Moving Time for Miller?

[Shapecity]

Miller would have occupied the No. 1 slot here even if the Blazers weren't in the market for a competent big man and/or wing player after losing Nicolas Batum (shoulder), Travis Outlaw (foot) and now Greg Oden to the second season-ending knee injury of his young career.

Reason being: Most of general manager Kevin Pritchard's peers around the league have believed for months that Pritchard only signed Miller -- after failed free-agent runs at Hedo Turkoglu and Paul Millsap -- to ensure that Portland at least came away with a tradable asset last summer … which is projected to be the last summer for a while that Portland has salary-cap space.

And for all the ongoing skepticism about how the ball-dominating Miller fits as a backcourt partner with Brandon Roy, there's no doubt that the 33-year-old is moveable in the first year of a three-year, $21 million that is only guaranteed for the first two years. Quite moveable.

As covered in this cyberspace last week when we surveyed advance scouts about the opening quarter of the season and again by Professor Hollinger in this post-injury analysis of the Oden-less Blazers, Miller might actually find it easier to operate in Portland's offense with Oden off the floor and less of an emphasis on throwing the ball inside. Harsh as that sounds, given Oden's unquestioned likability and hideous luck, Miller and Roy appeared to be the main sufferers from the lack of offensive flow that has plagued Portland this season as Oden's role expanded. If the Blazers open things up a bit more with Oden sidelined, as Roy envisions, that could really help Miller.

Yet the reality remains that Miller and Roy are an iffy tag team because both need to see so much of the ball to be effective, which explains why Miller has only started nine games. There's this, too: While NBA front-office sources say there is considerable outside interest in young (and mostly forgotten) Portland guard Jerryd Bayless, Miller's more substantial salary -- $6.7 million to Bayless' $2.1 million -- would probably bring a bigger talent payoff in a trade.

"They need a Mo Williams-type to play with Brandon Roy," said one rival team executive in the West. "They need a shooter to play off him."

Source: Daily Dime

 

[Shapecity]

Note Whoever has Miller on their books in 2010-11 must waive him on or before June 29, 2011. Or else Miller's $7.8 million salary for the 2011-12 season becomes guaranteed.

 

[KingSpeed]

I think he's on his way out before the end of the year. But if not, we'll be fine if he focuses on being a scorer off the bench. Like Outlaw, he can get his own shot or get free throws and we need that right now. Initially, I wanted Miller to be a distributor, but most of his targets are on the sidelines so he must look to score 12-16 points a night. We desperately need that if no trade is made.

 

[Shapecity]

I think he's on his way out before the end of the year. But if not, we'll be fine if he focuses on being a scorer off the bench. Like Outlaw, he can get his own shot or get free throws and we need that right now. Initially, I wanted Miller to be a distributor, but most of his targets are on the sidelines so he must look to score 12-16 points a night. We desperately need that if no trade is made.

This has always been the knock on Andre Miller. He doesn't manage a game well. He never figured out when to choose his spots distributing and when to transition in attack mode.

 

[BenDavis503]

I hope not. We need him.

 

[PapaG]

I think he's on his way out before the end of the year. But if not, we'll be fine if he focuses on being a scorer off the bench. Like Outlaw, he can get his own shot or get free throws and we need that right now. Initially, I wanted Miller to be a distributor, but most of his targets are on the sidelines so he must look to score 12-16 points a night. We desperately need that if no trade is made.

Yep. There is a bit of irony in that the guy who was supposed to distribute the ball is actually better suited to fill the Outlaw role of getting his own shots when the offense stagnates.

The injuries make Miller a must for this team right now, but in a much different role than I envisioned for him.

 

[hasoos]

Last year when I asked Reggie Miller what type of a PG they need to play off of Brandon Roy, he also said they need a Mo Williams type. The thing is, I think we already have that guy if we will just give him the minutes. His name is Bayless.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

How about a swap with Orlando for Brandon Bass?
(I'd prefer Marcin Gortat, but they'd probably prefer Steve Blake, and neither team would budge.)

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Last year when I asked Reggie Miller what type of a PG they need to play off of Brandon Roy, he also said they need a Mo Williams type. The thing is, I think we already have that guy if we will just give him the minutes. His name is Bayless.

What's a "Mo Williams type"? Combo guard who can hit threes? Bayless is half of that, I suppose. Actually Steve Blake is closer. (And Patty Mills may be closer still.) Williams isn't someone who can create his shot very effectively, as we saw in the playoffs last year.

 

[Nikolokolus]

What's a "Mo Williams type"? Combo guard who can hit threes? Bayless is half of that, I suppose. Actually Steve Blake is closer. (And Patty Mills may be closer still.) Williams isn't someone who can create his shot very effectively, as we saw in the playoffs last year.

Patty Mills shot a paltry 34% on his threes from the college line and that was on volume shooting from distance (7 and 9 attempts per game respectively in his freshman and sophomore seasons at St. Marys) who knows maybe he'll be a lights out shooter as a pro, but it seems a bit like wishcasting at this point.

I have no idea if Miami would be willing to move him, but I'd love to get a hold of Mario Chalmers. Plays pretty stout D and can definitely hit an outside shot.

 

[hasoos]

What's a "Mo Williams type"? Combo guard who can hit threes? Bayless is half of that, I suppose. Actually Steve Blake is closer. (And Patty Mills may be closer still.) Williams isn't someone who can create his shot very effectively, as we saw in the playoffs last year.

