Jason Quick of The Oregonian made a great point this morning on the Morning Sports Page on 95.5 The Game. We were talking about a potential Portland trade for a big man, someone who could play power forward or center. I think, by the way, such a deal is essential for the future — an insurance policy against the questions about Greg Oden’s long-term health and just another big body to bring the roster into better balance. Quick mentioned that he thought Kevin Pritchard was out there trying to make something happen but that a deal like that probably will mean a painful parting from the Portland roster. “It’s going to hurt,” he said. And he is so right. Obviously, to get something you have to give up something. Nobody is going to hand you a quality player in exchange for your garbage. At least one and maybe two very talented players are going to have to leave. And the organization and its fans are particularly attached to this group. It’s going to hurt, Blazer fans — whether that deal happens before the trading deadline this season or sometime in the distant future. A tear or two will be shed. And I hope the front office is willing to deal with that, too. after watching todays game... bayless or rudy wont pain me at all if we get a quality center
First, all this is pure speculation. Second, we have a lot to give that may actually help the team as we have too much duplication- so I doubt it would be painful at all.
My guess is he means painful to the players, not the fans. As in, a locker room fave like Blake or Outlaw may be out-going.
True, he said "after today's game", but I've personally been in favor of dealing Rudy since the offseason. If Rudy/Travis can get us something that the team needs (ie, a decent center), I don't think that would hurt much at all.
I assumed he meant painful to KP, as in he'll have to literally have to give up an arm and a leg for a decent player.
the reason i doubt we trade rudy is cause he actually is huge for merchandise sales. in the nba... thats a big thing. i think its a package of outlaw, batum, and blake
I wonder if Martell's improvement recently has made KP more apt to trade Batum. I would doubt it, especially if he wouldn't last year for Gerald Wallace. I would certainly hope he wouldn't this season for a small help at C, but who knows.
I'm ok with losing Rudy as long as we keep Bayless. We need one of the two to come off the bench as instant offense. I'd be really torn to lose Batum. I think he has a highest ceiling out of any of our wing players besides Brandon and has a very good chance of getting close to it. He's got swagger and he's still very young.
Batum is probably the most palatable of the three to be traded.... You have Webster whose play has been good lately, you have Roy & Rudy, either who clould slide to the SF spot against certain teams, and you have a young prospect in Claver overseas...and that is not counting Outlaw....Your dealing from a position of strength... and I agree Rudy is a fan fave, but beyond that he is probably the most skilled b\t Bayless, Batum and himself.....
