Thirdly, Mo was a well liked leader on this team. Other teams aren't banging on Mo's door. Even if CJ plays more and Mo plays less, he's still of value in the locker room and on the bench.
If that's what's best for the team, yes. He liked Portland. He liked the players. They like him. We don't win game 4 without him.
You do realize that he turned us down, right? We offered him the same deal we gave Blake, and he said no. So why do you think he would now, suddenly, put what's best for the team ahead of his own needs?
The thing is though, we can play Blake, Mo, and CJ just like Spurs playa Patty, Manu, and Marco. Everyone who is good plays. Don't forget Mo got hurt vs Spurs so Barton had to step up. You can never have too many good players.
July and October are two different things. Business and then Team. Two different mindsets when you're a good NBA player.
The main difference here is that Marco and Manu are 6'5" and 6'6" respectively. They can essentially play a small 3. In this scenario, we have four guards at 6'3" (or less) that you want to give minutes to. That's a little bit different, and a little less tenable.
Wes Matthews could play some of his 30+ minutes at small forward, depending on how Dorell Wright plays in his second season in Portland. To me, depth means finding the players who work out and having the luxury to excise the players who don't from the rotation. By having Blake and Williams and Wright and McCollum and Barton, you give yourself some outs. You don't try to give them all equal minutes. If Wright seems to be struggling again, give Matthews the non-Batum small forward minutes, reduce his shooting guard minutes by the same amount and play Williams more. If Williams sucks, give Blake a few more minutes and give Barton or McCollum some burn. Etcetera.
Blazers allowed Blake to take Mo's #25 uni......ask yourself......why would they do this if Mo was coming back??
Just look at Mo's game log for last year, and tell me that CJ could not duplicate that if given the same commitment of playing time. Add in Blake's contribution in running the second unit, and I see no reason to bring back Mo. We're talking consistent 2-7, 3-11, 1-6, 1-7, 3-9, 1-6, 1-5.....
I say sign him for a year at the $3.15MM number. Mo wants a long term deal, and he's not going to get it this year, so he may as well maximize his earnings. Let he and Blake fight it out for minutes. Whichever one loses, you trade. We're going to have to make a consolidation trade anyway, and either Mo's expiring deal or Blake's BAE are both attractive.
There's absolutely no reason to sign Mo now. If you want a 3rd string pt guard you can sign Billups or a D leaguer or any cheap bench guy for insurance.
As long as we're signing disgruntled Lakers, Steve Nash at 40 would fill Earl Watson's shoes really well as a mentor and guy you could trot out once in a blue moon.
I'd love to bring him back as the third string/injury insurance pg. He'd probably hate that though and raise a stink in the locker room.
Speaking of cutting Meyers...someone remind me why this hasn't been done yet? I mean, we've got Uber-Lopez, we signed the Sasquatch Kaman and Joel is a nice option (since he can spread yas a little if he plays the 4)....Meyers seems unnecessary and eating up a roster spot. Are we _that_ scared of the Center position that we have to carry 4 of them on the team at once? I mean if all three went down the backup plan (aka Oden era) is to swing LA into the 5...or hell put T-rob on a Center (be curious to see him go-Wes on a slower Center in the league and just snatch that ball out of their hands...then roar a little for good measure).
http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/story?id=100698 pine-ing away for wittsett? only twice did his teams win 50 or more games or get out of the first round. one of those finals apearances 1 was the lockout shortened season so a rested sabonis was still effective. 50 game season. names like Patterson,wells,rider kemp and Randolph perhaps tug at the nostalgic heart strings? personally his knuckleheads aren't missed.
