Rumor: Outlaw for Conley swap?

[Ed O]

You would do that? You prove my theory yet again.

That I'm a brilliant basketball mind that tends to be right more often than wrong?

Gay would be, far and away, the best player and prospect in that trade. He would be immediately plugged into our lineup at the 3 and be both short-term and long-term gold for this team.

Conley I'd be less sure of but there would be a real chance that he could emerge as a force at the PG spot.

We'd be left with Outlaw as the backup 4 (to go with Ike) and Webster to back up Gay. Conley would go into the mix at the PG spot with Blake and Sergio and Bayless would be getting backup minutes at the 2.

It'd be a great deal for Portland, even though we'd be giving up a lot.

Ed O.

 

[MAS RipCity]

If we got Conley and Gay....
PG-Conley/Blake/Sergio
SG-Roy/Bayless
SF-Gay/Webster
PF-Aldridge/Outlaw/Diogu
C-Oden/Pryzbilla

I'd HATE to deal Rudy, but that team is down right filthy

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

If we can trade Outlaw for Conley, yes please.

Who cares about the logjam, Blake has a TO next year I believe, and we could just trade him along with Raef and other goodies for something if possible.

There is going to be a logjam at SF when Webster comes back too with the unexpected play of Batum if we decide to keep Travis

 

[crowTrobot]

this is pointlessly OT obviously, but i see gay as a volume shooter/scorer who when he isn't shooting tends to disappear. IMO he hasn't shown that he's really more than an average defender or rebounder, and i don't think he'd be that much of an upgrade to what we already have.

 

[B-Roy]

this is pointlessly OT obviously, but i see gay as a volume shooter/scorer who when he isn't shooting tends to disappear. IMO he hasn't shown that he's really more than an average defender or rebounder, and i don't think he'd be that much of an upgrade to what we already have.

Gay is a star, and is an overall superior player than any of the players we trade. His sheer athleticism alone allows him to be an above average defender. (He's smarter than Outlaw) He's also able to get steals/blocks because he's really active.

From what I've seen, he's definitively more than just a scorer.

 

[SpanishFly]

this is pointlessly OT obviously, but i see gay as a volume shooter/scorer who when he isn't shooting tends to disappear. IMO he hasn't shown that he's really more than an average defender or rebounder, and i don't think he'd be that much of an upgrade to what we already have.

A slight case of homerism I believe, Gay is VERY GOOD! lol

 

[Shooter]

Personally, I'm a little tired of the Blazers sucking up to Oden. They drafted Josh McRoberts because he was a friend of Oden's, and now they're trying to get Conley for the same reason. Can we at least wait until Oden has played one productive NBA game before we start officially kissing his ass?

 

[Rastapopoulos]

That I'm a brilliant basketball mind that tends to be right more often than wrong?

Ed's all-time favorite player was Dontonio Wingfield, by the way. I don't recall him being much in favor of drafting Brandon Roy, either.

Gay would be, far and away, the best player and prospect in that trade. He would be immediately plugged into our lineup at the 3 and be both short-term and long-term gold for this team.

Gay is a very poor man's Vince Carter. A scorer with no defense. And when I say NO defense, I mean it. Batum, on the other hand, has a much more complete game. He could be a poor man's Tracy McGrady. And even if he isn't, he's more useful for this team than Gay. Hell, Battier was more useful for Memphis than Gay. Gay is about on a par with Outlaw, except he looks less clumsy. Put Outlaw on Memphis and give him the green light and I think he could put up Gay's scoring numbers.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Gay is a star

By whose standards? Most people haven't heard of him, and of those that have it's because of his college career.

His sheer athleticism alone allows him to be an above average defender.

...and his lack of effort and interest allows him not to be.

From what I've seen, he's definitively more than just a scorer.

He can also turn the ball over at an alarming rate.

Gay is the classic high scorer on a bad team. A flashier Michael Redd.

 

[Iwatas]

I would not trade Rudy for Gay straight up. I *like* players who move without the ball, and the NBA has precious few of them. I want to keep the Spaniards together. Batum, too -- he remains too intriguing to give up unless a sure thing is on the other side.

But Raef/Outlaw/Blake/Ike/ and even Bayless can be traded AFAIAC, if KP thinks it is an improvement. I'd have to think that some combination could fetch a decent starting-quality SF.

iWatas

 

[MickZagger]

There's no way were getting rid of Rudy. A player like him that brings spark off the bench and seems to always make the hustle play and get to the loose ball is an asset around the league. KP isn't letting him go anywhere.

 

[crowTrobot]

Gay is a star, and is an overall superior player than any of the players we trade.

he's more of a proven talent, but you don't know that he's actually superior to batum in upside (pointless information but interesting - batum has a much higher PER than gay after 3 games).

(He's smarter than Outlaw)

i wouldn't have a problem trading outlaw for him : )

He's also able to get steals/blocks because he's really active.

by the time batum has gay's current experience i certainly expect him to be much better than gay in those categories, if he's not already.

 

[Ed O]

Ed's all-time favorite player was Dontonio Wingfield, by the way. I don't recall him being much in favor of drafting Brandon Roy, either.

Wingfield was on the team for fewer three years, and it was over a decade ago that I thought he had so much potential. Further, I don't say I NEVER make mistakes.

And I think you misremember my position on Roy. I actually defended him in the week (or so) leading up the draft. I wasn't in favor of us using the 4th pick on him, but was delighted that we were able to get him for a lower lottery pick.

Gay is a very poor man's Vince Carter. A scorer with no defense. And when I say NO defense, I mean it. Batum, on the other hand, has a much more complete game. He could be a poor man's Tracy McGrady. And even if he isn't, he's more useful for this team than Gay. Hell, Battier was more useful for Memphis than Gay. Gay is about on a par with Outlaw, except he looks less clumsy. Put Outlaw on Memphis and give him the green light and I think he could put up Gay's scoring numbers.

