If Tyreke Evans becames available...

by trade deadline should the Blazers be interested and if so what would you give up? Or should the Blazers be content with Wes Mathews at the starting SG spot? Might you gamble of free agency and wait it out? I'm just curious to what fans think of Evens and if he could fit with Lillard.

 

I don't think he could fit with Lillard. We need a Rip Hamilton at shooting guard, not Brandon Roy.

 

I like Matthews more at this point, especially next to Lillard. Much better three point shooter, better defender, better track record of staying healthy, doesn't need the ball a lot to be effective, seems like a better locker room guy.

Evans is three years younger, but he's also had declining stats every year in the league so the upside argument is kind of a wash.

Besides, I really hate shooting guards who can't shoot.

 

My thinking exactly. I really, really like the way Lillard/Matthews/Batum fit together. I think that's a trio of starters for a contending team if they continue to progress as they've done so far.

It's everything else about this team I'm not so sure about. Portland has so many problems on interior defense and the bench. Aldridge and Hickson are incompatible--neither is even a competent shot blocker/intimidator (although Aldridge is a good post defender).

I'd really like to see Stotts experiment with bringing Hickson off the bench and starting Leonard, even if Leonard's overall minutes don't increase that much. But the truth is that we have a lot of gaps to fill, and Aldridge is the most valuable asset we have that could buy several solutions (while also making the team younger). There's just not much else on our team that I'd be willing to trade that anybody would want.

 

Evans might love a role as 6th man?

 

It does look like Lillard, Wes and Batum complement each other, and the chances are LMA is not going anywhere. So I would go with your plan of getting a defensive minded backup big.

A backup Combo guard is needed too, or just a really good back up PG that would work well with Lillard as well allowing him to slide over and play some SG. We can get away with going small for 8 minutes a game. But ideally the back up PG would have good size too.

 

Don't like Evans' game at all. I prefer Mayo as a backup combo guard for us.

 

I know the perfect back up combo guard for us

 

I think we should hold out for picking up an Okafor type player for crap. (By crap I mean not LMA)

Take a big contract off someone's hands and give them little in return. Teams will get desperate if they are losing and are looking at a big the luxury cap hit.

But if we trade something of value I guess I would have to choose JJ. Are their restrictions on trading Hickson? He will not be happy coming off the bench and eventually he will have to.

 

It seems like the environment there isn't the best for young players.

Heck, look at T-Rob! He was a model citizen at KU and that elbow he gave Jonas (Detroit) was totally out of character.

I'm still firmly on the DeMarcus to Portland bandwagon. His talent and size is super rare. I like the potential of a Cousins/Leonard frontcourt. An insane risk but one worth taking IMO.

 

I was thinking about this a few weeks back. I've never liked Tyreke Evans - he's just not a good basketball player. HOWEVER, I think I might entertain the idea of trading LMA for Evans & Cousins.

http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=c6pvybn

I'm leery of this because I don't like the sort of knucklehead that Cousins appears to be (I'm not against having a knucklehead on the team, though). However, if we could also get SAC to include a lotto pick I think I'd be all over this trade. But, I would bring Evans off the bench as our 6th man. That's the only role he'll ever experience wins in. Wes is a much better player and works far better with Lillard/Nic.

 

It is one thing to take a chance on a "knucklehead", and a completely different one to take a chance on him while trading arguably your best player for him. Leonard and a draft pick for Cousins....sure I would roll the dice. But "insane risks" can set you back quite a few years.

 

he would immediately become our best bench 1-3 guy by a landslide, of course you bring him in for cheap

wouldnt trade anyone in our top 6 for him though

 

Evans would be a horrendous back-court mate with Lillard. Completely non-complimentary in every sense.

Lillard needs somebody who can shoot and is best when they are shooting (think Ray Allen). Basically, it would be pretty awesome if Wesley Matthews was better at handling the ball at least some.