I get that we're all geeked to see Portland on the 4-team list, and to figure that we have the most to offer. But do we really WANT Chris Paul for what it would probably cost? I think we're blinded by the glare coming out of Miami (certainly Paul is) and want our own superteam. But we don't even know if that'll work out. And it seems obvious to me that, those few minutes in that All-Star game notwithstanding, Paul and Roy get in each other's way as much as they complement each other. Other factors: Paul has been injured, quite a bit. And he's small. Small guys who get injured tend to break down. One of the major quibbles about Tony Parker when he was our Star Target Of The Moment was that he was potentially on the downhill slope. Miller has been damn good for us. Has Paul ever scored 52 against Dallas? I think not. But Miller would be basically a giveaway, and I don't think NO would want him, as they've got Collison. Batum could be really good. And there is essentially no way this trade goes down without Batum in it. I want to see Batum in the World Championships (remember, his game took a quantum leap last summer playing for France. And this year Parker won't be there. Batum could be our PG of the future!) Here's a question: suppose we don't trade for Paul, and you find out later it's because they asked for Batum, and we said no. Could you live with that? I guess it depends what happened afterwards... Paul is somebody forcing a trade from the team that he supposedly totally committed himself to. Could you really come to see him as an all-time Blazer great? Paul's numbers are, I think, inflated playing for New Orleans. Obviously he's better than Damon, but Damon was being put with Nike in ads with Jason Kidd and Gary Payton after his rookie-of-the-year year. When you have total freedom and total domination of the ball, you can look better than you would on a more balanced team. I remember thinking that Paul looked kind of ordinary playing for Team USA.
I think you're underestimating how good CP3 really is. He's possibly the best PG to play the game since Magic.
Many people doubted Paul before he entered the NBA (the Bucks, Atlanta, PatterNash) and I'm not shocked that some people are doubting him now. If we can get him without giving up Roy/Aldridge/Oden, there's no doubt in my mind he's "worth it". Ed O.
Injuries are a concern, but evenwith last years 45 games played, he averages 69 games played a year Conversely Roy = 68 Oden = 27 Batum = 58 It's true that Batum COULD be really good, but Paul already is better than that. He and Roy playing together scares me a bit, but hopefully since it's a player who Roy probably respects more, it won't be a huge issue.
A 25-year-old PG in his prime and an MVP candidate, who simply wants to win a championship? Yeah, the guy is certainly worth it.
Same here man. Rasta have you ever seen CP3 play? He made Tyson Chandler's name in the top 10 or so center of the league discussion a few years ago. I don't care if Miller scored 52 against Dallas in one game, one game doesn't make him a better player. Everyone has been ridiculous lately ever since CP3 got hurt. Saying Rondo and Deron are better than CP3. Give me a break. CP3 is the best PG in the league.
You are REALLY reaching in half what you wrote here I mean REALLY reaching. Other then Paul's health all your arguments were pretty weak. I normally like your stuff but come on Nic as a PG and not worth Paul? Come on!
Yep Roy's health is like the forgotten thing around here, it never ceases to amaze me. Also I LOOOOOVE me some Nic Batum and wouldn't trade him for most guys in the league but for Chris Paul? Where the hell do I sign in blood on a parchment made of human skin to get this deal done!!!
Over-paying for any player is bad business....and I agree that some people (slightly) over-rate CP3. Conversely, who do the Blazers have that could be deemed irreplacable? Roy is very good, LMA is close, and Batum could get there. That's it. Everybody else on the team is old, injury prone, a huge question mark, or some combination of the above. The Blazers are not a few tweaks from being a contender - they need a *big* move to get there.
I do agree with some of Rasta's concern though. Looking at this negatively, what if Paul and Roy = anti-synergy, meaning together they are less effective than they were apart. Also, what if injury bugs continue to hit the team and it doesn't really challenge in the next two years? Will Paul stick it out or will he bolt to NY to be with Carmello? This is not a no-brainer to me. Honestly, I wish it could be a three way where Roy goes out and Paul comes back. Part of me likes Paul/Batum/Aldridge/Oden better than Paul/Roy/Aldridge/Oden for chemistry reasons.
So he looked ordinary for one of the 12 best players in the world? http://www.fiba.com/pages/eng/fe/08.../teamnumber/379/fe_teamPlay_teamAccuStat.html Middle of the pack in scoring and rebounding, first in assists, second in steals. I'll take it. I love Batum. Chris Paul is almost certainly one of the top 5 players in the league. I doubt that Batum ever gets to that level. I think you have to do this deal if that's all you give up.
Personally I think DWill is better. Head to Head he kicks his ass. But none the less CP3 is awsome. But I do think he can be a whiny little bitch. Maybe it was the Byron Scott effect. I want CP3, but I would not mortgage the farm on him. Because if we are not one of the best teams in two years, he will bail on us too.
Chris Paul is amazing. He's the best player in basketball not named LeBron James, as far as I'm concerned. I'd hate to lose Batum, but I don't blink an eye to do it in order to get back a once-a-generation point guard. Yes, his injuries have been mildly worrying, but it's a risk I definitely take. I think Roy and Paul can coexist together (Jordan and Pippen did, despite both being primary ball-handler types). If not with McMillan then with a new Portland coach. Paul with Roy, Oden and either Aldridge or Batum would be a team that could challenge the Miami superteam, as far as I'm concerned. They'd also be odd-on favourites in the West this year and even more so in future seasons, as Kobe Bryant gets older, barring a remarkable move by one of the other major West teams.
Exactly. For all the PER stats that get thrown arund here, CP3 is #7 in the NBA. He's probably got another 10-years of productivity in him at age 25. I understand fans not wanting to give up on Oden, but anyone that thinks giving up Batum is too high a price for CP3 is insane in my book. This team has two choices. We can either become a real contender by trading for CP3 or we can stand pat and be a perennial also-ran like Dallas. Standing pat would make us good but not great. You need to be great now with the Lakers and Heat in your way.
Yep, and all this CP3 bouncing stuff is just silly he'd stay for the $$$ but more, he's a competitor and would stay to be on the best team possible. Plus after we kill the Lakers next season you extend him in the off season if not before. Also we wouldn't "screw up the team" even if he did leave, because if CP3 walks in three years and Oden presumably isn't a superstar (otherwise Paul would stay) then we need to rebuild with our sights on 2015ish when LeBron starts to decline.
In a down year. He was top-ten in PER in a bad season. The season before that, he had a 30 PER! That's LeBron James/Michael Jordan territory.
Seriously people need help and need to call Shick if they are worried about CP3 being a great player I mean come on. Really? Rasta was just playing Devil's advocate, but the I wouldn't trade Batum for him camp is clearly drunk off it's ass or has a real inhalant problem.
