I'm afraid KP is not going to trade anyone!

Webster was the starter before he was injured, for the entire 07-08 season. I think he at least deserves an honest shot at getting his spot back. If Batum beats him out, so be it. But he should have an expectation to get minutes. Outlaw could never beat him out for the SF spot, why should he automatically get minutes over Webster if Webster is healthy?

I agree Rudy will get at least 25 minutes. But Batum only averaged 18 mpg last season as the starter, and everyone complained that he was not enough of an offensive threat to deserve that much time. Webster certainly is a better offensive threat having averaged 10.7 as a 21 year old for the season he started. He showed signs of "getting it" and he was not bad at defense either. I would like to see Webster/Batum get all of the SF minutes except for a handful that could go to Roy in situations. Outlaws minutes should come as back up PF, the only spot he has an advantage out, which Nate has said many times.

 

Don't be afraid. It'll be okay, little buddy...

 

Webster was the starter by fiat. He hasn't ever been starter quality. Outlaw has starter production, but his streakiness and defensive lapses make him not well suited to starter minutes.

Batum was at least as good as Webster ever has been offensively, but was also a very good defender. Webster is a mediocre defender.

I have no problems with Webster competing for a starting spot. I just don't think there should be any real "concern" over the minutes of a player who has never been very good and now is coming off an injury that cost him a full season and he's still not back from.

If Webster comes back this season and takes his game to a whole new level, great. Then minutes can be found for him and it's a nice problem to have. Based on what he has shown so far in his career, I don't consider him a real factor.

 

I'll add that Outlaw's "tweenerness" comes into play as well in terms of him being an ineffective starter yet an above-average bench player.

 

Agreed. He's tough to count on against all opponents at either small forward or power forward, but he can swing between both positions to play matchups and be quite effective.

 

I'm sure if Webster shows up playing much better then he ever has before then he'll carve out some minutes. A poster's thoughts on a chatsite certainly won't hold him back. But at 19 Nic played better last year then MW ever has in his 3 complete seasons... I'd expect that disparity to grow. Both are career 37% 3 point shooters, but Nic is much better defensively and has a better handle. Webster has his work cut out for him.

now you've got Nate saying this he's only a PF stuff too? Is there some sort of conspiracy that keeps these quotes from ever make it to my ears or print? And if the coach really feels that way, then why did he play Travis at SF at the end of the season and in the playoffs?

STOMP

 

The quote I read in the Oregonian didn't say Outlaw would solely play PF, so I don't think it's anything to worry about. I've never posted about it, so I'm not sure exactly what the quote said, and I don't really care to go on The Google and look for it.

 

For one thing Rudy is not in any way shape or form a small forward, Brandon might pick up a few minutes at that spot, but Rudy will play at the one before he'll be primarily tasked with guarding 3s. Travis has never played 30 minutes per game and is likely to play more backup power forward than small forward. Martell has never played 30 minutes per game and unless Nic has drastically improved his offensive game I don't see him getting much more than 25 minutes a night (he mainly needs to show more aggressiveness and the mid-range shot off the dribble he was practicing toward the end of the year)

Furthermore, I'm not convinced Martell is going to be fully healthy ... But for the sake of argument, let's say that he is. A minute distribution could look something like this:

Roy: 36
Aldridge: 36
Oden: 30 (give or take)
Miller: 30
Rudy: 28
Nic: 24
Martell: 20
Travis: 22
Blake: 18
Joel: 18 (More or less depending on Oden)
Bayless: Spot minutes and DNPs
Cunningham: Spot minutes and DNPs
Pendergraph: Spot minutes and DNPs

Of course it's possible one of Martell, Nic, or Travis could command more minutes at the expense of somebody else, but them's the breaks. Overall I think Bayless is the most likely player to sit (aside from the two rookie second rounders).

 

That's pretty good. I can live with that. I think depending on the opposition Joel can get more minutes as he can play with Greg. Then of course there will be injuries, so Bayless, Cunningham, and Pendergraph will get their chance.

 

One little problem with those minutes though. There are 240 minutes to go around and your minutes add up to 262 not counting the spot minutes.

 

Hmmm ... I was using a running calculation, I must have double entered something. In that case, fuck Martell

 

http://www.dwightjaynes.com/the-blazer-roster-now-that-andre-miller-is-here

Dwight Jaynes says in his article this morning:


"I think the obvious resolution to this is to move Bayless, Outlaw, perhaps a future first-round pick (they don’t need it, anyway), use the trade exception if you have to – and make a move for an experienced backup power forward who would be content with 10-15 minutes per game.

Without something like that, Nate McMillan has no chance to keep his players content with their playing time."

This is just plain idiotic. Not the trade Bayles, Outlaw, trade exception and first round pick part, but the "for a player who is content with 10- 15 minutes per game" part. Why don't you just trade 5 more guys for Kiki Vanderweigh.

He is basically saying trade 3 young assets for one old dude that will barely play. I don't care what you think of Bayless or Outlaw (We have been debating that for a year) it is stupid to make a consolidation trade just because you think there may be a problem. Those come back to bite you in the ass.

 

I'm fine with the team as it's currently constructed. We can win it all with this group.

 

like a few of the posters on this board, if I decide to read one of Dwight's blurbs I'm surprised if I find myself in agreement.

So now Dwight's posted yet another bad idea with his latest entry... and?

STOMP

 

Dwight doesn't know what the hell he's talking about. He's right in saying that trading 3 young assets for some old dude would be idiotic, but the Blazers have no intentions of doing that. He needs to lay off the sauce.

 

you're mixing up Dwight's trade idea (Bayless, Outlaw and a future 1st for an aging PF) with Pinwheel1's commentary (that trade is idiotic).

If Dwight's trade had the future 1st coming Portland's way, his deal would have made a lot more sense. The Blazers do have some positional needs on the horizon, and having additional 1st round picks could help address them.

STOMP