Roy is getting concerned... ITS ABOUT TIME

[Minstrel]

Your assumption is invalid. The biggest Blazers assett to trade, wasn't even on the floor, it was the golden ticket Raef Lafrentz expiring contract. The Blazers had a gem to trade, and dropped the ball.

I think that assumption that it was a "golden ticket" is invalid. Big expiring contracts were talked up, but not only did LaFrentz not net anything, neither did Wally Sczerbiak's, which was even bigger. I think the idea that Pritchard had impact players offered to him, for LaFrentz's contract and nothing else of value, and turned them down is pretty silly, to be honest. Unless you think Pritchard is simply an idiot.

Everyone assumed Stoudemire would be traded, for example, and for pennies on the dollar. That was clearly untrue. Kerr was clearly looking for good value back and when he didn't get it, pulled Stoudemire off the block. There's a pretty good chance that the media vastly overhyped the idea that teams were looking to dump good/great players simply to save money.

 

[Minstrel]

cause they are cheap contracts and for the john nash type gms out there. are you trying to be stupid?

No...I'm not trying to be stupid. I'm sorry...

ever hear the expression.....

"one mans trash is another mans treasure"

I've heard the expression. I think it's a pretty silly way to approach the trade market in pro sports, though. If your assumption is that bad players will be treasured by some GM, you're going to be pretty disappointed every trade deadline.

 

[drexlersdad]

i enjoy a nice boiled dinner, in fact i am making one as we speak. i frown upon squishy carrots though, they need to be prepared "al dente" to suitably please my palette.

 

[oldmangrouch]

I think that assumption that it was a "golden ticket" is invalid. Big expiring contracts were talked up, but not only did LaFrentz not net anything, neither did Wally Sczerbiak's, which was even bigger. I think the idea that Pritchard had impact players offered to him, for LaFrentz's contract and nothing else of value, and turned them down is pretty silly, to be honest. Unless you think Pritchard is simply an idiot.

Everyone assumed Stoudemire would be traded, for example, and for pennies on the dollar. That was clearly untrue. Kerr was clearly looking for good value back and when he didn't get it, pulled Stoudemire off the block. There's a pretty good chance that the media vastly overhyped the idea that teams were looking to dump good/great players simply to save money.

All this may well be true, though it begs the question why KP talked up the value of the RLEC to the fan base. Why not just warn people not to expect anything in return, if indeed the contract had no value.

The second possibility, is that KP was only interested in playing if he could hit a homerun. A modest upgrade just wasn't worthy of his interest.

The third possible scenario, is that PA closed his wallet, and wasn't willing to give up the financial relief of letting Raef and Frye walk.

Since we know for a fact that NO was willing to move Chandler in a straight salary dump, I have a hard time believing that *nothing* useful was on the market.

 

[Wheels]

I know I'm pretty new here... [deleted]

 

[hasoos]

I think that assumption that it was a "golden ticket" is invalid. Big expiring contracts were talked up, but not only did LaFrentz not net anything, neither did Wally Sczerbiak's, which was even bigger. I think the idea that Pritchard had impact players offered to him, for LaFrentz's contract and nothing else of value, and turned them down is pretty silly, to be honest. Unless you think Pritchard is simply an idiot.

Everyone assumed Stoudemire would be traded, for example, and for pennies on the dollar. That was clearly untrue. Kerr was clearly looking for good value back and when he didn't get it, pulled Stoudemire off the block. There's a pretty good chance that the media vastly overhyped the idea that teams were looking to dump good/great players simply to save money.

I am not asssuming he was offered a good player straight up, and nowhere did I say that. So good try at trying to put some words in my mouth that were never present. If you have a deal on the table to get a proven stud, for an expiring contract, and some talent which MIGHT, if you get extremely lucky, get one of the younger players to turn into a player of that high of value, your pull the fucking trigger.

Let me see: I can have:

A: Proven commodity tier 2 player with several productive years on his contract.

B: An expiring contract when the salary cap is lowering next year, and a couple of young guys, who if I get lucky, will turn out to be as good as the player mentioned in section A. One of those being Outlaw, who is never going to be that level of player, ever.

That is an easy choice.

 

[MrJayremmie]

I think we have a good shot to get the 7th spot, but yeah, 8th is a real possibility as well. And while I think, of course, there is a chance to miss the playoffs, I don't really see that happening.

I'm really excited for the playoffs though. And then i'm excited for next season, and i'm excited for draft day because (I really hope so at least) we aren't going to get another rookie, and so we can deal our picks and some players and hopefully get a nice player! I guess KP feels most comfortable around draft day.

We will be much better next year, in the same way we have gotten better every year for the past 3. The sky isn't falling, and we have a great core to build on, and its only going to expand.

Personally, i'm very open to trading for someone like Monta Ellis to finish out our 24 and under starting 5 for the future (Ellis, Roy, Batum, Aldridge, Oden) because Ellis and GS management aren't really seeing eye-to-eye, but he is a special talent right along the lines of Devin Harris, but a couple years younger.

