All right, O-Live did it, now lets hear from a smaller segment of elitist fans like us. Well... those that have stuck around. Who should stay and who should go, the SportsTwo Poll. Please feel free to comment and argue.
Safe Roy - improve stamina, feeling when to take over and when to get teammates involved, LESS ISO WITH 8 MIN LEFT TRYING TO SCORE EVERY POINT Aldridge - loved the physicality improvements from last year; LA has improved dramatically every year. Hope it continues and that jumper gets a bit more consistent Oden - Needs to see improvement in footwork/coordination, though, but no necessarily offensive moves. Yet. Rudy - Not a big fan but had a huge playoff series. Really showed up. Please work on consistency! Should be safe unless dramatic trade that seriously improves title chances Bayless - big fan, but get a jumper. Batum - continue working on ballhandling, shooting Blake - Not a huge fan, but has a role for maybe one more year. Wouldn't mind Bayless and some new PG as the two, though. Webster - Wildcard here. ? Outlaw - Our best proven trade piece because he's not vital to the team and he has some value, but if we're not looking to trade this offseason he stays put, obviously GTFO Sergio Indifferent on the non-rotation guys.
For a poll there sure isn't a...poll. I'm limiting this to people that have at least been discussed a bit (excluding Roy, LMA, Oden). At this point... Go Sergio Ruffin Frye LaFrentz (duh) Shavlik Outlaw Blake I don't think any of these guys have a role with the team. I used to be a huge Sergio fan, but he just doesn't fit that well, and having him around hinders Bayless' growth. I'm slightly on the fence with Outlaw, but I don't want to see him playing SF over Webster/Batum, and I don't think he's the right type of player to be our backup PF. I love his personality, and I think he loves Portland, but I just don't know how well he fits. I originally had Blake in a "depends" but thinking about it further, I'd rather have him gone with Bayless backing up whoever is starting rather than Blake as the backup. If he stays though, I wouldn't mind, I just don't want him starting. Stay Webster Batum Joel Bayless These guys to me are guys who I think can be a part of a championship-calibre team. I want to see Bayless get hungry for minutes, and work his butt off this summer. I want to see Webster come in with a bit more to his game, and silence some of his critics. Batum/Webster can be more than enough at SF. We don't need an all-star at every position. Trading Joel would be stupid. He's a perfect backup for Oden, means a lot to this team, and is better than any other backup we'd be able to get. What Do We Need -Starting PG (Andre Miller is my favorite right now) -Backup PF (preferably a veteran like McDyess I'd also like us to draft one of Johnny Flynn (favorite), Ty Lawson, or Eric Maynor. I might even put this as a higher priority than backup PF depending on how Bayless works this summer. I think Flynn could come in and step up pretty quickly, and I think the other two could do similar things. EDIT: Forgot Rudy. I love him. I want him to stay, but if we get a stud at SF or PG then he has a much smaller chance at minutes. PG: Miller(30)/Bayless(14)/Roy or Rudy(4) SG:Roy(28)/Rudy(20) SF: Webster(20)/Batum(20)/Roy or Rudy(8) You encounter a similar situation when adding someone like Hedo. I'm just trusting management on this one.
Don't let the door hit your ass on the way out: Frye, Sergio Don't think they are good enough to keep around: Ruffin Randolph Trade these please: Outlaw Blake Keep unless the deal is really, really good: Bayless Rudy Martell Stay: Roy LA Batum Oden Joel
I agree with LameR, except that I think Ramon Sessions is the PG we should get. I think some combination of picks/cash/Trout/Sergio/Blake should get us something good, preferably in the Ramon Sessions + backup PF arena. If we were offered quality for Bayless, I'd do the deal as well. iWatas
Stay: Brandon, LA, Oden, Batum, Rudy, Joel Use the rest to make an upgrade at PG, SF, and PF positions. I didn't list more on the "stay" list not because I really want them to "go," but more because I am apathetic towards them actually staying here. I think a package of Bayless, Webster, Outlaw, some picks, and cash can help us fill all our holes.
Yeah, I was going to make a poll, but I was limited to 10 options rather than 20, so I decided to quit making the thread entirely. I didn't know it actually posted. Oops. Oh well.
Stay Roy LMA Oden Batum Joel Will Consider if the Price is Right Rudy On the bench - would like to see healthy before decision Webster - but will trade if the price is right Just as soon keep Blake (backup PG) Just as soon see go (and should have some trade value) Outlaw Bayless (as I've posted elsewhere, I just don't see a fit for him here) Don't even want to see in camp Sergio Ruffin LaFrentz Shavlik Transfer to Blazer Broadcast team Frye - he'd be a great guy to have in the booth Gramps...
Stay: Roy, Aldridge, Joel. Go: Sergio, Travis, Frye, Ruffin, Shavlik Limbo: Everyone else. Also, on that O-Live poll, Aldridge got a less % than Batum AND Rudy...the stupidity...
Joel and Brandon are the only two I would be heartbroken to see go, I like the whole roster, but I guess I am more realistic on the trade value of a lot of our bench players in terms of getting a championship team together... I don't see us getting championship winning all-stars for our rotation guys.
Stay - Roy, LMA, Joel, Oden, Batum, Rudy, Bayless Trade (if a good deal comes) - Blake GTFO - Frye, Outlaw, Sergio, Raef, Ruffin, Randolph
Definate keepers: Roy, LA, Oden, Joel, Webster, Rudy & *Blake *you gotta keep Blake as he is a guaranteed able PG Definate go: Frye, Outlaw Trade bait: Sergio, Bayless, Ruffin, Randolph, Batum
Yeah why trade Batum? And Ruffin and Randolph are free agents.. and even if they weren't, would anyone really consider them trade bait?
