If he's not traded now, he'll just be traded at the next deadline for his expiring contract. If there's a lockout for a year, we'll lose that opportunity. I say move him if he you can get quality young players.
We can get a wise veteran much more cheaply if/when Oden is healthy/ready to go... AND we can get value for Camby now. It sounds like a win/win to me. Ed O.
I want my team's personnel guys to think like personnel guys and not like fans. This may knock us out of playoff contention this year, but if we're positioned to come out of the lockout with a chance to be competitive then that's all you can ask for. Then again, I was a Packers fan who was fine with Ted Thompson trading Bert Favreau for a 3rd round pick 3 years ago. (which was combined with a second rounder that turned into Clay Matthews BTW).
It's not a dream. It's a possibility. And I agree that it is the most likely way that the Blazers are going to become a contender. What do YOU think our "best bet to be a contender" is? Ed O.
The Last MF made G.O.'s knee Stronger, despite his injuries he's still a young buck. AND, all we really need for him to do his stand in the paint and impact the game! I really don't think that's asking too much from him, he can do it.
Finding a nascent star in the draft to pair with LMA ... your approach could work, but if I was laying Vegas odds I'd put my money on the team getting lucky in the draft before I'd lay money that Greg is suddenly going to start staying healthy long enough for this team to rely on him in a playoff run.
How exactly can trading Marcus (a guy with 1.5 yrs left) on a very reasonable $$ help us for the future? Or moreso, how does he hurt us from anything? Trading him, Dre, and Joel for expiring contracts still wouldn't guarantee us that we'd have enough capspace for any sort of flexibility this summer. besides: Dre and Joel can both be off loaded this summer if we don't pick up their options or extend them. So no point in trading them for ECs.
Make a series of well thought out personell moves, either now or in the near future. Do I know what those moves are? Of course not, I don't know what's available, but teams like Boston and Los Angeles have shown that it's definately do-able. It's better than hoping Oden stays healthy. I think we've learned not to get our hopes up with him.
So, basically, you're saying wait for another team to decide to dump a franchise player like KG or Gasol for little to nothing in return. Sounds like a plan to bank on.
Me, neither. I just happen to think that Oden getting healty is much more likely than "finding a nascent star in the draft". Ed O.
You can do both, really. In fact, I'd say not ditching Oden for close to nothing is one of those "well thought-out decisions." I don't think anyone is suggesting doing nothing but hoping/waiting on Oden. I'd like to do both: build as strong a team as possible and also see if Oden can put in some healthy seasons. If not, those other good decisions are your fall-back. If he does, you're really set. I'm not a big believer in "We're just better off psychically by getting rid of Oden and all his disappointment."
Boston gutted everything except Pierce to get Allen and KG. Depending on what's out there, the Blazers can do the same thing and keep Aldridge.
Cap space is irrelevant for the Blazers. We're not going to be able to make a splash one way or the other. I don't know that anyone is arguing to trade Camby in order to get rid of his contract. We'd be trading Camby (and Miller) to get younger and to get players with more upside. Your post ignores that possibility/likelihood arguing against a straw man. Ed O.
Im just not banking on Oden. Obviously I wouldnt give him up for nothing, but anything he gives us from now on will be gravy. And if the right deal came along, I'd pack Odens bags.
