It is deceptive because it does not address MPG, role and team pace and completely ignores defense. But - if you look at rank by position - http://www.82games.com/0809/BYPOSIT.HTM Portland's PG position is 9th in the league, Toronto with the great Jose Calderon is 22nd. JC is probably an upgrade, offensively over Blake - but he is a defensive downgrade and overall - I really do not think it is a great trade - especially when Bayless seems like the kind of PG that is tailor made to play next to Roy.
Some of us don't suffer from the grass is greener syndrome. The Blazers could use an upgrade at the point. IMO, Calderon isn't enough of an upgrade to be worth the pieces it would take to get him. If you can work a deal for Paul or Williams, I'm ecstatic. Heck, if you can do something with the Nets for for Harris, I'd be tickled pink. Calderon...not so much.
O'Neal is playing pretty well for Toronto and they need him on defense. Why would they trade him for basically Frye, who doesn't do anything that Bargnani can't do better, and an expiring contract? They wouldn't have traded for JO unless they didn't mind taking on his salary. To Fez: Raptors would never, ever do that deal. Bargnani is finally having a great season and is actually hustling on defense as well as scoring. Again, why trade him for a poor man's version of himself? To B-Roy: Watch the Raptors play a few times and see why they're so high on him for yourself.
I've seen him quite a few times and I saw him today. He likes to: 1.) Take a lot of shots when he shouldn't, especially threes. 2.) Wander on defense. On top of that he's a terrible fit in Portland. Oh, and he shouldn't be playing SF.
Didn't the Blazers try to get Calderon last year? Wasn't it dead because Toronto was only willing to give him up for one of our best players? They wanted LMA, IIRC (this was before they acquired O'Neal). Developing a trade with Jose is a waste of time. Toronto is going to want A LOT if they're going to give up their long term, star PG, and way more than anyone is willing to give up. But that's okay, Blake is playing very well this year. His heroics in Toronto is just the latest example of this.
Yeah. He said himself he is a PF. Anyway, Toronto wouldn't do this, and while Portland probably should from a talent standpoint (since some of these proposed deals are absolute robbery) I don't think they should make a trade right now.
I don't know about if any of you watched the NBATV broadcast, but even the Toronto home announcers were talking about how Calderon has problems keeping his defensive assignment in front of him, and they were happy he was facing Blake, so he at least could keep up. I like him, but I don't like his D. I would rather just stick with what is working.
