Andre Miller is starting to make more sense to me

[mook]

http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=n54gbb6

Simple swap of Mo Williams, Earl Watson and Will Barton for Dre. Denver does it to clear the messy situation and the $5m owed Dre next year off their books. Will and Earl are expiring, and Mo probably doesn't re-sign. They are a .500 team, so it's not like they are really worried about helping a competitor.

Portland does it to get a backup PG who can actually pass the damned ball and make a high percentage shot. Plus Aldridge would automatically get two more lobs per game.

Dre is 37, which is old as fuck. But he's got a rock solid health history and the plus side of being suspended by your team for 15 games is that you're going to be well-rested.

This deal makes so much sense for both teams. Only thing holding it back, IMO, is the behind-the-scenes stuff with Dre. You never really know if he burned any bridges with Portland, or if there's a prima dona vibe to him that makes any GM to wary.

 

[Natebishop3]

I'm down with Dre. I think Dame would play really well with him. His defense is bad, but it can't be much worse than Mo. I also think Dre would make Robinson look a million times better with the lobs.

 

[rasheedfan2005]

With dre on the court you still have 2 three point threats and Aldridge, Leonard, and Freeland can all hit midrange jumpers. I really think it would be interesting. Dre gives you another post pressence and great passing. Some knock him for not running but he's the guy that can make the outlet pass so the speedsters can finish. This is the first fan suggested trade I like in a while. Plus crabbe and claver wouldn't be stuck in suits anymore.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

I don't know. I don't like Williams, but if we are going to replace him I'd like someone who could play better defense. And I don't like the pieces in the trade. I think, at his salary, that Mo is a good trade asset. I still think Will Barton can be a rotation player on some team. Andre miller is not really an asset at this time, he is a millstone for Denver. If you make that trade, I think you need a draft pick coming back, maybe their two 2014 2nd round picks.
But again I just don't think he is the guy we want.

 

[ponderguy]

eh. He's too old now.

 

[tlongII]

Sorry but I don't want a 37 year old point guard that can't shoot. That deal would be beyond dumb.

 

[Natebishop3]

Sorry but I don't want a 37 year old point guard that can't shoot. That deal would be beyond dumb.

You would rather have a 31 year old point guard who can't shoot OR pass?

 

[Schilly]

Not sure a guy shooting 37% from 3 (carreer 38.5%) and is averaging 4.8 assists in 24 mpg counts as not being able to shoot or pass... Especially when Andre Miller is a career 21.6% 3pt shooter only averaging 3.3 assists per 19 mpg.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Not sure a guy shooting 37% from 3 (carreer 38.5%) and is averaging 4.8 assists in 24 mpg counts as not being able to shoot or pass... Especially when Andre Miller is a career 21.6% 3pt shooter only averaging 3.3 assists per 19 mpg.

It's the consistency part I worry about with Mo. He's shooting 37% from 3, but only 3 a game, while shooting 6 times from 2 a game at 41.8% (yikes). The assists are nice, but but averages 2 turnovers a game, third on the team behind Damian and Batum, both of whom play 1.5x as much. If Mo played 36 minutes a game like them, he'd average 3 TO's a game, which would be higher than Damian and Batum.

Plus there's the whole Good Mo/Bad Mo thing...

I want Mo to succeed, but I long for knowing what I'll get out of a bench playmaker... It's been a long long time since we had that.

As far as Andre, his per 36s versus Mo:

Mo: 7 AST 3 TO 13.7 PTS
Dre: 6.3 AST 2.1 TO 11.1 PTS

Dat Assist/TO ratio!

 

[Pinwheel1]

Mo' s issue are his turnovers. Not his shooting. I would rather give Watson a chance before making that trade. Miller is a better passer than Earl, but not as good of a defender.

 

[ponderguy]

why does no one care that batum is just as bad or even worse? Batum has 17 more turnovers on the year and their A:T ratio is nearly identical. I'll say it again Batum is passing too much and creating unnecessary turnovers that are hurting this team. If Batum becomes more aggressive in trying to score the ball I think it would benefit everyone.

