Fielding offers for LMA (hypothetical...)

[Fez Hammersticks]

Whether they admit it or not this roster needs to be rebuilt from the ground up.

For LaMarcus' sake I think it would be mutual to look at this option.

Before the McMillan firing Bucher mentioned that "everyone on the roster, including Aldrige, is available" and there has been one team who consistently, year after year, asks for LaMarcus. Even with his minor hip surgery his value is still very high.

What (realistically speaking) PF/C would you be comfortable trading LMA for?

Acquire enough picks to have a shot at Cody Zeller? Make a run at a top-5 player in this years draft?

Have at it.

 

[donkiez]

Why would you want to trade a young PF/C with a good contract for someone who has a shot at being as good as him?

 

[BBert]

I'm stealing this idea, but I like it: LaMarcus plus our second rounders/cash for Kemba Walker and Charlotte's No. 2 pick.

Would give us:

Walker, Smith
Matthews, E-Will
Batum, Babbitt
Hickson?, Freeland?
Picks 2, 6, 11 (Pick-em: Drummond, Lillard, Robinson, Ross, etc.)
And a boat load of Free Agent Money to spend

 

[Blazer Freak]

Whether they admit it or not this roster needs to be rebuilt from the ground up.

For LaMarcus' sake I think it would be mutual to look at this option.

Before the McMillan firing Bucher mentioned that "everyone on the roster, including Aldrige, is available" and there has been one team who consistently, year after year, asks for LaMarcus. Even with his minor hip surgery his value is still very high.

What (realistically speaking) PF/C would you be comfortable trading LMA for?

Acquire enough picks to have a shot at Cody Zeller? Make a run at a top-5 player in this years draft?

Have at it.

Yes! Zeller! Beal! Kendall Marshall! Then we could hire Mike Malone as Coach, Buldenhozer(sp) as top assistant and search for another franchise player for the next 3-4 lotteries!

We have a strong core already in LA and Batum. We've got at worst, a solid 6th or 7th man in Wesley (who is on a reasonable contract), and a nice SG with potential in EWill. Beyond that, not much is guaranteed on our roster. Why completely tear down the team when we already have started to build it on a nice foundation?

Adding another scoring threat and potential star next to LA (which could definitely happen in this draft) and add in some solid FA additions and this team can be a playoff team again in a year or two and has the potential to be even more when LA is right in his prime--around 28/29 years old.

 

[e_blazer]

Have at it.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

you only trade up, not down. stop having a loser mentality about the team. Aldridge isn't even in his prime.

so as far as PF/C:

Dwight Howard.

end of story.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

I'm stealing this idea, but I like it: LaMarcus plus our second rounders/cash for Kemba Walker and Charlotte's No. 2 pick.

Would give us:

Walker, Smith
Matthews, E-Will
Batum, Babbitt
Hickson?, Freeland?
Picks 2, 6, 11 (Pick-em: Drummond, Lillard, Robinson, Ross, etc.)
And a boat load of Free Agent Money to spend

so...we basically become the Charlotte Bobcats, worse team in NBA history.

ok.

great fucking plan.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

Whether they admit it or not this roster needs to be rebuilt from the ground up.

Fez, I like you like a brother, but that's a rare nut line by you. It's so bad it stands alone.

Now, that said, we could trade our best player for another good player, but what would be the point? And how the hell would we really better ourselves???

Look, I know we're all bored waiting for the draft and then summer league, but this.....

 

[Rhal]

There is no real reason to trade LMA now. He is worth more then the #2 pick and a okay 6th man type player imo. Might as well take our shot in FA and then if we miss out on everything and continue to suck then flip him for a great deal in one of the next two years.

 

[Natebishop3]

Unless you can convince New Orleans to deal the #1 pick for Aldridge, I don't know if it's worth dealing him. Obviously we shouldn't turn down a good deal that comes our way though.

 

[Blaze01]

I agree, no reason to trade him now....draft some young players at #6 & #11, bring Freeland & Claver over, sign a young pG Dragic or Hill and then see what happens....Hopefully you did your homework in the draft and hit a homerun or picked a good caliber of player (or 2) to go along with LA, it may take a year or two for it all to gel and if it doesn't then you could always deal LA later on down the line....

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

I'm going to have to disagree; the talent on the roster is about as bad as it's been since 2004 outside of LaMarcus/Batum and there is a good chance we lose Batum this summer.

PG: Nolan Smith
SG: Wesley Matthews | Elliot Williams
SF: Nicolas Batum* | Luke Babbitt | Shawne Williams
PF: LaMarcus Aldridge | JJ Hickson*
C: Joel Przybilla |

Do you turn the two picks into a better prospect by trading up or do you keep the picks and add depth? I think you trade up as this team severely lacks NBA caliber talent.

Look at the makeup of the team, do you think this is a team a player or two away from being a playoff team? I don't think so.

 

[THE HCP]

Why do you think we will lose Nic?

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Why do you think we will lose Nic?

With the new CBA It's not smart to overpay him just to keep him. His agent is combative and will not budge on their demand of at least $10m/per. He has shown flashes but he is definitely not worth that kind of contract. I was in favor of this but he hasn't improved overall game, even with a bigger role, and didn't take advantage of being the second option this season. Let him walk or try to work out a S&T.

 

[Blazer Freak]

I'm going to have to disagree; the talent on the roster is about as bad as it's been since 2004 outside of LaMarcus/Batum and there is a good chance we lose Batum this summer.

