Miller offered for Battier? (RUMOR)

[BlazerWookee]

What I meant was, do you see Battier helping us win more games than Miller? I don't.

And even if he does improve our record, the increase will be marginal, and not worth wasting Nic's development.

If Miller is Moriarty with the negative waves in the locker room, then I'd trade him for a handful of Corn Nuts and a warm six pack of Olympia.

However, that's an awfully big if.

 

[Nikolokolus]

In fact that is part of what I was saying. I know a lot of the Blazer fans love our guys because they were drafted by the organization, and they anticipate players turning from a project into a high end players and playing their whole careeer here, and they envision some sort of magnificent career run here. But that is not how it works out most of the time. From what I have seen, projects for the most part are failures, and rarely successful. There have been free agents and draft picks we have passed on repeatedly over the last few years which would have upgraded the Blazers at the SF position easily. Some of them as late as the second round in the draft.

I am not saying Batum might turn into a pretty good player one day. I am just saying that a known "good" is exactly that. A guy that can provide the spacing for our stars to go to work. A guy that the defense can't afford to leave because he will hit the open jumper. Other teams have that guy. We haven't for a really long time now.

Weird. I was perfectly satisfied with Nic's production as an 18 minutes a night "starter" last year. He hit at a pretty good percentage from the floor (44%), he has a natural complimentary player mentality (willing passer, understands space and movement) and even his 3 pt shooting was fine at 37%. As for his defense, I thought it was some of the best team defense and man defense I've seen from a Blazers small forward in years. The biggest knock on Nic was that he seemed to become too passive at times on offense and will probably need to be more aggressive in the future if he's going to become a true 35+ minutes a night guy, that and he needs to add some bulk.

 

[Minstrel]

The biggest knock on Nic was that he seemed to become too passive at times on offense and will probably need to be more aggressive in the future if he's going to become a true 35+ minutes a night guy

True, and his taking on a leading role for his national team really got me interested to see what he'd do for Portland this year. I think that's the sort of thing that could do wonders for his confidence. His injury really took a lot of wind from my sails going into the season.

 

[RoyToy]

I've held the opinion for the longest time that Battier is overrated. Reading the Rockets forum provided a lot of good laughs.

What surprised me is they seem very willing to get rid of Aaron Brooks. They also seem to be huge Rudy fans.

Always interesting reading another teams boards.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I've held the opinion for the longest time that Battier is overrated. Reading the Rockets forum provided a lot of good laughs.

What surprised me is they seem very willing to get rid of Aaron Brooks. They also seem to be huge Rudy fans.

Always interesting reading another teams boards.

Weird. I hated that movie.

 

[oldmangrouch]

This would be a good deal - if the Blazers had a hope of contending the next couple of years. Non-contenders don't need vets.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

If we are going to trade Miller, we should stop showcasing him.

(Hope NY didn't catch that last game)

 

[Boob-No-More]

Weird. I hated that movie.

You mean "The Hobbit of Notre Dame"?

BNM

 

[MickZagger]

Hit a fucking open shot and play defense. What else do we need our SF to do?

Nic is only 20, he was showing progress in the preseason in putting the ball on the floor and creating offense.

 

[MARIS61]

The entire league had their chance at Miller last summer, and there was no interest.

That is why he is here.

 

[Kaydow]

I've held the opinion for the longest time that Battier is overrated. Reading the Rockets forum provided a lot of good laughs.

What surprised me is they seem very willing to get rid of Aaron Brooks. They also seem to be huge Rudy fans.

Always interesting reading another teams boards.

Battier overrated? He's a SF version of Joel Pryz IMO. His numbers (8/3/2) don't tell the whole story - he impacts the game in a lot of ways. We all know he can defend, but he's also a good passer & he's a clutch shooter. Plus, he makes about $7 million a year and he's signed through next season - so he's not overpaid, and he's in that year before the last year status (expires NEXT season) So, if you trade for him and he doesn't pan out you can theoretically use him as an expiring next season. Which might be perfect for us b/c we'll have Batum back anyways.

I'm not sure if Battier is as good, better, or worse than Miller. But the teams NEEDS a SF in the worst way for this season w/o mortgaging the future, and we simply have to start playing Bayless. So it's possible that Battier better fits the needs of the team THIS season. It stands to reason IMO that Miller & Battier would carry about the same trade value next season - an expiring contract and a serviceable veteran.

