I always find it funny when people think Vance is just another media guy. He's not. He's very well connected and has been for a long time. Front office types trust him, because he's not vindictive.
Still too many Blazer fans that think with their emotions and are in the "now" and not really thinking of this as a business. Many sucessful business moves are to simply low and sell high to gain wealth (IE - assets when it comes to an NBA roster). If money, salary cap and contract amounts don't really impact your business because money isn't an object (as it shouldn't be when dealing with Paul Allen), then the actual production the team is getting for the money on his contract doesn't matter, therefore it is all about whether Wesley's value for that contract is "high" and whether there is a team you can trade with to capitalize on that inflated value. I'm not saying I want him traded, all I'm saying is sometimes trading a guy while 29 other GMs are salivating over him will get you more in return than you'll ever get another opportunity to get. Imagine if we sold Rudy for someone like a David Lee back a couple years ago during Rudy's rookie year and everyone was salivating at how good Rudy appears to be. The Portland fan base was too enamored with Rudy to ever embrace selling him while his stock was high, but I'd bet 90% of those fans would wish they had sold his stock while it was red hot. I guess my primary point is, trading away a red hot (and likely at a high point in market value) asset right now is like selling the Adkins Diet stock in 2004, its tough to do and you think someone might be getting rid of the only good thing out there, but from a pure business perspective, trading away assets while their high and increasing the overall asset value of your team could lead to landing someone like Deron Williams by 2012 and end up being the move that makes a GM famous.
Not at all. I would think someone on here or a few other sites that is a PDX fan would have heard it and posted it here.
Yea I saw it, he said camby would consider retirement if he was traded anywhere except Houston. Brousssard said if Houston could somehow land Carmelo then they would go for camby to make a serious run at a title this year.
With the Jazz in turmoil, apparently, I'm going to add Deron Williams to the trade porn roster. Though, might be a stretch to imagine the Jazz trading for Matthews back, just from the embarrassment factor. But maybe they'll be more practical than emotional. Assuming in the first place, which isn't a good assumption, that Deron Williams will become available. Ah well.
What about what's-his-nuts the PF we made the toxic offer for? Shift LMA to center, trade exciting players that a new coach would want to use to denote the change in style, and get back a tough defensive PF? Since he's in the second year of his deal, it'd be worth a lot less now.
Paul Millsap. That would be an interesting acquisition, though it would be essentially closing the book on Oden since it would leave him no starting position. I'm not arguing for or against doing so, but it's a fairly significant consequence. I would consider it. I think Millsap is about on the level Aldridge was before Aldridge went beast mode. So he'd make a nice #2 to beast-mode Aldridge. But wow would Portland's perimeter be depleted, especially when Miller moves on.
Kenny's statement about Nate will soon prove he knows NOTHING. Not that we need any clarification on that.
Perhaps... in this candyland fantasy, I'd resign Miller and let him retire a Blazer, with Matthews at SG, and Batum at SF. Roy and whichever of Patty/Rudy is left become additional outside threats for an inside-out offense predicated on LMA's ability to play both inside and out, and Batum/Matthews/Roy/Rudy all being threats out to 28 feet. Millsap offers toughness and defense to assist Matthews and Batum, and to keep LMA from fouling out when opposing guards blow by Roy. I'd try to find one more outside threat, a Kyle Korver type who can just launch from range, to round out the bench (Grant Hill?), and offer Oden a super-sub spot on the bus (which he probably won't accept) as backup C. If I can't get him, I'd get Channing Frye or another of his type (long-range bomber who can pass) to round out a 3-man front-line rotation. Fill out the ranks with various friendly veterans; they seem to be most able to handle injury scares (been there, done that experience). I think these are all things that can be done with the trade pieces we have... it's not the prettiest, but it'd be a sight better than the MASH unit we have now, and showcases the man with the skill and talent.
Wait, wait...if Portland has Matthews and Batum...who did you trade for Millsap? I was assuming you were using them as trade chips. You even have Fernandez left on the roster! It would take at least one of Matthews or Batum to get Millsap, if not both. Neither of them are as good as Millsap right now, though both of course have upside. Or are you suggesting an Oden for Millsap swap? If so, I didn't realize that before. I assumed "exciting players" meant Batum and Matthews. Edit: You have Oden on your theoretical roster too. You have me befuddled.
Okay okay, fair enough. I didn't think we'd have to trade either to get Millsap. That's where it all fell apart, I guess. I understand your perimeter comment now though. Fuck though I wouldn't trade both for Millsap. I'd rather get another outside-in PF like Frye and have Buck work on him instead.
Kenny just said on The Game that Camby may be milking his injury in order to avoid getting traded before the deadline.
