Butler In the Mix for Blazers?

[Shapecity]

Not only is Greg Oden out for the year, but the Trail Blazers are also dealing with injuries to Travis Outlaw, Rudy Fernandez and Nicolas Batum.

GM Kevin Pritchard hinted they might seek out some personnel help to soften the blow of these losses.

So who would fit in nice for them? In his chat today, ESPN's John Hollinger throws out the Wizards' Caron Butler.

"The Blazers will look really hard at any deal for a stretch 4 who can replace what Outlaw was giving them," he writes. "That's the big priority right now. I also think they wouldn't mind dealing for a true 3, and it's my sneaking suspicion that if Caron Butler came available they'd say yes in a nanosecond."

Considering the Wizards have slumped out to a 7-12 record, and Butler's scoring is down a bit, it might be an amicable deal for both sides if the Trail Blazers can give them some value in return.

Source: ESPN

Bucher ...

"I believe they need a stretch 4. What is hard to see is Butler being a fit because he needs the ball in his hands. Too many guys needing the ball is the Blazers' problem. What has to be killing the Blazers is that the stretch 4 they need they had -- Channing Frye."

 

[OSUBlazerfan]

Only in my dreams.....

 

[hasoos]

What the fuck do they think Lamarcus is? An inside 4?

 

[Minstrel]

Butler would be great. But who does Portland trade for him? Blake and Outlaw? Completely unrealistic...the Blazers would never give up Blake.

 

[hasoos]

Butler would be great. But who does Portland trade for him? Blake and Outlaw? Completely unrealistic...the Blazers would never give up Blake.

Agreed. So maybe Miller on the 15th?

 

[Mediocre Man]

I love how the National media is seeing that we can't add players with any skill because they need the ball.


Roy has been very bad for the franchise this season

 

[Kaydow]

I love how the National media is seeing that we can't add players with any skill because they need the ball.


Roy has been very bad for the franchise this season

What's funny is that we need scoring. Right now it's Roy and Aldridge. I guess we need to find a guy who can score without the ball in his hands?

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

I'd love a SF rotation of Bulter/Batum.

A legit second option.

 

[Mediocre Man]

What's funny is that we need scoring. Right now it's Roy and Aldridge. I guess we need to find a guy who can score without the ball in his hands?

As soon as Roy, LA and Nate realize that, we will become a better team

 

[hasoos]

As soon as Roy, LA and Nate realize that, we will become a better team

Yea, I mean because back a few generations ago of Blazers, I am sure Scottie Pippen, Steve Smith, Damon Stoudemire, Rasheed Wallace, Brian Grant and Arvydas Sabonis could never function because they needed to touch the ball.....

 

[Mediocre Man]

Yea, I mean because back a few generations ago of Blazers, I am sure Scottie Pippen, Steve Smith, Damon Stoudemire, Rasheed Wallace, Brian Grant and Arvydas Sabonis could never function because they needed to touch the ball.....

Or Clyde, Terry, Jerome, Duck, Buck, Uncle Cliffy and Ainge

 

[hasoos]

Or Clyde, Terry, Jerome, Duck, Buck, Uncle Cliffy and Ainge

Both of those teams had so much more talent then this team, it cracks me up when they say there isn't enough basketball for everybody. That is just flat out bullshit. The problem is the number of attempts were getting up per game.

 

[drexlersdad]

they would want rudy and bayless me thinks

 

[LittleAlex]

Both of those teams had so much more talent then this team, it cracks me up when they say there isn't enough basketball for everybody. That is just flat out bullshit. The problem is the number of attempts were getting up per game.

It wouldn't be so bad if Portland played at a moderate pace. But they don't. They play at an insanely slow pace which makes every shot taken much more important.

It's just crazy.


And it isn't going to get any better any time soon.

 

[andalusian]

What's funny is that we need scoring. Right now it's Roy and Aldridge. I guess we need to find a guy who can score without the ball in his hands?

Man, it is amusing how much we miss Travis, especially after all the griping how much he hurts us...

 

[Kaydow]

Man, it is amusing how much we miss Travis, especially after all the griping how much he hurts us...

I've thought that so many times this year. Before Oden & Rudy went down we were struggling offensively. We basically have one guy who can beat his defender to the basket or shoot a jumper over the top (Roy) That is pretty tough when most of your offense are Iso plays. Say what you want about Travis, but dude hit tough shots. And he did it a lot in the 4th quarter (last season anyways) On the nights Roy can't carry the load, it's shot clock violations, low % shots against the shot clock, and lots of turnovers.

 

[hasoos]

Man, it is amusing how much we miss Travis, especially after all the griping how much he hurts us...

Yes and No. See the problem with Travis is he makes all his shots tough. That is why he has a lot of fans. When he takes shots, they are tough. But that is the problem with Travis. He passes up easy opportunities for a hard one. So you may lament at his loss, and in ways I understand it. But in other ways I still do not miss him one bit. The easiest way to win, is to make the game easy. Travis does the opposite.

 

[roydezlaw]

Man, it is amusing how much we miss Travis, especially after all the griping how much he hurts us...

I miss Travis Outlaw and I'll never believe the naysayers that say he hurts this team.

 

[andalusian]

So you may lament at his loss, and in ways I understand it. But in other ways I still do not miss him one bit. The easiest way to win, is to make the game easy. Travis does the opposite.

I think that the problem you have is that you say "Travis could be so much better if..." - and that is a good observation about Travis, as a player. But, the fact is, that even if he does not take the next step to become a better player, he still is very good at this entire "scoring" thing, a lot better than most anyone else we have out of the big 3 and maybe Miller on this team.

