Jason Fleming's take on the Curry talk

[Nikolokolus]

http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=12858

Fleming is a Portland guy and usually writes a good thoughtful article at hoopsworld.

However, the real question is why? Who is Portland's target? There has been a lot of talk going around that it is Davidson guard Stephen Curry, but that wouldn't seem to make sense on the surface. Why not?

Curry is a guard capable of playing both backcourt positions. He is a good ballhandler, an excellent shooter, and is a smart player. However, he is too small to defend NBA shooting guards except in special situations, and he has not really proven he can play the point against a high level of competition, of which he would be facing very capable point guards every night in the NBA
. Sure, he may excel, but there is literally no reason to expect he will be a top-flight point guard, and if you are moving up into the lottery to take him, the assets you may have to give up to make such a leap would deem that it be necessary Curry is that kind of talent.

Portland would not give up Jerryd Bayless in such a move, so if they followed through they would then have Bayless and Curry as their point guards (and perhaps still Steve Blake or Sergio Rodriguez), and I'm am far from believing Curry will be a better point guard than Bayless. Again, what do you get up to make that move? And is it worth it for a player who may never start on your team? I have zero doubt Curry will be a solid contributor for a long time and could be a starter, but it's far, far, far from a guarantee.

And that's exactly why Portland trading up to draft Curry doesn't seem to make a whole lot of sense.

Here's where I started to nod my head and think that the Curry stuff could be a smoke screen and our real target could somebody else entirely.

Well, you have to look at Portland's needs. They have the questions at point guard, but they also have two legitimate needs: backup power forward and a bigger reserve shooting guard. Who fits that in the lottery? Arizona's Jordan Hill and Pitt's DeJuan Blair would seem to be solid fits at the power forward spot. Hill has a higher upside, but Blair has the size and strength at the four that could really give them what they need in the second unit.

Curry may very well be Portland's target, but all that would mean is that Portland is going to be making further changes. It's not the type of move that would be considered solidifying the lineup, because it would demand secondary moves to balance the roster with a nice blend of talent, leadership, and experience.

Who knows, maybe getting Curry is a leverage play to try and prise David Lee from New York?

 

[Mediocre Man]

I do love Lee, but I don't think there are enough minutes to go around unless we deal Joel for either a SF or PG upgrade. And honestly I don't know if that makes us better?

Also, could Batum be the bigger reserve SG that we need?

Maybe we could deal Rudy for a huge upgrade at PG. NO is in dire financial trouble, so maybe if we moved up into the lottery we could send that pick, Rudy, cash and whatever we didn't trade to get it to NO for Paul

Maybe

Rudy
Outlaw
#8
3 million
Sergio

for Paul


Haha....not likely

 

[Nikolokolus]

I do love Lee, but I don't think there are enough minutes to go around unless we deal Joel for either a SF or PG upgrade. And honestly I don't know if that makes us better?

Pretty good point.

But what do you think about Blair as the target? I'm kind of intrigued now that he appears to be more slimmed down and athletic and has a great wingspan. He definitely doesn't project out as a starter, but if he could give you Paul Milsap/Jason Maxiell like production behind LaMarcus for a couple of years or more I think I could get behind that. Hell, I'd rather see Blair playing backup 4 than Travis or Channing.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Lee is looking to get paid (upwards in the $10 million/per range).

Though, he is a perfect fit.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Pretty good point.

But what do you think about Blair as the target? I'm kind of intrigued now that he appears to be more slimmed down and athletic and has a great wingspan. He definitely doesn't project out as a starter, but if he could give you Paul Milsap/Jason Maxiell like production behind LaMarcus for a couple of years or more I think I could get behind that. Hell, I'd rather see Blair playing backup 4 than Travis or Channing.

I like the idea of drafting a backup anything in this draft. I think our two needs of PG and SF should be addressed with vets that have a lot of playoff experience and savvy

 

[hasoos]

Just a clue that this dude doesn't know what he is talking about is the fact that he states one of the team needs as being a backup SG with size. Excuse me but Rudy is 6'6" tall, and is our backup SG, with plenty of size once he hits the weight room a little bit. That sentence alone is enough to tell me the guy is just another fan, albeit one with a avenue for getting his writing published. He knows no more than any of us.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Just a clue that this dude doesn't know what he is talking about is the fact that he states one of the team needs as being a backup SG with size. Excuse me but Rudy is 6'6" tall, and is our backup SG, with plenty of size once he hits the weight room a little bit. That sentence alone is enough to tell me the guy is just another fan, albeit one with a avenue for getting his writing published. He knows no more than any of us.

Hmm ... I just noticed that. I'm not sure what he's talking about, but I can assure you that he's usually quite good and pretty well informed when he talks about the Blazers.

 

[LittleAlex]

I think he means muscles size. Basically a muscular wing other than roy. Outlaw, Batum, and Rudy are all stick like.

But is having a super strong backup 2 guard a real need? I really don't think so. At least not compared to the other team needs, such as a point guard, backup power forward and veteran leadership.

