Negotiating position. If needed, I can't imagine Paul Allen refusing to trade Batum if he could somehow get Chris Paul. Nope, the Blazers are acting like Batum is the fucking chosen one and they couldn't possibly part with him, in an attempt to pump up his perceived value. Good news is that Monty Williams will vouch for the fact that Batum is the most exciting and skilled player he has seen on the Blazers. (doesn't mean that Batum ever realizes all that potential, but now it should help that he is seen as a big upside guy)
I dont like that idea. I dont care how good of a defender he is, he can not guard other SF's on a consistent basis. He's only 6'4''. I dont want Roy guarding the SF's either.
Dallas made it very difficult for themselves to make a strong run at Paul when they traded their best chip a short while ago, the unguaranteed contract of Eric Dampier. Dallas can still try, but if will be hard for them to craft a deal that makes sense for everyone.
Agreed. But, in their eyes, I suppose, if you find a deal you like, it's better to make that than to sit on your hands hoping a superstar becomes available. Even still, yeah the immediate relief is nice, but I'd think they'd want something decent and young. I think out of the 4 teams listed, it easily in that regard comes down to us and NY.
He's 6'4" without shoes, but I don't think he'll be playing barefoot. He was measured at 6'5.25" before the draft. http://www.draftexpress.com/nba-pre...09&source=All&sort2=DESC&draft=0&pos=0&sort=1 A bit on the short side for a small forward, of course, but not terribly so. Ed O.
Paul is begging to get out of NO, the Blazers have plenty of pieces (and money) to make it happen; at this point, if we fail to land Paul and keep the core players while doing so, then I have to say the new front office will have failed in their first big test. This seems like a lay-up, and deals shouldn't get much easier other than the names attached to it. If it takes Batum to get Paul, you have to make that deal. Git 'er dun!
I really don't give a shit who they have to trade to get him. You don't get a shot at players of this caliber that often. Role players are a dime a dozen.
IMO, Paul is such a significant improvement at the PG spot that I'm willing to replace Batum with a Matthews/Babbitt combo next season. It is a downgrade at SF, but offensively, it's replacing the fifth option (Batum) with a first option (Paul). If Oden is healthy, the Blazers could win a championship next year starting Matthews at SF and Paul at PG. That won't happen with Miller at PG and Batum, at SF, IMO.
I'll agree to that. Although GO AND Batum are not a dime a dozen. They can Have Batum (although I love the kid) and whoever else they want not named Oden or Roy.
So we won't trade for CP3 because of Nic Fucking Batum? Dear lord. IF that's true... If we don't Not sure we've ever had a more overrated player than 88 and I say that as a Batum fan. Jerry West would walk to Nawlins with Batum on his back to get Chris Paul.
gotta be a little careful. if you include batum and/or oden, take back multiple bad contracts, and paul leaves in 2 years, you could screw up the future of the franchise.
I would include Miller & Joel for salary relief, and Batum, Rudy, Bayless for young talent. Hell if they wanted the rights to Claver, Kopen, and Freeland that would be fine as well.
If Cho is thinking that he needs to be shot and replaced with Paul the Octopus. That Cephalapod knows how to randomly pick stuff with high success rates.
