Just Sign it Already

[jaspitzer]

So now it's the Blazers or the Kings. Sacramento is a bit more crowded and would probably present a lot of issues for sharing the basketball with other willing shooters. With Brandon Roy now retired, the Blazers would make a lot of sense as Crawford could become one of the primary scorers.

And in addition to that, his mom wants Portland. And mama always knows best!

http://bayarea.sbnation.com/sacrame...-blazers-new-york-knicks-nba-free-agents-2011


You're coming to Portland, Just sign the papers and get on a plane damn it!

 

[HailBlazers]

WORD!

Come on Home, you got Roy's shoes to fill.

 

[THE HCP]

Those are big shoes FAMS!

 

[HailBlazers]

Good News!

Jamal Crawford texts that he is still undecided. My sense is he is leaning toward Sacramento. Style of play is a big factor for him.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Good News!

Fingers crossed! This could be the best non-signing since Hedo.

(On reflection, I imagine you're saying that if Quick's sense is he's going to Sacto, that's a sure sign he's going to us. Still, I endorse the literal interpretation of your exclamation.)

 

[Masbee]

Fingers crossed! This could be the best non-signing since Hedo.

(On reflection, I imagine you're saying that if Quick's sense is he's going to Sacto, that's a sure sign he's going to us. Still, I endorse the literal interpretation of your exclamation.)

A long $58 million contract for a team that was already chock full of forwards on the roster VS.

A short $10 million contract for a desperately needed, veteran guard that can create his own shot.

Yeah, those two things are exactly alike.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Of course, at the time everyone was like "a veteran SF who can create his own shot and feed our young post players and who is clutch in big games when all our other SFs are young and inept"

And it kind of helps your case to put in "desperately needed". Except he isn't. We have more SGs already than Chicago had last year - or NY with Raymond Felton. Who is a veteran guard who can create his own shot.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Thorton, Salmons, and Garcia all at the same position? Didn't Thorton sign a huge contract? Where are the minutes coming from? I don't get it.

 

[Masbee]

Of course, at the time everyone was like "a veteran SF who can create his own shot and feed our young post players and who is clutch in big games when all our other SFs are young and inept"

And it kind of helps your case to put in "desperately needed". Except he isn't. We have more SGs already than Chicago had last year - or NY with Raymond Felton. Who is a veteran guard who can create his own shot.

Blazer guards with more than 4 years experience: One.

So, excuse me if I have no clue what you are getting at.

And I remember the argument for signing Turk - a signing I was very much against. Still doesn't change the fact that we had a SuperStar on the team to create shots and the roster was filled with plenty of cabable forwards despite none have the same game as Turk.

And still doesn't change the fact that offering $10 mil to Crawford is NOTHING like the offer to Turk, which was a really, really dumb move.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Thorton, Salmons, and Garcia all at the same position? Didn't Thorton sign a huge contract? Where are the minutes coming from? I don't get it.

Well I'm guessing since he's pretty much better than all of those guys, the minutes will go to him.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Crawford is going to go to the Clippers now. (I'm just guessing but they need a shooting guard)

 

[Pinwheel1]

Well I'm guessing since he's pretty much better than all of those guys, the minutes will go to him.

I bet he goes to the Clippers. Right now Billups is their starting SG.

Edit: Funny. We typed that at the same time.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Crawford is going to go to the Clippers now. (I'm just guessing but they need a shooting guard)

I bet he goes to the Clippers. Right now Billips is their starting SG.

If so, that's going to be a helluva Clippers team. Paul, Crawford, Butler, Griffin, Jordan. With Chauncey as the backup point? Yowsa.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

I bet he goes to the Clippers. Right now Billups is their starting SG.

Edit: Funny. We typed that at the same time.

LOL! That is funny.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Crawford is going to go to the Clippers now. (I'm just guessing but they need a shooting guard)

Hey, they've got Randy "I'm still in the league, so can you stop comparing me to Brandon Roy" Foye...

