If You Had Your Druthers....

[mook]

None of those guys really excite me. I guess you could pick one of them up to fill out the end of the roster. But I'd rather just see Przybilla play a few more minutes with Oden.

 

[BlazerWookee]

If Lee would settle for a backup role, I'd still love for KP to get him. Besides, Joel is a goner after this season, anyway.

No, he isn't. I've got two pre-game beers as Schonley's Place on Opening Night 2010 that say Joel will still be a Blazer at that time. What do you say?

 

[BlazerWookee]

Yeah, but I'm worried about having the same problems that the 98-99 team and the 99-00 teams had. When you're 2-deep at every position with guys who are good enough to be all-stars, it's hard to keep everyone happy. I think this team needs a consolidation trade, and adding Lee would only make things worse (unless that's the consolidation trade).

Right now we're looking at a possible chemistry problem at point guard, shooting guard, small forward, and even center. Why add someone at power forward who is used to starting, and would probably want a nice chunk of minutes for a hefty price?

Nate has to find minutes for Bayless, Webster, Outlaw, Rudy, and Joel. Of those five, all but Bayless could be starting in the league right now. I'm just worried we're going to run into the same chemistry problems that we've seen in the past.

Character matters. I'm not saying that there will be no issues, but I strongly doubt that any chemistry issues could possibly come up with this group that are anywhere near severe enough to hand grenade the team's success like what happened at the turn of the century.

There are more benefits to building a team with good kids than just a warm, fuzzy feeling and a Blazer-free police blotter.

 

[Eastoff]

Dante

 

[STOMP]

The other thing is. I don't how much tougher this team gets by adding Howard or Swift. I'm not sure we do get tougher or more physcial. This is an area KP said that he wanted to address going into the offseason.

I don't feel he has.

did you forget about the draft picks? JP and DC are both physical players

to the thread question, I'd like them to pick up some big cheap Shavlic Randolph type who'll practice hard and not bitch about never playing.

STOMP

 

[MARIS61]

BRING BACK HA!

 

[LittleAlex]

Not to beat a dead horse, but Joe Smith signed for the league minimum. Missed opportunity.

He would have been a better option then Howard and Stromile put together.

 

[LittleAlex]

did you forget about the draft picks? JP and DC are both physical players

to the thread question, I'd like them to pick up some big cheap Shavlic Randolph type who'll practice hard and not bitch about never playing.

STOMP

JP is going to be taking the next 10 weeks recovering from surgery. Since Nate doesn't play rookies all that often, we can safely assume JP won't see one second of playing time next season.

DC is another story. I would like to see him get more minutes. I just don't think he is the big bruiser Portland needs on the bench.

Then again, neither are Howard or Stromile.

 

[MrSelfDestruct]

It's too late now, but I was giddy when DeJuan Blair fell to us (three times). That's the route I wish we had taken to address the back-up PF spot.

 

[maxiep]

Sadly, I'd like Channing Frye back.

 

[BrianFromWA]

No, he isn't. I've got two pre-game beers as Schonley's Place on Opening Night 2010 that say Joel will still be a Blazer at that time. What do you say?

$40 is way too rich for my blood

 

[STOMP]

JP is going to be taking the next 10 weeks recovering from surgery. Since Nate doesn't play rookies all that often, we can safely assume JP won't see one second of playing time next season.

DC is another story. I would like to see him get more minutes. I just don't think he is the big bruiser Portland needs on the bench.

why does Portland need a big bruiser off the bench? What bench players are you afraid of? The Baby Blazers led the league in rebounding differential last season. They are already kicking the snot out of most teams inside and thats not about to change.

...and btw, I recall Roy and Aldridge getting a ton of minutes as rookies. I think your claim that "we can safely assume JP won't see one second of playing time next season" is pretty laughable... want to make a sig bet on it?

STOMP

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

*Fabricio Oberto - Waived by the Pistons and I believe is still a UFA.

*Make a play for Robin Lopez

 

[Mediocre Man]

I guess if I had my druthers, I'd get a shot and hope it clears up in time for date night.

 

[LittleAlex]

why does Portland need a big bruiser off the bench? What bench players are you afraid of? The Baby Blazers led the league in rebounding differential last season. They are already kicking the snot out of most teams inside and thats not about to change.

...and btw, I recall Roy and Aldridge getting a ton of minutes as rookies. I think your claim that "we can safely assume JP won't see one second of playing time next season" is pretty laughable... want to make a sig bet on it?

STOMP

You really shouldn't compare Roy and LaMarcus to JP. Those two were top 5 picks. JP will be lucky to stick in the league.

Sure, what the minimum JP needs to play for you to win? If you say one second, I would probably lose since Portland will more the likely blow a few teams out.

But hey, it's what I said so screw it. I bet that JP does not get one second on the court next season.

As far as a bruiser goes, it's something I have wanted the team to get for a couple of years now. The team got abused in the post whenever Frye was in the game. I felt the team needed a defensive minded bruiser more then a offensive minded outside shooter.

