The biggest question for me would be what he improves to. Is he going to improve into beiong a lock down defender? Batum could potentially improve to that, and I don't think Gay can, will, or would want to. I suppose the argumen tcould be made that he replaces Aldridge's scoring in our lineup, but I'd mcuh rather a role playing SF to focus primarily on defending other teams' best players than another scorer on the wing, and a role playing PF.
True, but it's not like it's gay for aldridge straight up. It's Gay/Gasol/Conley. Obviously Gay isn't the prospect that Aldridge is, but I am a big fan of Gasol, and I think Conley is a better point guard prospect than Bayless. Although Bayless will definitely be a superior scorer.
While a good prospect, and someone I like, Gasol would still just be a backup for us, so even if he is a nice player in a deal, his worthh to us is lower than to other teams, and we wouldn't get full value out of having him here, IMO. And, after next season, he would leave as a free agent anyways.
Maybe I'm wrong, but I thought Gasol could play both PF and C. I think he could be the ideal backup big man for us. If he was spending time at both post positions he should be able to play enough to be happy. If our front court was Scola, Oden, and Gasol, I would be thrilled. As much as I like Joel, he can't play power forward.
I can't see him as playing PF too effectively for us, but maybe I'm wrong. I heard the same thing out of Memphis after drafting Thabust, but just not buying it. I suppose you could play him there for stretches, but I wouldn't be too psyched about an Oden-Gasol pairing up front, personally. And, like I said, i think he would leave after next season anyways.
Ya wouldn't offer Rudy in a Rondo package? I would but you'd have to move Miller so trade more likely after Dec 15
It's possible, but Outlaw hasn't improved a lot. I think Outlaw is a decent player, unlike some, but his improvement curve hasn't been very steep and he still doesn't show much aptitude for passing or defense, the two things we'd want to see Gay improve dramatically. I wouldn't take the risk on him today. Coming out of college, I wanted to gamble on his upside (over Roy, oops?). Now, I don't consider his upside to be very much above what he is now: a mediocre volume scorer.
The way your putting it, it seems like the Celtics should be on the Blazers balls trying to accept this trade. Bayless AND a choice of Blake or Miller?!?!? oh my.
