Ric Bucher on Courtside

[Minstrel]

I don't think Portland will trade Outlaw, maybe insert Webster instead and hell yeah

They wouldn't trade him for Deng? I think they would, pretty cheerfully. At least, I sure hope they would.

I think the Suns get killed in that deal, but maybe they value expiring money WAY more than I'm thinking.

 

[MIXUM]

the guest on courtside is 100% right. WE CAN NOT keep all these guys. We have to many assests not to make a deal. I dont care if its this season or in the offseason but a move is needed. With young talent like Batum, Webster, Outlaw, Bayless, Sergio, Rudy, Koppenen, and our first round pick plus REC I mean come on. We have the stuff to add a great piece.


very true

 

[craigehlo]

RJeff just schooled Battier tonight for 25 points (10-15 shooting) with 4 boards and 4 assists. Meanwhile Battier had 3 points.

I know not everyone wants RJeff, but I hope this at least puts any talk of Battier (and his overpaid contract) as an option to rest. Jason Quick I'm looking at you.

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

They wouldn't trade him for Deng? I think they would, pretty cheerfully. At least, I sure hope they would.

I think the Suns get killed in that deal, but maybe they value expiring money WAY more than I'm thinking.

I think they would be stupid too, but KP loves his players. Outlaw is best friends with Roy and Aldridge, and he has been pretty big for us in the 4th quarter of games. I think because of this, KP values Outlaw a little too much now

 

[Minstrel]

I think they would be stupid too, but KP loves his players. Outlaw is best friends with Roy and Aldridge, and he has been pretty big for us in the 4th quarter of games. I think because of this, KP values Outlaw a little too much now

Well, he parted with good guy Jarrett Jack to get the player he wanted in Bayless. He has supposedly been a big fan of Deng for years, so if Outlaw is the cost of getting the player he wants, I think Pritchard would do it.

I think Pritchard values chemistry and cohesion, and wouldn't make a lateral move or small improvement if it might disrupt cohesion. I don't think he values cohesion to irrational levels, like turning down the chance to improve the team a huge amount. He might not bring in a talented problem player, but Deng is supposedly a good guy and he plays a selfless game...very Pritchard type of player.

 

[Blaze01]

Seriously...the irrational love affair with Outlaw that some of you are harboring has to stop....

He hit some game winners...great....meanwhile he gives up as many or more points to the players he is supposed to "defend" than he scores...

Outlaw is what he is...a less talented version of Corey Maggette...they are both chuckers...they both are poor defenders...Maggette by choice...Outlaw b\c he seemingly cannot figure it out after SIX years....at least Maggette gets to the line...

Jefferson is a better player than Outlaw, and he always has been...take off the rose colored glasses every once in awhile....

 

[MARIS61]

the guest on courtside is 100% right. WE CAN NOT keep all these guys.

Poppycock. That's like telling Paul Allen HE CAN NOT keep all his billions.

We aren't stockpiled in young talent by accident. It's exactly what we wanted, and still want.

What the guest (a diehard Bulls fan) really means is he hopes and prays we are idiots who will make a bad deal to profit his team, or at least diminish our stockpile of young talent so we're not a threat to his team.

The entire league is shaking in terror just thinking about the team we'll be after baking for another couple years.

We're not talking just deep in the playoffs.

We're talking more like we're becoming the Harlem Globetrotters while the rest of the teams will be our Washington Generals.

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

Seriously...the irrational love affair with Outlaw that some of you are harboring has to stop....

He hit some game winners...great....meanwhile he gives up as many or more points to the players he is supposed to "defend" than he scores...

Outlaw is what he is...a less talented version of Corey Maggette...they are both chuckers...they both are poor defenders...Maggette by choice...Outlaw b\c he seemingly cannot figure it out after SIX years....at least Maggette gets to the line...

Jefferson is a better player than Outlaw, and he always has been...take off the rose colored glasses every once in awhile....

If your talking to me, I never once said anything about me liking Outlaw. I dislike Outlaw's BB IQ very much so, I was saying I don't think KP trades Outlaw.

 

[The Sebastian Express]

Oh we can keep all these guys money wise no doubt. If the team is competitive Paul will shell out. The Blazers, regardless of what Vulcan may want, when winning are Paul's biggest hobby. He will put out cash to keep players who are imperative to winning a championship. Now some of them may have a lack of playing time and for some reason or another not sign an extension or ask for a trade, but from a monetary stand-point it is really not a question.

