Blazers getting "Closer" to reaching a deal

Sometimes when there are playing time problems on the team, something as simple as a roster shortening move can be a team improver. You will note most of our recent issues started happening when players started coming back, which has been my concern all along.

 

I fully concur ... I guess this is where I see the value in the 4 for 2 deal ... especially since the incoming players don't particularly overlap with any of the players that would be left. Hinrich's offense this season hasn't been much different than Blake's this season, but he's a better defender. Thomas has holes in his game, but as a fourth man in the front court who can provide defense, rebounding and energy, there's nobody on the team quite like him (maybe Dante in a year or two?).

 

I don't think it makes us better or worse... Is there another sense I could mean?

I understand that, but this just seems like making a trade for the sake of making a trade. It doesn't solve our problems, I think we could do better.

 

I don't like giving up Bayless just to add Hinrich, if we can have Thomas without him. He's kinda redundant with Miller (different player of course). I'd rather get Deng from them:

From CBS sports:

 

The other thing I noticed about Hinrich which is one thing I look for in players: His shooting percentage is better in the playoffs. One thing I look for in players to bring in, is the ability to elevate their game in the playoffs. Thomas, not so much, in fact I would say he has struggled some in the playoffs. But he tends to be an effort guy, so it is not a game breaker with him.

 

I included Bayless because I believe you have to give something to get something ... and as much as I like Jerryd's demeanor, attack the basket style and potential as a Vinnie 'Microwave' Johnson type player, I've seen a couple of things that worry me about his long term fit with this team. He doesn't see the floor that well, he really struggles to hit jump shots, and he's most effective as a ball dominant player which doesn't bode well for his fit with Brandon. Hinrich is definitely on a down year shooting the ball which worries me some, but I also know that Del Negro really doesn't run an offense that creates open looks and Kirk's numbers have gone down ever since he took over, I suspect that a change of scenery might be just what he needs.

But in the end what the deal does is give you two veteran guards to man the point with very different styles for the next couple of years (at least) and if Koponen keeps developing as he's reportedly doing in the Euroleagues maybe you bring him over when Dre's contract ends and hope that he becomes a long term answer.

 

I just read two days ago an interview with KP where he pretty much said he wasn't going to make any deals this season.

Here is the link.

I couldn't find any comment in the interview that gave me any hope there will be a trade this season.

 

Huh? I see no mention of Heinrich in the deal.

 

I tend to agree ... but it's always fun to speculate this time of year.

 

I value Bayless more than Rudy, so I'd rather include him. I could talk myself into Rudy, Martell and expirings for Thomas and Deng (don't know if it matches up)... but then again, the main reason I like Deng is he can play 3 and 4 so he'd be better for the future minute crunch than getting a pure 3 -- which in turn would make Thomas obsolete (for the future at least, but he's expiring, so no biggie).

I have to say I don't envy KP. I don't see any big slam dunk trades for us out there. If we could take on Jamison for expirings, or Butler with Rudy, sure, but it seems like they prefer unloading both, and we don't have the salaries to match up.

 

The trade deadline is always the biggest hype show of the year.

 

Maybe it wasn't in that article, but I could have sworn I read it somewhere.

 

People are still on the Kirk bandwagon? Eeww, I don't want him anywhere near the Blazers. His offensive game is putrid to say the least.

 

The deal works without sending Bayless in a 3 for 2 deal. http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=ylkxgcj
I don't think Bayless adds much value for them, but in this deal they would save more money. Blazers add 3 mil and a pick and you give them value that way. It becomes a very profitable deal for the Bulls without the Blazers having to give up Bayless.

 

The only problem then is what do you do with Bayless? bury him on the bench again? That isn't going to fly.

 

Or... Trade Rudy, have him be the backup SG if anything...

 

I wouldn't have a problem getting Thomas, but I'm not quite sure he's 'the guy' to go after to use our young assets to get when we've got Pendergraph/Dante.

 

I don't know. But I would rather deal with that problem then just lose Bayless. This might also open up other trades using any of the three PG's down the line.

 

I don't think Hinrich's current offensive struggles and Thomas' offensive limitations matter one bit. Hinrich on his worst day is still a better outside shooter than Miller on his best day. But I don't really care about that either. The fact they are not dominant offensive players makes them a better fit with our dominant offensive players, not a worse one. What is most important in this scenario is that Hinrich is significantly better on defense than Miller, Blake, and Rudy, probably better than Roy, and for the time being probably Bayless as well; and that Thomas is significantly better on defense and rebounding than Travis Outlaw. If Blake and Outlaw and an extra backcourt player or picks got us back Hinrich and Thomas I'd be all over it. The only thing that concerns me is who starts and how well Miller would take a possible demotion. A three guard rotation of Miller/Roy/Hinrich plus replacing Outlaw at PF with Thomas makes us a better team, IMO.

 

hinrich/thomas for bayless/outlaw?

yes please