Slings and arrows.... but would you?

[andalusian]

Paul is miles better than Thomas. Thomas is very overrated. His career-best PER was 22.2. Paul's first two seasons in the NBA were 22.0 and 22.1. His last two seasons were 28.3 and 30.

I don't know about it. Very different eras. I think Thomas would have looked just as awesome in an era where there is a "no hand checking" rule.

The game is very different for quick guards in this regard - and I think it is showing in the stats sheet for CP3. Thomas went much further than Paul did at the college level (including winning it all once) and he was the best player on 2 NBA championship teams.

I think that we forget how much nastier and physical the game was back at the time - and how much harder it would have been for the smaller players to dominate.

 

[RoyIsClutch07]

How would Kevin Pritchard be looked at if he seriously considered the deal? The fans in here are support of it. But what about Rip City as a whole? Could Kevin Pritchard even embrace the idea of trading Brandon without a whole lot of fans calling for his head?

 

[Ed O]

How would Kevin Pritchard be looked at if he seriously considered the deal? The fans in here are support of it. But what about Rip City as a whole? Could Kevin Pritchard even embrace the idea of trading Brandon without a whole lot of fans calling for his head?

Does the GM make deals to win basketball games (and championships) or make fans happy for non-winning reasons?

I think that winning breeds happiness in fans, and I think that this team would do more winning with Paul.

Ed O.

 

[RoyIsClutch07]

Does the GM make deals to win basketball games (and championships) or make fans happy for non-winning reasons?

I think that winning breeds happiness in fans, and I think that this team would do more winning with Paul.

Ed O.

So you don't see an uprising then?

 

[B-Roy]

I'm not saying that we need to trade Roy. It can get done with expiring contracts and young talent for a cheap owner trying to save money.

Here, I can play the same game. Tell me (in the last three decades) when a superstar in his prime has ever been traded for expiring contracts and young talent. Besides, Minstrel already explained this. If that's all it takes to get Paul, Portland won't be the only team in the league that will be trying to nab him. That will inevitable drive his price up.

The Hornets will have no fan support because they are in a depressed economy known as New Orleans. As the economy gets worse, no one is going to be able to afford tickets and they will not be a viable business in that city any more.

The economy isn't that bad in New Orleans. It's actually easier to find a job there than say in Portland. In any case, you're basing your opinion on a lot of assumptions. The Hornets would probably move to a different city if the economy became depressing. (As opposed to trading Paul)

They are a team on the decline....unless you can see them just magically coming back because of Okafor? What else? Peja? come on...be realistic...the team had their peak several years ago, they need major player movements combined with the city of New Orleans becoming booming again to survive. I give that franchise 5-7 years in that city max before they will need to pack up and move.

Well for one, taking Okafor's long bloated contract shows they aren't in as much financial trouble as you think they are in. Even if we assume New Orleans is a team on the decline, the last person they need to trade is their young superstar point guard. If they were rebuilding, I don't see how they could possibly obtain a better player or prospect than Paul.

 

[MARIS61]

Roy > Paul, so no.

I'd like Paul, but we can get someone who will fit better than him with patience.

 

[RR7]

His last two seasons were 28.3 and 30.

So you think Paul's roughly on Jordan's level, then?

He's clearly surpassed Magic, who's career best PER is 27. So why even compare him there?

 

[Buzz Killington]

Here, I can play the same game. Tell me (in the last three decades) when a superstar in his prime has ever been traded for expiring contracts and young talent. Besides, Minstrel already explained this. If that's all it takes to get Paul, Portland won't be the only team in the league that will be trying to nab him. That will inevitable drive his price up.

Vince Carter.

Kevin Garnett.

Pau Gasol.

want more?

 

[B-Roy]

Vince Carter.

Kevin Garnett.

Pau Gasol.

want more?

Carter wanted out because of his relationship with the team. He didn't want to be there anymore.

Garnett was out of his prime.

Gasol is the only one who was traded for expirings and talent, but I would argue that he isn't even close to super-star level.

 

[MARIS61]

I'm not comparing their styles, simply that Paul is the best point guard of his generation and on a par with Magic Johnson.



Paul is miles better than Thomas. Thomas is very overrated. His career-best PER was 22.2. Paul's first two seasons in the NBA were 22.0 and 22.1. His last two seasons were 28.3 and 30.

I wouldn't trade Drexler for Thomas, because that would be a downgrade. Paul is an upgrade on Roy, as Magic Johnson would be on Clyde Drexler.

Paul is not, now will he ever be close to being, anything like Magic. That's just crazy talk.

 

[andalusian]

So you think Paul's roughly on Jordan's level, then?

He's clearly surpassed Magic, who's career best PER is 27. So why even compare him there?

Another good data point.

The change in the rules have really made PER comparison across these eras questionable.

 

[Buzz Killington]

Carter wanted out because of his relationship with the team. He didn't want to be there anymore.

Garnett was out of his prime.

Gasol is the only one who was traded for expirings and talent, but I would argue that he isn't even close to super-star level.

Doesn't matter that Carter didn't want to be there. He was a superstar traded in his prime for rebuilding purposes for a team on the decline.

Garnett was still in prime shape. He won DPOY and made the all-star team and did play quite well. Sure, he didn't put up the same numbers, but that's because he wasn't on the romper squad.

Gasol was still the Grizzlies franchise player. Traded for financial reasons because they weren't going anywhere.

