Opportunities to Find our Franchise PG...

[magnifier661]

I'd be interested to know what Miller's interest is in mentoring. I would have no problem keeping him at a decent salary (more than he'd make for just his play and production) as a backup PG for another two to three years past this current deal if he would take a chose PGOTF under his wing and teach him what he knows, kind of like a player/coach. Dre is one crafty, smart mofo who has a lot of knowledge to share. I just don't know if he has the kind of personality to do it.

I would love for him to eventually be an assistant coach after he retires.

 

[magnifier661]

Nico is a lot of things, but he's not even a SG, much less a PG. He doesn't have the handles, and even if he obtains them, he doesn't have the court vision or the feel for the game to ever be a point. He can guard points, but he can't run an offense.

He played point in team France. I think I disagree with you. I actually think Batum is a very smart basketball player. I think that "feel for the game" can be taught because he DOES have it in him. At least give him a chance. Handles training will only help him anyways. Toss him in for 5-10 minutes a game at point and see what happens.

Seeing something like this line-up (all doing well) would be amazing!

PG: Batum, SG: Matthews, SF: Wallace, PF: Aldridge, Center: Oden. I mean who in the hell will the point guard defend on the other team? I could see massive post ups and Batum getting a lot of bigs in foul trouble; having to collapse on him.

 

[Blazinaway]

Nico is a lot of things, but he's not even a SG, much less a PG. He doesn't have the handles, and even if he obtains them, he doesn't have the court vision or the feel for the game to ever be a point. He can guard points, but he can't run an offense.

Ths Max for a dose of sanity to mags overexuberance

 

[magnifier661]

Ths Max for a dose of sanity to mags overexuberance

I'm a fucking homer! What do you expect?!?! LOL

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Just throwing out this idea, here's a player who can be that Jason Terry for this team off the bench:

Louis Williams
Age: 24
Height: 6'2"
PG/SG
14 PPG
3.4 AGP
40 FG%
35 3pt%
23 MPG
18.9 PER

[video=youtube;OeFF-vU32R0]​

 

[magnifier661]

Just throwing out this idea, here's a player who can be that Jason Terry for this team off the bench:

Louis Williams
Age: 24
Height: 6'2"
PG/SG
14 PPG
3.4 AGP
40 FG%
35 3pt%
23 MPG
18.9 PER

​

But will Washington want to part with him though? They seem like they love him there.​

 

[tlongII]

Finding a PG should not be our highest priority this summer. What we need is outside shooting from the SG or SF spot and a healthy Oden. Another point guard will not be a difference maker for this team.

 

[magnifier661]

Finding a PG should not be our highest priority this summer. What we need is outside shooting from the SG or SF spot and a healthy Oden. Another point guard will not be a difference maker for this team.

Unless it's an upgrade for Miller. A very tall order.

 

[B-Roy]

But will Washington want to part with him though? They seem like they love him there.

I don't know if they love him "there", but I highly doubt it since Lou Williams plays for Philadelphia.

 

[glazeduck]

Finding a PG should not be our highest priority this summer. What we need is outside shooting from the SG or SF spot and a healthy Oden. Another point guard will not be a difference maker for this team.

I 100% disagree.

Miller has shown that he's not enough to get us over the proverbial hump, and a dynamic PG is as hard to come by as a dominating center and this team has already hitched its wagon to one potentially dominating C. Miller - to me - is a placeholder. A guy keeping the starting PG spot warm for a hopefully talented and dynamic incumbent.

This team's success will ultimately be driven by one of two things. Oden OR a dynamic PG. We're already invested in Oden and that hasn't worked for us yet. If it does in the future, great, but a franchise PG needs to be a serious priority for this team.

Shooters on the wing can be acquired, and if all you're looking for in a 2 or 3 is the ability to shoot, they won't cost us all of our assets. Also, I'm not sure how exactly the team can make Oden's health a priority. Sounds a little bit like me making tomorrow being a sunny day a priority.

