Ben Golliver on 1080

[JfizzleBlazer]

Why would Golden State move Klay Thompson for Batum? I don't think that is realistic.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Why would Golden State move Klay Thompson for Batum? I don't think that is realistic.

I think a one for one swap isn't that far off in terms of talent ... the salaries on the other hand.

 

[GriLtCheeZ]

Klay, Biedrens, and the 7th for Batum?

Batum can't be traded or even negotiated with until after the draft right? Anyway, say the Warriors drafted a guy the Blazers liked, and Batum wanted to go there could the recent draftee (7th pick) even be traded? There seem to be too many moving parts to this proposal is what I'm trying to say.

 

[Natebishop3]

Batum can't be traded or even negotiated with until after the draft right? Anyway, say the Warriors drafted a guy the Blazers liked, and Batum wanted to go there could the recent draftee (7th pick) even be traded? There seem to be too many moving parts to this proposal is what I'm trying to say.

Yeah he can't be traded until after July 1st. It would have to be something that was agreed upon and then executed after the fact.

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

I think a one for one swap isn't that far off in terms of talent ... the salaries on the other hand.

Agree with that. Like you said though, the salaries.... makes no sense to want to pay a comparable talent 3-4 times as much the next 3 years.

 

[Mediocre Man]

The team needs to rebuild through the draft. The core just isn't there yet to compete.

*Wes is a below average starting SG
*Batum is an average starting SF
*No legit starting C
*No legit starting PG

"The team management are in denial." Ben said what a lot of fans have been saying all year: this team NEEDS a rebuild. The best option is to trade up and get that player who can be a major impact player in a year or two.

Other than Nic being slightly above average, everything he said is exactly true

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Yeah he can't be traded until after July 1st. It would have to be something that was agreed upon and then executed after the fact.

Not to mention that Batum would have to agree to a S&T, and that that would be contingent upon him not receiving and accepting a better offer from another team (since you can't S&T an RFA match).

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

Goliver is a blogger, a blazer fan with a website. He has no more credibility than most of us on this forum.
I dont understand why the local sports stations give him so much love.

 

[e_blazer]

Other than Nic being slightly above average, everything he said is exactly what I believe.

FTFY

 

[Mediocre Man]

FTFY

It didn't need fixing

Wes Matthews PER was 14.12, which is below average for an NBA player, much less a starter

Nic's was 17.32, which is above average, and what I said

Our only center on the roster right this moment is Kurt Thomas

Our only PG on the roster right now is Nolan Smith

So again, what about what he said isn't true?

 

[Mediocre Man]

Goliver is a blogger, a blazer fan with a website. He has no more credibility than most of us on this forum.
I dont understand why the local sports stations give him so much love.

Because he's not a talking head that is a Blazer employee? Will actually be critical of an organization that deserves to be questioned on some things? I mean other than Nic, did he say anything that wasn't true?

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

Because he's not a talking head that is a Blazer employee? Will actually be critical of an organization that deserves to be questioned on some things? I mean other than Nic, did he say anything that wasn't true?

That wasnt my point. He's just a fan with a website. I dont understand why he gets more attention then other hardcore fans. But props to him for making a living off of it.

 

[Mediocre Man]

That wasnt my point. He's just a fan with a website. I dont understand why he gets more attention then other hardcore fans. But props to him for making a living off of it.

I realize he is "just a fan", but fans can have just as much if not more insight to the game of basketball than beat writers, or even someone like Barrett or Wheels.

What he said was almost spot on, so it's hard to discredit him, IMO

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

I realize he is "just a fan", but fans can have just as much if not more insight to the game of basketball than beat writers, or even someone like Barrett or Wheels.

What he said was almost spot on, so it's hard to discredit him, IMO

Agree. Fans are less likely to let their hidden agendas and professional bias to get in the way.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

That wasnt my point. He's just a fan with a website. I dont understand why he gets more attention then other hardcore fans. But props to him for making a living off of it.

Was just a fan. He's a reporter for CBS Sports. Reading his tweets I think they have him covering the Miami/Boston series in person.

 

[tlongII]

We need to KEEP our picks. We need talent and we need depth. We should be able to get some quality with both picks in the top 11 in this draft. Keep the picks, sign a good FA, and in a couple of years we should be in business.

 

[Mediocre Man]

We need to KEEP our picks. We need talent and we need depth. We should be able to get some quality with both picks in the top 11 in this draft. Keep the picks, sign a good FA, and in a couple of years we should be in business.

I agree wholeheartedly, I just don't think it will happen unless the new GM is a believer in that strategy and has PA's ear

 

[Blaze01]

Kind of rooting for Neil Olshey to get the GM job...Seems to have a good eye for talent and I think would utilize both picks...

 

[Mediocre Man]

Kind of rooting for Neil Olshey to get the GM job...Seems to have a good eye for talent and I think would utilize both picks...

He also is working on a month to month contract in LA

 

[ppilot]

That wasnt my point. He's just a fan with a website. I dont understand why he gets more attention then other hardcore fans. But props to him for making a living off of it.

