Joakim Noah & Luol Deng are apparently "available"

[JfizzleBlazer]

A healthy Roy was a top-10 player in the NBA and was a legit #1 option.

LMA has proven to be more of a second option while Batum/Noah are clearly 3rd/4th options. How do you expect to score or go to during crunch time? IMO, those teams were clearly better and were bounced early. With OKC looking like a powerhouse/potential dynasty, this trio just wont cut it. But going by some who totally disregard the new CBA... it's better than nothing!

Again, how does this hurt the new CBA? That trio is going to combine for $35 million. You have Lillard at #6 on a cheap four year deal as your starting point guard, and Mathews on a reasonable deal as your starting SG. The starting lineup would cost $45 million. The salary cap is around $58.5 million. The lux tax level is around $70 million. If you can't fill out your roster at less than $25 million, I don't know what to tell you.

Noah can be traded in a year or two if you decide it isn't going to work very easily.

How does this screw us in the new cba sir?

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Again, how does this hurt the new CBA? That trio is going to combine for $35 million. You have Lillard at #6 on a cheap four year deal as your starting point guard, and Mathews on a reasonable deal as your starting SG.

Noah can be traded in a year or two if you decide it isn't going to work very easily.

How does this screw us in the new cba sir?

You lost me there.

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

You lost me there.

 

[Blaze01]

A healthy Roy was a top-10 player in the NBA and was a legit #1 option.

LMA has proven to be more of a second option while Batum/Noah are clearly 3rd/4th options. How do you expect to score or go to during crunch time? IMO, those teams were clearly better and were bounced early. With OKC looking like a powerhouse/potential dynasty, this trio just wont cut it. But going by some who totally disregard the new CBA... it's better than nothing!

Yeah I agree, this is at best a sideways move, worst case a backwards move....Batum can't even prove he is a #3 choice on a team, same with Noah, great rotation player, but go to guy? come on now....

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

It seems to me the Blazers need to stop straddling the fence. There are two choices here:

1. Trade Aldridge for draft picks and consider a sign and trade of Batum for draft picks (although he is so young they could consider keeping him). Seems they could end up with 6-8 first round picks for this year and next. And we would be bad enough to stay in the bottom 12 and not have to give our own 2013 draft pick to Charlotte (good job, Cho!)

2. If they are going to keep Aldridge, then they need a team ready to compete right now; so I would trade the draft picks for Noah and Lowry. If Chicago doesn't want to take contracts back, then they might be willing to take the 11th. Houston gets the 6th but has to take back contracts of Shawne Williams and Kurt Thomas. If they can't make those trades and can't sign Deron Williams, then I think they should be prepared to go with option 1.

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

Yeah I agree, this is at best a sideways move, worst case a backwards move....Batum can't even prove he is a #3 choice on a team, same with Noah, great rotation player, but go to guy? come on now....

Don't think anyone claimed Noah would be a go-to-guy?

You'd have Batum a 17 PER player, Noah a near 20 PER player, and Aldridge a near 23 PER player. You'd have Wesley at the 2 as the team leader, and Lillard at pick 6, hoping he turned into an elite scorer and the PGOTF.

Never said it was the best of all options, but I like it a hell of a lot more than some of the other scenarios. It would just bank on if the Blazers thought Lillard would be a great player.

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

It seems to me the Blazers need to stop straddling the fence. There are two choices here:

1. Trade Aldridge for draft picks and consider a sign and trade of Batum for draft picks (although he is so young they could consider keeping him). Seems they could end up with 6-8 first round picks for this year and next. And we would be bad enough to stay in the bottom 12 and not have to give our own 2013 draft pick to Charlotte (good job, Cho!)

If they are going to keep Aldridge, then they need a team ready to compete right now; so I would trade the draft picks for Noah and Lowry. If Chicago doesn't want to take contracts back, then they might be willing to take the 11th. Houston gets the 6th but has to take back contracts of Shawne Williams and Kurt Thomas. If they can't make those trades and can't sign Deron Williams, then I think they should be prepared to go with option 1.

I can agree with this. I think it is evident Paul doesn't want to do option 1. I think they go option 2, and if you can get Noah with pick 11, I'd do it. This team needs talent.

