ESPN 1000 in CHI is "reporting" CHI/DET/POR rumor

[Mediocre Man]

In terms of PER and other production stats, Batum coming off of a major injury was better than Deng, and he is a fraction of the cost. Deng may have gone for 18/7, but he'd better not come close to those numbers as a Blazer, because that would mean more productive and efficient players like Roy, Aldridge, Oden, and Miller aren't getting the ball as often.

Deng's a good player, but his contract is ridiculous for a 15-16ish PER player who has a history of injury.

Doesn't he basically have the same salary and PER, and stats as Aldridge? I am literlly asking cause I don't know all of that.

 

[BGrantFan]

Doesn't he basically have the same salary and PER, and stats as Aldridge? I am literlly asking cause I don't know all of that.

Deng's PER is lower than Aldridge's. Plus, my point was Batum is already at Deng's level, since they play the same position.

 

[Nhawz]

DO NOT BRING DENG TO PORTLAND!!

 

[Ed O]

Is there anything new here, or is this the Chicago media hoping that they can make a move after missing out on most of the big FAs?

I'd do the deal, myself. I like Bayless but Deng is better and I think that Elliot Williams can take over for whatever role Bayless was going to play.

Whether Deng starts or backs up the 3 and 4 spots (like a more well-rounded Travis Outlaw) doesn't really matter to me... he's a good player and at age 25 he both has room to improve AND is right at the same age as Roy and Aldridge so could fit nicely into the core.

Ed O.

 

[BGrantFan]

Is there anything new here, or is this the Chicago media hoping that they can make a move after missing out on most of the big FAs?

I'd do the deal, myself. I like Bayless but Deng is better and I think that Elliot Williams can take over for whatever role Bayless was going to play.

Whether Deng starts or backs up the 3 and 4 spots (like a more well-rounded Travis Outlaw) doesn't really matter to me... he's a good player and at age 25 he both has room to improve AND is right at the same age as Roy and Aldridge so could fit nicely into the core.

Ed O.

That's easy to say now, but what about next year when Oden gets a new contract, and what about the year after when Batum gets a new contract? I just don't see how Deng makes sense due to his contract.

 

[Ed O]

That's easy to say now, but what about next year when Oden gets a new contract, and what about the year after when Batum gets a new contract? I just don't see how Deng makes sense due to his contract.

We're going to be over the cap, irrespective of whether Deng is on the team or not. Unless there's a huge shift with no grandfathering in the CBA, or unless the Blazers' ownership group suddenly gets much more frugal, whether we have Deng making $13m/year or Webster making $4m/year doesn't seem like a huge difference to me.

Ed O.

 

[Boob-No-More]

DO NOT BRING DENG TO PORTLAND!!

I agree 100%. Here's why:

Deng does not have 3-point range on his jump shot (career .309). Nate's isolation based offense depends on having guys who can hit an open 3 when Roy kicks out to them with the shot clock expiring.

We've already lost Blake, Outlaw and Webster. Rudy is likely gone, and if we get Deng, it will take minutes from Batum (or possibly even lead to him being traded), one of our few remaining 3-point threats.

Nate's offense would suck even worse without an assortment of decent 3-point shooters.

On the other hand, Deng to Portland would likely lead to Nate being fired my mid-season as the team struggles to score. So, maybe it's not such a bad thing after all.

BNM

 

[e_blazer]

Like most rumors involving the Blazers that come out of other cities, there doesn't seem to be much in the way of a benefit to Portland in this deal. We get a SF that isn't significantly better than Batum is right now and we lose the cap flexibility that Joel's contract provides to look at other trades that might actually make the team better.

 

[Denny Crane]

I seriously doubt the deal gets done if LeBron doesn't sign with the Bulls.

 

[Peaceman]

Can we please quit saying every deal means we are trying to get CP3. That deal died and there is absolutely no rumors or any news to indicate that deal is being revisited. We had a window and nearly got Paul, and now it seems every rumor thread has some CP3 element with no sources or links to a deal. Just because Portland is looking at a SF, doesn't mean Nic is leaving or we are after CP3.
Deng is a very good player and better then Bayless and could play along side of Nic if needed. Nic could play the 2, Roy the 1 in some situations. He is paid too much, but Portland will not be under the salary cap anytime soon, so it is not a huge deal. Deng would be a very good 6 man with lots of minutes.

 

[Ed O]

I seriously doubt the deal gets done if LeBron doesn't sign with the Bulls.

I'm looking at their salaries, and ... if they don't sign James and then dump Deng, they'd have a VERY low salary as a team since they got rid of Hinrich. Like $14m.

Even if they DO sign James, they could keep Deng and sign Lee or another second-tier FA and be in reasonably good shape, it seems to me at a glance.

Ed O.

 

[truebluefan]

Is there anything new here, or is this the Chicago media hoping that they can make a move after missing out on most of the big FAs?

I'd do the deal, myself. I like Bayless but Deng is better and I think that Elliot Williams can take over for whatever role Bayless was going to play.

Whether Deng starts or backs up the 3 and 4 spots (like a more well-rounded Travis Outlaw) doesn't really matter to me... he's a good player and at age 25 he both has room to improve AND is right at the same age as Roy and Aldridge so could fit nicely into the core.

