Time to shop Batum?

[Chuck Taylor]

I know he's been off lately, but if you're going to only play him 9 minutes you might as well see what you can get for him. It's no secret that a bunch of teams covet him, and for good reason. But if you're not going to play him (guys don't work through slumps on the bench) then see if you can't package him & Miller or Pryz for a upgrade).

I LOVE Batum, but with Wesley playing his tail off, maybe we should see what we can get for Nic? It's better than letting him rot on the bench.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

Yes. Sell low. Best move possible.

 

[illmatic99]

Yes. Sell low. Best move possible.

I was gonna say the same thing. Fundamentals of NBA trading and business in general.

Never. Sell. Low.

 

[Chuck Taylor]

If we're going to give him 9 minutes a game each night, then right now we would be selling high.

 

[MARIS61]

Absolutely!

He's had 3 bad games in a row!

Unacceptable!

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

If we're going to give him 9 minutes a game each night, then right now we would be selling high.

selling high would have been dealing him last summer.

 

[barfo]

Yes, but only because it is always time to shop everyone.

barfo

 

[MIXUM]

whatever it takes to get a star. nobody is safe

 

[Minstrel]

Yes, but only because it is always time to shop everyone.

I agree. Everyone should be on the proverbial block. No one should be "sell now for whatever you can get."

Except Marks. That guy breaks all the rules.

 

[VanillaGorilla]

whatever it takes to get a star. nobody is safe

You aren't safe.

 

[Chuck Taylor]

selling high would have been dealing him last summer.

We can't change the past - but Nate is in control of the future. If he isn't willing to let Batum play through a 2 game slump - then lets see what we can get for him. I think we could still get something pretty damn good. Or, of course, the more simple solution would be to just play him more minutes.

 

[Chuck Taylor]

Absolutely!

He's had 3 bad games in a row!

Unacceptable!

Did you read my post? I'm not having a knee-jerk reaction here. I said I love Batum, but that if we're not willing to play him, we might as well see what we can get for him.

 

[Chuck Taylor]

There were a number of comments that apparently interpreted this thread to be a knee-jerk "lets trade Batum because he's had a few bad games" type thread. Let me explain my thoughts with a little more detail...

I love Batum but I think no one is untouchable, especially right now.

I think it's pretty obvious the team needs to get better. What are our most valuable trading assets that you could realistically see being moved right now? I would probably say Miller, Batum, Camby, and Joel. Out of those 4, trading Miller and Camby would likely have a pretty strong impact on our short-term winning percentage. Depending on the trade, this doesn't necessarily scare me - but I bet it scares management who is also trying to sell tickets. Batum (if you're not going to play him) and Joel would have a lesser impact on short-term wins. Since his injuries, I don't think anyone considers Joel to be untouchable. So he should already be on the market (although I do love Joel). Batum, on the other hand, has seemed to be nearly untouchable in Blazer land. But he's not starting, and then we only play him 9 minutes tonight! If we keep losing, and one of our most valuable trading chips continues to have this small of role, then I think we should see what we can get for him.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I think Nic can still be a helluva player but he's not untouchable.

I find it more than a little disconcerting that his confidence seems so low. I'm not a big fan of the "Nate ruined <player X>" excuse, but it is interesting that so many seemingly promising young prospects have flamed out with the same general pattern of hot starts to their careers only to come crashing back to Earth by year two or three.

Is too much effort being spent trying to turn these guys into something they aren't, is too much pigeonholing occurring, stunting certain players while other guys like Roy and Alridge have been given carte blanche?

I will say this, if Nate is still here next year and Wesley Matthews falls off a cliff then I think it's fair to say there's more than just a coincidence at work here.

 

[MARIS61]

I'm a big fan of trading your worst player for someone a little better, then stir and repeat.

 

[MickZagger]

Its not Batum that needs to go, its McMillan. Part of a coaches job in the NBA is to make pieces fit. We've seen what Batum is capable of, but it seems something that has gone on has rattled his confidence.

 

[MickZagger]

I think Nic can still be a helluva player; he's not untouchable.

I find it more than a little disconcerting that his confidence seems so low. I'm not a big fan of the "Nate ruined <player X>" excuse, but it is interesting that so many seemingly promising young prospects have flamed out with the same general pattern of hot starts to their careers only to come crashing back to Earth by year two or three.

Is too much effort being spent trying to turn these guys into something they aren't, is too much pigeonholing occurring, stunting certain players while other guys like Roy and Alridge have been given carte blanche?

I will say this, if Nate is still here next year and Wesley Matthews falls off a cliff then I think it's fair to say there's more than just a coincidence at work here.

