Blazers getting "Closer" to reaching a deal

[OSUBlazerfan]

with Chicago for TT


Smokescreen, gotta be

Portland has joined San Antonio, Denver, Charlotte, and Sacramento in the pursuit of Tyrus Thomas, with one person familiar with the situation characterizing the Blazers as “close” to finding a workable scenario. Rival execs have contradicted that account, saying the Bulls are telling them they need to sweeten their offers. Chicago is seeking a quality draft pick in addition to cap relief. Denver and Charlotte have conditional 2010 second-round picks from previous trades, and Denver also could offer a second-round pick that can be swapped with the Clippers.

One person familiar with the situation characterizing the Blazers as “close” to finding a workable scenario.

http://ken-berger.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/11838893/20035997

 

[Nikolokolus]

Why do you say smokescreen? You mean KP's trying to obscure the fact that he'll probably make no trades?

 

[OSUBlazerfan]

Why do you say smokescreen? You mean KP's trying to obscure the fact that he'll probably make no trades?

No, smokescreen by Chicago...

 

[Blazer_Hippie]

Seems like there is so much contradictory info being leaked that this one might have a chance...1 week to go until we know...

 

[Nikolokolus]

No, smokescreen by Chicago...

I guess.

Pesonally it fits the profile of what KP would be after. He's been long rumored to like Hinrich, and Tyrus would give this team a solid backup 4 with legitimate shot blocking skills for at least 30 games and maybe more if they decide they really like him.

I'm not wild about getting either player, but a Dre, Roy, Hinrich + whomever backcourt has some nice potential for the next couple of years ... although I'm a little leery of Kirk's production on offense which seems to have fallen off of a cliff the past couple of years, and Thomas (while flawed) does provide some hustle, some toughness and some attitude.

 

[MIXUM]

would be kinda funny to get thomas and aldridge.

we traded him once.... why not get him back?

with that said... thomas is a PF not a center. not even close.

 

[MIXUM]

dwight thinks we deal


We’re about a week away from the trade deadline and I think that this time around, the Trail Blazers are going to pull the trigger on something.

Two reasons:

First, the obvious — the team needs another big man. And make no mistake, this is a long-term need, not just a temporary fix. Last summer, Portland chased free-agent Paul Millsap — indicating the team felt then that there was a distinct need for another big body who could rebound, play defense and provide inside scoring.

Now, with Greg Oden and Joel Przybilla out for the season, that need is magnified. So there is a definite need for another “big.”

But on top of that, the more serious motivation for a deal is the pending logjam at the smaller positions as Travis Outlaw and Brandon Roy return to the lineup after the All-Star break. Already, there are too many players for the available minutes. We saw at the beginning of the season how hard it is to keep everyone happy with playing time.

It’s not fair to coach Nate McMillan to keep making him deal with those issues. And the team’s roster is seriously out of balance with way too many small players and not enough big ones.

And really, doesn’t this team know by now who it wants to keep and who it is willing to deal? I would certainly hope so. My guess is that Martell Webster, Outlaw, Steve Blake and Jerryd Bayless are all available.

Who will come back in a deal? Your guess is as good as mine. There are undoubtedly players out there available who we didn’t know about. Kevin Pritchard will find somebody. I would guess there’s a young big man, perhaps a little more untested than we’d like, out there who could grow with this young team.

With the deadline now less than a week away, it’s going to be a fun time.

 

[mook]

I could get behind a deal for Thomas. That's an investment in the future that also solves short-term problems. He's not a true center, but he's big enough to masquerade there, or let Aldridge slide over while he plays PF.

Thomas is in a similar situation to Rudy. Lots of hype about upside when he was first added, yet despite significant minutes he hasn't been able to prove he's high quality starter material when opportunities arise.

I'd prefer Bass or Milsap, but yeah, I could get behind Thomas.

 

[MIXUM]

i agree but we arent getting milsap or bass.

 

[Chuck Taylor]

As I've said before, I think going after Anthony Randolph or Tyrus Thomas would be wise. They are both young and would fit with our core group well, IMO. I would prefer Randolph, but it sounds like he's out for the season. With Thomas, you get another big to help us this season, and if we keep him around, a true backup 4. I've never been sold on the idea of having Outlaw be our backup 4.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Thomas a center? I remember when he was drafted, it was pointed out that he and Rudy Gay were weirdly identical - same height, same weight (same hops). Would you play Rudy Gay at center?

