Batum is the true value chip

[magnifier661]

I've read all this talk about the player that could get the best value in return and I think it's batum. He has youth, upside (potential) and the all around game other teams may need.

It may not be the popular opinion, but I just think his time here is over. He's just too passive and just doesn't play with the desire to take over a game.

I know his wrist hurts, but let's look at his entire career. He is a tentative, passive player, that is 3rd to 4th option at best.

I have to say of all the players I'm most frustrated with last night, he was #1. If this guy is hurt, then sit his ass. He's obviously not doing shit anyway.

 

[Natebishop3]

I've read all this talk about the player that could get the best value in return and I think it's batum. He has youth, upside (potential) and the all around game other teams may need.

It may not be the popular opinion, but I just think his time here is over. He's just too passive and just doesn't play with the desire to take over a game.

I know his wrist hurts, but let's look at his entire career. He is a tentative, passive player, that is 3rd to 4th option at best.

I have to say of all the players I'm most frustrated with last night, he was #1. If this guy is hurt, then sit his ass. He's obviously not doing shit anyway.

Batum is overpaid and he's not having an amazing year. Why do you think he's the best trade chip? Aldridge is coming off an All-Star season, he's in his prime, and he's on a reasonable contract for a player of his caliber. What do you realistically think we could get for Batum?

 

[jlprk]

His defense is based upon putting his wrist where it doesn't belong. So it will always get hurt.

 

[magnifier661]

Batum is overpaid and he's not having an amazing year. Why do you think he's the best trade chip? Aldridge is coming off an All-Star season, he's in his prime, and he's on a reasonable contract for a player of his caliber. What do you realistically think we could get for Batum?

Well mainly because he has that wrist injury that we could use as an excuse for his poor play.

Aldridge can give us the most return, but batum can give us the player if need and still have our allstar.

 

[magnifier661]

In all seriousness, I think when Portland matched the offer sheet; we had no idea we would have such a gem in Lillard.

It's now time to build around our only batman. Is batum right for this team?

I could see us use batum and a sign and trade hickson for dalembert, pick and sign and trade redick.

Even after this deal, we would have a good 6-7 million to offer for a starting caliber, defensive sf. I think claver is a solid enough player to be a good back up.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

I agree with everyone in this thread so far (except jlprk, whom I generally ignore anyway).

• Given the option, trading Batum is a more desirable option than trading Aldridge.
• Given his contract and production this year, it seems unlikely that he would net a great return.
• Lillard is clearly the player to build around, and any deal that improves the pieces around him is worthwhile.

If Batum could be traded for a starting-caliber center, I'd be fully on board.

 

[Natebishop3]

Well mainly because he has that wrist injury that we could use as an excuse for his poor play.

Aldridge can give us the most return, but batum can give us the player if need and still have our allstar.

Batum has the ability to put up triple doubles multiple times per season. How many small forwards in the league can do that? And he's only 24. If you look at the free agent list this summer, how many small forwards match Batum's skill set?

Conversely, how many decent power forwards are on the market this summer?

 

[magnifier661]

I agree with everyone in this thread so far (except jlprk, whom I generally ignore anyway).

• Given the option, trading Batum is a more desirable option than trading Aldridge.
• Given his contract and production this year, it seems unlikely that he would net a great return.
• Lillard is clearly the player to build around, and any deal that improves the pieces around him is worthwhile.

If Batum could be traded for a starting-caliber center, I'd be fully on board.

Aldridge is available too. I just think a player like aldridge is a perfect compliment for lillard. batum kind of gets in the way sometimes. I just realized the only untradeable player on this team is Lillard. Time to give the young man a team built for him.

 

[magnifier661]

Batum has the ability to put up triple doubles multiple times per season. How many small forwards in the league can do that? And he's only 24. If you look at the free agent list this summer, how many small forwards match Batum's skill set?

Conversely, how many decent power forwards are on the market this summer?

You are missing the point. We don't need a triple double machine. We need players that work with Lillard. Watching the games in person showed me a glaring issue with batum. He actually gets in the way of the flow of a Lillard offense.

We would be just as fine as a Bruce Bowen type sf that isn't much of a scorer. A player that is pesky and disrupts the other teams flow on the offensive end. Personally claver is better suited for this role. He just needs to be able to finish and make shots consistently.

 

[Hobbesarable]

We need players that work with Lillard. Watching the games in person showed me a glaring issue with batum. He actually gets in the way of the flow of a Lillard offense.

You would not have said that before January 19th, Mags.

 

[BrianFromWA]

Man, I cannot disagree more with the OP contention, but especially vis-a-vis LMA. Maybe something has happened since I stopped being able to watch in January, but a) if Batum somehow gets more in return than LMA then that tells you that your thoughts on LMA are not close to reality and b) assuming that a healthy Batum would be a valuable trade chip, why do you want to give up a guy who's 3 years younger who excels in every single area of the game (passing, shooting, defense, ballhandling) at a higher level than LMA except for post offense (which LMA is doing at a career-low level anyway) in order to build around LMA?