 

[illmatic99]

I'd try for a Oden, Rudy, Bayless, Joel for Paul package first.

A Paul- Roy-Aldridge trio would be best in the league.

 

[Wheels]

72 posts and 3 pages on an unavailable PG lol we need some B-ball to be played!

 

[Ed O]

So you don't see an uprising then?

I don't claim to know the pulse of the city of Portland. If fans revolted because the Blazers got the best PG and one of the best 3 or 4 players in the NBA, then they are either morons or so different from me that I can't relate.

Ed O.

 

[WillG]

Roy, for all of his physical talent, seems to be missing the final x factor to push him into superstardom.

Whereas Paul definitely has that x factor with his killer instinct. I think this roster needs that.

As much a I love Roy, I'd do that trade yesterday. . .

 

[RR7]

How is Roy lacking killer instinct?

 

[Buzz Killington]

This is all going on B-Roy's "Enemies list".

 

[Wheels]

Roy, for all of his physical talent, seems to be missing the final x factor to push him into superstardom.

Whereas Paul definitely has that x factor with his killer instinct. I think this roster needs that.

As much a I love Roy, I'd do that trade yesterday. . .

not sure I agree with that. What has Roy done to show he doesnt have the killer instinct? Cause he's a nice guy? I'm not saying that Paul is a bad guy, but he'll "Bite your ear off" on the court as Mike Rice put it last year. Is that what you are talking about?

 

[Wheels]

How is Roy lacking killer instinct?

yeah confusing for me as well.

 

[WillG]

How is Roy lacking killer instinct?

Not so much he's lacking killer instinct, just that, with Roy, something is missing to push him into the next level of stardom.

Paul IS a superstar and personally I think its his instinct and demeanor on the court that puts him there.

 

[RR7]

I also like Roy more for never having intentionally punched another man in the balls on the court.

 

[Natebishop3]

72 posts and 3 pages on an unavailable PG lol we need some B-ball to be played!

There has been a lot made out of Paul's unhappiness. I don't know necessarily that he is unavailable if the right price were presented.

We went through this with Damon when he was with the Raptors. Obviously Paul's pedrigree is higher than Damon's was at the time, but the situation is similar.

The Hornets could be competitive again if given the right pieces. If we were to trade them Roy, Blake, and Joel, that would put them in a much better position.

Blake
Roy
West
Okafor
Joel

is a better lineup, I think, than:

Paul
Mo-Peterson
West
Wright
Okafor

 

[Wheels]

Not so much he's lacking killer instinct, just that, with Roy, something is missing to push him into the next level of stardom.

Paul IS a superstar and personally I think its his instinct and demeanor on the court that puts him there.

I also think that having a 1st ballot HOF'er like Kobe and a super Flashy Wade, in front of him detracts from his super stardom.

 

[RR7]

Not so much he's lacking killer instinct, just that, with Roy, something is missing to push him into the next level of stardom.

Paul IS a superstar and personally I think its his instinct and demeanor on the court that puts him there.

Exposure, more than anything. If ROy played in NY, he's talked about mroe than Paul, easily, and mentioned as a top 7 or so player WAY mreo often. Unfortunately, everyone's asleep when our games are going on, or getting over with. And I know LA is in the same time zone, but there's so many people down there, that doesn't count. Roy wasn't hyped in college, or his first season, which is the biggest hurdle for him.

 

[Natebishop3]

Roy, for all of his physical talent, seems to be missing the final x factor to push him into superstardom.

Whereas Paul definitely has that x factor with his killer instinct. I think this roster needs that.

As much a I love Roy, I'd do that trade yesterday. . .

I don't agree with this. The only reason why I consider Paul an upgrade is because he makes his teammates better. I think he would make Oden and Aldridge instant All-Stars, and because we have Rudy, I think we can afford to make the offer. This is not a knock on Roy in any way. I think he's an amazing player, and I think we could win a championship with Roy, but I think Paul is just simply a better player and we should make a run for him, if he's available.

 

[Wheels]

Exposure, more than anything. If ROy played in NY, he's talked about mroe than Paul, easily, and mentioned as a top 7 or so player WAY mreo often. Unfortunately, everyone's asleep when our games are going on, or getting over with. And I know LA is in the same time zone, but there's so many people down there, that doesn't count. Roy wasn't hyped in college, or his first season, which is the biggest hurdle for him.

that too.

 

[MrSelfDestruct]

I don't agree with this. The only reason why I consider Paul an upgrade is because he makes his teammates better. I think he would make Oden and Aldridge instant All-Stars, and because we have Rudy, I think we can afford to make the offer. This is not a knock on Roy in any way. I think he's an amazing player, and I think we could win a championship with Roy, but I think Paul is just simply a better player and we should make a run for him, if he's available.

Agreed.

As someone stated the last time this discussion came up, Paul/LMA/Oden is Paul/West/Chandler on a MASSIVE dose of steroids.

 

[RR7]

Now, if we want to talk about a superstar getting discouraged with his current situation, I think we shift our focus to a city in Ohio.

 

[WillG]

I also think that having a 1st ballot HOF'er like Kobe and a super Flashy Wade, in front of him detracts from his super stardom.

True that.

I love that Roy is down to earth and, from all reports, seems like an honourable man/person.

On the court; some games he'll chip in and other times he'll explode. I guess once he becomes more of a consistent threat to dominate, then he'll make that transition to the next level. Superstars cannot be contained.