Mills, Collins or Udoka?

[Rastapopoulos]

Who should the Blazers keep? Bear in mind that now, if the Blazers waive Mills, they lose their rights to him and it's as if he went undrafted.

(Unless I'm completely wrong about that.)

 

[RoyIsClutch07]

Mills. I go back to how he performed versus the US in the olympics last year and he was terrific. There is potential there. Even more, I can see him being a high assist guy in the future. I wouldn't drop him and I don't think they will.

When he signed that contract, it sealed the fate for Udoka and Collins IMO.

 

[VanillaGorilla]

Collins. If Joel or Greg get injured, I do not want LaMarcus playing center for extended periods of time.

 

[Natebishop3]

I say Collins or Udoka. This team needs another young player like Kanye needs another publicity stunt.

 

[illmatic99]

I'll take a chance on a guy who has a snowball's chance in hell of being decent, rather than pick one of two guys who I know for sure is a scrub.

 

[Natebishop3]

I'll take a chance on a guy who has a snowball's chance in hell of being decent, rather than pick one of two guys who I know for sure is a scrub.

Yeah, but where is he going to fit? An older vet isn't going to bitch about not getting playing time. An older vet is going to understand his role. A young buy is going to stew. We don't need another Jerryd Bayless.

 

[Wheels]

Yeah, but where is he going to fit? An older vet isn't going to bitch about not getting playing time. An older vet is going to understand his role. A young buy is going to stew. We don't need another Jerryd Bayless.

Ah but what if Bayless could be included in the package with Outlaw and co. I dunno just trying to help

 

[SodaPopinski]

Hate to lose Mills, but it'd be silly to keep two guys you know are out for at least half the year (Pendergraph) or the whole year (Mills) on your 15-man roster. We're fucked if injuries start piling up. Udoka or Collins have proven they can put in some decent minutes, and that's what you need at the end of your bench. More guys in uniforms, less guys in suits, please.

 

[illmatic99]

After he rehabs, he can spend some time in the D-League. I don't think Mills will have the sense of entitlement that Jerryd had(s) considering he (patty) was picked late in the second round.

 

[Wheels]

BPA

 

[Darkwebs]

Either Mills or Udoka.

Mills, because he has potential to be good or great as all young players do and the way he performed in the Olympics was quite impressive.

Udoka, because he's a solid vet presence and a good perimeter defender, not to mention that he is a local guy. We already have Batum, Webster and Travis to man the 3 spot. Likewise at the PG spot, we have Miller, Blake and Bayless. So I don't know if we can fit either of them into the rotation. That's why you may want to go young and keep Mills. But Udoka can help us immediately. Hmmm...tough decision. I wonder what KP and his staff are thinking.

 

[RoyIsClutch07]

Either Mills or Udoka.

Mills, because he has potential to be good or great as all young players do and the way he performed in the Olympics was quite impressive.

Udoka, because he's a solid vet presence and a good perimeter defender, not to mention that he is a local guy. We already have Batum, Webster and Travis to man the 3 spot. Likewise at the PG spot, we have Miller, Blake and Bayless. So I don't know if we can fit either of them into the rotation. That's why you may want to go young and keep Mills. But Udoka can help us immediately. Hmmm...tough decision. I wonder what KP and his staff are thinking.

Before Mills signed. I was all for Udoka. But, I don't think you drop potential young talent like that.

 

[Darkwebs]

Before Mills signed. I was all for Udoka. But, I don't think you drop potential young talent like that.

Same here. I was hoping we would sign Udoka, but now that Mills forced the Blazers' hand, we may have to drop Udoka. I am very torn. Glad I don't have to make this decision.

 

[RoyIsClutch07]

Same here. I was hoping we would sign Udoka, but now that Mills forced the Blazers' hand, we may have to drop Udoka. I am very torn. Glad I don't have to make this decision.

Until I have seen them both play, I wouldn't drop either Pendergraph or Mills. We just don't know what we have with the two. We do with Udoka and Collins. More than likely, if the two youngsters dont work out. We will be able to pick one of them up or as BBert stated below, an equivalent,later on. Whether if it's later in the season or perhaps next summer.

 

[BBert]

Who has the most trade value? If he recovers his quickness, I think Mills does. It's tough because Collins provides backup big man insurance. But we could probably pick up his equivalent if needed. Sorry Ime. I'm going with Mills.

 

[BenDavis503]

Keep Mills. He is 2-4 years from anything in the NBA and he knows it. He wont bitch about pine needles for a few years.

 

[BrianFromWA]

For any of you not voting for Mills, do you not think that Collins/Udoka/someone of their ilk will be available in, say, January should Joel and Greg slip in the hot tub and fall on Outlaw, rendering them all useless for 2 weeks?

