This seems like the most well-rounded post in this thread. I understand the notion by some of getting worse to get better, but I can't get behind an intentional asset reduction. If we're trading Hickson, I'd like to get someone back that has demonstrated the ability to be a legitimate NBA rotation player, and has at least one additional year left on his contract.
It is only true depending on who you replace him with. If he went down tonight for the rest of the Season and you could only start Jeffries or bring in a D-League guy then it is not true. If you swapped in someone via trade then it can be true. We lose a lot more games this year if Hickson goes down and is out the Season.
Wright's advanced stats say he is better than Hickson. I think that qualifies as "legitimate NBA rotation player" Beaubois first three years in the league (under Stotts) he had Wes Matthews type PER. I think that qualifies as "legitimate NBA rotation player" Cunningham is a rookie who can play both guard positions and is probably better than anyone on our bench currently
I'm not sure that is the case. The Blazers are actually a better rebounding team without Hickson, and if you replace Hickson with Leonard in the 5 man unit our win % goes from 42%-69%
Yes, both Wright and Beaubois are legit, but both are expiring contracts. Cunningham may well be a rotation player, but he hasn't demonstrated it yet. I (perhaps unreasonably) want somebody who meets both criteria. None of the three in this proposal do.
It's certainly not a no brainer type deal to be sure. What it does give you is two players who are solid rotation guys who you now hold Bird rights to instead of one. You also have two rotation guys who will make much less than the one rotation guy and probably add more to your win production than the one rotation guy does. If you're lucky you get Pekovic in the off season, a mid lottery pick in the draft and go into next season with a line up of Pekovic/Leonard/Freeland Aldridge/Wright/Claver Batum/(Poythress/Porter/McAdoo) Matthews/Cunningham/Barton Lillard/Beaubois That team is a hell of a lot better than this one is defensively
Although we may lose Hickson outright with nothing in return if the market demands a 9-10 mil Hickson contract. I have doubt that Portland would pay that amount with the glaring weaknesses we have at back-up guard and starting center. With this scenario, we get players that can produce and we could most likely keep if they do well. I have faith that 1 of the 3 players will be kept; which is better than nothing.
LA thinks we need a seven footer to help guard the rim...his words, not mine. Why would he be pissed at that deal?
Leonard is not currently playing. When he comes back you will expect some rust and he wasn't playing great to begin with. Plus you are not taking into account the trickle-down effect. If you put Leonard in the starting lineup then whoever is now playing backup Center is significantly worse.
Wright would be here. He has a PER in the 20's and blocks significantly more shots than Hickson. He is also a much better defender. Wright at center is +7 vs his opponent
Wright's stats show his team is worse off with him on the floor as a rebounder than Hickson is. And otherwise having a pretty negligible impact overall.
But freeland has been playing back-up center now, so we are currently seeing what that back-up is doing for us. And keep in mind that the deal would be sending a center back to us. I remember watching Wright and his raw athletic ability. He isn't a "OMG we have our answer at center"; but he could be a very decent role player on the defensive end; plus he and Leonard could be a very decent 1-2 option at center.
