So is that it?

[Natebishop3]

Camby is out... Joel is a shadow.... time to give up on the playoffs this year officially and make some trades?

 

[illmatic99]

Well, Anthony Randolph becomes more likely now.

 

[e_blazer]

It's too early to jump off the bridge, IMO. The timetable for recovery from arthroscopic surgery to repair a meniscus is usually about a month. Camby could be back before the AllStar break. Roy probably will take a bit longer because his knees are worse, but could be back shortly after the All-Star break. If the team can small-ball up and stay close to the 8th spot, who knows what happens. No reason to rush into a trade until we see what the record is prior to the trade deadline.

 

[BlazerBeav]

With the schedule we have the next couple of weeks? We're still going to be hitting the court with the best player on either team most nights - I think we can muddle through. The good news is this league is so weak inside right now.

 

[BBert]

We have ONE serviceable front court player. One. Adding Anthony Randolph would make one and a half. Plus Joel makes one and three fourths. With Dante that makes one and seven eighths. It may be time to clear the decks and play for a lottery pick. Maybe I'll feel better in the morning.

 

[hasoos]

I don't even know what to say at this point. I guess it's just more team shorthanded business as usual.

 

[BBert]

Well, Anthony Randolph becomes more likely now.

Yeah. More likely we are going to get bent over during the signing.

 

[THE HCP]

It is what it is.....

 

[Sug]

It is what it is.....

What is "it is"?

Wakka Wakka Wakka

 

[Pinwheel1]

We have ONE serviceable front court player. One. Adding Anthony Randolph would make one and a half. Plus Joel makes one and three fourths. With Dante that makes one and seven eighths. It may be time to clear the decks and play for a lottery pick. Maybe I'll feel better in the morning.

I think this lottery will suck. Reason #1 is there are no super stars to get excited about, and #2....the probable lock-out will keep quite a few in school. On a side note....2 players projected in the lottery are from the state of oregon.

 

[Loyalty4Life]

Look on the bright side...

At least Marcus HAS a meniscus!!

 

[Boob-No-More]

Depending on the severity of the tear (and it sounds minor), Camby would be out anywhere from 2 - 6 weeks. I'm guessing somewhere in the 3 - 4 week range. Fortunately, our upcoming schedule is about as easy as it gets. And Joel will continue to improve as he plays his way into game shape. He's done the rehab, but he still needs work on his conditioning and his confidence in the knee. Both of those will improve with more playing time.

And then, before our schedule starts to get tough again we will have Camby back. So, rather than focus on the negative, I look at it this way. For the next four weeks we have a very easy schedule. At the end of those four weeks, we will have the new beastly LaMarcus Aldridge, who continues to gain confidence as our number 1 option, a much better Joel than we currently have, and Marcus Camby back ready, and rested for the stretch run.

In the mean time, we may see a little more of Sean Marks on the court than we'd all like, but it is what it is.

BNM

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

 

[Minstrel]

I don't think this should change the equation for acquiring Randolph. I wanted to acquire him for the claimed low price of a first round draft pick and I still do. I don't think Portland should pay much more, though, just because Camby will be out for a month or so.

 

[Natebishop3]

I think it's time to move Miller, Przybilla, and maybe Camby if anyone till take him. Try to get Randolph, try to get a young point guard like Flynn... I'd be looking to wheel and deal.

 

[THE HCP]

Man, it will be so painful to live thru ANOTHER 04-05 season!

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Man, it will be so painful to live thru ANOTHER 04-05 season!

What's the alternative? Miller/Camby/Przbyilla are in the twilight of their careers. Would you rather live through mediocrity or build for a strong future?

I just don't have the confidence in Rich Cho right now. He seems absolutely terrified to pull the trigger on any deals. Even to the common fan it's crystal clear that this roster needs A LOT of work from top to bottom.

 

[Natebishop3]

What's the alternative? Miller/Camby/Przbyilla are in the twilight of their careers. Would you rather live through mediocrity or build for a strong future?

I just don't have the confidence in Rich Cho right now. He seems absolutely terrified to pull the trigger on any deals. Even to the common fan it's crystal clear that this roster needs A LOT of work from top to bottom.

Well, there just doesn't seem like there's much available right now. I'm sure he could trade Batum for table scraps if he wanted, but it doesn't seem like Denver is going to pull the trigger on the NJ trade, and NY has virtually nothing that's attractive to the Nuggets. Anthony is being a real prick right now. He's leaving the Nuggets high and dry and he's giving them zero options. It's either trade with NY or nothing.

 

[MIXUM]

Why dont fans get it? Have you not seen the kings? The twolves? Why don't you fucking get it? It takes 5-6 years to rebuild if you are LUCKY. We have pieces that are solid. How about finding a gm that can make trades that help us rather destroy us. All you little wimps who wanna rebuild will be crying in a year and not buying tics to games. They will be the first to run away. This draft upcoming is dreadful unless u have a top 10 pick and even that's a reach so just stop with this nonsense of trading good vets for late round meaningless picks. Im wondering if cho is the second coming of Nash. History repeats itself just like it will with fans.

