Last 24 hours = DEPRESSING

[Sedatedfork]

I won't be too disappointed if we end up standing pat for now. There is still the opportunity to make a trade during the draft and before the CBA expires. The expiring deals may even have more value then. The Jazz weren't going to trade us Deron Williams. Who knows if Devin Harris would have been a good fit on this club anyway. He seems to have a sour attitude. Also, we now have about 3 months to figure out what to expect from B Roy if no deal is made. Gerald Wallace would have been nice depending on who we had to give up for him, but I am not going to get too upset if the Blazers have the same roster this afternoon.

 

[e_blazer]

We have 2.3 Million trade exception from Bayless. If they want cash and 1st round picks, we could absorb his salary straight up.

That's the point. They don't just want cash and picks. They want another comparable young player.

 

[hasoos]

For those pissed about Flynn, who would Minny rather have off of our roster than Aaron Brooks? For those that wanted Aaron Brooks, who would Houston rather have off of our roster than Jonny Flynn? And would you be willing to give that player for either of those two?

There are 30 teams in the league, and we're not always the best fit as a trade partner.

Sure I can come up with something better. Because the one consideration you haven't taken into account is the fact that Minnesota is deep and overstocked on point guard, so why would they want another PG coming back in when they already have so many on their roster and waiting in Europe? We have draft picks. We have excess SG. Plenty to offer which might be a better balance for their team. I do hear what you are saying about sometimes we are not the best trading partner, but I think that Portland could offer something competitive in this situation.

 

[Wheels]

dammit I just learned I am NOT a fan The last 19 years of following this team have been a sham... talk about a waste of time. I got Duped. Damn you Harry Glickman!

 

[MIXUM]

Walker (Portland)

Do the Blazers make a move to make their chances of making a splash in the playoffs?
John Hollinger (12:28 PM)

Most likely move, right now, is a post-buyout signing of T.J. Ford. I get it from a talent standpoint but he's an odd fit in Portland -- an open-court player with a bad outside shot and a selfish streak, playing in a halfcourt system where he'll mostly be spotting up.

like i said... depressing

 

[craigehlo]

That's the point. They don't just want cash and picks. They want another comparable young player.

They might be looking at getting under the cap actually.

Ken Berger
If HOU/PDX can't get better now with deals, will be tempted to get under tax line. Both teams deep-pocketed, but $ is $.

 

[e_blazer]

They might be looking at getting under the cap actually.

And I expect the Blazers are sitting in the wings ready to make a move if that's the decision.

 

[hasoos]

They might be looking at getting under the cap actually.

Yep at a certain part of the season getting under the cap makes sense if you are not going to make the playoffs. Because if you are not maknig the playoffs, your team is pretty broken anyhow, so you might as well make moves, and might as well give yourself some salary relief if you can.

 

[MIXUM]

Gaven (Wichita)

Any update on the Gerald Wallace to Portland situation?
John Hollinger (12:34 PM)

Nothing is "dead" until 3 ET, but this one is on life support.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I'm defintely not thrilled with the last 24 hours, but I wouldn't say I'm "depressed." This trade deadline was much like most trade deadlines with this team -- lots of smoke but no real fire -- life goes on.

 

[Minstrel]

Wait...people are complaining over not getting Flynn or Brooks?

To rephrase: people want Flynn or Brooks enough to write unhappy posts?

I wouldn't hate having either one as a backup point guard, if the cost were tiny. But if the cost is tiny, another team can beat it easily--and more power to them.

 

[Blaze01]

Even homers cannot deny that POR mgmt strikes out on a LOT of deals that they are involved in.....


certainly that has something to do with them....

Just listened to Jazz GM O'Conner....THAT is a good GM

 

[MIXUM]

Nate (Seattle)

I am Andre Miller fan. I think he has unleashed Aldridge and kept the shorthanded Blazers competitive all season long. At the same time I can't shake the feeling that we're spinning our tires with the current roster. Do the Blazers need to make a change, or are we a legitimate playoff threat?
John Hollinger (12:40 PM)

Hard for me to see Blazers threatening any of the West's top four teams as presently constructed, but I've been told repeatedly that making the playoffs is a primary goal for them and working on next year, while important, is secondary. So if I had to bet I'd bet on Miller staying. Incidentally, Miller will also have huge trad

 

[B-Roy]

Wait...people are complaining over not getting Flynn or Brooks?

To rephrase: people want Flynn or Brooks enough to write unhappy posts?

I wouldn't hate having either one as a backup point guard, if the cost were tiny. But if the cost is tiny, another team can beat it easily--and more power to them.

I think MM just wants an excuse to bitch about Nate/Cho.

 

[Minstrel]

Even homers cannot deny that POR mgmt strikes out on a LOT of deals that they are involved in.....

What's the batting average for all the other teams in terms of rumours involving them to consummated deals?

