Insider: Toronto 's Win In The Turkoglu Tug-Of-War Is A Blazers Victory (Arnold)

[maxiep]

If he is paid as a starter on another team over back-up money in Portland, I wouldn't blame him for moving.

We can afford to pay him as a starter. Being a valuable backup is an important role.

 

[PapaG]

We can afford to pay him as a starter. Being a valuable backup is an important role.

That depends on what he's offered. What if he gets a 5 year/$40 million deal? It would be insane to match that for a back-up center considering much of it would be doubled in luxury tax.

 

[Mediocre Man]

We can afford to pay him as a starter. Being a valuable backup is an important role.

Anything we pay Joel, for as valuable as he might be needs to be doubled because of the luxury tax.

 

[maxiep]

A backup center can mean the difference between a championship and an early exit. Ask the Rockets this year or the Heat with Zo.

 

[Mediocre Man]

A backup center can mean the difference between a championship and an early exit. Ask the Rockets this year or the Heat with Zo.

Agreed, but we would be talking about having Aldridge and Lee as back up center, with another big for insurance like Pendergraph for example.

Look how good Frye played last year at center. I don't think paying a back up center 8-10 a year is worth it, when you can probably get a solid guy for either the vet minimun or the MLE

 

[maxiep]

Agreed, but we would be talking about having Aldridge and Lee as back up center, with another big for insurance like Pendergraph for example.

Look how good Frye played last year at center. I don't think paying a back up center 8-10 a year is worth it, when you can probably get a solid guy for either the vet minimun or the MLE

David Lee as a backup center? We're going to have to agree to disagree. What happens if Oden goes down again?

 

[Minstrel]

David Lee as a backup center? We're going to have to agree to disagree. What happens if Oden goes down again?

Aldridge can shift to center and Lee starts at power forward.

 

[maxiep]

Aldridge can shift to center and Lee starts at power forward.

Meh. I still prefer Przy as our backup center. Pendergraph was drafted to be that backup energy guy.

 

[Mediocre Man]

David Lee as a backup center? We're going to have to agree to disagree. What happens if Oden goes down again?

I see your point, but while our defense would suffer, out offense would be much better.

Not that it means everyhting, but Lee's Per at center was 22.0 and only 11.5 at PF His opponents PER was 19.7 at center and 21.8 at PF. So he is actually a much better center than a PF.

Joel's, by the way, was 17.5 at center, as was his opponents. LOL by the way at Joel's 31.8 PER at PF. He was a monster in those few seconds he played there. Apparently the twin towers should have been used more, haha.

Aldridge is at 21.6 at PF and 20.2 at center. His opponents are at 15.5 at PF and 22.8 at center.

Including Oden's 20.3 at center with his opponents at 17.5, Jole was the least effective center of the 4 actually.

I don't think those are actual PER numbers though. I got them from 82games.com. Never the less, I got them all from the same site, so if they are a little off, they are most likely a little off for all of them the same way.



I love Joel, but not at that money

 

[Blaze01]

Aldridge would be a fine backup center and Lee compliments him very well IMO...I could see POR try and get a guy like Kurt Thomas (if MIL cuts him) or Oberto or some other journeyman veteran to fill in as that 3rd big man....

The key is what POR could get Przybilla....HOU is looking at entering the season without a center. If POR could flip Przybilla for Battier that would be perfect..

Blake\Outlaw or just Outlaw? for Lee
Przybilla for Battier

PG: Blake\Miller (as a FA), Bayless, vet FA (Anthony Carter, Flip Murray, Gardner\Jeter)
SG: Roy, Rudy, Webster
SF: Battier, Batum, Cunningham
PF: Aldridge (b\u center), Lee, Pendergraph
C" Oden, Thomas\Oberto

 

[oldmangrouch]

Very odd comment from Steve Aschburner on SI.com.

He says he doesn't know why Hedo chose Toronto...but that having a "big name" FA select Toronto over Orlando and Portland was "good for the league." He then moves on and offer zero explanation to support this statement.

Conspiracy theorists, start your engines!

Stern: "Kobe and Artest together in LA? Great storyline - make it so!" "Shaq and Lebron together? Beautiful....make some phone calls." "Hedo to the Blazers? Frack them! We need to maintain our toehold in Canada. Call Hedo's agent and give him his marching orders!"

The worst part of it is, I wouldn't put it past the smarmy little martinet.