 

[Uther TheGardener]

didnt blair's needs just get red flagged we dont need another bad knee player do we?

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Lee is looking to get paid (upwards in the $10 million/per range).
Though, he is a perfect fit.

Why is Lee a perfect fit? He doesn't play defense, and he wouldn't want to be Aldridge's backup.

I'd love to see a team of all the players people seem to have crushes on (Gay and Lee in particular) that don't play any defense. It would be atrocious. You know, kind of like the teams that Gay and Lee are actually on.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Why is Lee a perfect fit? He doesn't play defense, and he wouldn't want to be Aldridge's backup.

I'd love to see a team of all the players people seem to have crushes on (Gay and Lee in particular) that don't play any defense. It would be atrocious. You know, kind of like the teams that Gay and Lee are actually on.

Speaking for myself, I don't have a crush on Rudy Gay, but he is still better than any SF on our roster by far. At least at this point.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

Just a clue that this dude doesn't know what he is talking about is the fact that he states one of the team needs as being a backup SG with size. Excuse me but Rudy is 6'6" tall, and is our backup SG, with plenty of size once he hits the weight room a little bit. That sentence alone is enough to tell me the guy is just another fan, albeit one with a avenue for getting his writing published. He knows no more than any of us.

I agree. Rudy isn't a good man-up defender, but he's a smart defender. What he lacks physically, he tries to make up for with smarts. He also is an outstanding offensive player who moves well without the ball, can dribble well and make a good pass. Any SG we may land either wouldn't make the team (unless he was a 1st round pick) or spend the next couple of seasons picking splinters out of his butt.

Bayless most likely isn't the answer at PG, so our two needs remain PG & reserve PF.

 

[Sinobas]

Ah, so I guess Rudy Fernandez is already on the way out. Portland is looking for a big backup SG.

He may have been confused with another team, because our needs are starting PG, starting SF, and backup PF.

 

[RickyRubio]

didnt blair's needs just get red flagged we dont need another bad knee player do we?

Ah, so I guess Rudy Fernandez is already on the way out. Portland is looking for a big backup SG.

He may have been confused with another team, because our needs are starting PG, starting SF, and backup PF.

Why does everyone say we need a 3? Webster anyone?

 

[Mediocre Man]

Why does everyone say we need a 3? Webster anyone?

Webster has been extremely inconsistant throughout his career to this point.

A better question is why does everyone say we don't need a 3 because of Webster.

 

[LittleAlex]

We get murdered by athletic wings.

More then quick point guards or physical power forwards? I kind of doubt it.

In fact you can look at the performance of opponents by position here. According to the chart, shooting guard is currently Portland's strongest position.

Oddly Center is weakest by the numbers, followed closely by point guard.

Obviously, numbers aren't everything but they are the only evidence we really have.

 

[Mediocre Man]

More then quick point guards or physical power forwards? I kind of doubt it.

In fact you can look at the performance of opponents by position here. According to the chart, shooting guard is currently Portland's strongest position.

Oddly Center is weakest by the numbers, followed closely by point guard.

Obviously, numbers aren't everything but they are the only evidence we really have.

I think center is weak because of our perimeter defense. Since it is so easy to penetrate on Portland, it causes our centers to step up to the man with the ball allowing their opponent to get an easy pass for a dunk. Not really their fault at all.

 

[andalusian]

I think center is weak because of our perimeter defense. Since it is so easy to penetrate on Portland, it causes our centers to step up to the man with the ball allowing their opponent to get an easy pass for a dunk. Not really their fault at all.

That is my interpretation as well.

 

[RickyRubio]

Webster has been extremely inconsistant throughout his career to this point.

A better question is why does everyone say we don't need a 3 because of Webster.

He is still so young though. I want to see how he pans out this year before I consider him inconsistent. That is just me though. To each their own

 

[hasoos]

More stuff on Curry, I figured I would throw it in here, since this is Curry talk.

http://www.portlandtribune.com/sports/story.php?story_id=124418073755700200

I thought it was interesting that Curry felt Portland was really "hot for him."

 

[oldmangrouch]

Webster has been extremely inconsistant throughout his career to this point.

A better question is why does everyone say we don't need a 3 because of Webster.

He should sit out another season. People will be saying he can heal the sick and raise the dead!

 

[hasoos]

I think center is weak because of our perimeter defense. Since it is so easy to penetrate on Portland, it causes our centers to step up to the man with the ball allowing their opponent to get an easy pass for a dunk. Not really their fault at all.

Exactamundo. If the guards cut down the lane penetration by half, it almost immediately cuts down the Blazers centers foul trouble by half. The other part being, players getting smart enough that when Greg Oden gets a foul, and if the player is nearby, and never gets in foul trouble on their own, that they get a fucking clue and raise their hand to protect our bigs. People complain about our bigs getting in foul trouble every night, but when you watch San Antonio, or teams with Shaq, you watch, and the other guys on the team protect their bigs from foul trouble by claiming to take a few on their own. It never happens here.