 

[Natebishop3]

For any of you not voting for Mills, do you not think that Collins/Udoka/someone of their ilk will be available in, say, January should Joel and Greg slip in the hot tub and fall on Outlaw, rendering them all useless for 2 weeks?

Udoka.... maybe.

Collins.... probably not.

 

[blue32]

Easy; We keep Mills, and trade Travis, for a big-man. Or cash if that's possible, and then sign Collins.

Udoka I love, but hes a three, and we have enough of those.

 

[alex42083]

You can make a strong case to keep any of the three. I thought there was no way Mills would be in the mix, but now, I think the team might keep him for his upside and don't want to lose him for nothing. But with Pendergraph already out for awhile, we'll have only 13 healthy players for the entire year. Hopefully we don't get hit with the injury bug.

 

[jlprk]

This wouldn't be a problem if Pritchard hadn't signed Pendergraph to a guaranteed contract AFTER Pendergraph went down with a season-ending injury. Stooooopid. We'd have 2 vacancies instead of 1.

 

[PapaG]

This wouldn't be a problem if Pritchard hadn't signed Pendergraph to a guaranteed contract AFTER Pendergraph went down with a season-ending injury. Stooooopid. We'd have 2 vacancies instead of 1.

Unless Pritchard really believes that Pendergraph will be a viable back-up PF for the future.

 

[Schilly]

Compelling arguments from Kenny Vance.

If Oden or Joel goes out we still have LMA, Juwan, Travis, Cunninghame and Pendergraph who he says isn't much of a step down from Collins. He pointed out the depth of Centers around the league saying most centers are actually PF's anyway.

For Ime, he plays the 2 or 3, in either regard he is probably 4th string.

For Mills most teams want 3 PG's the Blazers really only have 2 in Miller and Blake. Blake expires and Miller is old. SO we have a potential depth issue at the Point going forward.

But heres' the clincher, Collins and Ime likely wouldn't play much even if our key guys got hurt, and neither has a career going forward more than 1 maybe 2 years. Mills has the talent and physical tools to have a 10-12 year career in the NBA. They say bring him in and let Steve and Andre mentor him so he's ready to step in to some role in 2 or 3 years when Andre is no longer here.

I get eh not having young guys anymore, but realistically our young guys aren't so young anymore they are veterans and at the 15th spot on the bench 1 yougn guy with a lot of potential is better than an old guy who has peaked and declining.

 

[jlprk]

Collins and Ime likely wouldn't play much even if our key guys got hurt, and neither has a career going forward more than 1 maybe 2 years. Mills has the talent and physical tools to have a 10-12 year career in the NBA. They say bring him in and let Steve and Andre mentor him so he's ready to step in to some role in 2 or 3 years when Andre is no longer here.

I get eh not having young guys anymore, but realistically our young guys aren't so young anymore they are veterans and at the 15th spot on the bench 1 yougn guy with a lot of potential is better than an old guy who has peaked and declining.

This is the philosophy that we need a lot of young projects to keep the coaching staff busy teaching children for years to come.

The alternative philosophy is that as a team that has already arrived in the upper echelons, we need experienced players who have learned from several NBA coaches (several systems) and can contribute immediately. This way, the coaches can use their time to make us win right now, instead of being exasperated showing high schoolers the ropes.

You see how Juwan Howard and Andre Miller need no handholding. They are leaders from Day 1, completely changing how their teammates view Oden as a scoring option. McMillan didn't try, so the new veterans are making this into Oden's team. That's the value of veterans.

Udoka will contribute a lot more than Mills or Collins ever will. A bird in the hand is worth 2 in the Bush of Potential.

 

[BBert]

I honestly don't get the sentimental attraction to Ime. Not one of those guys will get any burn this season. Only one, Mills, has any future in the NBA or any asset value. If half our team got injured, a player equal to Ime or Collins could be had at any time. Heck, they'll probably still be available. It's a no-brainer. Ideally of course, Mills would be playing overseas for a year or two. But he forced our hand.

 

[oldmangrouch]

For any of you not voting for Mills, do you not think that Collins/Udoka/someone of their ilk will be available in, say, January should Joel and Greg slip in the hot tub and fall on Outlaw, rendering them all useless for 2 weeks?

Maybe - but you still have to cut somebody to make room.

It's a tough call, since Collins is probably the least talented of the 3 - but is also the one most likely to be needed.

 

[DUB]

Mills.

But did any of you really think I would vote any other way?

 

[B-Roy]

Keep Mills. He is 2-4 years from anything in the NBA and he knows it. He wont bitch about pine needles for a few years.

His contract will have expired by then.