 

[KeepOnRollin]

If Batum wasn't hurt no one would be saying this right now. The guy is a cross between LeBron-lite and Durant-lite. I know people will say I am a homer for saying that (and he of course is not on their level) but the stats bear it out. He is the only across the board contributor in the NBA that puts up 80% of what they do.

 

[Hobbesarable]

Batum has the ability to put up triple doubles multiple times per season. How many small forwards in the league can do that? And he's only 24. If you look at the free agent list this summer, how many small forwards match Batum's skill set?

Conversely, how many decent power forwards are on the market this summer?

Sometimes you make too much sense, NB3!

 

[Pinwheel1]

Batum when healthy is a perfect fit for Lillard. Is he over paid? I don't really care if he makes a couple of million more than he deserves. I just know he is extremely versatile and a solid player to have on the team and is still young. I would not fuck that one up.

Of course watching him last night was excruciating. So as soon as Claver is ready to come back I start thinking about sitting him down and fixing that wrist.

 

[Chuck Taylor]

Before the wrist injury Batum was easily earning his contract, if not more. I would wait until next season to see if he plays great again once the wrist is healed before I hit the panic button.

And just because a guy is a "true value chip", that doesn't mean you should trade him. To me, it means he's one of the guys we should keep!

 

[magnifier661]

You would not have said that before January 19th, Mags.

Well we wouldn't have said that about Aldridge before his ankle injury. But actually; watching batum out there; he looks like he is getting in the way.

This isn't a troll. He seems like he's always bumping into players and disrupting the flow. Pay attention next time and you will see it. It's really weird. Matthews, Aldridge and hickson all give Lillard all the lanes he needs. It's batum that isn't giving him the space.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

The best trading chip we have is Lillard. I'm not sure what the point of this thread is.

 

[magnifier661]

Man, I cannot disagree more with the OP contention, but especially vis-a-vis LMA. Maybe something has happened since I stopped being able to watch in January, but a) if Batum somehow gets more in return than LMA then that tells you that your thoughts on LMA are not close to reality and b) assuming that a healthy Batum would be a valuable trade chip, why do you want to give up a guy who's 3 years younger who excels in every single area of the game (passing, shooting, defense, ballhandling) at a higher level than LMA except for post offense (which LMA is doing at a career-low level anyway) in order to build around LMA?

Never said batum gets us more in value. I said we'd be better off trading batum and building players on the real batman; which is Lillard. Aldridge is a fine robin. He has understood the moment Lillard became batman; just like being robin to Roy.

Also who said build around lma? I already said build around the true batman. His name is Lillard.

 

[Hobbesarable]

Well we wouldn't have said that about Aldridge before his ankle injury. But actually; watching batum out there; he looks like he is getting in the way.

This isn't a troll. He seems like he's always bumping into players and disrupting the flow. Pay attention next time and you will see it. It's really weird. Matthews, Aldridge and hickson all give Lillard all the lanes he needs. It's batum that isn't giving him the space.

This thread is not about LA, it's about Batum. You should not attempt sidetracks from your original op!

Batum shouldn't be out there right now. It's obvious his wrist is affecting his game. You watched him 1 game this season at the Rose Garden and this means "you're paying attention?"

 

[magnifier661]

This thread is not about LA, it's about Batum. You need to attempt sidetracks from your original op!

Batum shouldn't be out there right now. It's obvious his wrist is affecting his game. You watched him 1 game this at the Rose Garden and this means "you're paying attention?"

Well tell that to the other posters. Just replying to those that talked about Aldridge.

And I've been watching him all season. I just used tonight's game as a reference, since it was the game fresh in people's minds. There is a reason why his fg% is terrible "all season" even before his wrist injury

 

[Hobbesarable]

Never said batum gets us more in value. I said we'd be better off trading batum and building players on the real batman; which is Lillard. Aldridge is a fine robin. He has understood the moment Lillard became batman; just like being robin to Roy.

You said the following in a different thread:

"After watching the game last night, I actually think nic is the player we could get good value in return. He will get us the best player in return. Has all the "potential" and "what ifs" needed to totally get the star back."

Looks like you're equating "value" and "best player" in the same sentence, Mags.

 

[magnifier661]

You said the following in a different thread:

"After watching the game last night, I actually think nic is the player we could get good value in return. He will get us the best player in return. Has all the "potential" and "what ifs" needed to totally get the star back."

Looks like you're equating "value" and "best player" in the same sentence, Mags.

We would get the best value for our need. Aldridge is more valuable to this team than batum. It's pretty simple actually.

