You did and you didn't , sorry for giving you a hard time. You were kind of all over the place which confused me. Not the first time If we could luck into a borderline starter quality big for our table scraps that'd be great, but trading Batum for a Starting center when we already have a solid starting center doesn't seem like a good idea either. I'd love for the Blazers to make a trade to get a quality big for a run this season, but unless the Blazers luck into that player for table scraps I want Olshey to stand pat. Olshey has the midlevel exception next offseason which should be enough to get such a player without giving anything up. I think we are mostly on the same page
Can Tony Allen guard the elite point guards in the NBA and bother them in the Playoffs like Batum will be able to? There are things I don't like about Batum either and to mention a big one: Batum is very cocky and it shows a lot. If you can't see it you need glasses. However I just think Batum is way to valuable and that will show even more in the playoffs.
The argument between cocky and confidence is ongoing and exhausting. And I have glasses, thank you very much. :MARIS61:
I don't know cmeese, with Freeland, Lopez, Aldridge, Leonard and Robinson I think we've got the 5 spot covered especially considering Stotts style of play. We're actually a really long team in the backcourt. Batum, Claver, Wright are all 6'8-6'10 Wes is 6'5, Barton is long, Crabbe is long...we have short guards. If anything I'd plug in a tall defensive minded 2 guard off the bench. This elite defensive game changing center you want is already on a max contract elsewhere and elsewhere has a really weak bench because of it.
Allen was guarding Chris Paul last year and he is fully capable of guarding virtually anyone that plays the PG SG or SF.
He'll never be an all star, but I think Batum's all around game and the synergy he brings to this team are pretty much irreplaceable. I feel the same about Lillard and Aldridge. It might be possible to upgrade Lopez, but I don't see how with what we've got to offer and still end up with a net positive. Mathews gives us a lot of clutch shooting and toughness too; upgradeable perhaps but not easy to do -- teams aren't just giving good 3 pt shooting good defending good rebounding never say die SGs away. The bench however is another matter and should be improved at the first opportunity. Since I don't have a hot line to any GMs who want to help the Blazers improve, I'm afraid I have no idea how to do that. I'm a mere fan. I have my fingers crossed the CJ will help, and that our bigs will stay healthy. My magic mojo is the best I can do.
I just read this thread from start to finish. That's it. I am through with basketball, sports, and Planet Earth.
