Steve Nash (again)

[Rastapopoulos]

So. It's getting to the point where it's just painful to watch Blazers games. Okay, it's always been there, but there was more possibility of bursts of wondrousness in the sludge. But now our best player (who I think is great) is a jump-shooting workhorse PF, and my favorite young prospect is stuck behind a player who is so awesome at home games that he keeps his starting position despite disappearing almost entirely on the road. I can't even love what's good about the team (Good Gerald Wallace) because it has bad implications (he's going to leave, he's crap on the road, he's driving Batum away).

What's worse is that all the players are really likable. Crawford and Felton in particular. It's like having an adorable puppy that shits all over your house and wrecks your furniture then stares at you with those big wet eyes that seem to say "ain't I a Dickens?"

So I say: fuck it! (actually, I say that a lot) let's go for it! Let's go for cheap gratification now! Let's go for a well-oiled offense that is fun to watch and screw the consequences. LET'S TRADE FOR (about 50-year-old) STEVE NASH!!!!

There's a good quote today from Dan Bickley of the Arizona Republic:

after all these wonderful years of service, Steve Nash suddenly has become a liability. The Suns must trade him soon, before he can turn a flawed, talent-deprived team into something mediocre.

I agree! They should! To us!
Trouble is, it doesn't make much sense for them to trade him except for cap space/young potential stars/solid gold draft picks. None of which we can really offer. Nonetheless, I suggest THIS, which rids them of Childress and the apparently unwanted Lopez. We would have to supplement it with any picks we've not already traded and perhaps the rights to Freeland, but I think it might tempt them. Who's with me!!?? Fuck the future! The future has fucked us over repeatedly (hello Greg Oden's and Brandon Roy's knees) - let's live for the now!

[Mediocre Man]

Portland needs to get younger and start over, not older and with a PG that plays better in an uptempo system

[jlprk]

So. It's getting to the point where it's just painful to watch Blazers games. Okay, it's always been there, but there was more possibility of bursts of wondrousness in the sludge. But now our best player (who I think is great) is a jump-shooting workhorse PF, and my favorite young prospect is stuck behind a player who is so awesome at home games that he keeps his starting position despite disappearing almost entirely on the road. I can't even love what's good about the team (Good Gerald Wallace) because it has bad implications (he's going to leave, he's crap on the road, he's driving Batum away).

What's worse is that all the players are really likable. Crawford and Felton in particular. It's like having an adorable puppy that shits all over your house and wrecks your furniture then stares at you with those big wet eyes that seem to say "ain't I a Dickens?"

So I say: fuck it! (actually, I say that a lot) let's go for it! Let's go for cheap gratification now! Let's go for a well-oiled offense that is fun to watch and screw the consequences. LET'S TRADE FOR (about 50-year-old) STEVE NASH!!!!

There's a good quote today from Dan Bickley of the Arizona Republic:

I agree! They should! To us!
Trouble is, it doesn't make much sense for them to trade him except for cap space/young potential stars/solid gold draft picks. None of which we can really offer. Nonetheless, I suggest THIS, which rids them of Childress and the apparently unwanted Lopez. We would have to supplement it with any picks we've not already traded and perhaps the rights to Freeland, but I think it might tempt them. Who's with me!!?? Fuck the future! The future has fucked us over repeatedly (hello Greg Oden's and Brandon Roy's knees) - let's live for the now!

That is a funny post! Were you stoned when you wrote it? You converted me. I'm giving away all my money tomorrow! Does anyone want the dime?

[Nikolokolus]

Fuck it, why not. It's not like the team is all that likely to go into a rebuild (at least that was the message I got from Paul Allen a month or so back). More than likely they're going to keep plugging pieces in, in a vain attempt to field a contender and they'll probably end up with something pretty well South of that mark (as usual) ... Anyhoo, Nash isn't going to last much longer and he can't play a lick of defense but he would be entertaining and there's no way he could be worse than what we've been subjected to so far this season.

[jwhoops11]

So. It's getting to the point where it's just painful to watch Blazers games. Okay, it's always been there, but there was more possibility of bursts of wondrousness in the sludge. But now our best player (who I think is great) is a jump-shooting workhorse PF, and my favorite young prospect is stuck behind a player who is so awesome at home games that he keeps his starting position despite disappearing almost entirely on the road. I can't even love what's good about the team (Good Gerald Wallace) because it has bad implications (he's going to leave, he's crap on the road, he's driving Batum away).