I still feel that way.

The fact Portland was dominate in the paint says way more about the merits of Oden and Joel then it does about the need for a backup 4 who has some actual power.

 

[RR7]

You really shouldn't compare Roy and LaMarcus to JP. Those two were top 5 picks. JP will be lucky to stick in the league.

Maybe it's not fair to compare him to those two, but we can look through Nate's history in the league beyond those two to also refute your statement of his dislike of rookies.

His first season as a coach, Demond Mason got almost 20 minutes a night. There were plenty of options on that team, also, so saying theer was nobody else there for those minutes doesn't work.
Second season saw Radmanovic, Earl Wastson, and Drobnjak all getting over 15 minutes a night.
Reggie Evans the following season saw good minutes.
Luke Ridnour the next got over 15 a night.
Then Nick Collison
Jarret Jack, Martell Webster
Aldridge, Roy. Even Sergio got close to 13 a night.
Rudy, Batum, Oden

So please. Just stop with the he dislikes rookies shit. I dunno who the first person to utter it was, and why it has taken hold as absolute 100% truth. But it's bullshit.

 

[mook]

Frye getting abused in the post wouldn't have been that big of a deal if Frye's ability to hit a jump shot hadn't evaporated. He couldn't make back enough on the offensive end to compensate for his defense.

Unlike Travis Outlaw, who is in many ways a shorter, higher jumping version of Frye. Except that when he shoots, he actually makes a reasonable percentage of his shots.

If we add a bruiser, we'll then complain that it's too crowded underneath and we need to add a backup 4 who can hit a jumper.

If we add a bruiser who can also hit a jump shot, he'll complain because he probably would be a starter on most teams.

Bench players are bench players because they have serious holes in their games. Those that don't are never happy for very long coming off the bench.

 

[oldmangrouch]

It's too late now, but I was giddy when DeJuan Blair fell to us (three times). That's the route I wish we had taken to address the back-up PF spot.

SHHHH!

Don't say that out loud in this forum. I made that mistake, and I am still recovering from the burns. Blair has almost as many bashers here as Durant.

 

[hasoos]

A lot of folks are counting Dante Cunningham out. If they guy is any good at all, he will take advantage of the open door that is right in front of him, and take advantage of the opportunity. Travis has always been one of those guys who can only thrive at backup PF as a mismatch, because he is a tweener. He operates from outside in. Cunningham operates from the inside out. He is a solid rebounder, and he already knows how to play defense. Those are the type of things that will endear him to Nate McMillan. What he doesn't have, is outside range. That doesn't concern me right now. I really hate seeing PF take 3 pointers.

 

[Mediocre Man]

A lot of folks are counting Dante Cunningham out. If they guy is any good at all, he will take advantage of the open door that is right in front of him, and take advantage of the opportunity. Travis has always been one of those guys who can only thrive at backup PF as a mismatch, because he is a tweener. He operates from outside in. Cunningham operates from the inside out. He is a solid rebounder, and he already knows how to play defense. Those are the type of things that will endear him to Nate McMillan. What he doesn't have, is outside range. That doesn't concern me right now. I really hate seeing PF take 3 pointers.

I am not sure what open door is right in front of Dante Cunningham? It sounds like Martell has carried over his good play from last preseason, and batum isn't going anywhere. Travis will need to get on the floor, so I would assume that would be at the 4. Where in the world is Dante Cunningham going to get any minutes?

 

[STOMP]

You really shouldn't compare Roy and LaMarcus to JP. Those two were top 5 picks. JP will be lucky to stick in the league.

Roy was picked 6th, but he and Aldridge were both rookies who earned more then 1 second of PT under Nate. Other examples of this are Sergio, Josh McRoberts, Taurean Green... hell Batum started for almost the whole season. I don't think the evidence supports your contention that Nate doesn't play rookies at all. In NMc's whole Blazer tenure has there been a rookie hasn't seen the court?

Sure, what the minimum JP needs to play for you to win? If you say one second, I would probably lose since Portland will more the likely blow a few teams out. But hey, it's what I said so screw it. I bet that JP does not get one second on the court next season.

since you're already admitting to being over the top in your original statement I'm willing to let this silly bet slide. If you want it on thats cool too.

As far as a bruiser goes, it's something I have wanted the team to get for a couple of years now. The team got abused in the post whenever Frye was in the game. I felt the team needed a defensive minded bruiser more then a offensive minded outside shooter.

either Joel or Greg is coming off the bench... thats plenty of bruiser for me

The fact Portland was dominate in the paint says way more about the merits of Oden and Joel then it does about the need for a backup 4 who has some actual power.

right those guys are the inside bruiser, Nate's PF needs to be able to can a top of the key jumper to compliment them. If both the PF and Center are inside players then neither really has room to operate... too many cooks in the kitchen. I am a proponent of having solid D along the front line though but I don't see that player being out there/available.

STOMP