Saying Cunningham is better the Travis is not the same as saying the summer league MVP will be the NBA MVP. It's more like saying "Hey, Cunningham sure looks like he knows how to play and tries hard on both the boards and defense. Having watched Outlaw for 6 years, I know he doesn't really try that hard on the boards and defense. Therefore, I think Cunningham is a better player then a one dimensional tweener black hole who choked in the playoffs."
I've not been a big Outlaw fan in a while, but I simply can't agree with those who want him dumped at any cost. Depending on the value of the draft pick, it could have been a good move for Portland... but at least Portland would have been getting value for a guy without a place to play. That is NOT the same thing as the team being motivated to get rid of him. Outlaw is far from a perfect player, but he's improved to the point where he's a useful cog. Until and unless we can improve the rest of the team around him to the point where he's not an improvement, I hope he remains a Blazer. Ed O.
Some folks need to step back and take a deep breath. On the list of problems that need attention, replacing a dirt-cheap, back-up SF is not real high! Outlaw has some very clear pluses and minuses. If he had more of one and/or fewer of the other, he wouldn't be a dirt-cheap reserve! As for Dante frickin' Cunningham....get real. At the NBA level he lacks the size and/or athletic talent to rebound, get his own shot, or defend anybody. He is just another generic "good" college player. Before the draft, how many of you were saying "I am really impressed with Cunningham and hope we draft him!" He passed through college ball without even leaving a ripple behind him...and now people are talking him up as some kind of stud?
It would almost certainly be lottery protected, otherwise Chris Wallace really is as dumb as some people have predicted.
I doubt it would be completely lottery protected. Top 3/Top 4 makes more sense. Why would Portland make a deal for a pick they may never obtain?
Walnuts > Outlaw? The deal was contingent upon the Millsap one, so it's encouraging that KP is thinking ahead.
Oh, that's not a bad deal then. There is no way Memphis is making the playoffs next season, so the pick would actually be worth something down the road. Not a bad deal at all. Certainly worth more than a bag of walnuts, isn't it?
Oh this "people" is in full realization my friend. Total agreement except I value a bag of walnuts slightly higher in that it might make that 4th quarter hunger pain go away while Outlaw just raises my blood pressure.
I'd pull the trigger right now if this trade were available. The extra cap space would allow us to send out better offers to Sessions/Lee/Williams, or if KP doesn't like those players we'd have more flexibility for trades during the season which could be the difference in acquiring a Butler or Gerald Wallace.
I wouldn't put high expectations on guys who look great in the summer league. Storyteller and I went to see the Blazers team play 3 summers ago and two guys who looked great were DJ Strawberry and Josh McRoberts. Where are they now? I would put low expectations on guys who look terrible in the SL though. Like Serio did back then.
A couple things about this. First, I doubt this was on the table at all. If Hedo was the real target and this was available we would have matched Toronto's offer. Travis for a pick clears 3.6 million off our books meaning we would have more than 11 million in cap room. Second, I bet the pick being discussed is not Memphis's pick but the Lakers pick they are still owed from the Gasol trade. Would you trade Outlaw for the 28-30th pick in next years draft?
NOPE. I like TROUT. He is a gunner but seriously, he'll get better as time goes on...his jumper has improved alot...shot selection not so much but he can make it automatic.
In a heartbeat. If Travis was a UFA this summer, and he just signed with another team, I'd be ecstatic. At least if we trade him, even if it is for a late first rounder and some cap relief, we get SOMETHING in return.