What's worse is that all the players are really likable. Crawford and Felton in particular. It's like having an adorable puppy that shits all over your house and wrecks your furniture then stares at you with those big wet eyes that seem to say "ain't I a Dickens?"

So I say: fuck it! (actually, I say that a lot) let's go for it! Let's go for cheap gratification now! Let's go for a well-oiled offense that is fun to watch and screw the consequences. LET'S TRADE FOR (about 50-year-old) STEVE NASH!!!!

There's a good quote today from Dan Bickley of the Arizona Republic:

I agree! They should! To us!
Trouble is, it doesn't make much sense for them to trade him except for cap space/young potential stars/solid gold draft picks. None of which we can really offer. Nonetheless, I suggest THIS, which rids them of Childress and the apparently unwanted Lopez. We would have to supplement it with any picks we've not already traded and perhaps the rights to Freeland, but I think it might tempt them. Who's with me!!?? Fuck the future! The future has fucked us over repeatedly (hello Greg Oden's and Brandon Roy's knees) - let's live for the now!

I always wonder, if watching is so painful, why not turn the TV off and come back another time? I mean, may be a better option then trading for a geriatric point guard, because he won't crap in your house.... Or whatever that metaphor was. I dunno, sports shouldn't be this stressful for you.

[jlprk]

Nash is 37 and will turn 38 in 11 days. He hasn't missed a significant number of games since the year 2000. He still sparks his team to double its speed, the biggest fuel accelerant in the league, like STP additive to your gasoline. Why does everyone assume he has only a year or two left?

I think the bigger objection should be, how could his style possibly fit with McMillan? The two would work against each other. (Why doesn't this problem occur on non-McMillan teams?)

[Rhal]

I like Nash, if we go for him i'd love to somehow get Gortat back especially if were expected to take back their bad contracts and give up whatever young talent we have that they want.

[Rastapopoulos]

I dunno, sports shouldn't be this stressful for you.

Not a Trail Blazers fan?

[Rastapopoulos]

I think the bigger objection should be, how could his style possibly fit with McMillan?

Well, McMillan made good use of Ridnour in Seattle. And right now if Nate just gave Nash the right to do everything he's letting Felton do, that would work fine. (Excluding the turnovers and bricks, that is.)

The two would work against each other. (Why doesn't this problem occur on non-McMillan teams?)

Really? Have people forgotten the Terry Porter-coaching-the-Suns experiment so quickly?

[Nate4Prez]

The Suns would never give up Gortat or Lopez. They would only do a deal to move Nash if it meant salary relief and getting talent back. This scenario is far more likely and we would need to include a first round pick. The Suns would get out of Childress' contract, Wallace and Felton would leave at the end of the year freeing up salary and they would get our 1st round pick.

We would get Nash and Childress who would get a lot of burn playing behind Batum/Aldridge.

[PtldPlatypus]

The Suns would never give up Gortat or Lopez. They would only do a deal to move Nash if it meant salary relief and getting talent back. This scenario is far more likely and we would need to include a first round pick. The Suns would get out of Childress' contract, Wallace and Felton would leave at the end of the year freeing up salary and they would get our 1st round pick.

We would get Nash and Childress who would get a lot of burn playing behind Batum/Aldridge.

I agree with this. Rasta, you called Lopez "apparently unwanted." What makes you think that?

[Rastapopoulos]

I agree with this. Rasta, you called Lopez "apparently unwanted." What makes you think that?

This.

[Draco]

Trading away Wallace makes no sense if we add Nash for a playoff run this year. Even with Wallace's bipolar play he's been our second most effective player overall this season. Phoenix is not trading away Gortat, he is their most valuable asset and playing at nearly an All-Star level. I'm not taking on Childress' contract for Nash, its not worth sacrificing our shot at Deron Williams or even a solid starter level free agent. I wouldn't give up Batum for Nash, and I don't know if a first round pick would be enough. I do like the concept of getting Nash though, outside of OKC the west is wide open this year; a small upgrade could be the difference between us losing in the first round or making the WCF and only needing a lucky couple baskets to get to the finals.