 

[B-Roy]

Nate (Seattle)

I am Andre Miller fan. I think he has unleashed Aldridge and kept the shorthanded Blazers competitive all season long. At the same time I can't shake the feeling that we're spinning our tires with the current roster. Do the Blazers need to make a change, or are we a legitimate playoff threat?
John Hollinger (12:40 PM)

Hard for me to see Blazers threatening any of the West's top four teams as presently constructed, but I've been told repeatedly that making the playoffs is a primary goal for them and working on next year, while important, is secondary. So if I had to bet I'd bet on Miller staying. Incidentally, Miller will also have huge trad

I didn't know McMillan was an Andre Miller fan.

 

[Weav]

I can't relate to the depressing comment...we looked really good for most of last night, and really should have won. We are really playing well in the last month or so, and can hopefully retai he fifth position in the playoffs. After that, I think we have a really legitimate chance to beat OKC in a seven game series. Lastly, Aldridge is beasting, Camby is coming back and Roy looked better than I expected. I guess I am not enough of a pessimist to understand Mixum's negativity.

Rip City, baby....20 wins or 60 wins, I'm a fan either way

 

[PtldPlatypus]

What's the batting average for all the other teams in terms of rumours involving them to consummated deals?

Put enough balls in play, and eventually you're going to get on base. Our problem seems to be that we only swing at stuff outside of the zone and end up whiffing entirely, if we're willing to swing at all.

I'm not sure if the baseball analogy is working, but I gave it my best effort.

 

[e_blazer]

Nate (Seattle)

I am Andre Miller fan. I think he has unleashed Aldridge and kept the shorthanded Blazers competitive all season long. At the same time I can't shake the feeling that we're spinning our tires with the current roster. Do the Blazers need to make a change, or are we a legitimate playoff threat?
John Hollinger (12:40 PM)

Hard for me to see Blazers threatening any of the West's top four teams as presently constructed, but I've been told repeatedly that making the playoffs is a primary goal for them and working on next year, while important, is secondary. So if I had to bet I'd bet on Miller staying. Incidentally, Miller will also have huge trad

Hmmm. You didn't like the last line because it was too positive?

Incidentally, Miller will also have huge trade value next year, so I there's no rush.

 

[Blaze01]

I don't know Minstrel...I mean what is Utah's track record? I can't recall a lot of deals they were in that got so close and then fell through....

 

[Minstrel]

I don't know Minstrel...I mean what is Utah's track record? I can't recall a lot of deals they were in that got so close and then fell through....

I don't know either, as I'm not following every rumour, including all the minor ones, involving them every deadline, since they're not my favourite team. But without that information (how much all other teams consummate deals compared to how many rumours they're involved in), it doesn't seem possible to evaluate whether Portland is good or bad. Good or bad is relative to the competition. My guess is that every team has a low conversion rate on rumours to finished deals because most rumours aren't actually true and even those that are, most talks don't result in mutually satisfying deals.

 

[Minstrel]

Put enough balls in play, and eventually you're going to get on base. Our problem seems to be that we only swing at stuff outside of the zone and end up whiffing entirely, if we're willing to swing at all.

I'm not sure if the baseball analogy is working, but I gave it my best effort.

What is "outside the zone" representing? Unrealistic deals? Most of the deals Portland has apparently been "serious" on seemed within the realm of the reasonable. Would talks have gotten serious if not?

If you're saying Portland just doesn't get into enough talks (put enough balls in play), I can't agree or disagree. I have no idea how much Pritchard or Cho are/were talking through the year. My guess is that even the rumours of "serious talks" are the tip of the iceberg and there's far more talk that happens behind the scenes that we never hear about.

 

[illmatic99]

This is disappointing. Less than 2 hrs left. The players on this team are working their asses of and they're getting no help from management.

 

[OSUBlazerfan]

.................

 

[Kaydow]

This is disappointing. Less than 2 hrs left. The players on this team are working their asses of and they're getting no help from management.

By "help" do you mean shipping some of the guys who are working so hard out of town? Kind of ironic.

 

[illmatic99]

Shipping away some of our expiring contracts for talent. Ya, that was ironic.

 

[maxiep]

We have 2.3 Million trade exception from Bayless. If they want cash and 1st round picks, we could absorb his salary straight up.

And what if they prefer Flynn? You do realize that not every trade has a Blazer right of first refusal, right?

 

[maxiep]

Sure I can come up with something better. Because the one consideration you haven't taken into account is the fact that Minnesota is deep and overstocked on point guard, so why would they want another PG coming back in when they already have so many on their roster and waiting in Europe? We have draft picks. We have excess SG. Plenty to offer which might be a better balance for their team. I do hear what you are saying about sometimes we are not the best trading partner, but I think that Portland could offer something competitive in this situation.

Then come up with something better.

 

[B-Roy]

I don't think some people realize it takes two to trade...

 

[craigehlo]

I don't think some people realize it takes two to trade...

some people = Paul Allen