I absolutely want Paul. That said, I worry about some things unrelated to talent and injuries. I am concerned about the financial side of things. We are likely getting ONE year of play from Paul if we trade him without an extending him first (is that even possible under the current CBA?) as next year's lockout seems imminent. With that in mind, I can't see why the owners would relinquish Bird Rights in a new agreement, but for the sake of argument, say they do. Paul could choose to walk and we end up with nothing after essentially a one year rental. Of course, that is all worst case scenario but makes me pause for a second.
Jesus Rasta ... you worry about Roy and Paul fitting together, but you've been pimping Ricky Rubio for a year and a half -- a guy who can't even shoot? Paul is quite simply put the best point guard I've seen since Magic, he can shoot it from distance, he can shoot it in the mid-range and if he and Brandon can't learn to play together then Brandon will never be able to play with anybody.
Even if Batum shatters his ceiling and becomes many time better a player then I think is possible he STILL won't be in the same conversation as CP3. We are talking a first ballot hall of fame players versus Batum. The OP is just plain wrong.
Here is one thing I want to point out. One of the reasons Chris Paul gets hurt every year is because he has to carry too much of the load in NO. One of the reasons Brandon is hurt every year is because he has to carry too much of the load in Portland. By having them play together, you share the load and their injuries will go down. Secondly I would point out, if Chris Paul can get Tyson Chandler to average almost 12 points a game, what can he do with Lamarcus, Oden and Camby?
My thoughts exactly. I was in favour of tailoring personnel to Roy when he was easily the team's best player. But Paul would be easily the best player if Portland acquired him and Oden is potentially more important than Roy (if he ever stays healthy). I have no doubt that Paul and Oden can play together offensively...so if Roy couldn't, I'd say it would be time to look for opportunities to deal Roy. But I'd hate to do that. I love Roy's game, so I would really hope he could integrate it with other talented guys.
I made a small alteration. If I'm POR, I tell NO that every single asset we have is on the table except for Roy, Aldridge and Oden. We'll also take back Peja, Emeka or Posey. They can mix and match to fill the cap space.
Is Chris Paul worth it ?? hmmm i can understand why this topic was made but i think as long as Portland only gives up Batum OR Oden then the answer is -- HECK YES without a doubt. I have suspected that the reason the Blazers wanted Matthews is to make Batum leaving easier on the team. I think if Batum get's dealt for Paul then you will see Roger Mason sign a Vet deal for 1 year with a promise of a 2 or 3 year deal at 4 to 5 million next summer.
watch, lots of CP3 to BRoy action. actually got me even more excited at the thought of CP3 playing here [video=youtube;XJ8u9Ygn_gI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJ8u9Ygn_gI[/video]
That was for a short stretch, in a light-hearted game, against no real defense. I don't think that tells us a lot about how they'd work together all the time, in the heat of professional competition. That said, I think they'd figure it out and be a stellar backcourt.
Exactly Roy would learn to love Paul or learn to love whatever team we traded him to. I love Roy and want him to retire here with his number in the rafters next to all the Banners he helped win. Seriously though he's not Michael Jordan. Roy can run the point when Paul sits if that is so damned important and Paul needn't have the ball EVERY time down the court. They would make it work and LOVE LOVE LOVE it. You're so right about injuries as well.
I'll point out again how much Roy raved abut playing with Paul during the All-Star game. Roy played off of the ball great in that game. It's not Roy's fault he has been forced to play SG with Jarrad Jack, Steve Blake, and Andre Miller as PG. Roy is better with the ball than any of those players. Having him play off the ball primarily with an average PG hogging the ball never made any sense to me. Having him play of the ball with Paul, who a team has to respect, will be fine.
I just hope to god that Roy's ego doesn't come into play here. I'm not saying it will, because it seems like our guys get along with Brandon very well, but adding Chris Paul would immediately move Roy down to "second best player on the team". I know that Roy has mentioned in the past that he wants to be like Kobe, LeBron, Wade, etc. I'm hoping that having another star on the team wouldn't bruise his ego, because I don't think it would be "Brandon Roy and the Portland Trail Blazers" anymore. I'm pretty sure the media would immediately start calling us, "Chris Paul and the Portland Trail Blazers." Some guys wouldn't like that.... I'm just hoping Brandon isn't one of those guys. I don't think he is.... but I could be wrong.
You're not worried about Brandon's reaction? Think of how he reacted to Andre Miller last year, and Miller isn't 1/3 the name that Paul is. I'm just worried that Brandon will think that Paul is going to diminish his stardom, which I think will be the opposite of what happens. I think Paul could make Roy into a HOFer.
