I'm with PapaG on this one. Don't care to rehash a lot of the same arguments made over the last 8 pages, but I've seen people mention 10+ a year for him, and, no thank you. 6-8? Sure. Can't hurt. I just don't see the value of him at 10 a year on our squad.
Perimeter defense is the Blazers' biggest weakness, and with Oden developing, a spot-up shooter who can defend (Batum? Webster?) compliments the starting unit much better than a guy who you have to hide on defense. I certainly won't use Turkoglu as a litmus test on who has basketball knowledge and who does not. I'd spend the money on a PG who can defend versus a 30 year-old who will likely demand a long-term contract. If the price is right, I don't have an issue with Turkoglu, but questioning someone's basketball IQ without considering other variables seems silly to me.
No biggie. You make some good points, and Hedo's not a player you want to be your No. 1 option. And I appreciate that you at least backed up your arguments with stats rather than just making generalizations based on one game. I agree also that he's not a $10 mil per type player, but if the Blazers could get him for $6-8 mil and if he is willing to be a No. 3 and sometimes No. 4 option, he'd be a really good player for us IMO.
Batum is still going to get his 20 mins a night, so our D will stay the same. What we need is a 3rd scorer on a consistent basis, and that is Hedo
Perimeter defense? Yeah it was bad, but it was not the biggest weakness.... We didn't have enough scorers...plain and simple...outside of Roy, there was NO ONE else who was a consistent 2nd, let alone 3rd scoring option for POR...Aldridge showed up for abput 1/2 the games to fill that #2 scoring role....Rudy had 1 game in a loss that he showed up...NO OTHER PLAYER could be relied on to score for POR in the HOU series...and THAT is the #1 problem with this team...not enough scoring.... Now you could be myopic and "hopeful" that guys like Rudy, Oden, Bayless, Webster or Outlaw develop into that 3rd guy...which may or may not happen.... OR you could take this ONE TIME OPPORTUNITY and use some of your cap space (cap space\opportunity that you will not have again for a long time) and over abundant but underdeveloped assets (young players\draft picks) and go and get that 3rd scoring option to compliment Roy and LA...and THEN if another guy does develop...be it Oden, Rudy, Bayless...then you can be in a VERY good position to make some serious NBA title runs.... Turkoglu isn't perfect...he isn't my first choice even...but he is a good player and he would be the 3rd scoring option on this team...and THAT is what POR needs first and foremost.... I agree, perimeter defense sucks...Sergio is not very good, Blake is underwhelming at best and Bayless is an unknown with potential....but adding another defender into the starting 5 doesn't help solve the #1 issue (scoring) that is the achilles heel in the playoffs for this team.... POR needs to address that shortfall first...
So how much are we signing Hedo to only play 28 minutes a night then? Also, Batum's limited minutes allowed us to get Roy and Rudy on the court together more often. So signing Hedo probably pushes Rudy down to 20 minutes a night, or pushes Roy down some.
LMA was/is a consistent 2nd scorer by any definition, and he proved he can be a primary option many times this season when he received the ball early in games.
Again, at what price? I'm surprised you're indulging me, however, due to my apparent lack of basketball knowledge.
I'm in the camp that thinks this team needs a consistent 3rd scoring option and a player that can attack the rim. The only two players available via free agency that can do that are Artest and Hedo. We may not need them if Bayless can turn into that player or Oden's offensive game gets better. But I'd like to have Hedo instead of just hoping those two pan out. We're not going to have this cap space for a while, so we must look at the best possible options.
PapaG - He wasn't in the playoffs...but I agree that he will develop into a consistent 2nd scoring option at worst.... My point wasn't with Aldridge, it was with who else is going to consistently show up for POR to be a succesful playoff team? Maybe it comes from one of the young players on the team...but here POR sits with the chance to strike and get that 3rd scoring option....That is what I think they should be focused on... DA O - Nice point on the attacking the rim, Roy was the ONLY player for POR who showed that ability versus HOU...and it is a concern, you need to be able to manufacture points in the playoffs...just shooting jumpshots won't do it....
I agree about needing a 3rd scoring option. I'd prefer to just force Oden in that role, and improve the PG spot with someone who is a threat even slightly to penetrate. Oden becomes a 14 point per game scorer alongside a PG who could throw him 2 lobs or dump offs a game, IMO. The problem I see with Hedo is, I still have faith in Oden to develop, and having hedo at 10 a year either, in a year, makes him an extremely overpaid 4th option, who isn't really a "role playe" in that he isn't good enough to defend the oppositions best player, or it makes Oden a 4th option, and we'll have 2 more seasons of complaining about his lack of touches.
If Oden can play 30-32 mpg instead of 22 - you got your 3rd scorer without him adding one bit of skill. Of course, better perimeter defense will help him stay out of stupid foul trouble helping him achieve that... So - while I disagree with the idea that 3rd scorer is more important than perimeter defense - even if I am wrong - better perimeter defense will pretty much provide that 3rd scorer by default...