 

[craigehlo]

Seriously...the irrational love affair with Outlaw that some of you are harboring has to stop....

Have to agree. TO's shots are "clutch" because we can't hold leads and get off to really bad offensive starts. Upgrade to a player like RJeff and we end up blowing out teams that we would otherwise be in tight contests with.

 

[Kaydow]

What's wrong with RJeff everyone? I love the guy's game. He can score, defend, he's athletic, he can shoot, get to the foul line - very versitile guy. He's had some injuries, but he's only 28. Mixim makes him sound like he's Rick Fox coming out of retirement. Hello? He scored 22 PPG LAST SEASON and appeared in all 82 games. I've always liked his game. He's a very, very good #2 scoring option. Just wonder if there would be enough shots to go around for Roy, RJ, & LA. Not to mention Rudy, Oden, Bayless, etc.

Sidenote: Did anyone see the highlights of Amare vs Philly tonight? What a tank job. He's letting guys drive right by him for lay-ups. Absolutely no effort. Maybe he knows something.

 

[craigehlo]

What's wrong with RJeff everyone?

Nothing.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Poppycock. That's like telling Paul Allen HE CAN NOT keep all his billions.

We aren't stockpiled in young talent by accident. It's exactly what we wanted, and still want.

What the guest (a diehard Bulls fan) really means is he hopes and prays we are idiots who will make a bad deal to profit his team, or at least diminish our stockpile of young talent so we're not a threat to his team.

The entire league is shaking in terror just thinking about the team we'll be after baking for another couple years.

We're not talking just deep in the playoffs.

We're talking more like we're becoming the Harlem Globetrotters while the rest of the teams will be our Washington Generals.

Who knows, maybe we can get David Stern to raise the roster limit from fifteen to twenty players? Seriously, the object is not to have a bench that is fifteen deep with each guy equally capable of being a rotation player, the goal is to stockpile talent for just long enough that you can then package them together to go out and get guys to surround Roy, Aldridge and Oden; guys that can play solid complimentary roles.

Holding on to players for too long, especially a bunch of young guys all operating on rookie scale deals will eventually lead to some major discord as 4 or 5 will eventually be left sitting on the bench to rot, watching their limited window of opportunity at a career and financial security narrow and eventually close up.

I know guys like Channing, Ike, etc. have been playing the part of the "good soldier" (which is much to their credit as professionals) but these guys are former lottery picks with probably enough game to at least be rotation players on another less deep team, to hold on to them and deny them an opportunity to prove themselves in what essentially amounts to a contract year seriously puts in jeopardy their ability to get picked up or get paid what they are "worth" over the summer. In fact I would argue that the mix of players KP has put together carries a serious risk of imploding unless he does a better job of staggering the ages and contract status of this roster.

You're kidding yourself if you think this team -- as currently constructed -- will look the same this time next year.

 

[Minstrel]

What's wrong with RJeff everyone? I love the guy's game. He can score, defend, he's athletic, he can shoot, get to the foul line - very versitile guy. He's had some injuries, but he's only 28

Mainly that by advanced metrics, his production has fallen off a fair amount the last three years. In addition, I think most would agree that his defense hasn't been as good the past few years.

I like RJ's game, it's just that he's not very productive anymore. Jefferson from four years ago was super.

 

[MIXUM]

its shocking how many people dont realize how bad we need an upgrade at SF. i mean...its really sad

 

[STOMP]

the guest on courtside is 100% right. WE CAN NOT keep all these guys. We have to many assests not to make a deal. I dont care if its this season or in the offseason but a move is needed. With young talent like Batum, Webster, Outlaw, Bayless, Sergio, Rudy, Koppenen, and our first round pick plus REC I mean come on. We have the stuff to add a great piece.

true, but you're preaching to the choir here. I'd guess a great many of us want a quantity for quality trade, but it takes two to tango. Do you really think KP isn't pushing for such a trade or wouldn't jump if a good one became available? Get back to me when a decent player who'd be a good fit is traded for capspace and mediocre prospects from another team, until then your complaints are hollow.

STOMP

 

[STOMP]

some posters are hard of reading. Do you give them space and let their misunderstandings fade or call them out in hopes that you can get your point through? Thats a tough one

STOMP

 

[crowTrobot]

jefferson has a grand total of 7 blocks in 1900 minutes this year. thought it was interesting that a player known for defense might be the worst forward in the league at shot blocking. he must be a REALLY good perimeter defender to get that reputation.

