ESPN 1000 in CHI is "reporting" CHI/DET/POR rumor

Since we'll trade for CP3 right around when hell freezes over I'd have to assume this'll be before.

Talent wise it's good for the Blazers, but I'll miss Joel and it makes the health of our two remaining centers that much more important. All I can say though is Batum better get 30 min a night, preferably as a starter.

 

!! I just spit up all over my keyboard. Do you actually believe that's a fair trade for Portland? That would be horrible.

 

One question ... WHY?

Batum is more productive than Deng right now, and he has two more years on his rookie contract. Is the plan for Nic to become the back-up?

 

That would be nice, but I just don't see why NO would trade CP3 for Deng when the contract is only 2-3 million a year difference

 

Okay this rumor can die now. If Portland seriously wants Deng, and has another trade including Batum for hopefully a young promising talent, fine. Otherwise this trade rumor can fuck off.

 

Only if KP made deals like this....

 

I'm not sure what's not to like about this deal.

Luol Deng is a better SF than anyone we have. Yes, Batum is getting better - but Deng averaged 18 points and 7 boards last year, and is a career 47% shooter (Batum averaged less than half those numbers, 8 points and 3 boards, though his percentage is as good as Deng's).

And the Blazers would give up who? Jerryd Bayless - whom I like, but he is yet to really solidify a role on the Blazers, and Joel Przybilla - whose primary value is as an expiring contract, considering the uncertainty of his injury and the Blazers' depth in the frontcourt.

I'd say if this is part of a bigger deal to significantly upgrade the PG spot, then fine (but I'm one of the biggest skeptics of the likelihood of a CP3 trade). If it's just to acquire a better veteran at SF, then I say do it. The only way I don't do it is if the Blazers seriously think there's a better deal out there to be had. I doubt there is.

 

In terms of PER and other production stats, Batum coming off of a major injury was better than Deng, and he is a fraction of the cost. Deng may have gone for 18/7, but he'd better not come close to those numbers as a Blazer, because that would mean more productive and efficient players like Roy, Aldridge, Oden, and Miller aren't getting the ball as often.

Deng's a good player, but his contract is ridiculous for a 15-16ish PER player who has a history of injury.

 

No way we can make this deal. I mean we don't even have a GM?

In all seriousness, Deng is better than Batum is right now. Deng is also big enough to play SOME 4, and Batum is good enough to play in the back court with Roy a little bit. I think between the 1-2-3-4, those three guys could all easily get 30+ minutes a game. Just between the 2-3, there is 96 minutes

 

Doesn't he basically have the same salary and PER, and stats as Aldridge? I am literlly asking cause I don't know all of that.

 

Deng's PER is lower than Aldridge's. Plus, my point was Batum is already at Deng's level, since they play the same position.

 

DO NOT BRING DENG TO PORTLAND!!

 

That's easy to say now, but what about next year when Oden gets a new contract, and what about the year after when Batum gets a new contract? I just don't see how Deng makes sense due to his contract.

 

I agree 100%. Here's why:

Deng does not have 3-point range on his jump shot (career .309). Nate's isolation based offense depends on having guys who can hit an open 3 when Roy kicks out to them with the shot clock expiring.

We've already lost Blake, Outlaw and Webster. Rudy is likely gone, and if we get Deng, it will take minutes from Batum (or possibly even lead to him being traded), one of our few remaining 3-point threats.

Nate's offense would suck even worse without an assortment of decent 3-point shooters.

On the other hand, Deng to Portland would likely lead to Nate being fired my mid-season as the team struggles to score. So, maybe it's not such a bad thing after all.

BNM

 

Like most rumors involving the Blazers that come out of other cities, there doesn't seem to be much in the way of a benefit to Portland in this deal. We get a SF that isn't significantly better than Batum is right now and we lose the cap flexibility that Joel's contract provides to look at other trades that might actually make the team better.

 

Can we please quit saying every deal means we are trying to get CP3. That deal died and there is absolutely no rumors or any news to indicate that deal is being revisited. We had a window and nearly got Paul, and now it seems every rumor thread has some CP3 element with no sources or links to a deal. Just because Portland is looking at a SF, doesn't mean Nic is leaving or we are after CP3.
Deng is a very good player and better then Bayless and could play along side of Nic if needed. Nic could play the 2, Roy the 1 in some situations. He is paid too much, but Portland will not be under the salary cap anytime soon, so it is not a huge deal. Deng would be a very good 6 man with lots of minutes.