I agree...I like Batum better than I like Deng. But it's not a one horse race. The real question is: is Batum plus (Andre Miller or Jerryd Bayless or Armon Johnson) better than Deng plus (Chris Paul or Darren Collison) I think management agrees that Batum is a better prospect and probably already a better player than Deng, but if Batum can get us a top flight point guard, Deng is a more than adequate replacement. But I think management also believes that CP3 is a top 5 player in the NBA and if we have a solid replacement in Deng lined up, it's worth it to move Batum to get CP3.
I completely agree with KS. I also like how most of you who are saying he is crazy don't state any actual reasons. Collison's stats were GREAT, and I would trade what Batum gives us for those stats from the point guard position in a heartbeat. I also think he is a great defender for his size, and in reality, big point guards don't post up very often..
No, I was just being silly and doing what essentially boils down to my idea of the best, and unrealistic, case for Portland.
If anyone for the Blazers is even considering trading away Batum for anything they should have their head examined. We just traded away our best one-on-one defender in Webster. This team will never win a playoff series next year if they trade away their 2nd best one-on-one defender.
I can't really find the article, and I must say, I wouldn't have considered it unless they were actual reports, but lets say for a minute it does happen... We would have to trade Batum, Deng played 39 minutes per last year and we also drafted Babbit, Batum's value is very high around the league. I like the idea of Darren Collisson, but from what I'm seeing on RealGM trade-checker he, unlike Paul, is on a very small contract and we could do a Batum-for-him straight up. Yes, we could add Miller and bring back Posey but I think it's a good trade for New-Orleans even without the added players and for us, it would be foolish to add them, when Miller is clearly the better player - currently - and backup PG (Armon Johnson?) that could be filled by Miller is a weaker position than backup SF (Dante? Babbit?) that would be filled by Posey. If we made the deals I suggested and stayed put: Collison, Miller Roy, Rudy Deng, Dante, Babitt LMA, Howard, Camby (I think it's possible Camby could get some minutes at PF and that it's worth trying) Oden, Camby, Pendergraph Solid up front, with a short rotation of LMA, Oden, Camby - with Howard, Pendergraph getting some minutes/being used as insurance. The SF position is our weakest but it's MUCH better than if we traded the 4 players for Paul and were left with Posey as starting SF, in the best case scenario. I'm guessing Rudy would be getting some minutes behind Deng, as well. In the back-court, we have the biggest upgrade. Pryzbilla, in all honesty, SHOULD be traded, Batum for Deng is a downgrade - IMO, but Bayless for Colisson could be a bigger upgrade.
Am I the only person that is fine with keeping Miller and seeing what the rookies do and if Bayless will continue to develop next year? If we could get Chris Paul that would be awesome and I wouldn't mind losing our best defender for him but to trade him for Collison just seems crazy to me. I guess i'm just not a fan of Collison I watched him play a bit and he likes to pass a lot and seems to have great court vision but overall i'd rather take another year and let Bayless have more time, the guy produces when he is given a steady amount of minutes instead of the spot minutes he was getting last season. If we don't get a top 5 point guard I dont' see the point in getting rid of Batum even if we can replace him by Deng.
Webster was playing really good defense and did great vs bigger and stronger guys but Batum is hands down the best defender on the team.
This. I love Batum as much as anyone, but if the question is Batum/Miller v Deng/Collison, I think I would rather have the latter.
How about giving Patty Mills some decent burn and see what he can do? Before giving up one of the best perimeter defenders in the league at age 22. Not saying Batum is untouchable, I would just need a bigger upgrade to make him part of a deal.
How about not? Patty is just as one dimensional as Bayless and just as ball dominant (at least at St. Marys), but instead of driving with his head down, he likes to take a lot of 3 pointers and jump shots and he's undersized for the position at 5'11" with average wingspan -- basically a less talented version of Damon and the last thing I want to see is Damon 2.0 as the starting point guard for this team (I don't think Bayless is a great option either, so this isn't about me pimping one guy and degrading another).
You've gotta wonder how Chicago tries to fill out their roster after they dumped all of that salary and basically gutted their team. I could see them still trying to do this deal if they thought that Pryzbilla was going to come back and be able to contribute (and no, I still don't see this deal making much sense for the Blazers).
From the rumor the only reason they would do this trade is to save enough cap space to sign 2 max players. I really doubt they would do the trade and will need Deng to start at SF. Really I don't think this trade was ever real but we will never know now.
Harris and rights to Favors for Batum and Miller. Harris / ? Roy / ? Deng /Babbit LMA /Favors Oden/Camby Then use the rooks, rudy, MLE, dante and pendergraph to trade or fill in the remaining holes.
