Pekovic hearing Blazers want him is compliment

Why? I happen to actually think Hickson is a better player than Pekovic. He's younger, more durable and better rebounder, etc. Pek is basically an older, slower, more expensive version of Hickson. He's just as bad defensively and a worse rebounder.

Like I said, I'd rather pay Hickson what it takes to keep him and develop Leonard. Would you really give up the 20-year 7'1" freak athlete for the slow, plodding injury prone over priced 27 year old Pekovic? The Blazers aren't in win now mode. Why blow your entire cap space load on a stop gap like Pekovic AND mortgage your future by giving up on your 7'1" 20-year old lottery pick half way through his rookie season? Seems incredibly short sighted and won't get us any closer to a championship, either short term or long term.

In short, Pek isn't the answer. Giving him a near max deal would be bad enough. Giving up a valuable asset in the process would be even worse.

BNM

 

The only two players who should get MAX this summer are CP3 and Howard. Any team that gives MAX to anyone else should be contracted out of the league.

 

I agree but Josh Smith will probably get MAX as well even though he shouldn't.

 

this type of a trade would be cool http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=bduwnxu

 

Jefferson is the bomb.

 

I suppose it is David Kahn we're dealing with here.

 

Of note: Pek's Simple Rating is +5.6, which is the same as Aldridge's, and way above Hickson's +0.1:
http://www.82games.com/1213/1213MIN.HTM
http://www.82games.com/1213/1213POR.HTM

 

Because he's white and American.

Go Blazers

 

And a center
And was drafted in the lottery

Go Blazers

 

Rubio is actually kind of fun to watch, in the same way Sergio was. Just a really elite passer. Watch the Wolves for just his passing and ignore all the other lousy things about him (and that team) and you'll have a good time.

 

It's the age-old quandary:

Trash-talkin clueless black guy or high-fivin clueless white guy?

 

I definitely appreciate your contribution to this thread. I've waffled on Pek a lot, and I think you present a good argument against him.

I would say that just going by the eyeball test there's a major difference between Hickson and Peck, though. About 2-3 inches and maybe 35 pounds. He's got this whole General Zod's Goon thing going. He's got prototypical center size, while Hickson is small even by power forward standards.

Neither guy is a great fit, really. I would agree that Hickson's rebounding actually seems to fit next LMA better. But I think that point is moot--I just don't see Hickson coming back. He's young and entering into his prime, and he's working his ass off this year for a good contract and a starting Power Forward job. Some team is going to give him that.

I agree, though, that we're really looking for a stopgap until Leonard comes into his own. Andrew Bynum has been such a trainwreck of injuries I wonder if he'll be available at a bargain price. Dalembert sounds ok. Maybe we limp along and wait to see if Hibbert becomes available down the road via trade.

 

Isn't Dalembert collecting Social Security?

 

I like Jefferson. The guy is damn near impossible to defend in the post. Yes, Aldridge is a good post scorer as well, but personally I think they could work together.

 

I actually like Dalembert. I mentioned he would be a good addition until Leonard develops.

 

pek is not as bad on D as people are making it out to be. He plays on a team that is super shitty on D except for AK. When you are a center on a shitty defensive team, your dtrg takes a hit. And he is becoming a good rebounder. Last month, in the 10 games he played in he had double digit rebounds in 5 of them including 15 and 18 in his best efforts. The month before, in the 12 games he had double digits in 6 including a 17 rebound effort. This is only his third year in the league, and he seems to be improving very nicely. Put me in the Pek camp.