I think it'll really depend on the draft. There are two bigs that we could have a chance at if we suck enough. Looking at this roster, we're definitely going to be in the mix for Zeller and Noel. Scenario: Draft: Cody Zeller Trade: Aldridge for Paul George/+
I'm sorry, MAYBE draft picks thrown in? You've shown it before, but I don't think you have much idea about the NBA. You run a great website. Good. But jesus. MAYBE draft picks? You're delusional to think Aldridge is getting just space and maybe someone thinks about throwing in draft picks. As for the thread as a whole...is it time? No. You listen on everyone, of course. Maybe this is the time, if someone pays fair value for a top 20 player with three years remaining on his contract. But it's absolutely not the time to move him just because we might suck. If that is the lone criteria ad thinking, then no, it is the wrong time. See how he plays this year with Lillard. See how Lillard is. See what you have in other people around him. Lillard, IMO, is a Brandon Roy like rookie who isn't some 4 year project who Aldridge' prime is ruined. If things look absolutely dire, not record wise, but talents wise, then maybe you do, if it looks like Lillard is trash, and you need to tank for 2 more years or something. But not just because we might be bad, and have some irrational fear Aldridge will not like us, leave us, demand a trade, etc.
I don't think Portland would want players back if they trade LMA. If they do, they want expirings. The idea would be to maximize free cap space. The benefit of draft picks is they can be good enough players on rookie scale (cheap) contracts. I pointed out that you could get an all-star and a near all-star for LMA, but I also pointed out that I seriously doubt the Blazers would want to get into 40-50 win territory with cap space tied up in three players who aren't a good enough "big 3" and middling draft picks to try to build with. Make sense? EDIT: what did Orlando get for Dwight Howard, a top 5 player? Aaron Afflalo, Al Harrington, Nikola Vucevic, and PROTECTED future picks. Harrington is 31 and has 3 years remaining at ~$7M per. Afflalo had a 14.7 PER. Vucevic was sub 15 PER as well.
I just can't wrap my head around someone calling themselves a fan of a team, and then actively rooting for that team to fucking lose in order to get a better shot at a high draft pick. Fuck the draft. If we get a lottery pick, it'll be very small consolation for losing that many games.
I said it in another thread, but I think you wait to see how Stotts designs an offense around LMA and Lillard. I mean, in theory (while I recognize that there is literally a ton of unknown/unproven/crap players on our bench) we have a PG who not only is a proven (collegiate) stud at the P&R, but can hit the deep shot if you play back off of him. You have one of the quickest and most mobile big men in the game just hitting his all-star prime. You have 2-3 guys who are premium 3pt shooters in Wes, Batum and Babbitt, assuming no other skills on their end. You have the ability to match LMA up on the frontline with either a high-motor defensive big (in Leonard), a low-ceiling but professional post player (in Freeland) or an undersized proven scorer (in Hickson). I'm not against moving LMA this year, especially if a great deal comes along, but to advocate doing so now, when the team's had 2 weeks of practice and 3 preseason garbage games seems like madness. We DON'T know what we have, either does the rest of the league, and we therefore aren't going to get anything close to premium offers.
I say let it ride for a couple of years. I doubt Lillard will become a star and completely transform the franchise, but there's probably enough of a chance that it's worth holding on to Aldridge and seeing what they can do. If it's not going to work, they should know by sometime next year and then it's probably fine to consider trying to move LaMarcus before letting his contract expire.
Come on denny don't use the Howard trade as an example of anything except what it actually is. The worst trade of a superstar in the leagues history. Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk 2
Seems like they could have had Bynum or Iggy. They were motivated by the things I said to NOT take those guys. Same motivation for the Blazers to not take back some older talent not enough to get them over the top.
Andrew Bynum = older talent? He won't turn 25 for another week. He was only 17 when drafted and didn't turn 18 until 6 days before his first NBA regular season game - making him the youngest player in NBA history. BNM
You don't take AI becausehe can't turn the franchise around, bynum is young enough for a five year rebuild plan. Whatever motivated Orlando they still made the worst trade in basketball history. Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk 2
Right. Older. Not as young as a draft pick after this year or after next, depending on the picks' protection schemes.
Bynun's may be 24 but his knees are toxic and no way we would want him anywhere near POR - the land of knee implosions, if anyone gives him a big long contract after this yr they are crazy IMO
I would like our team to go after James Harden (via trade by the trade deadline or FA if he makes it to the FA at season's end).
I don't get the fascination with Harden. Really, really good player, but if he was your #1 or #2, you're not going to be a very good team...
I don't get the fascination with LA. I enjoy the way James Harden plays. He can shoot the rock, handle the ball, and get to the free throw line pretty well. We had LA and we were not a very good team last season. And possibly this season as well.