 

[HailBlazers]

why does no one care that batum is just as bad or even worse? Batum has 17 more turnovers on the year and their A:T ratio is nearly identical. I'll say it again Batum is passing too much and creating unnecessary turnovers that are hurting this team. If Batum becomes more aggressive in trying to score the ball I think it would benefit everyone.

Agreed, if Batum could become a consistent scorer along with the rest of his repertoire the Blazers would be infinitely better.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Agreed, if Batum could become a consistent scorer along with the rest of his repertoire the Blazers would be infinitely better.

We'd already be 82-0 if all our players were perfect.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Agreed, if Batum could become a consistent scorer along with the rest of his repertoire the Blazers would be infinitely better.

As a serious answer, Batum is shooting way, way better than Mo, and that's why we're not as angry at him. If Mo shot better, we wouldn't be as mad at him either.

 

[santeesioux]

Dre day all day errday.

 

[mook]

I think Portland has a tendency to play Mo-Ball when he's in. He calls his own number a lot, and his assists come at the cost of ball movement.

Mo has a USG of 20.4%, and an assist% of 28.8%.
Last year Miller had a USG of 17.9% and assist% of 32.2%.

Miller holds the ball less, and passes it to scorers more. And when Miller decides to shoot, he hits a TS% of 55% (to Mo's 49%).

When you have as many scorers as we do, this is what I'd love to see in a backup PG. Especially when he's logging a lot of minutes playing next to Lillard.

And the lobs....dear lord the lobs. Damian, Wes, Batum, LMA....right down to Lopez and Robinson...there are just a ton of guys on this team who would feast on lobs. And it's a skill that would likely rub off on Damian just from being around a PG who throws them so much.

 

[craigehlo]

Nate Robinson may have a torn ACL, so I have a feeling Dre is looking to make it back to the rotation in a big way. Either that or they are going to give him away and enter full tank mode with all the injures they have this season.

 

[ponderguy]

As a serious answer, Batum is shooting way, way better than Mo, and that's why we're not as angry at him. If Mo shot better, we wouldn't be as mad at him either.

I just wish that since he is such a good shooter and can score in a few different ways he'd be more aggressive about it. He's a good 3rd option right now but he could be much better still.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

I love Dre and Mo drives me berserk. BUT:
1. As seen from the Instagram thread, Mo is a seriously important lockerroom presence, while Dre is a notorious loner.
2. Dre is old as dirt. (But then he's always had an old man's game.)
3. If we trade Mo it better be for someone who can play defense, and see 2.
But most seriously:
4. I just don't think his game is compatible with Stotts' system.

Another thought: if Mo is to be traded, it better be to somewhere he wants to go, because he kind of went out on a limb for Olshey to come here and it might hurt Olshey's ability to recruit free agents if we just dump him somewhere.

I think he might like to go to NY, though. I keep toying with a bunch-of-scrubs plus Mo for Chandler and Prigioni trade.

 

[ponderguy]

I love Dre and Mo drives me berserk. BUT:
1. As seen from the Instagram thread, Mo is a seriously important lockerroom presence, while Dre is a notorious loner.
2. Dre is old as dirt. (But then he's always had an old man's game.)
3. If we trade Mo it better be for someone who can play defense, and see 2.
But most seriously:
4. I just don't think his game is compatible with Stotts' system.

Another thought: if Mo is to be traded, it better be to somewhere he wants to go, because he kind of went out on a limb for Olshey to come here and it might hurt Olshey's ability to recruit free agents if we just dump him somewhere.

I think he might like to go to NY, though. I keep toying with a bunch-of-scrubs plus Mo for Chandler and Prigioni trade.

that would be a good fit. I think he'd be perfect for a team like Minnesota too, he'd be a great change of pace guard when they sub out Rubio. Dallas would be a good fit too

 

[BlazerCaravan]

if Mo is to be traded, it better be to somewhere he wants to go, because he kind of went out on a limb for Olshey to come here and it might hurt Olshey's ability to recruit free agents if we just dump him somewhere.

Olshey is made of teflon: Remember, he dumped Camby, and drafted and dumped Eric Gordon. That didn't come back to haunt him in the least.

 

[Scarlett Black]

Meh. I love Dre too, well... I used to but his time is passed. He is too old, can't shoot, and does not fit in the locker room. This idea is a few years too late.