PG: Nolan Smith
SG: Wesley Matthews | Elliot Williams
SF: Nicolas Batum* | Luke Babbitt | Shawne Williams
PF: LaMarcus Aldridge | JJ Hickson*
C: Joel Przybilla |

Do you turn the two picks into a better prospect by trading up or do you keep the picks and add depth? I think you trade up as this team severely lacks NBA caliber talent.

Look at the makeup of the team, do you think this is a team a player or two away from being a playoff team? I don't think so.

Well obviously, we are lacking "NBA" talent...CB and Co. set up our roster so that we had maximum cap space for this summer...look at that depth chart you posted. Besides Shawne Williams, LA, and Batum, the only players guaranteed for next season are still on their rookie contracts.

NO ONE is expected EWill, Babbitt or Nolan to start next year. With the cap space we have another chance to address our lack of talent. I personally just think that you are overreacting to the lack of talent on our team. We've got the draft and FA this year to add pieces for the future, and while this free agency class does not have as many big names as other years, there is some good 25-28 y/o talent available that will not demand max money that can add to our depth.

 

[Blaze01]

Is MKG guaranteed to be better than Barnes? or Beal than Lamb, Rivers or Waiters? T.Robinson better than Sullinger or T.Jones? Is Drummond a can't miss center or another Kwame Brown? I don't think so....

You have one player on a tier all his own...Davis...

and after that you have 8-10 players on a 2nd tier and IMO there will be 2-3, maybe a few more all star caliber players from that group....

I'd take 2 swings on those players, rather than trade both picks away....I just don't see any of Beal, MKG, Robinson as enough of a sure thing over that 2nd group to give up that 11th pick for....

Yeah, I think the team needs a lot of talent and top tier talent, but I think there will be players like that at #6 for sure, and very possibly at #11....It is up to POR to pick the right ones....

Whether or not Buchanan is capable of doing that is entirely another debate IMO...

 

[bigbailes]

if this team needs a great influx of talent, then why trade two picks in the top 11 for moving up 3 or 4 spots and only getting one guy. most years i would agree with this line of thinking, as there's usually a big dropoff after the top 3 or 4 players, but this year there is #1, then about 8-9 guys in the 2nd tier. you hold onto both picks, get one of those 2nd tier guys at #6 and odds are one of them slips to #11. moving up in this years draft makes very little sense, especially if you have to use both picks to accomplish it.

 

[TradeNurkicNow]

If we don't trust Chad with the draft then why the hell would we trust him trading away our franchise player...

 

[Mediocre Man]

What about


LA to Milwaukee for Jennings, a re-signed Ilyasova and #12

 

[STOMP]

With the new CBA It's not smart to overpay him just to keep him. His agent is combative and will not budge on their demand of at least $10m/per. He has shown flashes but he is definitely not worth that kind of contract. I was in favor of this but he hasn't improved overall game, even with a bigger role, and didn't take advantage of being the second option this season. Let him walk or try to work out a S&T.

what team is going to offer Nic 10M per? His agent is publically posturing and asking for the moon which is a common tactic early on in a negotiation. No need to take this personally and act like he's a goner because his agent is doing his job. My guess is the market will show him to be worth a bit more then an average NBA player... about 7-8M per... and he'll be back in PDX where they've the $ and a starting spot waiting

I'm with Blazer Prophet about the stupidity of the first line in the OP. There are a lot of different directions the team could reasonably choose to go dependant apon what opportunities arise. They're hardly backed into a corner to the point where they absolutely need to turn over their entire roster.

STOMP

 

[Mediocre Man]

what team is going to offer Nic 10M per? His agent is publically posturing and asking for the moon which is a common tactic early on in a negotiation. No need to take this personally and act like he's a goner because his agent is doing his job. My guess is the market will show him to be worth a bit more then an average NBA player... about 7-8M per... and he'll be back in PDX where they've the $ and a starting spot waiting

STOMP

I honestly think Toronto and SA will do what they can to get him

 

[PtldPlatypus]

What about


LA to Milwaukee for Jennings, a re-signed Ilyasova and #12

Depends on who 12 is (since it would have to be done after the new CBA year starts). But if it's a good high-ceiling prospect, then sure, that would be pretty good for Portland.

I don't see why Milwaukee does it though. Sacrilege though it may be, Aldridge isn't really all that much better than Ilyasova right now, and Ilyasova's arguably better than Aldridge was at the same age.

 

[Norman Dale]

LMA+Wes+#6&#11 for Dwight Howard. Then sign Deron Williams.

 

[3RA1N1AC]

I honestly think Toronto and SA will do what they can to get him

you honestly think san antonio will renounce tim duncan?

 

[Mediocre Man]

you honestly think san antonio will renounce tim duncan?

No, but they could pretty easily amnesty Stephen Jackson

 

[THE HCP]

Crazy to think that Jackson is going to win his 2nd ring with them! That guy is a nutcase....... with 2 rings!

 

[3RA1N1AC]

No, but they could pretty easily amnesty Stephen Jackson

actually, it wouldnt be that easy, seeing as how it is impossible

 

[Mediocre Man]

actually, it wouldnt be that easy, seeing as how it is impossible

How? I thought Jackson signed his deal this past off season?

 

[3RA1N1AC]

he was just traded to the spurs, you can not trade for someone and then amnesty them

 

[3RA1N1AC]

and i believe duncans cap hold is 30 million dollars, or whatever the absolute max he could receive, whichever is higher