Merged: Would you trade for Steve Nash? (and what would it take to get him)?

I'm torn on Miller because it would be pointless to trade for him during the season when you could possibly sign him in the offseason. Still, he's a guy I would like to see on this team.

 

Bayless to me is untouchable. IMHO he's shown as much upside as any rookie in this draft including Rose, Mayo, and Oden. I'm not unconvinced that if given the minutes and in the same role as Rose, he wouldn't have the very same statistics. A penetrating guard who can get to the FT line is such a rarity in the league, and combine that with a penetrating two-guard like Roy and it's a very promising combination.

Realistically, our window opens as players like Garnett, Pierce, and Allen, Duncan and Manu, and potentially even Kobe decline. That's 2ish years from now where I believe we should be able to go in to a season expecting or projectiing to win a series or two and be a contender in June.

Acquiring Nash does nothing to really further that window in any way. Getting rid of a Bayless, Batum, Webster... players who potentially could have big roles on those teams when our window is open, for a vet who doesn't help us in two years, is illogical.

IMHO our main trading pieces are Raef's contract and Outlaw (or Webster, but Outlaw is more productive and I'd assume would be more attractive to another team... and I like Webster's game for our team more).

 

Unless they bring back another young player who fits our window, but I'm with you. I don't want to trade Bayless or Batum. I would prefer to keep Webster over Outlaw because Webster can play shooting guard and small forward. Outlaw can play small forward and power forward. I'd rather have Webster.

With that said, I'd trade Webster, Outlaw, Frye, Sergio, and/or Diogu with RLEC to get players who will fit our window. We need to consolidate our talent just a little bit. If we can make a solid trade without getting rid of Batum, Bayless, Roy, Oden, Aldridge, or Rudy.... do it. I'd like to hold onto Joel, but if the right deal came along... he might have to go too.

 

In order of "touchableness," for me...

Oden/Roy/Aldridge (all three are equally untradeable unless you're talking LeBron or Dwight Howard. That's it.)

Bayless/Joel

Batum/Webster

Outlaw

everyone else

 

I would put Batum above Joel because I think he has a much bigger future here. Joel is great, and I hope he sticks around long enough to help us win a title, but I also think that Oden will eventually play 35 minutes a game, making Joel much less important in the grand scheme of things. Batum could be the answer we've been looking for at small forward.

 

You'd put Rudy with everyone else?

 

Rudy is in a tier all his own

 

Hmm. Mine would go:

Tier 1: Oden/Roy

Tier 2: Aldridge

Tier 3: Bayless/Fernandez/Batum

Tier 4: Outlaw/Przybilla

Then everyone else.

 

That pretty much sums it up.

 

Rudy is similar to me with Outlaw. Solid NBA player and will have a role on a team for another decade, but he's not essential to Portland and therefore can be used as trade-bait. I guess I'd put him slightly above Rudy because maybe it'd be more difficult to convince a Euro to come over if we've traded them in the past, but thats the only reason IMO.

 

Rudy is only in his first season, and he is so much more valuable to this team than Outlaw. Quick talked about it yesterday. His passing, his ability to create his own shot, and the fact that he's one of the only guys who will move without the basketball, makes him very valuable to our team. I think he's going through a bit of the rookie wall, but over the next couple seasons he will be very valuable to this team.