 

[e_blazer]

Agree that TT is a good fit here. He's not an out-of-the-park kind of an acquisition, but he's got some skills and he fits the age profile. Thinning the herd in the small positions is a good thing.

I don't think there's any way the Blazers take on Hinrich. His contract is ugly, his production has fallen off a cliff the past few years, and we don't need another guard.

 

[Nikolokolus]

The more I think about it, the more I wonder if the Hinrich and Thomas deal makes sense. Neither player is a star, but they are both serviceable players who can play a role, and while it would probably take a 4 for 2 deal to pull it off, I'm warming up to it ... Something like this maybe?

http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=yzha65w

In the end that leaves us with the following lineup this season

Dre/Hinrich/Mills
Roy/Rudy
Batum/Dante
Aldridge/Thomas/Dante
Howard/Pendergraph

And this the next

Dre/Hinrich/?
Roy/Rudy
Batum/Dante
Aldridge/Thomas/Howard?
Greg/Pryz/Pendergraph

You still have some decent outside shooting with Rudy, Batum, and Hinrich to help space the floor some, you've got a guy in Hinrcich who can defend two positions, Dante can play some backup 3 or 4 at a cheap price, Thomas proivides a very different look than Aldridge at both ends of the court and you presumably end up with a more balanced roster that's got some actual depth in the frontcourt where it's probably needed with Joel and Greg's injury history.

The Bulls do it because they get cap relief for this summer (and remove Thomas' caphold) and they get two serviceable players in Bayless and Webster.

 

[Blaze01]

I wouldn't mind acquiring Thomas, however I do think there are some more intriguing options out there....namely Andris Biedrins or Caron Butler

 

[Nikolokolus]

I wouldn't mind acquiring Thomas, however I do think there are some more intriguing options out there....namely Andris Biedrins or Caron Butler

I agree that I'd love to take Biedrins over Thomas.

 

[julius]

I wouldn't mind acquiring Thomas, however I do think there are some more intriguing options out there....namely Andris Biedrins or Caron Butler

I dont see the point in getting Thomas, we have him already in Travis Outlaw. Nor am I sure why Butler should be high on peoples list.

To utilize him, you'll be taking away minutes from Batum, and he's not nearly as good as people think he is. It'll also take away minutes from Rudy (if he's not traded) and Bayless (same).

If they make a trade, and knowing KP's track record it seems doubtful, they should get a backup 4/5. Who that is, I don't know.

 

[hasoos]

The more I think about it, the more I wonder if the Hinrich and Thomas deal makes sense. Neither player is a star, but they are both serviceable players who can play a role, and while it would probably take a 4 for 2 deal to pull it off, I'm warming up to it ... Something like this maybe?

http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=yzha65w

In the end that leaves us with the following lineup this season

Dre/Hinrich/Mills
Roy/Rudy
Batum/Dante
Aldridge/Thomas/Dante
Howard/Pendergraph

And this the next

Dre/Hinrich/?
Roy/Rudy
Batum/Dante
Aldridge/Thomas/Howard?
Greg/Pryz/Pendergraph

You still have some decent outside shooting with Rudy, Batum, and Hinrich to help space the floor some, you've got a guy in Hinrcich who can defend two positions, Dante can play some backup 3 or 4 at a cheap price, Thomas proivides a very different look than Aldridge at both ends of the court and you presumably end up with a more balanced roster that's got some actual depth in the frontcourt where it's probably needed with Joel and Greg's injury history.

The Bulls do it because they get cap relief for this summer (and remove Thomas' caphold) and they get two serviceable players in Bayless and Webster.

I agree. Hinrich has had a rough year shooting, but I believe it is due to the fact that Ben Gordon took more of a load scoring wise than Chicago believed before letting him go. That additional pressure has caused problems for players not ready for it. Here he would have Roy to take that pressure off and return him to where he was a year ago.

I believe both players would increase the toughness of the team, which this team really needs. Both have playoff experience, including that epic series against Boston last year (one of the best playoff series in history IMO).

