Ed, I think the thing people may be overlooking in all of this is the potential the Blazers see (or don't see) in Nic becoming the "PG". If so, there's definitely room for Evan Turner. More and more, I like the LMA+Rudy+22 for Love and #4 pick. Works out pretty decently for everyone.
Look at how Rudy did in his first two years in the league. Imagine Rubio who is smaller/less athletic and younger. No thank you. I've said it from day 1. Rubio will not be productive in the NBA. I'll gladly eat my words if he turns out to be a great player but IMO....he's going to get eaten up.
IF that could happen....That would be incredible. I think a lot of people would laugh at that at first...but KLove >>> LMA IMO...you absolutely know what you're going to get out of Kevin night in and night out...LMA..not so much.
and of course overmatched vs most everyone on D and earned a bench role for the lowly Wolves. A SF's height/length combined with a Centers weight and quickness.... I'm thinking if he wasn't from Portland, no one here would give a crap about him STOMP
LOL Wow RoyToy. Nice choice of stat. You tell me which is which, hombre... Power Forward A: PER of 20.7, TS% of 55%, eFG% of 48%. 33% 3pt, 81%FT, 13.6 reb/36 Power Forward B: PER of 18.2, TS% of 53%, eFG of 50%, 31% 3pt, 75% FT, 7.7 reb/36. Yes, I want PF A. For 7M less a year.
I'd love that trade, but I don't think Minnesota even considers it. Even if we call Aldridge for Love an even swap (which is generous to Aldridge, considering Love is paid much less for at least comparable, even slightly higher, production and is several years younger), there's no way Fernandez makes up the difference between picks 22 and 4. Even counting in the dubious (IMO) "Rubio bait" angle.
Power Forward A: Bench player for a 15-win team Power Forward B: Starter for 50-win team who was missing starting center for much of season.
I don't treat PER as the be all end all stat like a lot of you. Instead, I look at the stuff that is right in front of my face. When I do that, I see a guy that didn't start for one of the worst teams in the NBA, 45% FG% which is terrible for a PF, and a guy that is trying to improve his 3PT shot. Imagine if Aldridge started shooting more 3PT shots, he'd be killed for it. Sorry, I'll take Aldridge. Your whole less than $7M argument only works until Love signs a new contract, so that means little because it's going to change. If he had just signed a contract and was locked into it for the next 5 years it'd make sense.
And when his team needed him to really step up his game with all the injuries to the frontcourt his numbers stayed virtually the same as his previous two seasons. Power Forward B has topped out.
Maybe Power Forward A can have a 25 PER next season, start, and win 30 games instead of 15. I've never seen a fanbase so intent on criticizing their own assets while hyping up bench players on losing teams. I've read other threads where people want Sessions to come in and be the future PG. Fucking brilliant. Let's get rid of Bayless, Aldridge, Rudy, and #22 pick for two bench players on a 15-win team and the #4 pick in the draft. I'd want Pritchard fired if he did what some are asking of him.
and if they swapped, Player A would be a starting PF for 50-win team (or more), and PF B could keep putting up 18 and 8 as a finesse player in MIN. Win Win.
It's not end-all be-all, but it's a pretty good indicator that perhaps what you're not seeing is important. Case in point: Behind Al Jefferson, who also is better than Aldridge. LMA already takes way too many long jumpers. Most on here wish he'd take a step back, so that shooting 41% on jumpers would be not the horribly inefficient drag on us that it is. It makes sense now, just not if you have a LMA bias.
Since LMA's favorite shot is the least efficent shot in basketball I would be happy as hell if he took one more step backwards and took a three. I suspect his scoring would go up a couple of points per game and his rebounding would remain about where it is now. If he is going to be a stretch 4 (and that is sure what it looks like) then he should really stretch the floor and become a rich man's Channing Frye. Or Chocolate Nowitzki if you prefer.
That's just stupid^^^^ The stretch 4 is worthless in the playoffs and were seeing that now. LMA needs to establish a KG like low post game, bottom line. If he is this good at the "least efficient shot in basketball" than imagine how good he would be if he actually gained position and had some low post moves. This is what LMA needs to work on this summer, his fade can be lights out if he gets good position. LMA get your ASS IN THE GYM!
