We're talking about Rod Thorn here in the case of NJ. As for Kahn in Minny, maybe he's a little less savvy. Regardless, there's a big difference between national media perception and league-wide executive and scouts' perceptions.
There is always another cake to bake my man. At some point we will eat the current cake, plus let's be honest we need cover for Oden.
with Roy's window being now, and seeing that LMA's not an effective 2nd Banana in the playoffs, and that Oden may or may never be healthy, and Miller's not a great fit...I can totally see re-tooling. If they think a guy like Turner or Cousins will be better....I can see it happening. Unlikely, but not "insane"
No, it's a risky maneuver with huge risk and a lot of upside. Basically you'd be trading the solid but underwhelming production of LMA for a potential top five 4/5 if Cousins develops into his full potential -- if the goal is championships this team needs one more big time impact player, that isn't coming in free agency, it's unlikely to be coming in a trade for an established star, and it's a longshot at best that Aldrige (and Oden from a health perspective) give us that edge. But hey, I'm a gambler. It's go big or go home.
Just having some fun with one of the most overused and misinterpreted quotes in Blazer history. But I could see rumor being a reflection of the KP/PA fallout. KP made his bones drafting Roy and LMA, I could see him being reluctant to trade LMA even going so far as not to bring trade offeres for LMA for PA. Maybe PA wants to shake things up just as much as many of the fans do.
Aldridge has that same potential to be a top 4/5, and he's a proven player at this point and it's not like he's old. At this point who's to say Cousins reaches his potential and Aldridge doesn't? Still see it as a lateral move
I think if it is Cousins that we are after it is more we are giving up on Oden then trading LMA. Cousins is a center and really not a NBA PF. He is 6-11 260lbs and plays as a center. I'm not sure if we trade LMA and draft Cousins who would play PF for us. Maybe a combination of Camby and Cousins but that really wouldn't as good as LMA at PF. Cousins is going to be a NBA starting center.
The cake has baked.....only somebody forgot to add eggs.....and it fell on the floor....and the dog tracked through it....and the cat used it for kitty litter. If somebody offers a top 5 pick for any player on this team (outside of Roy), the team should grab it, squeal gleefully, and scamper off before they change their minds.
I think NJ would be more likely than Minnesota. If NJ lands LeBron, bringing in LaMarcus makes sense to play alongside Lopez. Minnesota has two 6'8"-6'9" PFs in Jefferson and Love. I want Cousins on this team but what if they are eying Derrick Favors? it's just as possible.
Just because it's a top 5 pick is no guarantee that they would be better than the player we are giving up.
It sickens me to say this, and I don't think it would happen, but who says no to Oden and 22 for the #3 pick? NJN says "Hey, Lebron...we've got a Lopez/Oden front line that we're gambling on health-wise, Devin Harris, Courtney Lee, and BPA at 22...Brooklyn in 2 years...interested?" If KP's here, I don't think that ever gets floated. If KP's fired and Wark or someone is brought in, it's plausible that they look to jettison the "Bust".
Well ... Code: Season Age Tm Lg G GS MP FG FGA FG% 3P 3PA 3P% FT FTA FT% ORB DRB TRB AST STL BLK TOV PF PTS 2006-07 21 POR NBA 63 22 1392 6.2 12.4 .503 0.0 0.1 .000 2.1 3.0 .722 3.7 4.3 8.1 0.6 0.6 1.9 1.1 4.8 14.6 2007-08 22 POR NBA 76 76 2649 7.6 15.8 .484 0.0 0.1 .143 3.1 4.0 .762 3.0 4.9 7.9 1.7 0.7 1.3 1.7 3.3 18.3 2008-09 23 POR NBA 81 81 3004 7.2 14.9 .484 0.1 0.3 .250 3.1 4.0 .781 2.8 4.4 7.3 1.9 0.9 0.9 1.5 2.5 17.6 2009-10 24 POR NBA 78 78 2922 7.1 14.4 .495 0.1 0.2 .313 2.8 3.7 .757 2.4 5.4 7.7 2.0 0.8 0.6 1.3 2.8 17.2 Career NBA 298 257 9967 7.2 14.6 .489 0.0 0.2 .245 2.9 3.8 .762 2.9 4.8 7.7 1.7 0.8 1.1 1.4 3.1 17.3 Code: Season Age Tm Lg G MP PER TS% eFG% ORB% DRB% TRB% AST% STL% BLK% TOV% USG% ORtg DRtg OWS DWS WS WS/48 2006-07 21 POR NBA 63 1392 17.1 .533 .503 12.6 15.3 13.9 3.2 0.9 4.2 7.5 19.3 113 109 2.5 1.0 3.4 0.118 2007-08 22 POR NBA 76 2649 18.5 .523 .484 9.8 15.8 12.8 8.8 1.1 2.8 8.9 25.3 108 107 3.5 2.8 6.2 0.113 2008-09 23 POR NBA 81 3004 19.1 .529 .486 9.5 15.6 12.5 9.3 1.4 2.0 8.0 23.7 115 108 6.1 3.3 9.5 0.151 2009-10 24 POR NBA 78 2922 18.2 .535 .497 8.1 18.6 13.3 9.9 1.3 1.3 7.4 22.9 113 107 5.5 3.3 8.8 0.145 Career NBA 298 9967 18.4 .529 .491 9.6 16.5 13.0 8.5 1.2 2.3 8.0 23.3 112 108 17.6 10.4 28.0 0.135 Going on 25 years old and his fifth year in the league. I expect more incremental and modest improvement, but maybe it's the amateur statistician in me and because I spend so much time doing trend analysis in my job, but that looks like a nice flat line to me and that flat line does not equal a top-end 4/5 IMO.
This isn't what you want to hear about elite talent going to the next level. Definitely sounds like more of a C like someone mentioned above, especially if he has freaking weight issues.