If we rely on Andre w/out getting the next guy in place NOW, our window is very short, if not closed. Wallace is already in his prime (if not a little past it), LA put some SERIOUS wear on his tires this year, BRoy obviously isn't long for this team, and Nico may never take the next step in becoming what he could be.

We need a guy to learn, develop and grow with this younger nucleus NOW.

Agreed that we need shooters, agreed that we need Oden healthy. But the first shouldn't be priority #1 and the other is, to a large extent, out of our hands.

 

[3RA1N1AC]

lou will plays for philly, they seem to like him, although his minutes might dwindle with jrue emerging

i would personally like to nab monta ellis, we need a scoring guard with roy up in the air

 

[glazeduck]

I would also contend that getting an effective slasher is as important as getting a shooter.

This team is DESPERATE for somebody to be able to get the to the hole consistently.

 

[magnifier661]

I 100% disagree.

Miller has shown that he's not enough to get us over the proverbial hump, and a dynamic PG is as hard to come by as a dominating center and this team has already hitched its wagon to one potentially dominating C. Miller - to me - is a placeholder. A guy keeping the starting PG spot warm for a hopefully talented and dynamic incumbent.

This team's success will ultimately be driven by one of two things. Oden OR a dynamic PG. We're already invested in Oden and that hasn't worked for us yet. If it does in the future, great, but a franchise PG needs to be a serious priority for this team.

Shooters on the wing can be acquired, and if all you're looking for in a 2 or 3 is the ability to shoot, they won't cost us all of our assets. Also, I'm not sure how exactly the team can make Oden's health a priority. Sounds a little bit like me making tomorrow being a sunny day a priority.

If we rely on Andre w/out getting the next guy in place NOW, our window is very short, if not closed. Wallace is already in his prime (if not a little past it), LA put some SERIOUS wear on his tires this year, BRoy obviously isn't long for this team, and Nico may never take the next step in becoming what he could be.

We need a guy to learn, develop and grow with this younger nucleus NOW.

Agreed that we need shooters, agreed that we need Oden healthy. But the first shouldn't be priority #1 and the other is, to a large extent, out of our hands.

I don't know about that. One could argue that with a healthy Oden or some more help down low; Portland had a good opportunity to win against Dallas. It's easy for Dirk to get going when he isn't forced to defend LMA. With a healthy Oden, Chandler or Woodman would have to stay on Oden; forcing Dirk to guard LMA. A few of the losses to Dallas came because they were able to get offensive rebounds, after a very good defensive stop. With Oden, that wouldn't have happened. So I actually agree that our need is mainly in the bigs. We've been out rebounded a lot this season, plus our defense wasn't too stellar, especially in the paint. A big man will help in this area, more than a PG.

 

[glazeduck]

I don't know about that. One could argue that with a healthy Oden or some more help down low; Portland had a good opportunity to win against Dallas. It's easy for Dirk to get going when he isn't forced to defend LMA. With a healthy Oden, Chandler or Woodman would have to stay on Oden; forcing Dirk to guard LMA. A few of the losses to Dallas came because they were able to get offensive rebounds, after a very good defensive stop. With Oden, that wouldn't have happened. So I actually agree that our need is mainly in the bigs. We've been out rebounded a lot this season, plus our defense wasn't too stellar, especially in the paint. A big man will help in this area, more than a PG.

I don't disagree that we need help down low, but either we're banking on Oden being that guy or we're not, I don't think it can be both. CJ needs to get a LOT bigger, but looked like he could be capable of 10 mins/night off the bench and, while Camby's clearly beyond his best days, he's sufficient for now as well. For THIS past season, or even JUST NEXT SEASON, I would agree that a big needs to be a larger priority, however I'm looking at things longer term. I see us as being on borrowed time already w/ Miller at the helm.

Even if we'd have beaten Dallas, I don't think the team as constructed is talented enough to beat the LAs, Miamis, and Chicagos of the world.