You realize that some of the best sports commentary/analysis comes from blogs, right?

 

[ironcrotch]

Goliver is a blogger, a blazer fan with a website. He has no more credibility than most of us on this forum.
I dont understand why the local sports stations give him so much love.

I know Ben personally, and he's much more then a blogger. He has press credentials and has A LOT of access and is always at Blazers practices and events. The guy knows his stuff. To cast him off because he writes for a sports blog is very short sighted.

 

[Natebishop3]

I know Ben personally, and he's much more then a blogger. He has press credentials and has A LOT of access and is always at Blazers practices and events. The guy knows his stuff. To cast him off because he writes for a sports blog

Being at the practices and games is helpful, no doubt, but true insider info requires sources. Real sources, not those unnamed ones that Canzano has. Having credentials gives only access to the show, but doesn't guarantee information. I have no idea how connected Ben actually is though.

 

[e_blazer]

It didn't need fixing

Wes Matthews PER was 14.12, which is below average for an NBA player, much less a starter

Nic's was 17.32, which is above average, and what I said

Our only center on the roster right this moment is Kurt Thomas

Our only PG on the roster right now is Nolan Smith

So again, what about what he said isn't true?

The opinion parts that you left out are highlighted below:

The team needs to rebuild through the draft. The core just isn't there yet to compete.

*Wes is a below average starting SG
*Batum is an average starting SF
*No legit starting C
*No legit starting PG

"The team management are in denial." Ben said what a lot of fans have been saying all year: this team NEEDS a rebuild. The best option is to trade up and get that player who can be a major impact player in a year or two.

 

[Draco]

Batum can't be traded or even negotiated with until after the draft right? Anyway, say the Warriors drafted a guy the Blazers liked, and Batum wanted to go there could the recent draftee (7th pick) even be traded? There seem to be too many moving parts to this proposal is what I'm trying to say.

Yeah he can't be traded until after July 1st. It would have to be something that was agreed upon and then executed after the fact.

Has this ever happened once in the history of the NBA?

 

[PapaG]

Kind of rooting for Neil Olshey to get the GM job...Seems to have a good eye for talent and I think would utilize both picks...

He's a Warren LaGarie client. If PA is still butthurt about LaGarie, then it doesn't really matter is Olshey is the best man for the job, does it?

 

[Masbee]

Batum has an above average PER.

HOWEVER:

He has never averaged starters minutes. 30 minutes per game.

When Nik has a full season under his belt averaging 35+ minutes per game AND his PER is still well north of 15, then we can confidently label him "Above Average".

Right now I think he is about average.

Compare Batum to a player often mentioned on this board who has a similar PER - Andre Iguodala.

He has averaged 38 minutes per game for his freakin career.

THAT is a starter. And that is a player you can cofidently say is "above average". Nik still has to grow as a player.

 

[e_blazer]

Batum has an above average PER.

HOWEVER:

He has never averaged starters minutes. 30 minutes per game.

When Nik has a full season under his belt averaging 35+ minutes per game AND his PER is still well north of 15, then we can confidently label him "Above Average".

Right now I think he is about average.

Compare Batum to a player often mentioned on this board who has a similar PER - Andre Iguodala.

He has averaged 38 minutes per game for his freakin career.

THAT is a starter. And that is a player you can cofidently say is "above average". Nik still has to grow as a player.

So, a starter has to be given starter's minutes before you can label him as a starter? Makes sense, I guess, but I'm not sure how much fault belongs to Nic for the Blazers having had Gerald Wallace on the roster taking up minutes at the SF spot.

 

[Ed O]

So, a starter has to be given starter's minutes before you can label him as a starter? Makes sense, I guess, but I'm not sure how much fault belongs to Nic for the Blazers having had Gerald Wallace on the roster taking up minutes at the SF spot.

A player needs to contribute at a certain level over a certain amount of time in order to have the level of production matter.

If Batum started and played 13 minutes a game and had a 25 PER, would he be an MVP-level player? Almost certainly not.

Batum (again, right now, not forever) doesn't play a lot of minutes, and while he produces at a pretty good level for those minutes, I agree with Masbee that he's average until he can put up better-than-average numbers for more minutes.

Ed O.

 

[MickZagger]

Batum has an above average PER.

HOWEVER:

He has never averaged starters minutes. 30 minutes per game.

When Nik has a full season under his belt averaging 35+ minutes per game AND his PER is still well north of 15, then we can confidently label him "Above Average".

Right now I think he is about average.

Compare Batum to a player often mentioned on this board who has a similar PER - Andre Iguodala.

He has averaged 38 minutes per game for his freakin career.

THAT is a starter. And that is a player you can cofidently say is "above average". Nik still has to grow as a player.

Its going to be interesting to see how Nic does with a coach that actually knows how to utilize him.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Its going to be interesting to see how Nic does with a coach that actually knows how to utilize him.

I'm sure Popovich will figure it out