My Stupid Trade of the Day: Blazers trade all 3 firsts + other stuff... http://www.espn.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=j4ubhpd
I agree we need a PF badly, the problem is there aren't many PF's that get me too excited. The players we could maybe get aren't necessarily going to help with the defense aspect of things. An example I wouldn't be surprised to see Greg Monroe's name pop up for us again.
My stupid trade of the day (above post) has us getting Taj Gibson, who is a fine PF. Not likely, but not impossible either.
I really don't want to give up young talent (even if is slow to develop) for a 32-year-old PF who will be out of the league before we peak. I could see getting Gibson or Milsap if they were relatively cheap and could be used to help train Vonleh or another PF. Trading young talent for either of these guys feels like the Dale Davis trade, except that one made more sense.
Our win% to salary ratio is abysmal, so we have a big problem. Here's another Biebs, Crabbe, and Vonleh are likely at or near their peaks (Davis and Aminu probably, too, though they're actually pretty good). Crabbe may be the exception here, but only if he leaves Portland AND becomes a starter somewhere else. So, having "young talent" is immaterial - they are replaceable, very replaceable.
21 years old...not played much his rookie years...lot of upside..strong lower core..good stroke...he's just not getting any plays run for him and I think he's just about ready to make a huge leap if given the opportunity...Crabbe either...don't think they are even close to their peaks ..both a couple years away....
I agree that Vonleh is a couple of years away from his peak, he's young, and he has all of the tools to be a solid NBA player. I'm guessing the reason he's not getting any significant run is because he's not showing any improvement since his rookie year. At some point he needs to earn the minutes and show progress. Otherwise, more deserving players will get the time. I'm rooting for him, and I'm telling myself every day that he's young and has potential. I really hate that word potential...
Although I wouldn't dump him, I could part with Biebs, as his potential is lowering by the year. I still think he could be one year from "getting it", but odds are lower. Vonleh is sooooo young still, and at least has two things he does well (if he doesn't foul out), defense and rebounding. And Vonleh can, at least for momments, handle the ball and shoot the three. I would very much like to keep him until he is 25 before giving up.
I think Vonleh just needs a better center next to him...Nurkic should be good for his development...he'll practice against a true center for a change. He also needs to be included in the offensive system...we're not very good alley oop passers so far....I'm hoping Turner brings that back. For two seasons our roster has not had an identity...it's been experiment after experiment and unfortunately some guys didn't keep up....CJ made the leap, Meyers didn't...
If Taj Gibson is a fine PF why can't Chicago win with him? It's not like his supporting cast is worse than it would be in Portland. I mean I hear on this board that Butler and Lopez are good. Wade has played 48 games. IMO he is not going to help us.
I've learned to just accept it in Portland....if allstars don't want to come here, we have to create allstars from that word ...I'm afraid it's just the only option for the team so far.
I'm not sure the Blazer discussions with Philly for Okafor are over. Greg Monroe discussions might also get resurrected from the past.
Vonleh is no where near his peak guy can be a top tier PF in this league. Meyers is near his peak. I think if he has any potential it will be seen in a different system then Stott's current one. I think Vonleh deserves more leeway, as far as this is concerned. Meyers has had five years. That said, now that we have Nurkic Stotts will have incentive to change his system which could help develop Vonleh and even Meyers. Throw them both in a lot of practices with Nurkic have him knock them the fuck around and show them what it's really about. As for Crabbe, he has had ample time to improve and develop, and has remained a 3 and done guy for the most part. Sometimes he will step around screens and step in for jumpers. He needs to become a slasher, get to the rim more like Dame and CJ. All of them need to learn D.
What's with NO's fascination with these fools? The league is going away from plodding no-defense big men, and we keep going after them. ugh. I hope not in either of these guys, unless we ship out some dead weight contracts. I'd do AC for Monroe and let his contract expire over the summer.