 

[LameR]

I think they're going to want more than just the 11 for Noah, but if you can make that happen without giving up anything major, you do it in a heartbeat! I'd also be happy to get Deng (not necessarily instead though). He's better than Batum by a bigger gap than people will give him credit for as we're all so high on Batum's potential for the 18th year in a row.

 

[Rhal]

Don't think anyone claimed Noah would be a go-to-guy?

You'd have Batum a 17 PER player, Noah a near 20 PER player, and Aldridge a near 23 PER player. You'd have Wesley at the 2 as the team leader, and Lillard at pick 6, hoping he turned into an elite scorer and the PGOTF.

Never said it was the best of all options, but I like it a hell of a lot more than some of the other scenarios. It would just bank on if the Blazers thought Lillard would be a great player.

This board is so funny, half of us overvalue Batum/LMA and the other half undervalue them. Makes for extremes on both sides, a lot of fun to read the debates. Pretty much everything Jfizzle has said I agree with.

 

[Blaze01]

Don't think anyone claimed Noah would be a go-to-guy?

You'd have Batum a 17 PER player, Noah a near 20 PER player, and Aldridge a near 23 PER player. You'd have Wesley at the 2 as the team leader, and Lillard at pick 6, hoping he turned into an elite scorer and the PGOTF.

Never said it was the best of all options, but I like it a hell of a lot more than some of the other scenarios. It would just bank on if the Blazers thought Lillard would be a great player.

Well who would be then? PER's don't win championships...great players do....

Do you really think Lillard\LA & Batum can match up and best Durant\Westbrook\Harden or Lebron\Wade\Bosh? Seriously?????

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

Well who would be then? PER's don't win championships...great players do....

Do you really think Lillard\LA & Batum can match up and best Durant\Westbrook\Harden or Lebron\Wade\Bosh? Seriously?????

Huh? I never said they would match with OKC or Miami.... I want the Blazers to get as much talent as possible. I have faith in Olshey getting us talent and then trying to move talent for guys that we need if it doesn't work out.

Paul doesn't want to trade Aldridge and start over, so I'd like us to get more talent. Once you have more talent, then you can look at two for one deals to bring in a top notch player if Noah, Lillard, Batum Aldridge, Wes doesn't work.

You'd hope Lillard and Aldridge could be a 1-2 punch. This all banks on how the Blazers view Lillard.

Indiana seemed to do OK against Miami. Do they have an elite trio? No. But they have tons of great pieces that they may be able to upgrade with. I'd love to have that roster and you could argue that none of the Pacers are better than Westbrook, Harden, Durant, Bosh, LBJ, or Wade.

 

[VanillaGorilla]

You lost me there.

Dude we fucking get it you don't like Lillard. No one cares what you think any more than anyone else on this board. You are not better than anyone else on this board unless you can tell me the teams you've been a scout for and how well your scouting reports turned out for that team. Lots of people, fans and scouts/experts alike, want or predict the Blazers to pick Lillard at #6. Get over it.

 

[VanillaGorilla]

Well who would be then? PER's don't win championships...great players do....

Do you really think Lillard\LA & Batum can match up and best Durant\Westbrook\Harden or Lebron\Wade\Bosh? Seriously?????

The ridiculous thing is you think the goal is to be able to beat the respective conference champions next year. That is not the goal. Right now the goal should be to make the playoffs next year, something we couldn't do this year. If you're ambitious it should be to get out of the first round next year.

 

[Blaze01]

Huh? I never said they would match with OKC or Miami.... I want the Blazers to get as much talent as possible. I have faith in Olshey getting us talent and then trying to move talent for guys that we need if it doesn't work out.

Paul doesn't want to trade Aldridge and start over, so I'd like us to get more talent. Once you have more talent, then you can look at two for one deals to bring in a top notch player if Noah, Lillard, Batum Aldridge, Wes doesn't work.

You'd hope Lillard and Aldridge could be a 1-2 punch. This all banks on how the Blazers view Lillard.

Indiana seemed to do OK against Miami. Do they have an elite trio? No. But they have tons of great pieces that they may be able to upgrade with. I'd love to have that roster and you could argue that none of the Pacers are better than Westbrook, Harden, Durant, Bosh, LBJ, or Wade.