LMA put up almost 20 ppg on 49% shooting against Houston. I guess I'm not clear on what a "consistent" scorer is by your definition? That said, I'm not totally against Hedo, I'm just not sure he is what the Blazers need (price/length of contract considering, of course).
Game 1 (loss) 3-12 7pts 3 rbds 2 TO Game 2 (win) 11-19 27pts 12 rbds 0 TO Game 3 (loss) 6-15 13pts 8rbds 4 TO Game 4 (loss) 8-17 19pts 10rbds 1 TO Game 5 (win) 11-20 25pts 7 rbds 2 TO Game 6 (loss) 12-21 26pts 5 rbds 1 TO Aldridge was not the reason POR lost this series, but he was inconsistent in the first 4 games, and POR needed him to be solid in every single game to have a chance to win the series...more accurate would have been 60% instead of half...regardless though Aldridge is not the main issue I was making, because I think he finished the series strong, and will get better and more consistent (in the playoffs).....the problem is niether Aldridge or Roy got any help from the rest of the team...and while it is all good and optimistic to think that other players will step into that 3rd scoring role, it is certainly not something that I or IMO POR mgmt should feel comfortable with developin going into the season (and more importantly playoffs) with....ESPECIALLY when they have the assets (young players, picks) and wiggle room (available cap space) to go out and get that 3rd scoring option...and then IMO you are in a position of strength...and if an Oden, Bayless or Rudy develop into that 4th or 3rd wheel...well even better.... Why the need for a consistent 3rd scorer? Look below to illustrate my point Top Scorer other that Roy & Aldridge Game 1 (loss) Oden 15pts 5 rbds (Roy 21, Aldridge 7pts) - Roy\Aldridge % of total offense 34.6% Game 2 (win) Fernandez 11pts (Roy 42, Aldridge 27) - Roy\Aldridge % of total offense 64.5% Game 3 (loss) Fernandez 17pts (Blake had 16pts & 10 Asst) Roy 19, Aldridge 13 - Roy\Aldridge % of total offense 38.6% Game 4 (loss) Outlaw 14pts (Roy 31, Aldridge 19) - Roy\Aldridge % of total offense 56.8% Game 5 (win) Blake 15pts 7 rbds (Roy & Aldridge 25pts) - Roy\Aldridge % of total offense 56.8% Game 6 (loss) Outlaw 9pts (2-9 FG) Aldridge 26, Roy 22 - Roy\Aldridge % of total offense 63.2% So in the wins, not only did Roy & Aldridge have to account for over 60% of the entire offense, but they needed someone to at least step up into that 3rd role...Game 1 IMO was an enigma b\c it was such a lopsided blowout that most of the 4th quarter (1/2 way thru the 3rd?) was garbage time essentially)....In Game 2 Blake chipped in 10pts in support as well... In essence they need more help if POR expects to ascend to an NBA title....and I don't think you cna win consistently in the playoffs with that being a commitee approach, and Roy isn't MJ, LeBron or Kobe....yet? Now maybe that will come from within, but why put all of your chips down on that? Why not look to add a 3rd scoring piece and then if another player or 2 develop you are even in a stronger position IMO....
My opinion is that Orlando retains Turkoglu and pays him the extra $2-5 million that he'll want. Yes, it'll mean one year of tax. But next summer, both Battie and Alston come off their books and they should drop back down to just under the tax threshold again. They have no-one to replace Turkoglu and with their post-season success and new revenue stream coming in a couple of years from the new arena? Yeah, they'll keep him.
Rafer Alson, Rashard Lewis, and Hedo all have been "consistent secondary scorers" depending on the game in this year's playoffs. I suggest that you run your same analysis on Orlando; you may be surprised at the results, and you may even come to the conclusion that they don't even have a "consistent" PRIMARY scorer in these playoffs, let alone a consistent tertiary scorer.
Look, we need a more consistent 3rd option on offense. I can't believe anybody would seriously dispute that. There are 3 ways to approach this problem. A) Hope somebody on the roster is going to grow into the role. Blake and Outlaw are vets - they are what they are. Rudy can still refine his game and fill the role. Bayless has the talent, but we don't know if he will ever harness it. Some people see Oden in the role. Whatever. B) Add a good vet PG. He doesn't have to be a great scorer....if he is a traditional playmaker, he will make the guys around him better by setting them up to succeed. C) Bring in a designated scorer like Hedo. Personally, I wouldn't call that my first choice - but it beats the hell out of doing nothing. My big grip with Hedo is that he supposedly wants over $10 million a year. That is too much. To be honest, I am less concerned with *how* the team addresses the problem, than I am with the notion that they may not address it at all!
