One thing you got have another teams wants Whiteside and Bazemore to even think about taking them. Nurk and Whiteside can't play together due neither of them can guard the premeter. I don't think Whiteside will be traded because we don't know if the conversation to Nurk and Whiteside has came up by Olshey and Stotts when Nurk comes back who going to start. Maybe both have accepted what was told to them in the conversation. There a lot behind the scenes we don't know about so we speculate all we want.
This is a great question. I'm not sure I agree that the only way Portland can contend would be to add a top 10 player in the NBA. To some degree we were contending last year, even missing Nurk. The issue is that in 2016 we spent $228 million. If Whiteside and Baze walk, we'll have zero to show for those signings. Guys like Dwight Jaynes have claimed this trade-deadline is where the Olshey will be shown wise that the overpaid for nearly every free agent they signed, because they'll be "valuale" trade chips. I think that's a weak arguement, but walking away with nothing (including significant cap space) would have to be deemed a failure, right?
You're confident Whiteside is as good as you're saying he is, but will resign to come off the bench for $12M/year next year? Those two things don't really add up.
Would you do, Bazemore and WS for Hayward and Marcus Smart? That would really make their bench legit and give them another option at the 3 while Hood recovers. If Zach and Nurk are healthy going into next year that seems pretty good, and it gives Boston cap space (though I'm not sure how much).
Did I say he would agree to re-sign to come off the bench? I didn't. You promise him the starting job to start. Nurk won't be better than Hassan to start the season. If the team isn't performing as it should, then we reserve the right to reassess that decision.
Some are suggesting we MUST trade him. I'm simply suggesting that if we aren't getting a fair return then it is more beneficial to keep him and try to re-sign him. I don't think Kevin Love is a scrub but I also don't think trading Hassan for Love is a good or fair trade.
Man I look around the league and I just don't see much that interests me. Blake Griffin? Huge contract and really not playing very well. Kevin Love? Huge contract and not a star anymore. LMA? Probably would be the best fit here but doesn't really move the needle that much. If you look at the teams that are really just under performing or mediocre, they don't have much that would vault us into the top three. We really need a star player at small forward. I'm also not sold on Zach being a power forward. I think he's a great player to have off the bench who can play both front court spots. I think that makes him extremely valuable, but I have enjoyed having Melo as a solid scoring option at the four. We have missed that.
I'd rather have Kevin Love than nothing though. If those are the two choices. No one is saying they should trade Whiteside for some team garbage.
I really don't think Love does that much for us. I'm not really convinced he's much better than Melo at this point. He's averaging 16 and 10. Blake Griffin is even worse. He's averaging 16 and 4. Sadly, the best player that might be available is LMA.
I'm scared you are right. $228m in salary 4 years ago and all we might have in return is getting LMA back outside his prime. Yikes
The player that intrigues me the most is Draymond. He's 29, he's an exceptional defender and passer, and he is capable of scoring when needed. I would rather try to add someone like Draymond and then pick up a wing that can score.
Personally I'd love to keep Melo, but have him come off the bench. Not sure he'd accept that role and I think he has shown enough to get a spot on another team.
Might not even be a matter of starting him. I don't think WE will start him, and if he's going to come off the bench, I could see him going to the Lakers or Clippers.
After the Warriors get the #1 pick and get all their guys back, I'd be surprised if GS let him go, but he could be a great addition.