We already traded away our 2013 pick so we can't trade any pick until 2015. Felton plus our 2015 pick completely unprotected probably isn't enough for Phoenix but that is the most I would give up. I'd prefer to give up our 2015 and 2017 picks both lottery protected though if we could pull that off.

If Phoenix would rather tank this year to make their own pick better, and nobody offers any superior deadline deal maybe they consider it. I didn't think there'd be any way we'd be able to get Wallace last year for two lotto protected picks, so who knows. Giving them our pick completely unprotected would make it far more valuable then the ones we gave Charlotte.

[magnifier661]

I like Nash and if the deal made sense, I'd be for it. I don't know if I like giving up Wallace for Nash though. Just maybe the homer in me.

[Nate4Prez]

I like Nash and if the deal made sense, I'd be for it. I don't know if I like giving up Wallace for Nash though. Just maybe the homer in me.

Wallace has a per of 15.38. Nash has a per of 22.52, and in all likelihood both would leave Portland at the end of the year. So, who makes this team significantly better right now? To me there is no question Nash is the better option especially because Batum can replace Wallace.

[magnifier661]

Wallace has a per of 15.38. Nash has a per of 22.52, and in all likelihood both would leave Portland at the end of the year. So, who makes this team significantly better right now? To me there is no question Nash is the better option especially because Batum can replace Wallace.

Nash is definitely a better player. I will not argue that for a minute. My issue with not using Wallace is personal. It's hard for me to let him go.

[Draco]

Wallace has a per of 15.38. Nash has a per of 22.52, and in all likelihood both would leave Portland at the end of the year. So, who makes this team significantly better right now? To me there is no question Nash is the better option especially because Batum can replace Wallace.

Nash has horrid defense which is not reflected in PER. Wallace is one of our best defenders. Why would Phoenix want Wallace? If they trade Nash they’d want picks or prospects.

Wallace hasn’t been vastly superior to Batum, but he has been vastly superior to Babbitt. The problem with trading away Wallace is now we have nobody on the bench to play 28mpg. I don’t want Babbitt and Craig Smith trying to guard the other teams scoring SF’s. Batum can only guard one of them and he can’t do that for 48mpg.

[Nate4Prez]

If they trade Nash they’d want picks or prospects.

The problem with trading away Wallace is now we have nobody on the bench to play 28mpg. .

The trade I purposed had us giving up a first round pick and receiving Childress.

[Draco]

The trade I purposed had us giving up a first round pick and receiving Childress.

OK, thanks, yes that makes more sense from their end.

From our end I just don't see how giving up our second best player makes us much better, even if Batum is only a slight downgrade. Wallace is still much better then Childress and we would need Childress to be a role player playing significant minutes. I guess if you believe Nash plays at a near all-star level you'd count on his upgrade drastically improving our team. I just don't believe that roster has a better chance for a deep playoff run then our current roster. Nash will get killed by opposing PG's and will drastically bring down the defense of our entire squad as we scramble to rotate for him.

This trade would also really hurt our long term flexibility, losing a first round pick and losing cap space in the off-season.

[RR7]

The trade I purposed had us giving up a first round pick and receiving Childress.

Which pick? We can't trade our pick this year. Is Phoenix trading Nash for at best a 2015 first rounder?

[Mediocre Man]

Which pick? We can't trade our pick this year. Is Phoenix trading Nash for at best a 2015 first rounder?

Better yet, why are we trading our future for a guy who isn't enough to get us over the hump?

[magnifier661]

Better yet, why are we trading our future for a guy who isn't enough to get us over the hump?

Well I will say, Nash gives us a much better chance; even 60% from his old all-star form.

[jwhoops11]

Not a Trail Blazers fan?

Seasons Ticket Holder with perspective...

....the perspective to not speak in absolutes 18 games into a shortened season, devote of much training camp, with 6 new players on the roster. The knowledge to know that constant change is not a recipe for success.

[RR7]

Better yet, why are we trading our future for a guy who isn't enough to get us over the hump?

That too. I'm not giving up a pick for Nash. Not giving up Batum for Nash. I'd do felton and a smaller piece. And they can likely get more. So be it. I don't see a reason to break the bank when, a month later, Camby's knee is going to give out, and we're SOL anyways.

[Mediocre Man]

Well I will say, Nash gives us a much better chance; even 60% from his old all-star form.

Better chance at what? Nash couldn't get to the finals when he was young and and MVP.