Ray out the door?

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The Portland Trail Blazers on Friday said that they wanted to trade one of their four forwards, and speculation in Portland is that it will be Shareef Abdur-Rahim, the player - along with Theo Ratliff - for whom the Blazers traded Rasheed Wallace.

Furthermore, sources in Portland think the Blazers may target Seattle SuperSonics guard Ray Allen, in part because the Sonics are in desperate need of a low-post presence.

Though the Blazers did not say specifically that Abdur-Rahim is the player they plan to move, they have said this season they are committed to Zach Randolph, a leading candidate for the league's Most Improved Player award.

Abdur-Rahim, 27, is reportedly not happy with playing fewer minutes behind Randolph, and he did not provide the needed production to propel the Blazers into the playoffs for the 21st straight season.</div>

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">On Friday, Sonics coach Nate McMillan criticized Allen twice during a news conference, once for expressing his displeasure over McMillan's use of different styles of play this season and again for Allen's shot selection this season, which McMillan said needs to be more disciplined.</div>

<font size="1">Full Story courtesy of Frank Hughes of the News Tribune.</font>

Very interesting indeed. I was thinking that if Seattle worked a deal to land Shareef, it would more than likely involve rashard Lewis instead. Reef obviously gives us the low post presence we need, but at the expense of Ray? I suppose it would likely give Flip a real chance to consolidate a starting role.

 

The Sonics need a big man, but they need one to compliment the talented backcourt led by Ray. I really hope this doesn't go down because it just doesn't seem like a fair trade either. I think the Sonics should keep Allen and trade Radmanovic or Rashard for a big man and just brush off offers for Ray.

 

this really shouldn't go down...i mean...Ray has been a big BIG diference for why Sonics ups and down...plus if Barry leaves and Ray also leave.......whose going to carry the team? with mainly young young players like Flip, Ridnour, Radmonovic [maybe], Collison and such?...that'd just be a bg mistake...if they were to trade Radmonovic or Lewis...maybe...

 

Well the point is, we don't know what goes on behind the scenes. There has to of been something for Nate to come out and criticise Ray in public, we only get given the surface story.

All things being equal, you don't trade Ray Allen to Portland unless you're getting Randolph back, and if you're Portland you don't trade a young big man who's just had a 20/10 season, especially as a Western team. If Seattle were even to consider moving Ray for Reef, there would have to be something under the surface.

That's no knock on reef, either.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Bigger names probably won't interest the Bulls this summer. There is little chance Paxson will make a play for Orlando's Tracy McGrady or Philadelphia's Allen Iverson. The Bulls would be smart to avoid Portland forward Shareef Abdur-Rahim, who lacks a true position.

Seattle shooting guard Ray Allen is an intriguing possibility. The Sonics need inside help and Allen's shot frequency drew complaints from coach Nate McMillan after the season.

At the same time, Allen is a career .448 shooter and turns 29 in July. He'll also be a free agent next summer and will be looking for the maximum salary.</div>

<font size="1">Full Story courtesy of Mike McGraw and the Daily Herald.</font>

Nothing really new here, but it seems as if we may get a few calls regarding our superstar guard.

 

It's hard to consider trading a franchise player, but I can because of one fact: he's a jump shooter. He gets most of his points off of jump shots, which means he'll likely have more off games than other superstars who drive to the lane more or are post players, which is made worse by the fact that the Sonics depend heavily on his 20 points a game. I believe Ray's talents would be maximized alongside a very good power forward who can play in the post, but I'm beginning to doubt whether or not Lewis/Radman can get us that power forward. There are very few players I'd trade Ray for, but I would consider it if the Sonics got a good big man or another franchise guard (Kobe, Pierce, etc.) in return, since scoring likely wouldn't be a problem with Barry (Ridnour, even), Murray, Lewis, and the aforementioned forward/guard in the lineup.

 

^ It's a bit of a catch 22, in a sense. We all know Ray would thrive with a legitimate post presence, something you must remember he's never had, but at the same time it could be him having the be sacrificed to get that legit West post presence. You'd like to think Lewis and maybe Flip or a pick would be able to interest a few teams.

 

I'm sure teams would be interested, but power forwards are a valued commodity in the NBA right now. The only teams I can think of with a surplus of them are the Clippers, Magic, and Blazers.

 

Speaking of the Magic, I had heard rumours that we had rejected a straight swap of Drew Gooden for Vlad. Chris Wilcox is another attractive option, as he can play both the 4 and the 5, but I think Reef is probably the logical target, with Randolph there. His deal expires after 2004/05, but with a maximum contract it remains to be seen whether a deal could be done not involving Ray (I'm thinking Lewis as he is an upgrade on Miles, but matching the salaries is a problem).

 

This trade was posted on a different forum:

Seattle trades: SF Rashard Lewis (17.8 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 2.2 apg in 36.6 minutes)
C Vitaly Potapenko (7.1 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 0.8 apg in 21.8 minutes)
C Calvin Booth (4.9 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 0.4 apg in 17.0 minutes)
SG Brent Barry (10.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 5.8 apg in 30.6 minutes)
Seattle receives: PF Shareef Abdur-Rahim (16.3 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 2.0 apg in 31.6 minutes)
C Dale Davis (4.4 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 1.0 apg in 22.1 minutes)
SF Qyntel Woods (3.6 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 0.7 apg in 10.8 minutes)
Change in team outlook: -16.3 ppg, -3.5 rpg, and -5.5 apg.

TRADE ACCEPTED

I'd do it, if we couldn't get a better deal. Honestly, I'd rather have Wilcox than Shareef, but unloading Booth and Potapenko's contracts would help. The only problem is the gap it leaves at center and point guard, as well as the lack of veteran leadership.