Just like last year Batum is probably our most talented young trade chip. Only now we have Gerald Wallace. So the question against becomes, should we offer him in a trade or should we hope that he is next season's Aldridge and finally makes the jump that he seems capable of? Reasons to keep him: Great versatility, can be a defensive stopper, obviously has untapped potential Reasons not to keep him: why does that potential remain untapped? Why is he so maddeningly passive so often? We need a young good PG or a young big more than we need another wing.
We need a young point guard. As much as I love Miller's game, it has become very obvious that we are only a fringe playoff team, and we will remain that way until we make some changes.
how many years did it take LMA to stop being soft and passive and start becoming LaMonster? For that matter, do you build this team to utilize better a 23 y/o SF with tons of upside, or a 29 y/o All-star who's had some hard miles on his body, but still in his prime?
I'd offer up either Batum or Wallace in trade scenarios. Ideally, we'd trade Batum for a point guard like Jrue Holiday.
For me is just depends on if we can get either a PGOTF or a solid PF/C that fits with our needs, if that trade is available I send either Batum or Wallace, we simply have to make moves here IF what we need is available.
Well, lets see, this happens every time some perceives that we have too much tallent at a position. The call goes out to trade for X, then the season starts and we are again short handed. I dont want to trade a young guy who has played or is able to play heavy mins and has a good upside still. I do realize that you have to give to get, but lets look at some of the other guys first. Hello Rudy..
It all depends on what you think your window is. Realistically we have Miller for another year or maybe two. Roy is a question mark, as is Camby. I think Matthews could potentially get better. He is only going into his third season in the league after all. I think some people forget that. You just have to wonder how much of Geralds game is predicated on athleticism and how he might adjust as he gets older. He's a very smart player, will he still be a major factor in games but have fewer dunks and flashy plays, or will he become less of a factor as he loses his athleticism?
A couple of other things to consider: Will Batum want to remain in Portland when his rookie contract runs out with Gerald Wallace as the starter? Don't forget we have the rights to Victor Claver, who has finally stepped up his game (right before he got injured - NOT a good sign) to the point where he was MVP of the Spanish League for a month. He has a very similar skill set to Batum. He's almost certainly not Batum's equal (although he was ranked above Batum when both were considered rising teenage Euro-stars), but he's playing in a much tougher league than Batum was pre-NBA, and we do own his rights, so we might be able to sort-of half-replace Batum if we do trade him.
I would think Jrue Holiday is as untouchable as they come when it comes to young prospects. He can score but also has legit playmaking ability. He has all the tools to be a real force. He actually reminds me of an Andre Miller that can shoot. Oh, and he measured nearly 6'5" at the combine (at age 18, btw). Other young PG's I like are Ricky Rubio, DJ Augustin and Kyle Lowry. Jrue is BY FAR the best prospect IMO.
I have not seen Johnny Flynn play much, seems like he had a bad yr after a good rookie season, might he be worth a shot (buying cheap?). And by the way this is not a Nic or Wes trade, they are worth more than Flynn easily at this time. But if we could get Flynn relatively cheap is he worth a shot?
The curse extends to our foreign prospects. Before the injury he was looking like a young Peja. I like his potential.
Claver suffered one severe injury the season before the Blazers drafted him. Now he has suffered another? Pass. On a related note, I wonder if the team is even trying to get Freeland to come over? (or perhaps Freeland simply has no interest in the NBA)
Claver's first injury was a while back and before he was the MVP for the month. And today he played for the first time after his most recent injury.
Even with the injury he came in second place for the 2011 Rising Star award behind Nikola Mirotic. LINK
Jrue was born June 12 1990, so he was 18 years 11 months when the 2009 pre-draft measurements happened in mid-May. He measured 6'3.25 barefoot. If you're really into rounding up, thats nearly 10' STOMP
Agree that Holiday is not going anywhere. Iguodala, on the other hand, well might. They overpaid him and he plays the same position as their prize #2 pick who actually had a big game in the playoffs. Plus he skipped the exit interview with the team.
Hmm - that's VERY interesting. The award is voted by the head coaches, so it actually means something. And Claver finished ahead of Jan Veseley, who was widely considered a star in the making. (And note that this award is for the Euroleague, not simply the Spanish League.) But we're not spending much time talking about Batum, are we?