 

[Denny Crane]

What's the alternative? Miller/Camby/Przbyilla are in the twilight of their careers. Would you rather live through mediocrity or build for a strong future?

I just don't have the confidence in Rich Cho right now. He seems absolutely terrified to pull the trigger on any deals. Even to the common fan it's crystal clear that this roster needs A LOT of work from top to bottom.

The Bulls have a shot to make waves in the playoffs this year. They're 28-14 and are a lock for 3rd seed. Yet they've lost Noah for much of the rest of the season and now Boozer. They're starting Keith Bogans at SG and 38 year old Kurt Thomas at C. Their top two active scorers are Derrick Rose and Luol Deng (PER of 14.8) and their #3 scorer is Kyle Korver at 8 PPG. Yet they're not actively making trades to shore up the SG and C positions. They seem absolutely terrified to pull the trigger on any deals.

Or maybe that's the way GMs actually are. Especially new ones. A new GM typically doesn't do a wholesale roster change early on in the job. Contracts are long and guaranteed and have cap space effects for years. Before you do pull the trigger, you better make sure it fits in with a big picture plan.

I'd judge the GM by the wins/losses on the court. Based upon that, Cho's not looking great, by any means, so far. On the other hand, it's not his doing that Aldridge and Roy are signed to huge contracts or much of the rest of the roster. It's not his fault about the injuries, either.

Consider that as much as Joel's expiring contract is attractive to other teams, it's attractive to the Blazers for the same reason (it expires!).

The CBA is about to expire, a lockout or strike is looming, and the future structure of rosters and salaries is up in the air. It might actually be a good time to stand pat.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Camby is out... Joel is a shadow.... time to give up on the playoffs this year officially and make some trades?

Welcome to 2 months ago. This team was never going to do anything this year. They traded two productive bench guys for virtually nothing, and Greg and joel weren't going to be anything close to what they once were at best. Roy was already hobbling as well. This team should have been broken up already

 

[MIXUM]

it is unreal how people are forgetting how long it takes to become a good team again. you have to hit a homerun in the draft to have a chance. these same people will bitch and moan how bad we suck.

you retool not rebuild. dont know why thats so tough to understand.

 

[e_blazer]

Man, when MIXUM is the voice of sanity around here, you know we've crossed into an alternate and crazy universe.

 

[illmatic99]

I think this setback can give Nate an opportunity open up our offense even more. Rather than putting Dante @ 4, I'd like Nic to be @ 4 and Rudy back in as starter, so that we can go extra small and push the ball everytime.

 

[MIXUM]

i think they HAVE to make a make for depth alone.

with that said..... for all rebuilders.... what pick do you really expect us to get? we at worst will get 33-34 wins and pick around 9th-11th which means project in a horrible draft with a lockout. and you wanna trade our vets for late 1st rounders? to get more aarmon johnsons? what a joke you rebuilders are. you want jonny flynn? he sucks on the fucking timberwolves. trade for good players. be the buyers. not this horse shit of trading talent for nothing.

go find john nash if thats what u like.

 

[maxiep]

Man, when MIXUM is the voice of sanity around here, you know we've crossed into an alternate and crazy universe.

It's like Superman's Bizarro World.

 

[maxiep]

Will this injury allow us to pick up a player on a 10-day contract?

 

[hasoos]

You know it takes 2 to trade, whether rebuilding or not. With all the players that are hurt on this team right now, look at the short list of players who would be "trade bait". Do any of you see the pieces to get something done there? If you were a GM on another team, do any of them look good to you? It seems pretty obvious to me why no deals have been made. There are a few pieces that are keepers, and we would probably gain nothing from trading them. The rest of the players really aren't worth jack dick on the trade market. They are either hurt, or have been hurt, or they aren't worth anything more than salary cap compensation.

 

[MIXUM]

In all honesty....

We cant trade miller unless we get a PG back.

We cant trade joel now unless we get a center back with camby hurt.

Cho realistically have to offer draft picks, Rudy, Aarmon Johnson, and Luke Babbit unless Miller and Pryz bring back the same positions. Who in gods name would want Aarmon Johnosn?

 

[hasoos]

In all honesty....

We cant trade miller unless we get a PG back.

We cant trade joel now unless we get a center back with camby hurt.

Cho realistically have to offer draft picks, Rudy, Aarmon Johnson, and Luke Babbit unless Miller and Pryz bring back the same positions. Who in gods name would want Aarmon Johnosn?

Correct. Which is the exact point I was making above. The few players that are worth value, are also indispensable to the team. The others, are lucky to be on an NBA roster. We may just have to ride this one out until the draft, and hope for the best.