Looking for a starting PG

[Fez Hammersticks]

...In the draft? (via B-Edge)

"Finally, the Blazers have been aggressive, according to a number of GMs. They are out there looking for a starting point guard and would like to move way up in the draft to get one." -Chad Ford

*Brandon Knight
*Kemba Walker
*Jimmer Fredette

 

[THE HCP]

None of those guys will help us more then Andre could. Maybe years down the road.

 

[LittleAlex]

There are no players outside of the top two that could help a team right away much less start for a playoff team.

 

[e_blazer]

I could see making a move to pick up one of those guys as a backup and heir-apparent to Miller, but I can't see depending on one of them as a starter for at least a couple of years.

 

[Pinwheel1]

"Portland is shopping Andre Miller and I think he will be moved this week... Not sure on Wesley, they like him a lot. HoopsWorld"

I doubt this.

 

[HailBlazers]

Personally, I'd like to retain Dre for a couple more years so that he can train our PGOTF and then become a reliable back-up. In a perfect world maybe.

 

[Natebishop3]

Personally, I'd like to retain Dre for a couple more years so that he can train our PGOTF and then become a reliable back-up. In a perfect world maybe.

Dre doesn't strike me as the "train my heir" kind of guy. Everyone always assumes that the aging veteran will spend his last couple years training the talented understudy, but I don't think it's quite as common as people think, and Dre is more quiet and anti-social than most.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

I think only Kyrie Irving has the chance to be a better PG than Andre. Brandon Knight rates VERY poorly as a PG (as does Jimmer Fredette, but nobody was SERIOUSLY suggesting him I hope). Kemba Walker is the wildcard. He should have Aaron Brooks as his floor, but as the Suns found out, that's a pretty low floor. Can he pull off the Tim Hardaway/KJ/Chris Paul pint-sized scoring PG thing? Maybe. If we're aiming for anyone (given that there's no way in hell we're getting Irving), I guess I hope it's Walker. But somehow I don't see it happening.

Maybe this is just an acknowledgement that Darius Morris's stock has risen above 21, so we're going to have to trade up to get him?

 

[HailBlazers]

Dre doesn't strike me as the "train my heir" kind of guy. Everyone always assumes that the aging veteran will spend his last couple years training the talented understudy, but I don't think it's quite as common as people think, and Dre is more quiet and anti-social than most.

Okay bad choice of words, Mentor perhaps, at least be a role model? Heck I think even Dre's presence alone is leadership enough to a young gun.

Regardless, we've seen Dre come out of his shell in Portland a bit. I think if we put together a team strong enough to make a run that he would be willing to do just about anything to support the team. At his age you'd think he would do whatever it takes if he sees an opportunity to win it all. This is definitely the best team he's ever been on, regardless what some pessimistic fans seem to think.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Dre doesn't strike me as the "train my heir" kind of guy.

More likely kick him in his derry-heir.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

What's the betting that this is just that old Kerry Eggers rumor being recycled?

 

[e_blazer]

Dre doesn't strike me as the "train my heir" kind of guy. Everyone always assumes that the aging veteran will spend his last couple years training the talented understudy, but I don't think it's quite as common as people think, and Dre is more quiet and anti-social than most.

I don't think that Andre has to train the new guy, just be the starter as the backup gains experience.

 

[THE HCP]

Dre has an unknown mentoring side. He became real close with Wes this season. He would pull the young guys aside a lot during practice or shoot arounds and talked to 'em. Not sure he looks at it like training his replacement but more as taking the young guys under his wings.

 

[Nikolokolus]

God I'm going to have a helluva laugh when we draft Jimmer; my Mormon co-worker won't ever let me hear the end of it. (and then I'll laugh-cry when it sinks in that Jimmer Fredette is our PGOTF)

 

[THE HCP]

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/214167/Blazers_Fielding_Offers_For_Andre_Miller

 

[ehizzy3]

shelvin mack

 

[Natebishop3]

Dre has an unknown mentoring side. He became real close with Wes this season. He would pull the young guys aside a lot during practice or shoot arounds and talked to 'em. Not sure he looks at it like training his replacement but more as taking the young guys under his wings.

That's cool to know. Dre is kind of an enigma so it's great to hear that he's having that kind of effect on the younger guys.

 

[THE HCP]

He is just so quiet and to himself. Doesn't like being in the spotlight.

 

[Natebishop3]

He is just so quiet and to himself. Doesn't like being in the spotlight.

Yeah, that's about all we know about the guy. He did have that good interview with JQ during the season where he opened up a bit though.

 

[MickZagger]

I dont know who we should go after. But, I think the speed of the new era of PG is passing up Miller pretty quick. Dallas got away with it by having Barea guard the quick points. Kidd was often put on the opposite SG.

New era. Speed is the new thang.

 

[Natebishop3]

I dont know who we should go after. But, I think the speed of the new era of PG is passing up Miller pretty quick. Dallas got away with it by having Barea guard the quick points. Kidd was often put on the opposite SG.