Mo Williams can create and attacks the rim a lot. Bayless is more like Mo than Blake, because Mo is a scoring guard. I also am not sold on that Bayless doesn't have range. There is an adjustment from college to the pro's and I think he will handle that. It's not like he has an ugly stroke. He just needs to dial it in.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Mo Williams can create and attacks the rim a lot. Bayless is more like Mo than Blake, because Mo is a scoring guard. I also am not sold on that Bayless doesn't have range. There is an adjustment from college to the pro's and I think he will handle that. It's not like he has an ugly stroke. He just needs to dial it in.

A Jason Terry type would be perfect next to Roy.

 

[Denny Crane]

Ben Gordon.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Ben Gordon.

This I could actually get behind.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

I don't know about Gordon.

He's making $11m/per for the next five.

 

[MrJayremmie]

Ben Gordon is quite selfish. I think he'd be terrible with this team.

 

[Denny Crane]

Ben Gordon is quite selfish. I think he'd be terrible with this team.

15.8 FGA and 3.3 assists/36 minutes.

He's quick and does play good defense against PGs, can hit shots when they count, can put up 15 point quarters a bunch of times in a season, etc. He played alongside Derrick Rose last season and I don't remember Rose not having the ball enough.

 

[Ed O]

Ben Gordon.

Ben Gordon would be a very very interesting addition. Yes, he's expensive salary-wise, but man... he can shoot. Having him as the starting "PG" alongside Roy would be potentially a great fit.

I'm not sure what the Pistons would want for him; it seems like it might be more than the Blazers would be willing to give.

Ed O.

 

[e_blazer]

If you're looking for a shooter to pair with Brandon, is Gordon going to add anything that Rudy couldn't once he gets cleared to play again?

 

[Nikolokolus]

If you're looking for a shooter to pair with Brandon, is Gordon going to add anything that Rudy couldn't once he gets cleared to play again?

Yes. The ability to guard point guards.

 

[Denny Crane]

Yes. The ability to guard point guards.

He makes big shots about as much as anyone.

Rudy's never been a 20PPG scorer in the NBA.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Miller/Bayless (picks?) for Gordon works under the cap.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

He makes big shots about as much as anyone.

Rudy's never been a 20PPG scorer in the NBA.

Put him in a system where he's not asked to sit in the corner and with a more prominent role he will be.

 

[Denny Crane]

Put him in a system where he's not asked to sit in the corner and with a more prominent role he will be.

Gordon won 6th man of the year by standing in the corner waiting for a drive/kick pass to get him a 3pt shot.

The guy is a pure scorer. Guys like Roy, Kobe, and Joe Johnson are the ideal complement to him, since they are so good at running offenses from the SG spot.

 

[PapaG]

Ben Gordon would be a very very interesting addition. Yes, he's expensive salary-wise, but man... he can shoot. Having him as the starting "PG" alongside Roy would be potentially a great fit.

I'm not sure what the Pistons would want for him; it seems like it might be more than the Blazers would be willing to give.

Ed O.

Really? I mean REALLY? Ben Gordon is a shooter. That's it, that's all, yet he creates his own shots.

He's a 16.4 PER player who dominates the ball and shoots at a 43.7% rate. He's worse defensively than Blake or Miller, and he assists at a lower rate than either of them.

LOL

 

[PapaG]

Gordon won 6th man of the year by standing in the corner waiting for a drive/kick pass to get him a 3pt shot.

The guy is a pure scorer. Guys like Roy, Kobe, and Joe Johnson are the ideal complement to him, since they are so good at running offenses from the SG spot.

Yet he shot 41% that year from 3pt.. Less than Blake did last year.

This board is hilarious. Not toward you, Denny, but toward people bashing current Blazer players, yet advocating that Gordon is the answer.

Hilarious.

 

[Denny Crane]

Yet he shot 41% that year from 3pt.. Less than Blake did last year.

This board is hilarious. Not toward you, Denny, but toward people bashing current Blazer players, yet advocating that Gordon is the answer.

Hilarious.

You're comparing a career 12 PER player with a career 16.4 PER player. Last season, 14.4 vs. 17.0. A career 7.5 PPG / 4.2 APG player vs. a 18.5 / 3.0 player. A career .407 FG% / .390 3pt% vs. .437 / .412.

If Portland is going to win a championship, it's going to need 3 studly players, if not 4. I don't see Blake as being in that class, but Gordon would be a mighty fine #2 or even #4 option.

Gordon's 26 and Blake's 29 years old.

 

[PapaG]

You're comparing a career 12 PER player with a career 16.4 PER player. Last season, 14.4 vs. 17.0. A career 7.5 PPG / 4.2 APG player vs. a 18.5 / 3.0 player. A career .407 FG% / .390 3pt% vs. .437 / .412.

If Portland is going to win a championship, it's going to need 3 studly players, if not 4. I don't see Blake as being in that class, but Gordon would be a mighty fine #2 or even #4 option.

Gordon's 26 and Blake's 29 years old.

I'm comparing 3pt percentages, as per your post. Blake was more efficient from 3pt last year than Gordon was when he won the 6th man award in terms of 3pt shooting. That's a fact. Gordon had a much higher volume of shots. That's why he won the award.

I'm not saying that Blake is a "studly" player at all. I never have. The red herrings on this board and strawmen make me laugh.

 

[Denny Crane]

Glad to see Blake's consistent and doing it this year.

 

[Minstrel]

I'm comparing 3pt percentages, as per your post. Blake was more efficient from 3pt last year than Gordon was when he won the 6th man award in terms of 3pt shooting. That's a fact. Gordon had a much higher volume of shots.

Maintaining the three-point percentage over so many shots actually speaks to superior shot-making ability. When you take fewer shots, you can choose to take only the easiest, most-open shots. Which is largely what Blake does. Gordon is able to hit at a high level despite taking tougher, better-defended three-pointers. There are only so many open shots in a game...players who can shoot well and score when not open have a premium value.