Chris Sheridan says Wiz will likely do Blake/Outlaw for Haywood at last minute

We can even resign Blakey and Outlaw to a contract if we want too if it doesn't work out.

 

I don't care that he's been labeled an "underachiever," because Portland wouldn't be paying based on what people thought he could be when he entered the league. They'll be paying for what he actually does achieve...whether that is under what he could do if more motivated is irrelevant, really. Maybe Outlaw or Blake could be even more than what they are. Maybe LeBron James could be. What matters is what they actually produce and that they're paid/paid for appropriately (in salary or in trade value).

The same thing goes for him being "soft." His rebounding and defense is what it is. Maybe if he were "tougher," he could be better at those things. But as long as Portland pays based on his actual defense and rebounding, that's fine.

 

He's also less productive and more highly paid than Juwan Howard.

Back in June he had the same ablation procedure on his heart that LaMarcus Aldridge had near the end of his rookie season. They could get together and compare scars. Other than that, I don't see any possible reason to trade for Oberto.

BNM

 

He's also foreign ... which pretty much fills out the reasons why Rasta wants him.

 

Many NBA big men don't hit their peak until late 20s early 30s. Which is where Haywood is now. At 9.7 PPG, 10.3 RPG and 2.1 BPG, he's definitely a better center than anyone healthy we have right now. His TRB% of 17.8 is significantly higher than anyone on our team outside of Greg and Joel. His 2.1 BPG gives us the indide defensive presence we currently lack.

This is a contract year for him, and he's having a career year in Washington despite all the distractions. I think he would be motivated to continue his current high level of performance through the end of the year - and hopefully into the play-offs where he will get even more national exposure. His future paycheck is at stake.

Assuming Roy is back and healthy after the all-star break, I think adding Haywood is enough to insure we make the play-offs this year. We might make the play-offs without him, but his added rebounding and interior defense will address two areas the Blazers have been lacking since we lost Oden and Przybilla.

We don't need Blake. We've gotten this far without Outlaw. With Batum back and Webster playing better, we don't need Outlaw at the 3, and with the addition of Haywood, Juwan Howard and Jeff Pendergraph can share the back-up center and PF minutes.

So yes, I'd be willing to give up Blake and Outlaw for a short term rental of Brendan Haywood - playing at a highly motivated career-best level. I'm conveinced it gets us to the play-offs, and might even give us a chance to advance - depending on the match-up. With no inside defensive presence, I don't see the Blazers geeting past the 1st round - regardless of the opponent if we don't make this trade. Adding Haywood wouldn't guarantee advancing, but at least it gives the Blazers a chance. Defense and rebounding win in the play-offs. Without a legitimate center, we don't stand a chance.

BNM

 

Great... Two things are going to happen:

1. They're not going to trade us Haywood for those two guys.

2. We're going to spend the next few months hearing about how this deal didn't go down because KP "refused to let go of Outlaw and Blake", just because Chris Sheridan said it could be done.

 

This should be irrelevant, but it probably isn't.

 

About the only two players I'm willing to give up for Haywood and its still a push.

 

No need to fret. It is KP, it won't happen.

 

Helps us stay afloat this year. Makes it so Steve Blake doesn't get unnecessary playing time. Those are the good things I see out of it. I was finally coming around to Outlaw this year before he got hurt though.

 

I always look at deals that are rumored with us trading Blake and Outlaw. Then I think of OKC and if they want the same player. They have a little bit of cap room and I believe the contract of Harpring that is paid by insurance (ESPN is not showing his contract in the trade machine, but RealGM does). It would be funny if Haywood and Thomas were reunited.

 

Did you just recently become a Blazer/Kpee hater?

 

No just going off history. Has KP ever done a mid season trade? Nope. Have there been seasons where there have been better mid season trade target acquisitions available than this season? Yep. Those 2 things tell me that KP won't make a trade. The wild card in this is Paul Allen. He may force the issue. While I don't hate KP, I also don't think he is all that great either.

 

Has there ever been a season with a roster so decimated by injuries and such a glaring need with a player readily available that addresses that need and costs so little? Nope.

The situation is different. Last year at the trade deadline, Martell Webster was our only significant injury - and with a healthy Batum and Outlaw, he wasn't really missed. So, I understand why KP was reluctant to trade young assets when we didn't really have any glaring holes in our active roster. This year, with both Oden and Przybilla out, and Frye gone, we don't really have a legitimate center on our active roster.

With the addition of Miller, and Bayless playing better, Blake has become much more expendable than he was a year ago. With Batum back (and looking great) and Webster healthy and playing the best ball of his career over the last month, Outlaw is also largely redundant.

So, unlike past years, we have a clear and pressing need (for a center that can, at the very least, rebound and guard the paint) and a surplus of pieces that aren't part of our long term plans. I'd say a mid-season trade is MUCH more likely this year than last.

BNM

 

Exactly right. KP's said that he doesn't like to do mid-season trades and that's been his mode of operation, but sometimes events come along that demand a different response. Assuming that he can find a deal that doesn't hurt the team's long range plans, I'd say there's a high degree of probablilty that a trade happens before the deadline. The fact that it hasn't happened yet is most likely attributable to the tendency of teams to hold off making a committment on a deal until the last minute in the hopes that a better offer will come along.

 

I seriously doubt it.

 

I want to see KP physically let one of these guys go. I don't know if he can.

 

Yeah, I don't think he can either. I'd pull the trigger on this deal for sure, but if I was betting on it -- KP is not going to do anything by the deadline.

 

I wonder if we can get Tyrus on the cheap. It seems like the Wiz want a lot in return for Haywood.