I'm not so sure. I think that trade clearly defines the roles of the second unit. It moves Bayless to SG (which he is more natural it seems anyway), Chalmers becomes our backup PG. Willams and Johnson fight for scraps. Personally I got sick and tired of watching leads disappear/deficits grow when the second unit played last year. If we have at least one good defender in the backcourt (two if Bayless puts it together), that should slow the opponent enough to give the starters a little rest. That alone makes the deal (Rudy for Chalmers/Pick) a "go" for me.
Why on Earth would Portland trade away Andre Miller for a PG with a 10.7 PER? How does that make Portland better? Plus, if Miller is not a part of the deal, that gives us 4 PGs on the roster for next season. Miller Bayless Williams Chalmers and, likely one of: Mills Johnson That's potentially 5 PGs on a 15-man roster for a team that could have Roy play PG minutes in a pinch.
Of course, that's assuming that all of those are actually point guards. I find it much more reasonable to list both Bayless and Williams as shooting guards. Doing so gives you: PG--Miller/Chalmers/(Mills/Johnson) SG--Roy/Bayless/Williams Not unbalanced at all. Real GM doesn't allow it because it still reflects several cap holds for Miami, which have been renounced. If they were removed, it would pass.
That really makes a lot of sense, especially when you pair that trade exception with Joel's insured contract for next season, and you have Shinn cutting A LOT of money off his books. Potentially 14 million. I think if we're moving Miller, it means we're trading for Paul. That's just my gut. We're not giving up our starting point guard without something better coming back, and Michael Beasley is not "something better."
I dunno about this deal, but it seems Rudy is definately on his way out. http://www.blazersfanshop.com/T-Shirts--Short-Sleeve/2001/200-2001/dept
Exactly. You don't give up Miller unless there's something else in the works. The ONLY other way I can see this coming to fruition is if maybe the FO think it's time to see how good of a pairing Bayless and Roy really are. It's hard to deny that JB made strides last year, and I really think that down the stretch he was starting to look like a damn effective PG. Even then though... You'd expect we could get more for Miller's expiring contract at the deadline. While I think a 1st and Chalmers is good value for Rudy, it's TERRIBLE value for Rudy AND Dre...
Wow... either they think his merchandise isn't worth shit, or Rudy is already packed and ready to go.
Well, if the trade happens as reported, I guess we hope that Beasley pans out. Reminds me of a trade for a troubled and talented young forward from the Washington Bullets.
Yeah ... there is that. Maybe South Beach is just too much for Beasley to handle AND concentrate on basketball ... if he comes here, he's either going to deep throat a 44 magnum by mid February out of boredom/depression or he may be able to do nothing but focus on hoops (or I suppose he could become the next Darius and make it rain in one of our many fine gentlemen's clubs around town).
I think he would do well on this team. We have a good environment with Roy, Aldridge, etc, and who knows... maybe he would like Portland. He definitely has talent. I've always been a fan of high risk/high reward moves, and I'm really not sure how good this team is going to be next year anyway. I think some more deals need to be made before we're going to be considered legitimate contenders.
Why would we trade away our veteran PG if we're building a championship team? If that happens, its just proof that the Blazers are in "blow it up" mode. Chalmers was a Pritchard choice b/c of the Kansas connection.
Beasley scares the crap out of me. It's no secret he enjoys certain herbal medicines and nowhere (except Amsterdam perhaps) is grass more readily available, powerful, and accepted as Potland. Bringing him in, to me, would smack much more of Darius Miles Part Deux than it would of Rasheed. I think Beasley's immensely talented, and we've always wanted that kind of Shawn Marion type 3, but the whold weed thing, along with the 'nothing to do here' factor is enough for me to not want him. That said, I suppose if he DOES come in and figure things out, it would help offset whatever amount of hype that Oden fails to live up to... I'd still rather have the TPE for another run at CP3...
It's NOT Miller for Chalmers ... it's primarily Chalmers and a first for Rudy. Andy Miller said he thinks it's unlikely that Andre would be part of any package deal with Miami and in that case it would really be Miller for Beasley.
The more I think about it, the more I'm starting to like the trade. Beasley strikes me as one of those guys who is very susceptible to his environment. Surrounded by the right group of guys, he could very easily turn his life around and mature into the player that everyone thought he was. We get Beasley and Chalmers for Rudy (who sucks ass right now) and Miller (who really only has a couple years left anyway). Plus we get the draft pick and the trade exception. I think it's a good trade. It's not a home run, but most trades aren't.
A few thoughts: 1. I am not a fan of Chalmers. I think he's a decent backup PG, though, and having him compete for minutes behind a starting PG wouldn't be the worst thing ever. Getting him/his contract for Rudy might be a slight step down, but a future first may make it worth it. I'm 50/50 on that. 2. I don't see us having a lot of PGs. Miller and... who? Bayless, maybe. That's it. I don't think it's realistic to rely on Armon Johnson sticking on the roster, let alone playing a role in the rotation. Maybe, but not that likely, and certainly not something to rely upon or to not make moves because of. 3. Andre Miller is a pretty good player, but if we can get good value for him: great. We got him for free last year and acquiring a talented player like Beasley seems like good value. Beasley has put up a PER of over 16 at ages 20 and 21 while having reasonable dRatings. I'd be excited to add him to the Blazers and worry about getting a PG in another deal. Ed O.
If we DO bring in Beasley that would be FOUR lefties brought in in one offseason! I can't think that's ever happened before...