New era. Speed is the new thang.

Pretty much. The NBA has been going away from the big guards for a while now. A lot of it has to do with the rule changes that made it easier to get in the lane and favors speed and aggression.

 

[MickZagger]

Pretty much. The NBA has been going away from the big guards for a while now. A lot of it has to do with the rule changes that made it easier to get in the lane and favors speed and aggression.

That, and most bigs these days suck balls at protecting the paint and helping on D when they're guards get beat.

 

[Pinwheel1]

That, and most bigs these days suck balls at protecting the paint and helping on D when they're guards get beat.

But I think that has a lot to do with the rules. Once the little guys get into the lane they seem to initiate the contact and the big guy picks up the foul. The bigs can't stay on the floor. They used to punish the little guys for attacking the paint, but now it is a flagrant foul. I am not sure what the answer is but they need to make some adjustments.

That and the stupid ass calls 25 feet from the basket when the offensive guys initiates contact just to draw a foul. And the stupid swinging upward of the arms just to draw a foul. In general if the offensive guys initiates contact it needs to be a no call or a offensive foul.

And while I am on my soap box, get rid of the traveling calls 30 feet from the basket (Shuffling of the feet) and concentrate more on the traveling 3 feet from the basket! It's mid-June and the refs are still pissing me off.

 

[Natebishop3]

But I think that has a lot to do with the rules. Once the little guys get into the lane they seem to initiate the contact and the big guy picks up the foul. The bigs can't stay on the floor. They used to punish the little guys for attacking the paint, but now it is a flagrant foul. I am not sure what the answer is but they need to make some adjustments.

That and the stupid ass calls 25 feet from the basket when the offensive guys initiates contact just to draw a foul. And the stupid swinging upward of the arms just to draw a foul. In general if the offensive guys initiates contact it needs to be a no call or a offensive foul.

And while I am on my soap box, get rid of the traveling calls 30 feet from the basket (Shuffling of the feet) and concentrate more on the traveling 3 feet from the basket! It's mid-June and the refs are still pissing me off.

That's the NBA that david stern wants.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

It seems like to get who they really want, be it Knight, Walker or Irving, that they need to get the #2pick from Minnesota. They will not be able to trade with Utah for the #3 and they don't know if the guy they want will be available at #4. If they can get the #2, they might even have a chance of moving up to #1, if Cleveland is on the fence about who to pick first.

I would try Batum, Miller, Fernandez and the #21 to Minnesota for Ridnour, Webster and #2. (Although ESPN approves this trade, RealGM says can't trade for Webster yet).

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

OK, now I have thought about this some more. We know PA wants to win now and that Blazers are trying to "move way up" to nab a point guard. We know that word is out Cleveland is willing (anxious?) to deal Sessions and JJ Hickson. We have heard Cleveland may be willing to deal their pick #20 for a veteran big man.
I believe that Kyrie Irving is the only player in this draft who can help the Blazers right now.
Could they be going for the #1 pick?
Here is a blockbuster deal (sorry, having trouble with ESPN and RealGM): We give Batum, ,Mathews, Miller, Camby, and basically who they want from Fernandez, Armon Johnson, Babbit, Williams, Euros.
We get back Baron Davis, Jamison, Sessions, JJ Hickson and Alonzo Gee.
Now that I've written it out it scares me; giving up 2 of our 4 core players. Sure would like to do this deal without giving up Mathews but doubt if it is possible.

If Blazers did this, I would buy out Davis, so you got:

PG Irving, Sessions
SG Roy, Gee (maybe Fernandez), or if Miller is released and resigned, Sessions could play SG.
SF Wallace, draft pick or free agent
PF Hickson, Jamison
C Aldridge, Johnson (hopefully Oden comes around)

I don't know if that is better than what we have now or not; I think if Oden came around then this would be a stronger deeper team than the present team with Oden. But it would be so many new players, how would that effect the team?

If we don't have to give up Mathews, it seems like a no-brainer; is their any way to make it palatable to Cleveland?

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

OK, that's too complicated. Let's go with Miller, Batum, and Babbit, Williams and Armon Johnson for Baron Davis and their #1 pick. That still saves Cleveland a lot of money and they still have some tradeable assets left. Can't really see why they would do it.

 

[3RA1N1AC]

cleveland is not trading their #1

 

[Rhal]

cleveland is not trading their #1

This with adding there #4 pick in as well. Cleavland was willing to take on a ton of salary for the #8 pick. They don't care about saving money right now they want to start gathering assets which means all the talent they can get for two or three years before trying to turn themselves back into contenders.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

cleveland is not trading their #1

I think you're right; it would be stupid, also I read Irving is the kind of PG Byron Scott loves. And then Buchanan said yesterday that it was too expensive for them to go after #1 or #2. And after that I don't really see any PG helping them that much right now; so i doubt if there will be any kind of trade.