Agree to disagree then, b\c I think that is a team that is going absolutely nowhere...exactly what Olshey said in his press confrence that he would like to avoid....

 

[Blaze01]

The ridiculous thing is you think the goal is to be able to beat the respective conference champions next year. That is not the goal. Right now the goal should be to make the playoffs next year, something we couldn't do this year. If you're ambitious it should be to get out of the first round next year.

That is the ultimate goal and ANY moves made should be done with that in mind....to not think that way is ridiculous......

Lots of people, fans and scouts/experts alike, want or predict the Blazers to pick Lillard at #6. Get over it.

and many don't as well...so why don't you get over your hate fest on anyone who dares to disagree with the guy you obviously have a man crush on...talk about getting over it...

You like him, others don't...last time I checked it was a free country....

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Dude we fucking get it you don't like Lillard. No one cares what you think any more than anyone else on this board. You are not better than anyone else on this board unless you can tell me the teams you've been a scout for and how well your scouting reports turned out for that team. Lots of people, fans and scouts/experts alike, want or predict the Blazers to pick Lillard at #6. Get over it.

Christ, it's Mr. Gorilla and his $0.02.

I'll say what I want when I want, ok?

Carry on.

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

That is the ultimate goal and ANY moves made should be done with that in mind....to not think that way is ridiculous......

How do you suggest the Blazers do that? Shouldn't they obtain as much talent as possible? It's clear Paul isn't interested in moving Aldridge for draft picks and going the Rich Cho route. You sure as hell aren't going to get a top 3 draft pick with Aldridge around unless he is hurt for a season.

Get talent, it makes trades easier. Noah is a talent and if he can be had for #11 and change, you do it.

 

[VanillaGorilla]

and many don't as well...so why don't you get over your hate fest on anyone who dares to disagree with the guy you obviously have a man crush on...talk about getting over it...

You and Fez are the ones who hate on Lillard, and anyone who suggests we pick him, EVERY SINGLE TIME someone brings it up. I don't have anything close to a man crush on Lillard, I wouldn't be upset with Drummond at #6 and I'd be ecstatic if any of Barnes/Beal/MKG/Robinson magically fell to us, I just think Lillard will be better than the other guards projected later in the lottery, mostly because he's the only PG and he's also the best shooter, so if we take a guard at #6 I do want it to be him. I don't understand the kick you guys get out bashing Lillard and anyone who likes him over and over again. You don't say anything new about him, you just repeat the same stuff over and over again, and even discount a poster's entire opinion because of it. I know I shouldn't get worked up over guys on a forum but it gets extremely annoying.

 

[Blaze01]

I agree with that sentiment, and that certainly seems like Olshey's mindset....

First, I am not even convinced that CHI woud trade Noah for the 11th pick, I think that is wishful thinking....2nd, he is a good player who has been hurt a fair amount of the time...3rd, acquiring him would likely use up a majority of the cap space that POR has...meaning no other FA acquisitions...and no 11th pick either.....and you are about to overpay Batum, who in 5 years in the league has yet to show any sort of consistency to be a 3rd wheel of a big 3 on the team...and invest all your hope in a 22yr old PG from Weber State to become your team's 2nd best or best player....That is a lot of wishful thinking IMO...

I don't see a lot of team's lining up to deal thier mega stars to POR for an overpaid rotation player or a highly paid big man who is locked up at $11-14mil for the next 4 years and always seems to find his way on the dl, or a combo scoring guard who is probably better served coming off the bench....

like I stated earlier, agree to disagree...I do not think that this is the particular way to go....Nor is it likely even feasible....

 

[Blaze01]

I know I shouldn't get worked up over guys on a forum but it gets extremely annoying.

lol, you shouldn't....

Said lots of things\reasons why I didn't like him...but you don't read\want to hear it...and that is fine...

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

I agree with that sentiment, and that certainly seems like Olshey's mindset....