 

[Minstrel]

If you have a deal on the table to get a proven stud, for an expiring contract, and some talent which MIGHT, if you get extremely lucky, get one of the younger players to turn into a player of that high of value, your pull the fucking trigger.

Even if that proven stud only has another couple of years as a stud, and you have to give up a player who may be anything from a good player to a really good player for the next ten years?

If you think so, fine, but we'll have to disagree. Getting a player like Vince Carter to improve the team this year and maybe another year or two wouldn't have been worth giving up Batum. This is the worst Batum will ever be and he's contributing and already fairly decent. He's also years from his very best, but should be increasingly valuable every year until then.

If the player in question were, say, Caron Butler, sure, of course you do that. But there's no indication that a player like Caron Butler was available.

Let's not even get started on the massively overrated Richard Jefferson. Losing Batum for Jefferson would have been flatly awful.

 

[MrJayremmie]

Let's not even get started on the massively overrated Richard Jefferson. Losing Batum for Jefferson would have been flatly awful.

Totally agree.

 

[dpc]

http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindblazersbeat/2009/03/blazers_one_more_road_loss_and.html

Lets face it, Pritchard screwed up big time. All these young players hes in love with are not that good. I mean yes roy, aldridge and rudy are keepers and you simply have to wait on oden but other then batum(maybe) who else on this roster is untouchable? NOBODY. They are all average to below average players. And let me tell ya something now... bayless looks to be another very mediocre PG who wont be ready for years. This is why i was so upset we didnt make a deal. We needed more offense. On most nights we DEPEND on 2 players. We know who they are. The problem is.... nobody else can consistantly score for us. How nice would a guy like Jefferson look in the starting 5 with Nic off the bench? Would we have won a title? No but at leats we would be a lock for playoffs and a decent seed.

Bottom line... we arent winning the division and adter this road trip... WE WILL BE LUCKY TO HOLD THE 8th spot. The suns will make apush and i think us getting in depends more on their play then ours cause since the twolves game... we have really sucked.


Its one 1 of 2 things...

We get the 8th seed.

We miss the playoffs.

I didn't read al the replies so maybe it's been said, but I could of sworn Portland was like one of the top two teams as far as offense, we are just also the slowest so we don't score as many points. But I could of sworn we were one of the most effective offenses.

 

[Minstrel]

I didn't read al the replies so maybe it's been said, but I could of sworn Portland was like one of the top two teams as far as offense, we are just also the slowest so we don't score as many points. But I could of sworn we were one of the most effective offenses.

You're right. Portland has generally ranked in the top-three this season for offensive efficiency. Pace holds down the PPG.

 

[Pritchslap Madness]

http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindblazersbeat/2009/03/blazers_one_more_road_loss_and.html

Lets face it, Pritchard screwed up big time. All these young players hes in love with are not that good. I mean yes roy, aldridge and rudy are keepers and you simply have to wait on oden but other then batum(maybe) who else on this roster is untouchable? NOBODY. They are all average to below average players. And let me tell ya something now... bayless looks to be another very mediocre PG who wont be ready for years. This is why i was so upset we didnt make a deal. We needed more offense. On most nights we DEPEND on 2 players. We know who they are. The problem is.... nobody else can consistantly score for us. How nice would a guy like Jefferson look in the starting 5 with Nic off the bench? Would we have won a title? No but at leats we would be a lock for playoffs and a decent seed.

[/U]

Joel Przybilla is untouchable in my book. Jefferson would be a nice addition that would instantly help us but if they are asking to much you don't blindly trade anyways. I want to see how this team does in the playoffs then see what the needs are. KP did the right thing by holding off.

 

[oldmangrouch]

I didn't read al the replies so maybe it's been said, but I could of sworn Portland was like one of the top two teams as far as offense, we are just also the slowest so we don't score as many points. But I could of sworn we were one of the most effective offenses.

The Blazer offense can be very efficient....when the Blazers are in front, or at least real close. When the team has one of their periodic flat stretches they tend to get in a big hole. When that happens, the team becomes way too reliant on Outlaw and Roy.

I know I sound like a broken record - but the main reasons we have these weird streaks early in games or on the road is lack of experience and lack of all-round games from our PGs. Bayless is a rook, and Blake and Sergio are one-trick ponies.

Adding a shooter is not the only way to provide more offense. A good floor general can have the same effect without scoring a ton of points himself.

 

[MARIS61]

Finally Roy voices my constant and only gripe with Nate:

When Roy was asked what concerned him most about the team's recent play, for the first time all season he didn't say defense. He said it was the team's "offensive rhythm."

He said the team needs more "effective movement," like making hard cuts through the lane. Like looking for passes when you make those cuts. At the same time, Roy said he feels the Blazers need to become more daring passers who look for the back-door cut, who aren't afraid to throw the lob pass.

"We always try to make the safe play, and I think to make your offense effective, you have to look at every option," Roy said. "Sometimes you have to thread needles. I'm not saying that we have to go out and turn over the ball, but we have to be looser out there. Right now, nobody wants to make a mistake."

He's pretty much saying "Less Steve, More Sergio".

Let them play Nate, just let them play.