So if you decide to stay with Oden, you put the necessary safety nets in place, let him come back at his own pace and gear up for next playoffs (which to me, would mean probably sticking with LA, Camby, CJ and maybe a Vet Min. PF, 2nd rounder, Babbitt, or our Euro). OR, if we're moving on from Oden, you need to have a plan with how you're going to construct the team moving forward AND either get a developmental C or PG, or enough assets to acquire one in addition to the firepower we already have.

I guess I just don't see a scenario where we can continue to ignore PG as a pressing issue. Our starting PG can't defend his way out of a wet paper bag and can't consistently hit a 15 foot jumper anymore. UNLESS Cho & Co. thinks Elliott Williams is worth a look, I think it needs to be a BIG priority.

As I said in my OP, maybe we don't completely ANSWER the issue this offseason, but I think it needs to be worked on. If we bring in a guy like Flynn on the chance that he turns into something, that'd be fine with me, I just don't think we can continue to look past such an important position if we're serious about becoming a title contender.

 

[Minstrel]

I 100% disagree.

Miller has shown that he's not enough to get us over the proverbial hump

While I agree that finding a future replacement is important, the above doesn't make sense logically. By that logic, Aldridge has also proven he's not enough to get us over the proverbial hump, so should we be looking for a power forward replacement as a top priority? This team has shown it doesn't have enough, but it's much easier to upgrade the weaker parts of the team rather than the better parts. Aldridge is the best part of the team. Miller is quite arguably the second-best and at worst third-best behind Wallace. That leaves nine other spots that would be easier to upgrade.

For the future, yes, Portland needs a solution. In terms of contention next season, point guard is the least of Portland's worries, IMO.

 

[glazeduck]

While I agree that finding a future replacement is important, the above doesn't make sense logically. By that logic, Aldridge has also proven he's not enough to get us over the proverbial hump, so should we be looking for a power forward replacement as a top priority? This team has shown it doesn't have enough, but it's much easier to upgrade the weaker parts of the team rather than the better parts. Aldridge is the best part of the team. Miller is quite arguably the second-best and at worst third-best behind Wallace. That leaves nine other spots that would be easier to upgrade.

For the future, yes, Portland needs a solution. In terms of contention next season, point guard is the least of Portland's worries, IMO.

In a vacuum, your point is a good one. Aldridge has (hopefully - knock on wood) another 7-10 good years in him. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for Andre.

W/out question Dre is still an important piece to this team being good, he's just not in the right part of his career to help this team to become great.

 

[Minstrel]

In a vacuum, your point is a good one. Aldridge has (hopefully - knock on wood) another 7-10 good years in him. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for Andre.

W/out question Dre is still an important piece to this team being good, he's just not in the right part of his career to help this team to become great.

If by help them become great, you mean develop with them for a few years, I agree. I think he can be part of a great team next year if (massive if) Oden returns healthy and plays most of the season (and most crucially, the playoffs). With Oden/Aldridge/Wallace as the starting front court and either Batum or Matthews in the backcourt with Miller...they could be pretty impressive.

I'd love to acquire a good young point guard, but I think Miller is taken a bit too much for granted. Point guards of his quality are not easy to find and Portland should be maximizing their window with him (since they have other pieces and aren't in a bottom-feeding rebuilding phase), rather than focusing on how to replace him in a year or two. I think they should keep their eyes open for opportunities, but I don't think it would be the worst thing in the world to roll into next season with Miller at point guard.

 

[glazeduck]

I guess I'll also throw out there that the whole point of this thread WASN'T to say "let's put all our eggs into one PG basket", but rather, what creative ways do you see out there for getting a guy who COULD be a franchise PG?

Another thought that comes to mind is Avery Bradley in Boston. Word is they're going to hold onto their vet. core and take another shot at it, and Bradley did nothing to help the team win games. Perhaps Rudy for Bradley would be appealing to them, giving them an energy guy off the bench?

THOSE are the types of things I started this thread to discuss...

 

[tlongII]

In my opinion the only way you can get a franchise point guard is by either having a top 8 in the draft or by trading one of your best 2 or 3 players. Neither of these are options I wish to pursue at this time.