Next year we will be a Powerhouse

[Fez Hammersticks]

We have all the pieces in place and now we just gotta tweak the roster.

Steve Blake has turned into a very solid starting PG. If we can upgrade our future PG like say Rubio, Curry, Meyor, do it. If not, it's not that huge of an issue.

This summer, if I were KP, I'd zero in on Ronnie Turiaf. This guy is seriously what we need coming off the bench. He's top-5 in the League in shotblocking. He plays with a lot of heart and has a high IQ.

Operation Turiaf!​

 

[Nikolokolus]

I think the playoffs may give us a real glimpse of whether or not we can roll with Blake as the long term starter, but with respect to Ronny I'm on board.

 

[ehizzy3]

i agree, i'd love to go after turiaf....i guess with draft picks?

 

[Nikolokolus]

i agree, i'd love to go after turiaf....i guess with draft picks?

It would probably take somebody like Travis, or maybe Martell, draft picks and cash?

 

[ehizzy3]

It would probably take somebody like Travis, or maybe Martell, draft picks and cash?

then i wouldn't love to go after turiaf.

 

[Nikolokolus]

then i wouldn't love to go after turiaf.

You wouldn't trade martell, draft picks and cash for Ronny Turiaf?

 

[Run BJM]

I don't really see anything the W's would want that the Blazers would give up for Turiaf. Steve Blake maybe but if he does end up being your starter I can't see you guys moving him for a backup PF.

If you did get Ronny it would be a big boost though. A lot of Lakers fans said he was overpaid when GS signed him but hes been worth every penny for us. Hes probably the best backup in the league except perhaps Pryz/Oden (whoever comes off the bench for you guys). Playing with the Lakers for his first few year really helped him develop a winning style of play though. Hes all about the team, hes probably the most underrated passer in the league and one of the best passing big men in the league- hes no Webber/Divac but hes really solid passing it. His mid-range J has improved a lot. Hes a real freak athlete too at 250 lbs but hes able to explode up and get to balls that only 220 lb guys like Tyrus Thomas and Stromile Swift can get to. His rebounding is his biggest weakness though so if you're looking for a tenacious rebounder hes not your guy.

 

[ehizzy3]

You wouldn't trade martell, draft picks and cash for Ronny Turiaf?

no, i personally would not. im a big fan of martell though. i wouldnt trade outlaw either. its not like getting a banger PF is that hard to find. we might even have it in freeland.

 

[Nikolokolus]

no, i personally would not. im a big fan of martell though. i wouldnt trade outlaw either. its not like getting a banger PF is that hard to find. we might even have it in freeland.

So how many small forwards does this team need? We can't keep and play Nicolas, Travis, and Webster (or at least do so in a way that maximizes each player's talent).

I wouldn't try to make a trade at all costs, but for the fairly paltry amount of money that Turiaf makes he'd be a helluva add and give us one of the most fearsome defensive frontcourt rotations in the league.

 

[anonymous gambler]

If I were the Blazers, I'd try again to get Butler. I'd offer Pryzbilla, our #1 pick, our salary cap exception and their choice of SF's.

 

[Sinobas]

One of our weaknesses is that we give up a lot of offensive rebounds when we have Travis in the game...though he does provide an offensive left. I think the 2nd unit might be better with a more traditional backup PF.

Some unrestricted free agent options are Brandon Bass and Chris Anderson. And of course, there is also Joel Freeland, who is having a good season in Euroleague.

 

[MAS RipCity]

Or we can draft DeJaun Blair?

 

[Sinobas]

If I were the Blazers, I'd try again to get Butler. I'd offer Pryzbilla, our #1 pick, our salary cap exception and their choice of SF's.

You'd give up Batum and Joel? I wouldn't. I wouldn't even give up Batum due to the age difference. And Joel is one of the top rebounders in the league. Rebounding has been our bread and butter this season.

We have one of the highest point differentials in the NBA, yet our opponents actually shoot a higher % from the field than us. How do you account for that? We're getting more possessions, mostly due to our rebounding advantage. I certainly would not give up Joel unless we had a capable defensive/rebounding center lined up.

 

[Natebishop3]

backup power forward is a huge hole for us right now, so I would definitely give up Outlaw and picks for Turiaf. He's the kind of guy we need coming off the bench, and he'd be huge for us. I watched him against the Hornets and he was awesome against David West.

 

[MAS RipCity]

Guys, just stop. KP is not dealing Outlaw. He believes in team chemistry and Outlaw is our glue guy. He doesn't care about playing on the bench. He will not get traded.

 

[Natebishop3]

Guys, just stop. KP is not dealing Outlaw. He believes in team chemistry and Outlaw is our glue guy. He doesn't care about playing on the bench. He will not get traded.

so what you're saying is........ Martell is gone?

 

[andalusian]

I too can not see KP dealing Roy's best friend and a good instant offense guy in Outlaw.

 

[barfo]

so what you're saying is........ Martell is gone?

Seems like a likely outcome to me, except that Martell's injury probably makes him a lot harder to trade.

barfo

 

[Minstrel]

Seems like a likely outcome to me, except that Martell's injury probably makes him a lot harder to trade.

Wait til he lights up preseason games...!

I'm hoping that some team considers him and Sergio to be useful reserves and accepts them as throw-ins to a more significant deal.

 

[santeesioux]

Why would KP sign him to that 4 year deal if he planned to trade him? The deal would have to be pretty sweet...

Of course the emergence of Batum could make it easier.

 

[Sinobas]

Guys, just stop. KP is not dealing Outlaw. He believes in team chemistry and Outlaw is our glue guy. He doesn't care about playing on the bench. He will not get traded.

