The Blazers are at their very best when Batum is on the floor with Damian and Wes and LMA. They may not always be consistently good, but when they are clicking like in the first quarter against Phoenix...they were fun to watch. If you take one of them out of the equation then you need to replace them with someone who has similars skills. (or better) So you are thinking that Wright would be that guy...... Adding Horford would be great, but I don't believe it would make us better this year. Maybe next year depending who we add. But if you do this, I think you have to go more minutes with two pG's in the back court. Losing Batum's play making skills (And his D)would hurt. The one thing I disagree on for sure, is that it would help develop TRob. I see all of his minutes being eliminated with the addition of Al. Not sure how that will help him.
I keep bringing up "one loss" because we just won 11 straight games. That's one of the top four winning streaks in the history of our franchise. You want to trade away one of our "big three" after we just won 11 games in a row? You want to mess with our chemistry and swap out two of our starters? Horford is a really good player, but players like Batum are much more rare. How many guys can do what he does? One. LeBron. There simply are't that many wing players that can replicate what Nic Batum does. Center is not our weakness right now.
I have, which is why it's a no brainer. Horford is a career 20 per player, that rebounds, passes well, rebounds, has a decent mid range game and great low post game. Batum passes well, mediocre defender, shoots the three well, rebound well for a SF, can defend the PGs. Now ask yourself this.... Can wright, with more minutes, be a good rebounding and defending SF? And can Earl Watson give us good d at PG?
For me, I think you have danced around the real issue on your Own. Horford is a great post player, like LMA. Nic is a great outside shooter. What has been the hallmark of this team this season? What do we do when we are at Our collective best? Why would want to change that?
From: Rotowire That's hard to trade. We may be overvaluing him, but when he can put up numbers like this, and get praise like that from outside... I mean, to me, in my opinion, we're trading a guy who can help out in 4-5 areas, to someone who can help 2-3 areas. That's tough for me to say "okay, lets make that trade". Though, I do see your side of it, it would still be a no for me.
You give us two players that demand doubles down low and it opens up the game. I'm sorry, I think Horford is more rare. Horford is hands down the way better player between the two. We have plenty of wings to still shoot from the perimeter, defend and feed our bigs.
I had an answer all ready to go, but Natebishop3 said what I would have responded with in general, and I rather credit him than pull a "Golliver". The question is not whether Wright can be a rebounding, defending SF, it's who is your back up SF then? And do you not realize the reason Write doesn't play more is because Batum is invaluable in Stott's system? I don't believe Horford's ability to create for others even come's close to Batum, not does Horford spread the floor. And I have no idea what a "career 20 per player" is, but it isn't Horford. Al is Aldridge light, and I don't know that he requires a double team. This is actually my biggest objection, redundancy.
I disagree. I think Wings that can score, rebound, defend, and pass are much more difficult to replace than a big man who can score and rebound. Look how many All-Star caliber bigs there are in the league right now. It's not hard to see which of the two is more unique.
Easy, Matthews is big enough and strong enough to rotate to SF. Oh and he's a three point threat as well.
I wonder if Atlanta would be interested in Asik as a good building piece, who won't get in the way (by helping them win) this year. Doubt they'd give Horford to Houston, which would be scary if they did, but I wonder if it could work in some sort of 3 way w/us giving up Leonard, Freeland or Thomas Robinson, and McCollum. Would that be worth it? I'd have to think so. But I doubt Olshey would want to give up on McCollum so soon, and I also doubt that other teams would want to take a chance on him right away. The other move that seems to make sense on paper is Millsap for Asik, though I'm not sure Atlanta would pull the trigger on that one. Horford has been wanting to play next to a center for years, just like Aldridge. (of course they have to wait two more weeks)
yeah..I was trying to find a nice way to ask who he really wanted to see us play at the three, without pointing out the obvious
Wright would start at 3 and play 30 minutes. I don't see how Matthews wouldn't be capable of giving us 18 minutes at Sf? If it's such a big issue, then hold onto Claver and he could give us 10 minutes at Sf, while Matthews gives us 8.
If he is available, I think you ought to make him a priority because he is a difference maker as a big man. He would be great with LA. The question is who do you get rid of to get him. Nic just as Olshey said last season and I scoffed at, is a cornerstone. And he has made the same difference for this team as Chris Paul and Blake Griffin has made for their team. I'd be reluctant to move him. I'm really reluctant to move anyone on this club right now due to chemistry but I'm really reluctant to move him. I have been opposed to moving CJ, but if a package including CJ, Matthews and Leonard, picks, cash would garner Horford, then I would prob do that moving Mo to two or your idea of Wright to two.
I would do that in a heart beat as well, but I just don't think that's enough for Atlanta to bite. Batum is rare and could probably make the all star team in the East. They would need an all star in return for their all star. I think Atlanta would be open to a trade. They don't have a fan base and I doubt Horford will be happy there. I also think only a team that is winning would be a location for Horford. Teams won't give up talent unless they know they will be able to keep him, so trading him to a lotto team won't do anything for Atlanta. Portland is a prime place because we have youth or promising talent in exchange for their all star. Also, Horford would be happy to play in Portland and along side Aldridge.
Look at my new edited version. The new edited version is of slightly more value. I think in the end, the team has a really good thing going and maybe what they ought to do is .... Leave things alone and wait for Meyers.