Tyrus Thomas you have to weigh the postives aganist the negatives. While he tends to drive you crazy on offense occasionally, sometimes he comes through due to crazy athleticism (much like Travis does). Unlike Travis though, Tyrus Thomas has defense in his game. He blocks shots, and he gets steals. He can finish on the break, just throw it up and let him go get it. If he was actually playing more than 20 minutes a game, he would be averaging up near 10+ rebounds a game. Almost 7 rebounds in 22 minutes is a great ratio.

Hell who knows what happens with his game if you give him to Bill Bayno for a summer. That guy has worked wonders.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I dont see the point in getting Thomas, we have him already in Travis Outlaw. Nor am I sure why Butler should be high on peoples list.

To utilize him, you'll be taking away minutes from Batum, and he's not nearly as good as people think he is. It'll also take away minutes from Rudy (if he's not traded) and Bayless (same).

If they make a trade, and knowing KP's track record it seems doubtful, they should get a backup 4/5. Who that is, I don't know.

Thomas and Trav are both players without a great feel for the game, but where Travis is mostly a gunner on offense, with little defense, Thomas is poor (or inconsistent) offensive player but an energy guy on the boards and on defense, generating a lot of steals and blocks per minute.

 

[noknobs]

In the end that leaves us with the following lineup this season

Dre/Hinrich/Mills
Roy/Rudy
Batum/Dante
Aldridge/Thomas/Dante
Howard/Pendergraph

And this the next

Dre/Hinrich/?
Roy/Rudy
Batum/Dante
Aldridge/Thomas/Howard?
Greg/Pryz/Pendergraph

I honestly don't see an improvement this year, or next. If we're trading four guys away, I'd like to see an improvement. At best this is a lateral move. IMO.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Lateral in what sense?

 

[hasoos]

I honestly don't see an improvement this year, or next. If we're trading four guys away, I'd like to see an improvement. At best this is a lateral move. IMO.

Sometimes when there are playing time problems on the team, something as simple as a roster shortening move can be a team improver. You will note most of our recent issues started happening when players started coming back, which has been my concern all along.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Sometimes when there are playing time problems on the team, something as simple as a roster shortening move can be a team improver. You will note most of our recent issues started happening when players started coming back, which has been my concern all along.

I fully concur ... I guess this is where I see the value in the 4 for 2 deal ... especially since the incoming players don't particularly overlap with any of the players that would be left. Hinrich's offense this season hasn't been much different than Blake's this season, but he's a better defender. Thomas has holes in his game, but as a fourth man in the front court who can provide defense, rebounding and energy, there's nobody on the team quite like him (maybe Dante in a year or two?).

 

[noknobs]

Lateral in what sense?

I don't think it makes us better or worse... Is there another sense I could mean?

Sometimes when there are playing time problems on the team, something as simple as a roster shortening move can be a team improver. You will note most of our recent issues started happening when players started coming back, which has been my concern all along.

I understand that, but this just seems like making a trade for the sake of making a trade. It doesn't solve our problems, I think we could do better.

 

[axs88]

The more I think about it, the more I wonder if the Hinrich and Thomas deal makes sense. Neither player is a star, but they are both serviceable players who can play a role, and while it would probably take a 4 for 2 deal to pull it off, I'm warming up to it ... Something like this maybe?

http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=yzha65w

In the end that leaves us with the following lineup this season

Dre/Hinrich/Mills
Roy/Rudy
Batum/Dante
Aldridge/Thomas/Dante
Howard/Pendergraph

And this the next

Dre/Hinrich/?
Roy/Rudy
Batum/Dante
Aldridge/Thomas/Howard?
Greg/Pryz/Pendergraph

You still have some decent outside shooting with Rudy, Batum, and Hinrich to help space the floor some, you've got a guy in Hinrcich who can defend two positions, Dante can play some backup 3 or 4 at a cheap price, Thomas proivides a very different look than Aldridge at both ends of the court and you presumably end up with a more balanced roster that's got some actual depth in the frontcourt where it's probably needed with Joel and Greg's injury history.

The Bulls do it because they get cap relief for this summer (and remove Thomas' caphold) and they get two serviceable players in Bayless and Webster.