What is a "glue guy"?

I can imagine it might be referring to a player that makes his teammates better, and creates cohesion when he's on the floor. But if that were the case, Travis Outlaw would be Finger Nail Polish Remover guy. He just jacks up jump shots and makes silly mistakes.

 

[anonymous gambler]

You'd give up Batum and Joel? I wouldn't. I wouldn't even give up Batum due to the age difference. And Joel is one of the top rebounders in the league. Rebounding has been our bread and butter this season.

We have one of the highest point differentials in the NBA, yet our opponents actually shoot a higher % from the field than us. How do you account for that? We're getting more possessions, mostly due to our rebounding advantage. I certainly would not give up Joel unless we had a capable defensive/rebounding center lined up.

For an all-star small forward who is young and plays defense- definitely. We have Oden to play starter minutes next year and could target a backup center with our midlevel exception. Oden will be better next year and is already a great rebounder. it hurts to give up Joel, but you need to give some talent.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Why would KP sign him to that 4 year deal if he planned to trade him? The deal would have to be pretty sweet...

Of course the emergence of Batum could make it easier.

That's super easy. Martell was slotted to be our starting 3 and the 3.5-4 million dollar deal he signed was probably a bargain before it was known he'd be gone for the season. The other reason is that if KP hadn't offered him an extension he would have put a 12 million dollar caphold on the team this coming summer unless KP wanted to renounce him.

If Martell proves he's healthy, then he's easily moved considering his age and particular skill-set; teams are always looking for wings who can defend a little and shoot the three.

 

[tlongII]

We are a powerhouse NOW.

 

[BClutch]

I've been lurking for a while but this thread has given me enough motivation to register.

Everyone seems to think we have a hole in the backup power forward spot. I see a lot of people wanting an enforcer type in the position. While at the moment it's true, we have some space for that kind of player I think by next year that space is going to be reduced quickly because we already have the guy to fill it in. Pryzbilla.

Oden's going to figure out the foul thing, I wouldn't be surprised if we see him on the floor an average of 30 minutes a game next season, that leaves 18 for Joel. How much time is this theoretical back PF going to get? With Aldridge at 36 minutes a game that leaves 12 for this enforcer character. Sliding Joel in with Oden for 12 minutes a game is the logical solution. With Outlaw there for a smaller lineup and in case of foul trouble this lineup seems the logical choice for our future. It may take longer for Oden to get reliable so an interim player could be useful for a season, but it's not worth dumping major resources for.

Having three high quality guys share the 4 and 5 spots is going to keep them all happy with playing time and make the most of what we have without giving them too many minutes. The danger with this plan is Oden or Joel foul trouble. It's going to happen, but I think the overall effect will be worth it. It wouldn't hurt to have an extra decent big behind them just in case, but they should only be seeing a bit of foul trouble time and garbage minutes.

As far as small forward goes Batum has too much potential to give up on and Outlaw has proven he can be a second threat in crunch time, and is key to player chemistry. He's also satisfied with a role off the bench, something not many SF's of his quality are going to tolerate. That leaves Webster. We've got outside shooters, we've got lock down defenders. Unless Webster comes out of the gate as a leading most improved player candidate he's just not as good of an option as the other two.

Unless the blazers start a Blake-Rudy-Roy rotation at the 1-2 with Webster taking a few spillover minutes at 2, and Outlaw spends some time every game at the 4 I don't know how that many players can share minutes at the 3.

 

[Minstrel]

I've been lurking for a while but this thread has given me enough motivation to register.

Everyone seems to think we have a hole in the backup power forward spot. I see a lot of people wanting an enforcer type in the position. While at the moment it's true, we have some space for that kind of player I think by next year that space is going to be reduced quickly because we already have the guy to fill it in. Pryzbilla.

Oden's going to figure out the foul thing, I wouldn't be surprised if we see him on the floor an average of 30 minutes a game next season, that leaves 18 for Joel. How much time is this theoretical back PF going to get? With Aldridge at 36 minutes a game that leaves 12 for this enforcer character. Sliding Joel in with Oden for 12 minutes a game is the logical solution. With Outlaw there for a smaller lineup and in case of foul trouble this lineup seems the logical choice for our future. It may take longer for Oden to get reliable so an interim player could be useful for a season, but it's not worth dumping major resources for.

I agree with this. Once Bayless develops, I've envisioned a tight eight-man rotation of:

Back Court: Bayless / Roy / Fernandez
Small Forward: Batum / Outlaw
Front Court: Oden / Aldridge / Przybilla

Obviously, during the season, you need to play more than eight men, which is why it would be nice to have useful but not big-time reserves like Blake or Freeland (if he pans out into a decent NBA player). But those eight players should be sucking up the vast majority of the minutes and could be the entire playoff rotation (barring emergency minutes due to fouls or injury).

 

[THE HCP]

I think we win 60 games next year!

 

[andalusian]

I think we win 60 games next year!

There are playoffs coming. We could win 60 games or more this year!

 

[Shooter]

If I were the Blazers, I'd try again to get Butler. I'd offer Pryzbilla, our #1 pick, our salary cap exception and their choice of SF's.

That's too much. I'd rather keep Pryzbilla around as insurance for the times when Oden goes down with injuries or has to sit due to foul problems. He's played fantastic this year.

 

[anonymous gambler]

I'm not sure I'd trade Pryzbilla for anybody right now. The guy has been fantastic this year. Unless you offered me an all-star type player, I'd rather keep Pryzbilla around as insurance for the times when Oden goes down with injuries or has to sit due to foul problems.

Butler is an all-star with good defense. I think it takes Pryzbilla to get someone like him.