 

[riverman]

Andre Miller rocks! Nobody passes a lob like Dre and he's one of the best post up, rebounding guards in the modern era..Dre won't be back here though. He wants more minutes than our roster has to give.

 

[mook]

Andre Miller rocks! Nobody passes a lob like Dre and he's one of the best post up, rebounding guards in the modern era..Dre won't be back here though. He wants more minutes than our roster has to give.

I think his problem is that he probably doesn't want to go to a lotto team, and he wants lots of minutes. What playoff team is really going to want him out there for 30mpg?

 

[shamelessblazer]

It's the consistency part I worry about with Mo. He's shooting 37% from 3, but only 3 a game, while shooting 6 times from 2 a game at 41.8% (yikes). The assists are nice, but but averages 2 turnovers a game, third on the team behind Damian and Batum, both of whom play 1.5x as much. If Mo played 36 minutes a game like them, he'd average 3 TO's a game, which would be higher than Damian and Batum.

Plus there's the whole Good Mo/Bad Mo thing...

I want Mo to succeed, but I long for knowing what I'll get out of a bench playmaker... It's been a long long time since we had that.

As far as Andre, his per 36s versus Mo:

Mo: 7 AST 3 TO 13.7 PTS
Dre: 6.3 AST 2.1 TO 11.1 PTS

Dat Assist/TO ratio!

Also, Mo is on the court with Aldridge quite a bit putting up those numbers. Give Andre a real post threat and his assists would be higher.

 

[shamelessblazer]

I think Portland has a tendency to play Mo-Ball when he's in. He calls his own number a lot, and his assists come at the cost of ball movement.

Mo has a USG of 20.4%, and an assist% of 28.8%.
Last year Miller had a USG of 17.9% and assist% of 32.2%.

Miller holds the ball less, and passes it to scorers more. And when Miller decides to shoot, he hits a TS% of 55% (to Mo's 49%).

When you have as many scorers as we do, this is what I'd love to see in a backup PG. Especially when he's logging a lot of minutes playing next to Lillard.

And the lobs....dear lord the lobs. Damian, Wes, Batum, LMA....right down to Lopez and Robinson...there are just a ton of guys on this team who would feast on lobs. And it's a skill that would likely rub off on Damian just from being around a PG who throws them so much.

Miller would do wonders for offensive consistency off the bench, and finding Aldridge for easy buckets. Also, Damian could actually play off the ball when Andre is in, which would be great for him.

I think a three way w/Mo & a denver future pick going to NY - who could use shooters next to Carmello, Andre to Portland (and a Denver 2nd rounder maybe), and Shumpert to Denver would make some sense.

Also, if Mo wasn't on the team I think the minutes would work out. Basically the rotation could look like:

Lillard (24)/Andre (24)
Matthews (20) / Lillard (10) / CJ (18)
Batum (34) / Matthews (14)

 

[BlazerCaravan]

As long as Shumpert stays the hell away from Portland...

 

[blue9]

I'm generally not in favor of retreading former players, but 'Dre is an exception. Would love to see him play with Robinson, Freeland and CJ in the second unit. And get some minutes with LMA and Dame. He'd make everyone better.

 

[BBert]

As a serious answer, Batum is shooting way, way better than Mo, and that's why we're not as angry at him. If Mo shot better, we wouldn't be as mad at him either.

Also the defense. Oh, the defense. And Batum's versatility. And again, with Mo, he makes lots of negative plays just by making bad decisions, many of which just don't show up in the stats. A lot of Mo's miscues seem to be 4 or 5 point swings. I think Batum facilitates in ways that don't show up as assists. Batum is constant motion without the ball, and always a three point threat so someone has to pay attention to him. He's just a better player.

 

[BBert]

I just wish that since he is such a good shooter and can score in a few different ways he'd be more aggressive about it. He's a good 3rd option right now but he could be much better still.

I think we all think at least once or twice a game: he should have shot that. And he has the skill to create and take more shots, sure. When he's had injuries (like now) that he thinks affects his shot, he really shuts it down. I think he thinks he's doing what best for the team.