It's crystal clear what's hurting us. We are a bunch of jumpshooters and get nothing easy. Charles Barkley has been harping on this about Portland for the past two or three years. Right now our best low post scorer is 6'2" Andre Miller.
We need a second star. Aldridge is not and won't be that. One of Oden/Batum/Bayless can be that, but who knows.
For available players the best low post scorer out there is Al Jefferson. Though, I doubt KP will pony up what Minnesota would want in return. Marreese Speights? Zach Randolph?
too bad Zach Randolph is now untouchable and a borderline MVP candidate. He can even make 3/4 court shots like its nobody's business. Oops!
There isn't an elite or really good post presence available in trade. I don't think this season has enough promise to go all out in order to salvage. Let the players play hard and achieve what they can, but I think Pritchard should (privately) be setting his sights on next season and the seasons after that. Portland's low post presence has to be Oden. If Oden doesn't pan out into that, or is always injured, Portland is out of luck. Premium post presences are almost never available in trade or as free agents. You get lucky and draft one in order to get one. Portland drafted Oden for that reason. Now we have to hope that was the lucky strike we assumed it was (and that it has been when he's been healthy).
Depending on how the season goes and where we end up in the draft, there appears to be quite a few forward/centers coming out that aren't complete stiffs. I wouldn't mind at all if one of these guys got picked up. Honestly though, I agree with Minstrel, most of the team's hopes (for the near term) ride on Oden -- which I find a little 'wobbly' but it is what it is.
Yea so what? After so many injuries, I don't necessarily feel a get me through center will buy us much besides a first round exit. Either go big (star) or go home. That is my feeling.