 

[BlayZa]

i cannot wait until we have a playoff spot locked so only get to read POSITIVE posts from mixxum - dude, you better fukin stick to that agreement!

 

[andalusian]

I think he is actually saying more Blake, less Sergio. Sergio's over-dribbling is not conducive to offensive movement...

Sergio's usage% is actually higher than Blake's! Isn't that crazy when you consider that Sergio's assist/TO ratio is worse than Blake's?

What it tells us is that when Sergio is playing instead of Blake - he dominates the ball more than Blake - but his over-dribbling actually stagnates the offense - as shown by his lesser assist/turn-over ratio.

Steve Blake plays within the offense, Sergio dominates the offense - which is pretty sad given that he is not an elite scorer or as good at running the team efficiently...

 

[RoyToy]

The Blazers are going to make the playoffs and that's all that matters this year. It was the goal at the beginning of the season and it will be accomplished.

Bigger and better things next year, and the years after that. Get used it.

 

[Rodolfo]

This thread is

 

[Minstrel]

This thread is

Spam?

Baloney?

Hammy?

A turkey?

Chicken?

 

[Rodolfo]

bologna

 

[Ed O]

bologna

I thought maybe you meant delicious.

Ed O.

 

[Sinobas]

Wow, Mixum. We didn't make a trade, time to let that go buddy. No one knows for sure what was on the table. I agree that we have a group of players on this team that I'd trade in a heart beat for a good veteran (Outlaw, Webster, Rudy, Sergio), but once Batum, Oden, and Bayless develop, this team is going TO KICK MAJOR ASS. Nearly all of our weaknesses are addressed by these players, with the one remaining point be that we don't have a young Steve Nash running the team...but few teams do have that kind of player. In a few years our starting lineup has a chance to be as good as this:

Devin Harris(bayless)
Brandon Roy
Tayshaun Prince(batum)
LaMarcus Aldridge
Dwight Howard(Oden)

Of course they may not all develop to that level but it could be close.

Then you're not going still be complaining about how we didn't make a trade back in 08-09 will you?

 

[MARIS61]

This thread is

Necco's!

 

[mgb]

And the people that complain about not making a trade don't seem to realize that it might have made us worse instead of better. That is always a possibility. And I'm not just talking long term, but right now as well.

 

[barfo]

This thread is

pink beret!

I have one of those on my head right now.

barfo

 

[MrJayremmie]

Wow, Mixum. We didn't make a trade, time to let that go buddy. No one knows for sure what was on the table. I agree that we have a group of players on this team that I'd trade in a heart beat for a good veteran (Outlaw, Webster, Rudy, Sergio), but once Batum, Oden, and Bayless develop, this team is going TO KICK MAJOR ASS. Nearly all of our weaknesses are addressed by these players, with the one remaining point be that we don't have a young Steve Nash running the team...but few teams do have that kind of player. In a few years our starting lineup has a chance to be as good as this:

Devin Harris(bayless)
Brandon Roy
Tayshaun Prince(batum)
LaMarcus Aldridge
Dwight Howard(Oden)

Of course they may not all develop to that level but it could be close.

Then you're not going still be complaining about how we didn't make a trade back in 08-09 will you?

Pretty much exactly it. I think Batum's ceiling is a tad bit higher than Prince just because I think he is better at a younger age (than prince was) and I think Bayless' ceiling is similar to Monta Ellis's ceiling (we don't know what it is yet as he is just 23) mixed with a little Devin Harris. But yeah, great post. Its crazy, can you IMAGINE thsoe 5 players as a starting lineup? 70+ win team, imo.

 

[B-Roy]

Wow, Mixum. We didn't make a trade, time to let that go buddy. No one knows for sure what was on the table. I agree that we have a group of players on this team that I'd trade in a heart beat for a good veteran (Outlaw, Webster, Rudy, Sergio), but once Batum, Oden, and Bayless develop, this team is going TO KICK MAJOR ASS. Nearly all of our weaknesses are addressed by these players, with the one remaining point be that we don't have a young Steve Nash running the team...but few teams do have that kind of player. In a few years our starting lineup has a chance to be as good as this:

Devin Harris(bayless)
Brandon Roy
Tayshaun Prince(batum)
LaMarcus Aldridge
Dwight Howard(Oden)

Of course they may not all develop to that level but it could be close.

Then you're not going still be complaining about how we didn't make a trade back in 08-09 will you?

No offense, but you do expect every Blazer to turn out? And how much money will each command?

 

[MrJayremmie]

No offense, but you do expect every Blazer to turn out? And how much money will each command?

Its fun to think about how good each of our players can be, and how high their ceiling is. Obviously most will not get there, but they all can. And wow, how fun would that be!

 

[STOMP]

No offense, but you do expect every Blazer to turn out? And how much money will each command?

If each young Blazer player listed here were to be filling the lofty projections in this thread (which is of course doubtful), I really don't see money being much of an issue. The CBA favors the team with the player's rights in Free Agency and their is no hard cap on spending. Paul Allen probably has more money under his couch cushions then the Blazers might collectively command in salary.

STOMP