I don't like giving up Bayless just to add Hinrich, if we can have Thomas without him. He's kinda redundant with Miller (different player of course). I'd rather get Deng from them:

From CBS sports:

In addition to peddling Kirk Hinrich, sources say the Bulls also are exploring interest in Luol Deng, who has four years and $51 million left after this season. Trading both of them – or packaging one of them with Thomas – would provide Chicago with enough cap space to score two max free agents this coming summer, effectively placing them on equal footing with the Heat in the 2010 chase. • The Warriors continue to peddle Andris Biedrins (four years and $36 million left) to achieve cost-savings

 

[hasoos]

I fully concur ... I guess this is where I see the value in the 4 for 2 deal ... especially since the incoming players don't particularly overlap with any of the players that would be left. Hinrich's offense this season hasn't been much different than Blake's this season, but he's a better defender. Thomas has holes in his game, but as a fourth man in the front court who can provide defense, rebounding and energy, there's nobody on the team quite like him (maybe Dante in a year or two?).

The other thing I noticed about Hinrich which is one thing I look for in players: His shooting percentage is better in the playoffs. One thing I look for in players to bring in, is the ability to elevate their game in the playoffs. Thomas, not so much, in fact I would say he has struggled some in the playoffs. But he tends to be an effort guy, so it is not a game breaker with him.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I don't like giving up Bayless just to add Hinrich, if we can have Thomas without him. He's kinda redundant with Miller (different player of course). I'd rather get Deng from them:

From CBS sports:

I included Bayless because I believe you have to give something to get something ... and as much as I like Jerryd's demeanor, attack the basket style and potential as a Vinnie 'Microwave' Johnson type player, I've seen a couple of things that worry me about his long term fit with this team. He doesn't see the floor that well, he really struggles to hit jump shots, and he's most effective as a ball dominant player which doesn't bode well for his fit with Brandon. Hinrich is definitely on a down year shooting the ball which worries me some, but I also know that Del Negro really doesn't run an offense that creates open looks and Kirk's numbers have gone down ever since he took over, I suspect that a change of scenery might be just what he needs.

But in the end what the deal does is give you two veteran guards to man the point with very different styles for the next couple of years (at least) and if Koponen keeps developing as he's reportedly doing in the Euroleagues maybe you bring him over when Dre's contract ends and hope that he becomes a long term answer.

 

[LittleAlex]

Why do you say smokescreen? You mean KP's trying to obscure the fact that he'll probably make no trades?

I just read two days ago an interview with KP where he pretty much said he wasn't going to make any deals this season.

Here is the link.

I couldn't find any comment in the interview that gave me any hope there will be a trade this season.

 

[Shooter]

Personally it fits the profile of what KP would be after. He's been long rumored to like Hinrich . . .

Huh? I see no mention of Heinrich in the deal.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I just read two days ago an interview with KP where he pretty much said he wasn't going to make any deals this season.

Here is the link.

I couldn't find any comment in the interview that gave me any hope there will be a trade this season.

I tend to agree ... but it's always fun to speculate this time of year.

 

[axs88]

I included Bayless because I believe you have to give something to get something ... and as much as I like Jerryd's demeanor, attack the basket style and potential as a Vinnie 'Microwave' Johnson type player, I've seen a couple of things that worry me about his long term fit with this team. He doesn't see the floor that well, he really struggles to hit jump shots, and he's most effective as a ball dominant player which doesn't bode well for his fit with Brandon. Hinrich is definitely on a down year shooting the ball which worries me some, but I also know that Del Negro really doesn't run an offense that creates open looks and Kirk's numbers have gone down ever since he took over, I suspect that a change of scenery might be just what he needs.

But in the end what the deal does is give you two veteran guards to man the point with very different styles for the next couple of years (at least) and if Koponen keeps developing as he's reportedly doing in the Euroleagues maybe you bring him over when Dre's contract ends and hope that he becomes a long term answer.

I value Bayless more than Rudy, so I'd rather include him. I could talk myself into Rudy, Martell and expirings for Thomas and Deng (don't know if it matches up)... but then again, the main reason I like Deng is he can play 3 and 4 so he'd be better for the future minute crunch than getting a pure 3 -- which in turn would make Thomas obsolete (for the future at least, but he's expiring, so no biggie).

I have to say I don't envy KP. I don't see any big slam dunk trades for us out there. If we could take on Jamison for expirings, or Butler with Rudy, sure, but it seems like they prefer unloading both, and we don't have the salaries to match up.