Chris Sheridan says Wiz will likely do Blake/Outlaw for Haywood at last minute

he can't guard starting 3s or 4s adequately which doesn't overcome his decent outside threat. He's an obvious reason his teams have lost.

STOMP

 

Interior defense is a HUGE need with Oden and Przybilla out. Haywood is also a better rebounder than anyone on our current active roster, by a significant amount. We're getting killed in the paint and off the glass right now. And, it won't get any easier in the play-offs. I'm all for trading from our surplus (which needs thinning anyway) for someone that addresses areas of need - even if it's just a short term fix to get us through until Greg and Joel are back.

I'm an optimist and think Greg MAY be back for the play-offs and Joel will be back at the start of next season. If we get Haywood, that gets us through to the play-offs, and IF Greg is back, it would be nice to ease him back in as Haywood continues to start and play more minutes. Haywood starting, backed up by Oden gives us a MUCH better chance in the play-offs than Howard starting backed-up by Pendergraph.

Yes, we would, but I'm not sure it matters. It's not like he's a max. contract guy, so there isn't a lot of motivation for a sign-and-trade. We could do a sign-and-trade with a team that's over the cap and has a player of similar salary they'd like to dump, but would we want somebody another team is looking to "dump"?

BNM

 

Since when is it about this year though?

 

I think it's important for the continued growth of our young players that the Blazers:

a) make the play-offs this year
b) do well in the play-offs - ideally advance to the 2nd round, if not, at least put up a good fight

Missing the play-offs, or getting swept in the 1st round would be a step backwards, IMHO and won't do anything to help the confidence and development of our team.

BNM

 

If they continue the growth on a different team because we felt like we needed a "rent a big man", it kind of goes against logic. Bayless, Rudy and Batum are still very young and have only shown glimpses of what they can do at the NBA level. Young players finding their way in the league are inconsistent. Say we do go and trade for Haywood, mortgage one of those guys and we miss the playoffs still. Haywood walks at the end of the season knowing that Joel and Oden are coming back. It would make KP look stupid and be disheartening as a fan.

I'm not against getting Haywood, just as long as Batum, Bayless, Cunningham and Rudy aren't one of the pieces shipping out. Blake and a 1st sounds good to me. Maybe add Outlaw, but I think he'll help us immensely in our playoff push in the final 30 games.

 

The only players I've mentioned trading are:

Blake and Rudy OR Outlaw for Haywood

or Outlaw, Blake, Rudy, and maybe Mills for David Lee

Outlaw and Blake are not young and inexperieneced. Rudy is almost 25. I absolutely would not trade Batum, and would only trade Bayless as part of a package that brought back something MUCH better than Brendan Haywood.

I'm not talking about mortgaging our future in a "win now" move. IMHO, Batum and Bayless are part of our long terms plans, but Rudy isn't. Rudy will never be a starter in Portland as long as Brandon Roy is here, and I think his minutes will decrease as Bayless gets more minutes at back-up SG. IMHO, Rudy is surplus, redundant and we should trade him before his trade value decreases.

BNM

 

I already said I don't particularly care for him

 

Rudy has the potential to be a 6th man of the year type. I'll take a great 6th man over a half year rental of Haywood any day. Sure Rudy's struggling right now, but you don't give up a talent like Rudy for a guy who's going to play 30 games and isn't a guarantee to get us in the playoffs. I don't think Haywood's going to have that much of an impact and I also don't think no playoffs this year will shatter the young guys confidence. They realize just as much as we do that this was a fluke year and next year will most likely be like the 08-09 season where outside of Oden there really wasn't many injuries.

Rudy's in a shooting slump sure, but he does great things for the team while he's on the court even when he's not scoring. I can live with some head scratching turnovers from him every once in a while, as long as he's making an effort to attack.

 

I disagree. I don't see that potential at all. He's almost 25 and isn't exactly having a great season. I just don't see much, if any upside. I see Bayless as the better player a year from now - and four years younger. Bayless has shown improvement this season, while Rudy has actually regressed.

I would, too. I just don't see Rudy as that guy.

It's not just confidence. That is a factor, but it's the combination of experience and the confidence it brings that's important.

Bayless barely got to play in the play-offs last year (11 minutes). Same for Batum (63 minutes). Webster didn't. I want these young guys, along with Cunnmingham to get some play-off experience THIS year, so come the 2011 play-offs they won't be overwhelmed by the experience.

I'd love to see Oden back on the roster in the play-offs, but even if he isn't, I want him there with the team, sitting behind the bench experiencing the intensity of the play-offs. Assuming we have fewer injury problems next season, I want this team going into the play-offs prepared for success and not in awe of the experience.

BNM

 

Joel's career is over. Oden is a hell of a center when healthy, but I would like to have a backup. Brenda isn't the best starter, but like Joel was he could be a pretty damn good backup center playing behind a guy with injury and foul concerns.

 

Why do you say that? The injury he suffered is not a career ending injury. Joel's game has never relied on athleticism. He's not that old. I see no reason why his career would be over.

BNM

 

Still want to trade Blake? He had 18 points and 12 assists tonight. The Phoenix broadcasters were raving about him.

 

Yep, trade him while his value is high. One game doesn't change my mind about him as a player. For every one good game he's had this year, he's had 10 bad ones.

BNM

 

I always say, sell high, but I sort of doubt KP trades him ... in fact I think he trades Jerryd this off-season and resigns Blake.

 

Trading Bayless is one thing, but to resign Blake is moronic. If he does such a thing I will have lost all faith in this guy as a General Manager. He should be demoted to just a draft scouter.

 

I didn't say that's what I would do, I'm just saying it's what I suspect he'll do ... hmmm ... in fact I think I'm going to bookmark this thread and come back to it in the summer.

 

No, I realize it isn't what you said you would do, merely a guess by you which is why I said if KP resigned Blake he should be demoted to scouting the college players. He really does not seem fit to be a General Manager.

 

We agree then.

 

I would throw up if that deal went through.

 

If Blake is not moved by the trade deadline - he will be resigned. For next year - it makes sense to trade miller and his expiring $7m.