Ed O.

Ed, good point! I really dont know if this is the Chicago media adding the already talked about trade between our two clubs.

Everyone knows Rip has been talked about being moved. A possibility.

Trade makes sense for the Bulls IF LeBron comes over. It doesn't make sense if Lebron says no.

I do know it was talked about at great length today.

 

[truebluefan]

I'm looking at their salaries, and ... if they don't sign James and then dump Deng, they'd have a VERY low salary as a team since they got rid of Hinrich. Like $14m.

Even if they DO sign James, they could keep Deng and sign Lee or another second-tier FA and be in reasonably good shape, it seems to me at a glance.

Ed O.

We could do that, but we need guard help in the worse way. That is why this rumored trade makes sense to us.

As for the Blazers, I see there is doubt in your fan base. Dont know enough about your team to make an opinion one way or the other

 

[truebluefan]

I seriously doubt the deal gets done if LeBron doesn't sign with the Bulls.

Completely agree

 

[Mediocre Man]

I seriously doubt the deal gets done if LeBron doesn't sign with the Bulls.

Even if they don't sign James, Rose is going to get the max in a couple of years, and Noah will get a nice little salary bump as well. It makes a lot of financial sense for the Bulls.....Assuming they are thinking ahead

 

[Denny Crane]

I'm looking at their salaries, and ... if they don't sign James and then dump Deng, they'd have a VERY low salary as a team since they got rid of Hinrich. Like $14m.

Even if they DO sign James, they could keep Deng and sign Lee or another second-tier FA and be in reasonably good shape, it seems to me at a glance.

Ed O.

You are aware the Bulls signed Boozer, right? They have a little more than MAX cap room left. LeBron would use most of it.

 

[Natebishop3]

That's easy to say now, but what about next year when Oden gets a new contract, and what about the year after when Batum gets a new contract? I just don't see how Deng makes sense due to his contract.

S.P.A.M.

 

[Ed O]

You are aware the Bulls signed Boozer, right? They have a little more than MAX cap room left. LeBron would use most of it.

I thought about that about halfway through my treadmill run today. Oops!

Ed O.

 

[Idog1976]

Reading just isn't your cup of tea.

Say what? Larry Miller fired KP? Where did you read that?!?!?!

 

[GriLtCheeZ]

This makes no sense unless Batum is being traded.

 

[Idog1976]

Actually, this is part of the preparation leading up to the acquisition of CP3. NO is wanting at least one "name" player back and so we are trading Pryz/Bayless for Deng (thus giving us a 'disposable' name player) so we can then package him with other assorted warm bodies in exchange for CP3. In the end, we have Oden, LMA, Batum, Roy & CP3 as our starting five.

You heard it here first.

Gramps...

IF that happened I would look like this guy...only less spines and more green.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

Well, we need shooters and Deng is a shooter. Or, he may be trade fodder for Paul.

 

[OSUBlazerfan]

Why would NO want Deng? No way he is "trade fodder"

 

[Mediocre Man]

Well, we need shooters and Deng is a shooter. Or, he may be trade fodder for Paul.

This is a good post.

Most people don't think Deng can shoot because he is a poor 3 point shooter. People seem to forget that he is a very good mid range shooter.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

Why would NO want Deng? No way he is "trade fodder"

Well, if we are after Paul, we will not get him with the likes of Bayless and Joel's expiring contract. That's a joke someone started here- and it was amusing. But with Deng and maybe Batum along with Miller and his expiring contract the deal looks more plausible.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Well, we need shooters and Deng is a shooter. Or, he may be trade fodder for Paul.

Deng is a nice midrange shooter, but I'd hardly call a guy who has averaged 0.9 3 point attempts per36 a "shooter" ...

Regardless, I think he could play small ball backup 4, he could play the 3 in a lot of lineups and the team could put some real length on the court with some great defensive versatility and the ability to play small without giving up a ton of length. I'm slowly talking myself into Deng being a good thing -- and that scares me because I remember doing the same thing when Hedo was on the team's radar last year

 

[OSUBlazerfan]

The sole reason they would trade Paul would be to clear salary, 40 mil over 4 years seems pretty counterproductive

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

Deng is a nice midrange shooter, but I'd hardly call a guy who has averaged 0.9 3 point attempts per36 a "shooter" ...

Good point.

 

[Idog1976]

The sole reason they would trade Paul would be to clear salary, 40 mil over 4 years seems pretty counterproductive

Well they could still clear some salary (Posey) and have a ready made excuse for fans in Deng. Also who knows. I still say this whole thing is BS. Deng to Portland just doesn't make a lot of sense. Might just be Chicago sports media trying to boost his trade value and hoping that Portland is "discombobulated" enough to bite on this trade idea.

 

[B-Roy]

Well they could still clear some salary (Posey) and have a ready made excuse for fans in Deng. Also who knows. I still say this whole thing is BS.

That's just terrible, terrible justification. How dumb do you think fans are?

Even if you don't believe Deng to PDX makes sense, trying to turn it into us getting Paul? Get real.