 

[craigehlo]

jefferson has a grand total of 7 blocks in 1900 minutes this year. thought it was interesting that a player known for defense might be the worst forward in the league at shot blocking. he must be a REALLY good perimeter defender to get that reputation.

He's never been a shot blocker in his career. He's guy that rotates well on defense, doesn't make stupid fouls and stays in front of his man. All things we desperately need.

 

[HailBlazers]

There's not a ton of awful deals listed here IMHO.

I think trading for Amare or Vince would hurt us in the long run.

Trading for Prince, Kirk, RJeff, Butler or Wallace would get us to the next level where we are looking making the 2nd round this season. Plus we could be talking contending next year.

Dwight Jaynes on Courtside later went on to make the point that cap space is more important to us down the road, say when were actually vying for a championship! I'm sorry but no one player is going to make us an immediate contender, just not going to happen. If there is a great piece for the taking then yes you do it. But how about saving the money for our big three and yes they will be BIG. Yes Paul Allen is beyond rich, but this recession is a once in a century event! KP make some magic or

BAKE IT over the hot summer.

 

[mgb]

I kind of doubt Outlaw is going anywhere because he is such a good friend with Roy. I know that alone won't keep him from being traded, but I think Roy does have some influence.

I don't see how we trade Webster when he's still injured. On Courtside they said there isn't a time table, he's just trying to get better. That worries me a bit. Why isn't he healing? Maybe he is, but to have no estimate of when he'll return is worrisome to me.

 

[e_blazer]

Dwight Jaynes on Courtside later went on to make the point that cap space is more important to us down the road, say when were actually vying for a championship! I'm sorry but no one player is going to make us an immediate contender, just not going to happen. If there is a great piece for the taking then yes you do it. But how about saving the money for our big three and yes they will be BIG. Yes Paul Allen is beyond rich, but this recession is a once in a century event! KP make some magic or

BAKE IT over the hot summer.

There is no cap space after this summer. Once Roy and Aldridge are given their extensions, the Blazers won't have cap space for years to come. Raef's contract can be used in a trade before the deadline, or after the Blazers' season ends but before the end of June. After that, if no trade has taken place, the Blazers will be something like $7 mil under the cap this summer and can potentially increase that if they renounce their rights to Blake and/or Outlaw. That money could be used to chase a free agent. After that, there's no more cap space for the rest of the Roy/Aldridge/Oden era.

 

[THE HCP]

Get 'er dun!

 

[Blaze01]

If your talking to me

I am not talking to anyone in particular....I just think that there is some overvaluing in general in regards to Outlaw's worth as a player...He is a decent scorer and that is about it....and I think that after six years in the NBA, you have to start to seriously wonder about his inability to grasp some of the most basic defensive principles....

To see Greg Oden or Rudy Fernandez tell Outlaw where he should be is a little ridiculous....and IMO some of those "lapses" that he is prone to, will (have already) end up costing POR some key games...and POR isn't even in the playoffs yet, where the intensity and stakes are much higher....

 

[Shooter]

I don't see how we trade Webster when he's still injured. On Courtside they said there isn't a time table, he's just trying to get better. That worries me a bit. Why isn't he healing? Maybe he is, but to have no estimate of when he'll return is worrisome to me.

I agree that it's very strange. Why should it take this long for an ankle injury to heal? Something doesn't smell right about that situation.

 

[MrJayremmie]

I'd prefer we don't go after RJ or VC. I like Deng, Butler and Wallace but I don't think we can get any. I like Prince as well.

I wouldn't mind a trade that helps clear up our rotation though.

 

[Shooter]

To see Greg Oden or Rudy Fernandez tell Outlaw where he should be is a little ridiculous....

To see Oden telling anyone where to be is a little ridiculous . . . He doesn't even know where to be himself.

 

[Tortimer]

To see Oden telling anyone where to be is a little ridiculous . . . He doesn't even know where to be himself.

Come on Shooter that is a low blow on Oden. I actually think he knows where to go but in Nate's defense it is hard to tell. Serioudly Oden does look lost sometimes but he has been paying better defense in the last 10-12 games.

I have seen Oden telling Outlaw where to go by the way.

 

[Cake]

Bucks have one PG right now and they are building for the future . . . they aren't trading Sessions.

He's an unrestricted free agent after the season. They might not be able to keep him even if they want to.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

He's an unrestricted free agent after the season. They might not be able to keep him even if they want to.

Good point.

I assume that Sessions is going to get more than a MLE offer, so there are limited teams that can offer him money. But if the Bucks don't want to get into a bidding war, maybe they do trade him.