It also begs the question that if Brandon's decline in play has effected Batum. For Nic's first couple years, he has basically been a Bruce Bowen type on offense. Waiting in the corner for the penetration and kick. Roy isn't commanding the attention on defense that he used to, thus not leaving Nic with the open shots he used to.

Its well known that Nic thrives in a free-flowing system. He's almost Clyde-esque in the way that he glides to the rim in the open court. He either needs to seriously work on his game, or he needs a change of scenery.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

Its not Batum that needs to go, its McMillan. Part of a coaches job in the NBA is to make pieces fit. We've seen what Batum is capable of, but it seems something that has gone on has rattled his confidence.

First, what are you doing up at 4am? Second, it may very well be the coaches job to make players fit together, but he still has to have the right pieces. Now maybe we do and maybe we don't.

 

[Mediocre Man]

I think Batum's problems have more to do with his leader rather than him. The brilliant way Nate toys with young kids confidence is rearing it's ugly head

 

[Blazinaway]

I think Batum's problems have more to do with his leader rather than him. The brilliant way Nate toys with young kids confidence is rearing it's ugly head

didn't Jeff Pendegraph say the same last night on Talkin Ball? I did not hear him but from some other posters he was very candid about Nate and how the young guys don't feel nate trusts them at all.

 

[Mediocre Man]

didn't Jeff Pendegraph say the same last night on Talkin Ball? I did not hear him but from some other posters he was very candid about Nate and how the young guys don't feel nate trusts them at all.

I am in Houston, so I don't get to watch that. If that is anythink close to what Jeff siad, Nate needs to go away worse than I ever wanted him to

 

[MIXUM]

are you threatening me master moderator?

 

[Natebishop3]

I don't want to trade Nic because I want to see what he can do with a different coach.

 

[PapaG]

selling high would have been dealing him last summer.

I'd love to know what New Orleans would have done with Batum involved in a trade, although I don't think Cho really ever followed up on the groundwork laid by KP for Chris Paul.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

I don't weant to see Nic go. I enjoy cheering for this Blazer team and Nic is a big reason why. On and off the court he carries himself with class.

But from a talent/contract perspective, I would think Nic has one of the highest trade values on this team. If the Blazers are going to make a blockbuster trade, very likely Nic would be involved. As far as a straight up trade Nic (age 21) for someone else, it would obviously depend on the "someone else", but I think it would be a mistake.

 

[Wheels]

You aren't safe.

I now foresee this turning into a "Hi PapaG" thread.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I'd love to know what New Orleans would have done with Batum involved in a trade, although I don't think Cho really ever followed up on the groundwork laid by KP for Chris Paul.

New Orleans made the decision that they weren't going to trade Chris Paul, what ground-work was there to follow? The trade package KP reportedly offered wasn't enough, a new GM doesn't change the fundamentals of that.

Give it 3 months and then you'll have plenty of failed trades to pin on him after the deadline.

 

[PapaG]

Give it 3 months and then you'll have plenty of failed trades to pin on him after the deadline.

Trading away Bayless for nothing of value for this season is a failed trade at this point in time, IMO. So, Cho is already 0 for 1 as I view it. If the NO pick (or even the Blazer pick) is packaged into a trade before the deadline to bring back a player of value, I may reconsider my opinion if/when that occurs.

 

[Blaze01]

I wouldn't trade Batum right now, not unless whatever was coming back was just too good to pass up on....

Look, I don't think Nate will be here next year...a new coach, and given Batum's age (22?), there is no reason to pull the plug early on him at all.....


outside of Batum and Matthews, anybody else IMO is trade bait for the right deal....It is not a complete teardown, but it is an expensive (down to the studs) remodel that needs to occur....


As for Bayless, I am not nearly as upset with him being dealt as some people are....Let's face it, he isn't like Stephen Curry, nor is he the next incarnation of Kevin Johnson...he is a hot\cold performer whose best asset is driving to the rim with wild abandon.....Not a cornerstone player people....

 

[LittleAlex]

didn't Jeff Pendegraph say the same last night on Talkin Ball? I did not hear him but from some other posters he was very candid about Nate and how the young guys don't feel nate trusts them at all.

Do you mean to tell me that Nate's irratic behavior towards most players mistakes (as opposed to letting B-Roy, Blake, Outlaw and LMA fuck up as much as they want) leads to player mistrust and lack of confidence?

That's just crazy talk!


Either that or an easily obserable phenomenon that many folks on this board have witness over the last 5 years under Sarge.

If Nate were consistant with his displeasure (like Popovich is) then I think everyone would feel better about things in general. However, he plays favorites with certain players and throws others in the doghouse for no reason.


Long story short, Fuck You Nate!