 

[e_blazer]

The entire league had their chance at Miller last summer, and there was no interest.

That is why he is here.

Because, like, the entire league had cap space to make an offer for him.

Oh, wait....

 

[1 Eye Jack]

The entire league had their chance at Miller last summer, and there was no interest.

That is why he is here.

The entire league or just those that had cap space?

 

[rocketeer]

I'm not sure if Battier is as good, better, or worse than Miller. But the teams NEEDS a SF in the worst way for this season w/o mortgaging the future, and we simply have to start playing Bayless. So it's possible that Battier better fits the needs of the team THIS season. It stands to reason IMO that Miller & Battier would carry about the same trade value next season - an expiring contract and a serviceable veteran.

basically the trade makes a lot of sense for portland, but doesn't make any sense at all for the rockets. which is why it will never happen.

 

[MARIS61]

Because, like, the entire league had cap space to make an offer for him.

Oh, wait....

Sign and trade.

 

[MARIS61]

I'd much rather have Landry than Battier.

 

[barfo]

I'd much rather have Landry than Battier.

Me too.

Not that what I want has anything to do with it.

barfo

 

[BoomChakaLaka]

What about Miller and Rudy for:

Battier and Brooks!


Then, trade Blake, Outlaw and pick for Gortat


Brooks / Bayless / Mills

Roy / Webster (and Bayless can take some minutes at the 2)

Battier / Cunningham / (Batum, next year)

Aldridge / Howard / Pendergraph

Pryz / Gortat / (Oden, next year)


Where we lose some height and depth and PG, having Webster at the shooting guard may help his game.

Our lack of SF depth could then be replaced with Brooks/Webster/Roy at times. Could work.

 

[VanillaGorilla]

What about Miller and Rudy for:

Battier and Brooks!


Then, trade Blake, Outlaw and pick for Gortat


Brooks / Bayless / Mills

Roy / Webster (and Bayless can take some minutes at the 2)

Battier / Cunningham / (Batum, next year)

Aldridge / Howard / Pendergraph

Pryz / Gortat / (Oden, next year)


Where we lose some height and depth and PG, having Webster at the shooting guard may help his game.

Our lack of SF depth could then be replaced with Brooks/Webster/Roy at times. Could work.

I actually really like this.. Brooks can play off the ball really well, but he can also create for himself and, to a lesser extent, others.

 

[BoomChakaLaka]

I actually really like this.. Brooks can play off the ball really well, but he can also create for himself and, to a lesser extent, others.

Shall we phone KP?





I like the combination of trades too, now that I've given it more thought.

It would also enable us to trade Pryz at the deadline if a solid PF (one for the future!) became available....to a team looking to dump salary by picking up Pryz's expiring contract.

Gortat would however have to be playing well - - and LMA would have to play some back-up Center (until Oden returned) -

 

[Kaydow]

I'd much rather have Landry than Battier.

Did you know that Landry WAS a Trailblazer? He played Juco ball for Vincennes University, and they are the Vincennes Trailblazers.

I hear you Marris - this guy is good. 16/7, shoots 58% FG and 89% FT. Who knew Landry had this kind of offensive ability? He'd be a perfect b/u PF/C (he's undersized) But I don't see any way Houston trades him. He's signed through next year at $3 million/year. Pretty good bargain.

 

[Kaydow]

Why would Houston trade Brooks/Battier for Miller/Rudy?

How does that make them better? They lose their leading scorer & their best defender for an average PG and an injured SG. AND MgGrady is close to coming back, so Rudy most likely has to come off the bench when he gets healthy.

 

[roydezlaw]

Why would Houston trade Brooks/Battier for Miller/Rudy?

How does that make them better? They lose their leading scorer & their best defender for an average PG and an injured SG. AND MgGrady is close to coming back, so Rudy most likely has to come off the bench when he gets healthy.

Recent history shows that wouldn't be long.

I think Rudy would endorse this trade.

Aaron wouldn't get to play here like he does for Rick. The combination of playing with Roy and for McMillan would make him seem like a totally different player than he is now.

I also thought everyone in Portland swore off of short scoring point guards.

 

[BenDavis503]

I don't see why Houston would do this.