans. But they suck.

 

It has little to do with his minutes and more to do with his play. It's been mediocre, even by Joel's standards. I've never seen worse body language from him.