Most likely Blazer to be traded as of today

I'm glad to see realistic approaches to Rudy; he's not going to resign with us, and we should extract value from the situation.

I think this season has shown, however, that we need to carry three centers on our roster, period. If we trade for a center, he should have enough gas left in the tank to play backup for 2 years, but not care about being Guy #15 and racking up the DNP-CD's.

 

You're confusing trade value with tradeability. CBA considerations are almost as important as talent in some cases. Because of this LMA is almost undtradeable.

 

I'm still not convinced this team can't run efficiently/effectively utilizing a twin-tweener lineup - i.e. Bayless and Roy.

They both have adequate pg skills and their games seem to compliment each other. I've been witnessing that over the past few games.

 

And the deal still wouldn't bring back the big man we need and would create a total logjam at the SF position once Batum gets back in February.

On the original subject of this thread, I think that it's pretty hard to evaluate what player or players are most likely to get moved without knowing the player KP would be targeting to figure out the needs of the team that we'd be making the deal with. I do agree that the general level of "analysis" that goes on around here ("Blanky sucks and he has to be traded") totally misses the point of what goes on in trade discussions. Teams generally figure out what they're looking to acquire first and then what players that they might be willing to give up in order to make the deal work.

Also, I think there's a chance that KP might make some move that doesn't involve a trade. He could look to sign a FA or bring over a Euro player. In that instance, the analysis of what player to cut becomes a different one than what player(s) to trade. You'd have to look at the likely relative future importance of each player to the team.

 

I'm encouraged by Bayless' back to back 7 assist games, particularly the Denver game when he was getting all of his drives swatted into the fifth row by Birdman -- he adjusted and really started putting the ball on string, zipping passes to guys off of drives in optimal positions to shoot or drive.

The way the lineup won't work is if they both overlap too much and don't have enough differentiation in their games ... good thing we get to see an extended 30 or 40 game audition with those two in the backcourt now instead of having to guess.

 

I never said it was the trade to make, I was merely addressing the Rudy for Butler swap.

 

+1

We just need JB to keep improving on his outside game along with his penchant for playing defense with his hands.

I think Rudy might be in trouble once he gets healthy because it is a nightmare watching him trying to bring the ball up the court. JB does not have this problem and can be paired with Brandon at the guard spots.

 

I didn't mean to say that you were supporting the trade. My comment was directed at the original trade proposal. I think the Blazers have more important issues now than improving their SF position.

 

Joel Outlaw and Blake are on expiring contracts. In no particular order, they'd be the top three most likely to go if some team wants to hold a fire-sale. Because they're on cheap rookie deals with years left, I doubt Rudy Bayless or Batum are going anywhere soon. I really like how Bayless Rudy Roy and Nicolas project together 1-3 as they go forward and see little motivation for Portland to break that group up... unless someone is dangling a real talent.

STOMP

 

Not Joel - he's got to opt out, otherwise he's got another year. I'm guessing that recent events make his opting out pretty unlikely.

 

Outlaw.

A healthy body cannot be traded because there'd be no point, so that leaves only the players who are hurt. Oden is off-limits. Joel is too injured for anyone to acquire. Mills isn't worth anything at this point. Batum is still the starting small forward the next 6 years. That leaves only Rudy and Outlaw. Both could be traded, but I'll go with Outlaw. They have to end up with more bodies that can play than they started with after the trade.

 

except you'd theoretically be getting back a healthy player in return no?

 

I'll repeat myself. Wouldn't be the first time. Why be different when the same subject comes up unless I see something to change my mind?

2/3rd's of the NBA teams need money right now because they aren't getting the fans and they are losing money every month. A trade to a team that needs money the most would make sense.

Memphis has no fans. They get no income.

Trade Outlaw, a 2010 1st Round pick and Pendergraff for Marc Gasol. And, throw in as much cash as the NBA permits in this particular deal. How can Memphis turn that down? The Blazers lose nothing and gain everything.

The Blazers have to look at Oden as a permanent part-time player. He's reached "bust" status now, as it's 90% likely that he'll average missing 20 games a year for the next 8 years; and, Pryzbilla has about a 20% chance to contribute to this team more than 40 games in any year in the future. So, the Blazers have zero Centers they can count on in the future.

 

Yes. That's what I mean. The Blazers would receive 1 Healthy body in Gasol, lose one in Pendergraf, but the difference is night and day in their quality. They'd be adding a Healthy starter, and losing a player that can be easily replaced in Pendergraf if they have Gasol. Gasol could bring a Championship to this team this season.

 

Uh ...

 

You really think Memphis would trade Marc Gasol for what you're offering?

 

Can you expand on that?

 

No, not really

 

What's with all these horrifically one-sided deals lately?

We're looking as homerific as the Knick fans over on RealGM.