 

[e_blazer]

The best "trading chip" would depend on who the Blazers were trying to acquire and what the trading partner needs/wants. Outside of Lillard, nobody on the Blazers' roster is untouchable if the right player came along.

I don't understand why so many of you advocate taking the best player available in the draft and then take the trade for needed position tack when you're looking at off-season moves. Olshey showed in the CP3 deal that he's the kind of guy who will trade whatever good pieces are necessary to get a great one. Once you have the great piece, then you can fill in around them. I think he's looking to make the same kind of move with the Blazers' roster. There may not be a great player available this year, so he may look to acquire other good players so that eventually, when there's that disgruntled star demanding his way out of some other city, he's able to jump in and trade whomever is necessary to make the deal happen.

I don't mind trading Batum or Aldridge, but it had better be because there's a significantly better player coming back to the Blazers. Lateral swaps to fill in a position would be dumb, IMHO. I'd rather stick with our basic starting roster as is, fill in a couple of solid bench players, and wait to see if Leonard can develop into the center of the future.

 

[magnifier661]

This is the thing. Batum is a 10 mil player. We have around 11 mil in cap space. We could actually use batum, maybe a couple other players and the cap space to obtain a high profile player of a team that wants to she'd cap space and still have a potential "high profile" player in return.

 

[magnifier661]

The best "trading chip" would depend on who the Blazers were trying to acquire and what the trading partner needs/wants. Outside of Lillard, nobody on the Blazers' roster is untouchable if the right player came along.

I don't understand why so many of you advocate taking the best player available in the draft and then take the trade for needed position tack when you're looking at off-season moves. Olshey showed in the CP3 deal that he's the kind of guy who will trade whatever good pieces are necessary to get a great one. Once you have the great piece, then you can fill in around them. I think he's looking to make the same kind of move with the Blazers' roster. There may not be a great player available this year, so he may look to acquire other good players so that eventually, when there's that disgruntled star demanding his way out of some other city, he's able to jump in and trade whomever is necessary to make the deal happen.

I don't mind trading Batum or Aldridge, but it had better be because there's a significantly better player coming back to the Blazers. Lateral swaps to fill in a position would be dumb, IMHO. I'd rather stick with our basic starting roster as is, fill in a couple of solid bench players, and wait to see if Leonard can develop into the center of the future.

That's what I'm hoping for. We could get that volume scoring wing for batum. One that can create his own shot, and has that killer instinct. I don't see much killer instinct in pfs or centers available. I think we need a harden type player more than ever.

 

[Hobbesarable]

Man, I cannot disagree more with the OP contention, but especially vis-a-vis LMA. Maybe something has happened since I stopped being able to watch in January, but a) if Batum somehow gets more in return than LMA then that tells you that your thoughts on LMA are not close to reality and b) assuming that a healthy Batum would be a valuable trade chip, why do you want to give up a guy who's 3 years younger who excels in every single area of the game (passing, shooting, defense, ballhandling) at a higher level than LMA except for post offense (which LMA is doing at a career-low level anyway) in order to build around LMA?

Again, I agree with you Brian.

 

[Pinwheel1]

This is the thing. Batum is a 10 mil player. We have around 11 mil in cap space. We could actually use batum, maybe a couple other players and the cap space to obtain a high profile player of a team that wants to she'd cap space and still have a potential "high profile" player in return.

I guess in that rare situation it would be OK. But do we want those players if we have to give up value? In a lopsided trade sure, when it is all about cap space and Paul Allen's money. But what hypothetical players are you thinking about?

 

[KeepOnRollin]

That's what I'm hoping for. We could get that volume scoring wing for batum. One that can create his own shot, and has that killer instinct. I don't see much killer instinct in pfs or centers available. I think we need a harden type player more than ever.

Those players are few and far between. SG's drop off after the top 3 and one of those guys is really old (Kobe). You aren't getting Harden even if giving up Batum and cap space or filler/picks.

 

[magnifier661]

I guess in that rare situation it would be OK. But do we want those players if we have to give up value? In a lopsided trade sure, when it is all about cap space and Paul Allen's money. But what hypothetical players are you thinking about?

Aldridge + batum for harden and asik?

 

[magnifier661]

Those players are few and far between. SG's drop off after the top 3 and one of those guys is really old (Kobe). You aren't getting Harden even if giving up Batum and cap space or filler/picks.

I was thinking more in line with Aldridge and batum for harden and asik.

I think Aldridge would be fine going to Houston; which he's always played much better in Texas. Batum, Linn (more of a lob guy distributor) and batum is a decent combo; IMO. They have other good pieces to build around that core.

Harden, Lillard and Matthews is a sexy core; with asik and Leonard being the front court of their future. Plus hickson could be retained to be a starter; then reserve up when Leonard can take over. Having harden and Lillard as the starting backcourt is really deadly. It would be a fucking nightmare for teams to defend