So, yes, we are missing him. It's not even questionable. But, sure, it would be nice if was even better than what he is - on the other hand, if he was that much better, he would probably cost a lot more, where now he makes less money than Martell does... and Martell, let's be honest, is just not that good or effective as Travis is. Sure, he works harder - and maybe has better BBIQ - but better BBIQ with less talent in this case does not match the production you get from Travis's better talent and (potentially) lesser BBIQ.

 

[hasoos]

I think that the problem you have is that you say "Travis could be so much better if..." - and that is a good observation about Travis, as a player. But, the fact is, that even if he does not take the next step to become a better player, he still is very good at this entire "scoring" thing, a lot better than most anyone else we have out of the big 3 and maybe Miller on this team.

So, yes, we are missing him. It's not even questionable. But, sure, it would be nice if was even better than what he is - on the other hand, if he was that much better, he would probably cost a lot more, where now he makes less money than Martell does... and Martell, let's be honest, is just not that good or effective as Travis is. Sure, he works harder - and maybe has better BBIQ - but better BBIQ with less talent in this case does not match the production you get from Travis's better talent and (potentially) lesser BBIQ.

No. and No. Dude there is no rational logic to passing up an easy layin for a jab step turn around jumper. None, and there never will be. When you come up to an answer for that, mabye I will buy in. But good luck finding it.

 

[Kaydow]

Yes and No. See the problem with Travis is he makes all his shots tough. That is why he has a lot of fans. When he takes shots, they are tough. But that is the problem with Travis. He passes up easy opportunities for a hard one. So you may lament at his loss, and in ways I understand it. But in other ways I still do not miss him one bit. The easiest way to win, is to make the game easy. Travis does the opposite.

Really? I can't recall Travis passing up easy shots. Actually, I can't recall anybody getting easy shots in our pathetic offense.

 

[LittleAlex]

I think that the problem you have is that you say "Travis could be so much better if..." - and that is a good observation about Travis, as a player. But, the fact is, that even if he does not take the next step to become a better player, he still is very good at this entire "scoring" thing, a lot better than most anyone else we have out of the big 3 and maybe Miller on this team.

So, yes, we are missing him. It's not even questionable. But, sure, it would be nice if was even better than what he is - on the other hand, if he was that much better, he would probably cost a lot more, where now he makes less money than Martell does... and Martell, let's be honest, is just not that good or effective as Travis is. Sure, he works harder - and maybe has better BBIQ - but better BBIQ with less talent in this case does not match the production you get from Travis's better talent and (potentially) lesser BBIQ.

Outlaw is currently missed since no-one else on the bench who is getting Trout's minutes can score half as well.

Bayless could potentially make up for a bunch of Outlaw's scoring, but he plays the wrong position.

I am not Outlaw's biggest fan. I think he should be a better player then he is. But Portland needs Outlaw (or a similar player) right now.

 

[hasoos]

Really? I can't recall Travis passing up easy shots. Actually, I can't recall anybody getting easy shots in our pathetic offense.

All the time. He gets a pass when he is open, and passes up the shot for a dribble jab step jumper. Other times the lane will be open for a layin. He wil almost wait for the defender get to him so he can body up on him, and take a one dribble jab step jumper. When he comes back, watch. You will pick it up.

 

[andalusian]

No. and No. Dude there is no rational logic to passing up an easy layin for a jab step turn around jumper. None, and there never will be. When you come up to an answer for that, mabye I will buy in. But good luck finding it.

Again, you are not making the distinction between "Can be better" and "Is a lot better than anyone else we have".

At the end of the day, it comes down to this - through-out his career Travis was a 15 PER guy - which is an average starter in this league, but is playing backup and is paid like a backup because he is mostly a one trick pony. But, if he such a one trick-pony, how can be as efficient as the average starter if he was not good at it. The fact is - he is good at it. Sure, there are times I scream at the TV for his decision to dribble and elevate instead of taking the jumper, and there are times I scream because he settles for a jumper instead of going to the rack, but despite his obvious issues - he is damn effective putting the ball in the basket. He is a better scorer than Webster, Rudy, and maybe even Miller.

Add the fact that he was born to play well next to Roy - because he does not need plays called for him and he does not need the ball to score. He is a very rare commodity. He is a guy you give the ball to when everything else fails - and you know that no matter what - he can get his shot up and has a good chance of it going on.

That is a rare talent in this league - and we are missing him.

 

[Kaydow]

All the time. He gets a pass when he is open, and passes up the shot for a dribble jab step jumper. Other times the lane will be open for a layin. He wil almost wait for the defender get to him so he can body up on him, and take a one dribble jab step jumper. When he comes back, watch. You will pick it up.

You're right. I've seen that. Travis isn't exactly a catch and shoot guy. I can't explain it, it's almost like he needs to get the ball and compose himself for a second. Like hiss gangly, uncoordinated alter ego will surface if he doesn't and he'll spaz out. It seems to work though - he shoots better with a hand in his face. He did shoot 45% from the floor last year - not bad for a jumper shooter.

 

[MARIS61]

All the time. He gets a pass when he is open, and passes up the shot for a dribble jab step jumper. Other times the lane will be open for a layin. He wil almost wait for the defender get to him so he can body up on him, and take a one dribble jab step jumper. When he comes back, watch. You will pick it up.

It's an effective veteran move, which I'm sure pleases the coaches.

It's called "drawing the and 1".