Imagine having a Miller/Roy/Butler lineup on the court at the end of the game. Miller and Butler aren't good 3pt shooters. That's...not good. Plus does that mean Batum is on the bench with Butler playing SF, and perhaps Outlaw back in his PF role at the end of games? Where does Batum fit in in the scenario? If the Blazers give up anything of value it has to be for a center. That is easily their #1 weakness right now.
First off to answer your question, does a player like Rudy who most likely will bolt if given the chance because of always playing behind Roy make us a Championship team? If the answer to that is yes, than adding someone like Butler and the only key piece you have to give up is Rudy than I guess the answer to your question is also a yes? Butler has had a down year, no doubt about it, but he is still a good player and recently came in the clutch hitting a game winner against the Magic. I think you take a stab at getting a good to great player and hope that injuries do not become a legit concern for Butler himself as well as Roy, Oden, Pryzbilla, etc. By the way, I may be putting Rudy in a dark light saying he would bolt given the chance, but I mean, he would have an opportunity to possibly start and play more minutes maybe in an uptempo system while here he will always be Roy's backup. He may want to try and get a nice pay day or he may even go back to Europe if the salary cap goes to hell.
as inconsistent as rudy and webster have been offensively this year butler has actually been much worse. eFG% this year rudy .514 webster.499 butler .437 (batum limited sample size .697) it's a gamble that butler would return to his former self. can't get excited about trading rudy or webster for him given it would just take minutes away from batum. trading both would be tough to handle. trading batum for him at this point would be insane.
I haven't followed Butler closely the last few years, but a big knock on him when he was on the L*kers is that he sucked at defense.
That's a pretty good point. We'd pretty much be stuck with Blake (or somebody like him) at PG. Miller would have to go to the bench. So you gain by adding Butler, but lose by demoting Miller. This doesn't worry me much. When you have a 20 year old player who still has a lot to prove, it's not such a bad thing to put a proven vet in front of him. As of today, yes. But the Blazers shouldn't be making any major moves based on what they need today, because the season is already fucked. Anything they do should be with the goal of having the best team possible at the beginning of next year. It's not at all clear to me that our greatest need next November will be a true center. I'd say our greatest foreseeable need at that point will be a high quality guy who can play either backup or starting power forward/center. And it just so happens we could really use that guy right now, too. Milsap is probably an ideal candidate, but I don't see how we pry him away. I really like Brandon Bass too. I like Butler, and think he might not be a bad addition. But I don't think he really solves the major issue for us that we are truly fucked if Aldridge sustains any kind of injury, either this year or next.
I would not trade Batum for Butler based on age, salary and ceiling. In fact, I would not trade Roy, Aldridge, Oden or Batum, period. At some point you have to have a set core and fill in around them. I would trade any other players for Butler, since he'd be the best player in the deal. I think a change of scenary to PDX could reinvigorate his game, but of course that is a risk. Possibly, if we traded for Butler, Haywood would also be coming back and lots of players going out.
I think you're wrong. He's got a very nice outside shot, a smooth handle and the ability to finish at the rim. He'll be at least a 15 ppg scorer in his prime. But let's say you are right. Look at how many championship teams have been built with defensive-minded small forwards who average 10 a night. It's probably the single most common feature over the past decade among championship teams.
I'm not sure we are going to be doing trades that are going to be for the "right now" variety. We are looking down the road a bit more than that I would hope.... Yes we need a center, to make the playoffs this year more than likely, however at what cost?
I agree that Batum should be completely off the table for any deal with Washington, even for Butler. Coming into this season, I'd have happily traded Fernandez to get Butler. His poor season is giving me some pause. But I think you have to go with established track record over one bad half-season, considering he's still this side of age 30. There's risk there, but it's a worthwhile one, IMO. I don't think Fernandez has star upside...I think he's more of an exciting role-player. Butler, if he can return to his usual self, has star/near-star ability. Butler has a nice all-around game that would mesh will with the other starters. I would, in fact, be comfortable starting Roy/Batum/Butler/Aldridge/Oden. Roy and Butler provide enough passing to make up for not having a true point guard. Batum can hawk the opposing team's quickest perimeter player on defense.
without a pre-season and as a 4th-5th option in the offense he's averaging 9.3 in just 22 minutes/game so far. durrrrrr
I was just saying if the team gives up anything of value I'd rather it be for a center, but at the same time I've been saying that's pretty much impossible. Overall the Blazers best bet is probably just to stand pat and let the year ride out. Getting Roy back will help a ton. With Roy the Blazers make the playoffs comfortably imo and at this point that's all I want for this year.
I wouldn't go there unless you have someone else hold the bet. I get the feeling that betting with MIXUM is pretty much the same as betting with ODENISGOD. Ask SPD how that worked out. Go Blazers
he is averaging 9.2 ppg right now....you could be wrong in two months lol, although that might be the longest you have ever been right.
This from the poster that has wasted more time whining about trades, by LIGHT YEARS, than anyone else in this forum. I trust that you will follow your own advice, and stop wasting everyone's time? Go Blazers
Totally. AND he's 21. While it's possible that he won't improve as he gets into his mid-20's, it seems pretty obvious that 10 ppg will be an afterthought for him. As for Butler: not for Batum, no. For Rudy? I could see it. Fernandez is going to be 25 in April--he's only about five years younger than Butler--and we still haven't seen enough to be sure he's a starting-level player. Rudy/Outlaw/Blake for Butler and McGee. With $3m going back to Washington, of course. Would both/either team do that? (And, yes, McGee would have to come over in a second, separate deal for part of the trade exception we got for Diogu... it's good for another 10 days or so...) Ed O.
Don't trade Batum for him but a Rudy/Blake/Filler package for Butler..we would be insane not to do it.
