Re: Draft rumor thread.....
So if POR is allegedly going to trade for a vet, who did people think it will be?
This morning the talk was Devin Harris, which I find laughable, given that would mean UTA would want to send him here after we screwed them over on Millsap and took Matthews away from them....I don't see a deal b\t both teams working out...
The other name was Nash, but all indication I have read\heard are that PHX has no intention of trading him and Nash is not pushing to leave PHX....
Who else is there then?
Tony Parker? Maybe I guess, is SA looking to rebuild around Hill?
Ray Felton, yeah get in line behind about 10 other teams, and quite honestly I don't see the fascination. I don't think adding Felton makes POR an NBA title contender...
Brandon Jennings? I would not be opposed to seeing POR trade for him, he is young has showed some flashes of stellar play, probably would drive Nate crazy but depending on the acquisition cost I think he would be a good addition...
Who else is out there? Nate keeps whining for vets, yet I don't see a ton of APPEALING players available for trade.
I like Monta Ellis, I'd definitely like to see POR trade for him, if GS is trading him that is. POR desperately needs a scorer like him.
Iguodala? Not that I don't necessarily like him but adding another guy whose skills are similiar to Wallace, Matthews & Batum...seems rather redundant...I have bad visions of missed jumpers with those 3 on the floor together...
Can't POR just address some of the "vet needs" through Free Agency? A guy like Carl Landry or Kris Humphries come to mind at the PF spot...Ridnour and possibly Brooks (front loaded deal) are out there at PG...Or you have a guy like Jamal Crawford out there that would be a great off the bench guy.
There are a lot of other "vets" out there for POR to look at in addition to the ones mentioned above:
M.Chalmers (restricted) - Would MIA match a "toxic" offer? Maybe not
TJ Ford - Had interest in POR if he was waived, certainly a possibility
L.Barbosa - Off the bench scorer that is needed, probably cheaper to acquire than Crawford
M.Redd - Not what he was, coming off injury, but could be a great shooter off the bench
P.Stojakavic - For a guy with little left in the tank he helped out DAL out, indications are they have bigger FA fish to fry, could he help fill that shooting role in POR?
T.Prince - On the outs in DET, would be a nice addition coming off the bench
M.Thornton (restricted) - Chances are SAC resigns him, but not every team will match a toxic front loaded offer. Would be very good comng off the bench
S.Dalembert - Highly sought after I would wager and I doubt he wants to stay in SAC
D.Jordan (restricted) - Yeah the Clippers say they will match any offers, I would put that and thier history of NOT doing that to the test. Make Donald Sterling shell out big bucks up front and watch him squirm and maybe get lucky.
Marc Gasol (restricted) - I can't see MEM letting him go, but Heisley? is another owner who doesn't like to spend and he just spent on Gay and Randolph and even matching Gasol likely means forcing MEM to unload some of thier other talented pieces to save money (ala Utah). OJ Mayo being one. No problem weakening a conference foe.
J.Jerebko (restricted) - Was hurt last year but has potential as a b\u PF, again DET is trying to rebuild, do they want to throw a lot of money at him at thier own rebuilding expense?
M.Bellinelli (restricted?) - NO is another team strapped for cash, he had a nice year and shot 41% from 3pt range, would be a nice shooter off the bench
M.Dunleavy - 40% from 3pt range, I question whether IND resigns him with George & Stephenson in the wings.
Plus: Jason Kapono (3pt threat?), Earl Clark (only 23), Shane Battier (vet presence), Jeff Foster (banger big man), Al Thornton (volume scorer), JR Smith (scores in bunches, attitude concerns), Kenyon Martin (vet b\u PF?), Troy Murphy (vet PF), B.Diaw (vet SF\PF combo)
A lot of intriguing options for POR...and enough at wing positions to allow POR to deal guys like Rudy (ineffective) and Batum (#1 tradeable asset) or even Matthews and be able to pick up the slack.
I just don't see POR sitting out the draft, Allen loves it way too much, and I think this year there are enough "vets" in free agency that could be brought in to bolster the bench. I question whether the type of vet POR could acquire via trade is worth the cost in comparison to what POR could get through FA by just shelling out some cash instead.
