Merged: Starting Over / So what happens the rest of this season....?

Re: So what happens the rest of this season....?

If we had him, can't we throw more money at him than anyone else? We'd have to have an inkling he'd want to be in Portland though, which you're right, isn't likely.

The thing is the only thing that will get portland to the top is to get superstars, not mid-level guys like Iggy and Brand. Those won't do jack shit.

 

Re: So what happens the rest of this season....?

Yes. The thing is that long term, our PG situation isn't as good as Utah's was, nor was the coaching system. That rookie year could have been a fluke.

 

Re: So what happens the rest of this season....?

That's what I proposed doing.

 

Re: Starting Over

Being optimistic, i know. I think that Oden, after all said and done still might be a serviceable big man in this league. Im not giving up on him, just because i would never want to see him play for another team and be productive. Hes our mistake and we're in it for the long haul. I feel really bad for the guy and come free agent time i dont think anybody is going to throw a lot of money at him anyway. So we will be able to re sign him for cheap. Brandon is Joe Johnson after his surgery even without his explosiveness. Potential can no longer describe batum. He needs to prove NOW that he can be a star in this league and get the killer instinct I feel he lacks. This season will define him.

 

Re: So what happens the rest of this season....?

Thank you.

 

Re: So what happens the rest of this season....?

Portland could offer him the most, but not by a massive amount. He could probably recoup the difference by commercial opportunities in a large market (local commercials, I mean, not nationals, which he'd get anywhere). I don't think the difference in annual raises and one extra year would keep him in Portland.

If Portland dealt for Iguodala and Brand, Brand is a non-factor from Portland's perspective. He'd just be the cost of doing business. While Iguodala is certainly not a superstar, he'd be one more very good player to add to the team while they look for a superstar (probably have to strike it lucky in the draft). Acquiring Iguodala for expiring deals wouldn't limit Portland attempts to acquire a superstar, because those expirings won't fetch a superstar and they represent money that can't be used once the contracts expire.

 

Re: So what happens the rest of this season....?

Iggy is at one of the few positions we're pretty good with, with Wes Matthews, Rudy and Batum. Roy too, maybe. it'll really fuck up rotations and egos.

 

Re: So what happens the rest of this season....?

I don't view Matthews or Rudy to be significant enough to worry about in terms of roles. Matthews is probably a good to great reserve and Rudy can be an okay reserve.

Roy isn't a factor to me while his status is completely undetermined. For now, Iguodala would be the 2, Batum the 3 and Matthews/Rudy get backup minutes. If Roy comes back at a level above reserve level, Roy, Iguodala and Batum can all get 30+ minutes rotating through all the 2/3 minutes. Roy may not even be able to handle 30+ minutes, no matter what level he returns at.

 

Re: So what happens the rest of this season....?

Roy and Aldridge are maybe the two most immovable contracts in the NBA ... worse than Gil, worse than Brand, worse than Baron mostly because they are in the first year of 5 with BYC status and Roy's injuries makes his deal especially toxic. So "burning it down" in the traditional sense doesn't seem like an option in this case.

 

Re: So what happens the rest of this season....?

I think you're just spinning your wheels with this team. Won't be anything better than a 4/5 seed forever.

 

Re: So what happens the rest of this season....?

If that's where it ends, sure. I'd still want the team to go after a superstar. I just am not against picking up more good players in the meantime.

 

Re: So what happens the rest of this season....?

Eventually though, you're going to have to get rid of Batum with Iggy on the team. They'll clash too much. Add in Roy and it gets worse...add in Wes Matthews, gets terrible. Too much conflict and confusion.

If you pick up good players in the future, you do it at the 1 and 5 positions, which are our needs. Miller and Camby aren't going to be around in 2 years so you have to find their replacements, not replacements for postions we're good at already with young, decent players that can grow into a role.

 

Re: So what happens the rest of this season....?

I don't agree with that. Plus, they'll form a hell of a defensive tandem.

Remains to be seen. Roy's days as a slasher may be over. If he has to reinvent himself as a jump shooter, he won't clash with either Batum or Iguodala.

Wes Matthews is not a core-caliber player, IMO. I'm not going to add him into any equation except as a good part of the bench (or a role-player alongside a star or two). Certainly not as someone who makes bringing in a quasi-star problematic.

 

Re: So what happens the rest of this season....?

Forever is a long time. Eventually LMA and Roy will be expiring contracts.

 

I would only add Igoudala if we were going to trade Batum for someone else, personally. Wes Matthews is good enough to be a complimentary starter. If we were to trade Batum + ???? for a decent PG, it might be a more balanced team. I just don't think even if Roy was relegated to a reserve/grant hill type role, having Iggy and Batum + Matthews will be too much. Trading Batum if we get Iggy makes the most sense, teamwise. The thing is Batum is a cheap contract and has GREAT trade value. If you bring guys who can essentially replace him and who are better than him, you need to trade him for a top player at another position.

 

Re: So what happens the rest of this season....?

I think a 2-3-4 of Matthews-Igoudala-Aldridge along with a PGOF we can get for Batum, perhaps a Devin Harris would be better than just jamming Igoudala in our lineup.

 

Re: So what happens the rest of this season....?

I just choked on my tears reading that.