I've gotten alot of heat around here for some of my trade ideas or possibly their repettition and part of that is we all have a different idea of who is untouchable on this team. I think most of us can agree on Roy, Aldridge and Oden but after that it's all about tastes. To one guy Rudy is a sacred cow who shall retire a Blazer to another guy he is our best trade chip to lock in the PG of the future. It's the same with Joel, Batum and for an increasing minority Bayless is on that list. So then who is your untouchable and why? Would you feel different about Batum if we brought in a young SF? How about Joel if we brought in a C or PF? Is Rudy simply untouchable period? Or do you trade him if it's for Devin Harris? For me it's Batum because he plays a position of need as his natural position and is a fantastic defensive prospect. You simply don't find guys with his wingspan, athleticism and BBIQ growing on trees. He's also only 19. I can't really see a trade that doesn't involve an absolute top shelf player like Devin Harris or CP3 where I would consider trading Batum. Even there I would try and figure out someone else I could throw in. So who is your untouchable beyond Roy, LMA and Oden. P.S. if you feel one of Roy, LMA and Oden aren't untouchable feel free to post that too.
Rudy can emerge as our 3rd scorer. He averaged 10 points in 25 minutes his rookie year and he shot more 3's than 2's. Once Rudy get a better array of scoring options in his game and is allowed to distribute the ball more as a 2nd ballhandler I expect his scoring to be in the 15-18 range and 5 asts a night.
Batum has been the player I've most wanted to keep, after the Big Three, for a while now. I think his potential is really tremendous and he fits the core three really well. I like Bayless and Fernandez, too, but Fernandez is older and I think his ceiling is lower and Bayless is still a total crapshoot.
All are available for the right trade, but I selected Rudy by a hair over Batum. I really like the way Batum is playing D, but on O he has so much to pick up to be something special. Rudy has a lot of holes as well, but as of this minute he can lift the team out of a funk with sick offense. To answer the earlier question, I would trade either for Harris.
Batum is the guy. He compliments Roy SO WELL!!! Batum can pick up Roy's slack on the defensive end if need be, and he is often open for a three if the defenders collapse on Roy. The only way Rudy becomes invaluable is if Roy plays the 3 and Rudy plays the 2 AND we trade Batum for a great PG (Great being the key word). Batum is that girl everyone thinks looks ok, but can't stop looking at in the bar. You hear the rest of the league half heartedly notice him, but if they had his contract they would wave it around like they just won capture the flag.
If we have one, it's Rudy... Truth is, the only guy I call "untouchable" is Brandon; I'd trade any of the rest for a good enough deal. Heck, I'd trade Brandon (and whomever, except LMA) for LeBronze...
Roy and LMA for LeBron is reasonable except I would rather have Roy and LMA then LeBron. Maybe not as skilled but way smaller egos. It might be hard to root for LeBron if he gets anymore ego inflated. If I did it I would keep Oden. LBJ + Oden besides looking like father and son, would be an absolutely devastating combo. You would have two of the biggest guys at their repsective postions. Lebron can deal with perimeter D and O and Oden can lurk inside. LBJ will never be traded at least not until like his 13th season.
Who is the starting SF if not Batum in 2011+? He IMO is the guy you lock up (albeit not max out) after the big 3. That core is sick. If only we had a solid PG. I mean damn every time I project 3 years out I ask myself. Who the fuck is going to stop us? Unless LBJ gets another max contract guy next to him preferably a big (Bosh), I can't see anyone as currently constructed (or with feasible changes) that will stop us assuming we stay healthy.