I disagree with all of this. The stats don't indicate he's just a scorer... he got over 6 rebounds a game last year. Over a steal and over a block a game. While the latter don't indicate good defense, necessarily, that Gay might not be an above-average defender shouldn't shock anyone. He just turned 22 years old in August.

And I would bet, if you are who I think you are, that you haven't really watched Gay play much. And, further, if you are who I think you are, you would have a horrific aversion to the Blazers trading two international players.

Ed O.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Also, this guy thinks we'd trade Rudy/Batum/Frye/Raef for Conley/Milicic. WHAT?

Barf. I mean BARF!!! I would call for KP to be fired immediately, because it would be obvious that he had gone bat-shit crazy.

 

[crowTrobot]

that Gay might not be an above-average defender shouldn't shock anyone. He just turned 22 years old in August.

so what's that say about batum, since he's 19 and (apparently) already IS an above average defender?

 

[crowTrobot]

he got over 6 rebounds a game last year.

outlaw had a higher rebounds /48 than gay last year. deduce from that what you will.

 

[Ed O]

so what's that say about batum, since he's 19 and (apparently) already IS an above average defender?

I don't know that Gay's hypothetical lack of focus on defense says anything about Batum.

And I think it's a stretch to say Batum is an above-average defender already. He has played 43 minutes in three games in his NBA career. If he were REALLY that good defensively at this point, I think he would have played more.

Ed O.

 

[Ed O]

outlaw had a higher rebounds /48 than gay last year. deduce from that what you will.

There's nothing to deduce. Gay played the small forward and shooting guard spots last year, chasing guys around the perimeter. Outlaw played a lot of backup 4, which put him in a better spot to rebound.

Ed O.

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

There's nothing to deduce. Gay played the small forward and shooting guard spots last year, chasing guys around the perimeter. Outlaw played a lot of backup 4, which put him in a better spot to rebound.

Ed O.

Actually Gay played the SF and PF position last year

http://www.82games.com/0708/07MEM11C.HTM

 

[Sheldon Shape]

I don't think Gay is going anywhere, so no need to waste time coming up with senarios getting him to Portland. Conley would be good value for Outlaw and I would be for it if we can move Blake and or Sergio with some other talent to bring in a starting quality 3 man.

 

[Ed O]

Actually Gay played the SF and PF position last year

http://www.82games.com/0708/07MEM11C.HTM

I stand corrected. I could have sworn I saw him playing shooting guard last year in spurts, but I might be wrong.

Ed O.

 

[crowTrobot]

I don't think Gay is going anywhere, so no need to waste time coming up with senarios getting him to Portland.

obviously. we're just pondering hypotheticals for the heck of it.

 

[RoyToy]

One thing Conley can do is get to the basket. He is ridiculously fast with the ball in his hands. But so was Sebastian.

While it'd be the smart thing to do, Outlaw for Conley, part of me just doesn't want to see Outlaw get traded. He's easy to cheer for. With that said though, I think the Blazers have been a better team with Batum on the floor this year. Batum can score points without dribbling the basketball. He can rebound and block shots as well.

Also, I think Bayless will be better than Conley. Bayless is a fighter and I think would eventually beat out Conley for the spot anyways.

 

[RoyToy]

I would like to point out when I saw Conley getting to the basket at will last year, it was against the Blazers. Steve Blake can't guard crap.

 

[Crimson the Cat]

I'm a fan of Conley. I can come up with pros and cons for this deal. Ultimately, for me, it comes down to narrowly supporting this deal. It's a risk, since Conley hasn't made noticeable improvements since this summer, but his age, speed, and relationship with Greg pushes me to grudgingly support this move.

 

[crowTrobot]

I don't know that Gay's hypothetical lack of focus on defense says anything about Batum.

but the fact that batum is 3 years younger and 2 full years behind in NBA experience, and (for whatever indication 43 minutes are worth) might already be a better defender than gay has to say something about one or the other, or both. we'll see.

And I think it's a stretch to say Batum is an above-average defender already. He has played 43 minutes in three games in his NBA career. If he were REALLY that good defensively at this point, I think he would have played more.

i'm just going by what i've seen in those 3 games. you watched them. nate was plugging him in specifically for defense.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

Throwing Gay into the mix is like the Griz saying Conley for Outlaw would work if you throw in Roy and Javaris Crittenton.

Memphis has been praising Gay all year last year and this summer basically said he is the kind of player you build around. He isn't going anywhere.

But I do agree . . . it is fun to play with the thought. We almost stole the whole class of '06. For a "weak draft" a starting line up of Roy, Gay and Aldridge sounds like a championship core to build around.

 

[crowTrobot]

But I do agree . . . it is fun to play with the thought.

i'd rather contemplate if i'd trade oden for derrick rose.



uh... yes. didn't have to think long.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

And I would bet, if you are who I think you are, that you haven't really watched Gay play much. And, further, if you are who I think you are, you would have a horrific aversion to the Blazers trading two international players.

I think you might think rightly on who I are, but you think in awfully stereotypical terms if you think it's just because they're "international". For example, fool that I am, I wouldn't trade Aldridge for Dirk Nowitzki. (And I'm not a huge Aldridge fan.)

Gay is just one of those fool's gold players, the patron saint of whom just got traded to Detroit.

 

[ebott]

I'd do Outlaw for Conley in a second. Hell, I'd do Outlaw and Bayless for Conley.

But there's no way in hell I'd do anything close to the trade Same Smith suggested.