First, I am not even convinced that CHI woud trade Noah for the 11th pick, I think that is wishful thinking....2nd, he is a good player who has been hurt a fair amount of the time...3rd, acquiring him would likely use up a majority of the cap space that POR has...meaning no other FA acquisitions...and no 11th pick either.....and you are about to overpay Batum, who in 5 years in the league has yet to show any sort of consistency to be a 3rd wheel of a big 3 on the team...and invest all your hope in a 22yr old PG from Weber State to become your team's 2nd best or best player....That is a lot of wishful thinking IMO...

I don't see a lot of team's lining up to deal thier mega stars to POR for an overpaid rotation player or a highly paid big man who is locked up at $11-14mil for the next 4 years and always seems to find his way on the dl, or a combo scoring guard who is probably better served coming off the bench....

like I stated earlier, agree to disagree...I do not think that this is the particular way to go....Nor is it likely even feasible....

I agree that I don't think Chicago would deal Noah for #11. I would definitely do it if it was offered though.

Definitely is a lot of wishful thinking, I agree with you on that. I just wouldn't be upset if all of that did happen. I want talent on our team. I'm not even a huge fan of Lillard, but if we did draft him I'd root like hell for him because I'm a fan of the team no matter what.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

I can't wait wait until Denny sees this thread.

 

[VanillaGorilla]

lol, you shouldn't....

Said lots of things\reasons why I didn't like him...but you don't read\want to hear it...and that is fine...

No, I've read your reasons, I've even stated your concerns are valid a number of times, it's just the way you say your opinions combined with the number of times you've said them. It's redundant, annoying, and counter productive. Why not talk about who you would like the Blazers to draft at #6, and go into depth about why you think that way? I'd love to read your comments on the player(s) you want, because I don't think you're stupid and you're a Blazer fan just like I am.

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

I can't wait wait until Denny sees this thread.

Why? Because he will say Chicago wouldn't trade #11 for Noah? I think everyone has said they doubt Chicago would trade noah for #11. You said you wouldn't even deal #11 for Noah which is a bigger slap in the face to a Bulls fan.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Why? Because he will say Chicago wouldn't trade #11 for Noah? I think everyone has said they doubt Chicago would trade noah for #11. You said you wouldn't even deal #11 for Noah which is a bigger slap in the face to a Bulls fan.

It's more complicated than just that, Mr. Fizzle.

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

It's more complicated than just that, Mr. Fizzle.

Enlighten us.

I'd still take him for #11. He is 27. Has a near 20 PER. Is on a decent contract for an arguable top 5 center in the league. He Could easily be moved in a year or two if we decided he wouldn't work. Already laid out that our starting lineup would be $45 million with $25 million to spend on the rest of the roster before we hit lux tax land.

What's not to like in our wishful thinking (knowing Chicago wouldn't do it)?

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

I have already in the previous page.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Shit, I would do it. Yes I'd regret it later, when Deng and Noah are injured all the time, but on the other hand, I could die tomorrow. If the Bulls would do Deng and Noah for the #6 and 11 (and Shawne Williams? And Wes? Or can we absorb both of their salaries into our capspace? I doubt it) then I say HELL YES!

Then: re-sign Batum as our starting shooting guard (what he plays for France), draft Scott Machado, or Andre Albicy if Machado is gone, in the second round, and sign Bo McCalebb (somehow getting him out of his contract with Siena - a horse's head in a bed might be involved) or failing that, Pablo Prigioni, or hope some PG gets amnestied. Realizing that we're now out of money to sign Freeland and Claver, we trade their rights for mid-to-low first round picks and either take the mad flyers like Wroten (to please Fez who thinks we can only rebuild by lucking into a star in the draft) or players guaranteed to contribute, like Draymond Green, and Bob's your uncle! Instant playoff team!

(Or trade Freeland to some team that's likely to suck in a year or two in exchange for a pick that will be unprotected in a year or two.)

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Oh, and by the way, there's no way in HELL that Chicago trades Noah for #11. Or if they offer it, run away - it means they know Noah has some terminal disease.

 

[craigehlo]

Noah for #6 would be fine by me if we can still work a deal to get Lillard with #11. Noah is a huge reason he Bulls ended the season atop the East standing at 50-16 when Rose missed a large chunk of the season. At 27, he's a center you can count on for the next decade.