But exactly how are the Clippers going to acquire Crawford? Also:

Agent Andy Miller says Clippers are not in play for Jamal Crawford.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Blazer guards with more than 4 years experience: One.

Totally random statistics: one.

Times Jamal Crawford has been known to play defense: none.

Winning teams Crawford has been a starter on: none.

Wing players who deserve to be starters on the Blazers already: three for two spots.

And still doesn't change the fact that offering $10 mil to Crawford is NOTHING like the offer to Turk, which was a really, really dumb move.

Okay, so it's only a dumb move. So it's a "really really" away.

 

[B-Roy]

Winning teams Crawford has been a starter on: none.

Wing players who deserve to be starters on the Blazers already: three for two spots.

Crawford won't start here so the first point is moot anyways.

Batum doesn't deserve to start. He probably should for developmental reasons, but he's not a good enough starter for this team.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Agent Andy Miller says Clippers are not in play for Jamal Crawford.

And yesterday the twitters said the Clips weren't interested in CP3.

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

WE ALREADY HAVE A JAMAL CRAWFORD THREAD... SlyPokerDog is an ass wipe!

 

[Draco]

Depth is going to be extra important for this lockout season. Crawford along with Baum would give us two excellent reserves.

Felton likes to run but he also likes to eat so getting a guard who can give him a mid game taco break will be key!

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Batum doesn't deserve to start. He probably should for developmental reasons, but he's not a good enough starter for this team.

That's just total bullshit. Right now he's probably our second best player. And Mike Rice agrees with me!

 

[XXPrimusXX]

That's just total bullshit. Right now he's probably our second best player. And Mike Rice agrees with me!

(b'.')b

 

[B-Roy]

That's just total bullshit. Right now he's probably our second best player. And Mike Rice agrees with me!

14.8 PER with average defense.

If he's our second best player we're in BIG trouble.

 

[Draco]

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/stor...review/portland-trail-blazers-player-profiles

The big mystery with Batum is why he's had so much trouble converting tremendous defensive talent into decent defensive performance. His defensive stats last season were horrible -- Synergy rated him the second-worst small forward, and the Blazers gave up 4.19 points per 100 possessions more with Batum on the court. Watching him, he never stood out as being awful, but I can't recall a single impactful defensive performance either. The Blazers switched him around a lot, often pitting him against fast point guards to give Andre Miller a break, so that may have hurt his numbers some.

Still, the takeaway remains the same. A quick 6-foot-8 guy with long arms should be a major defensive factor. In Batum's case, you'd have a hard time proving he's been helpful at that end. Given his effective but modest offensive arsenal, the D is his track to stardom. Thus far, he has yet to leave the station.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I'm guessing Rasta is calling Nic our second best player based on his very impressive showing in Euroleague play this fall (and he was very impressive). Who knows, maybe he's killing people in training camp? ...

 

[THE HCP]

He's also about the same age as Brandon was his rookie year....... this kid is gonna' be real!

 

[RR7]

I'm guessing Rasta is calling Nic our second best player based on his very impressive showing in Euroleague play this fall (and he was very impressive). Who knows, maybe he's killing people in training camp? ...

Hopefully just Babbitt or Tarver or Foote. We've had enough injuries without having to lose one player to death, and another to prison on murder charges. Please Nic, don't kill anyone.....valuable.

 

[Nikolokolus]

He's also about the same age as Brandon was his rookie year....... this kid is gonna' be real!

I sure hope so. Nothing would make me happier than to see Nic with "swag." and playing that way every night.

 

[THE HCP]

He's just good at so many things..... there aren't many players that can claim that. I believe he will get better. It would happen faster had Monty stayed though.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

When he talks about better style of play in Sacramento he is talking about a style of play which will allow him to produce better numbers and then a better more lucrative longterm contract. Plus the fact he makes more in the one year tryout. I will be very surprised if he picks Portland.