Trade strategy; win now, stand pat, or rebuild?

[Draco]

What do you think and why?

 

[3RA1N1AC]

i would like to win all the games always

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

We weren't a real contender with a healthy, prime Brandon Roy and you take him off this roster...

I think it's obvious moves need to be made. I hate the thought of wasting LMA's prime years.

 

[BoomChakaLaka]

Win baby win!

No one has a crystal basketball.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Maybe some miracle will happen and a player will break out in a new system.

Steve Nash was a 17/7 PG in Dallas and then went to a system that fit his style and blew up.

Not likely but you can only hope.

 

[THE HCP]

Until two days ago, I was all about blown' it up. But I think the recent additions can help us stay competitive.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Until two days ago, I was all about blown' it up. But I think the recent additions can help us stay competitive.

Depending on how the season goes I think they should make a big push for Rondo by the deadline and if that fails focus on Kevin Love in the off-season.

 

[oldmangrouch]

Standing pat with the current roster would be absurd. No need for a fire sale - yet - but the team should be actively looking for chances to upgrade.

 

[Minstrel]

I think the team should be aggressive in trades, looking to upgrade their talent, prioritizing quality over quantity and slightly favoring the future over the present. In other words, they shouldn't be looking to get worse, talent-wise, for the mythical "get horrible in order to land superstars" plan, but if they can convert older talent into younger talent that has higher risk but also higher reward, that wouldn't be a bad idea.

Also, any player on the roster should be available in the right deal. Aldridge is a fine player, but he's not such a clear-cut franchise centerpiece that you only field calls about the other players.

Aggressive but smart, with an eye to building on the talent base that the team already has.

 

[maxiep]

Keep LA, Nico, youngsters with upside and cheap vets to provide leadership. Trade everyone else for draft picks.

We risk getting slotted into mediocrity.

 

[Nikolokolus]

It's not so terrible that they need to have a fire sale and ditch 3/4 of the team for 50 cents on the dollar, but they need some star power to pair with LMA if they want to do anything but muddle around where they've been for the last 4 or 5 years. It seems fairly unlikely that any of the current members of the squad fits that description, so that means trying like mad to either make trades for legit stars (tough to do) or try to acquire high lottery picks (not as tough to do, but still tough to make them count for something) to add a young budding star or two.

I think most people know my position, I favor a high-risk, high-reward aggressive approach; so short term losses even for just a small chance at a title don't bother me too badly. In practice, I don't see much material difference between a perennial one-and-done low playoff seed versus a 25 win team drafting in the top 5 year after year -- neither sort of team really matters in the grand scheme of things and nobody will remember them 20 years from now -- so there's really not much risk at all when you put it in those terms.

 

[THE HCP]

What about trying to get Al Jefferson?

 

[Nikolokolus]

What about trying to get Al Jefferson?

Didn't we already have him on the roster before we traded him to the Knicks for Channing Frye and a hot plate of garbage?

 

[THE HCP]

I know he has ZBO like qualities, but I got mad respect for 20/10 guys.... even ZBO!

 

[Natebishop3]

I want to leave the team the way it is for this season and see if LMA can be the man. He has a decent roster around him, lots of shooters, and another All-Star in GWall. This is his shot at proving he can be THE GUY. If we get bounced in the first round again, I say blow it up. Maybe even move Aldridge for someone who is a legitimate franchise player. I don't think anyone should be untouchable if we hit the reset button.

 

[Sinobas]

Depending on how the season goes I think they should make a big push for Rondo by the deadline and if that fails focus on Kevin Love in the off-season.

I like your Kevin Love idea, but how would that work with him being restricted? I'm sure the timberwolves would sign him to a max deal, which means no team would be able to get him.

I don't think we should gut our team for Rondo either. He'd be a nice player to acquire, but I don't think he's the type you sell the farm for. Maybe Wallace/Felton and a draft pick for Rondo/Allen.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

I like your Kevin Love idea, but how would that work with him being restricted? I'm sure the timberwolves would sign him to a max deal, which means no team would be able to get him.

I don't think we should gut our team for Rondo either. He'd be a nice player to acquire, but I don't think he's the type you sell the farm for. Maybe Wallace/Felton and a draft pick for Rondo/Allen.

For the past two season he wouldn't answer questions about signing an extension. Says the team has "a lot of work to do on the roster" before he thinks about it. That could happen with their new coach but I think with the addition of Derrick Williams, who's best position is PF, and a max offer for Love will put them in a very difficult situation.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Btw, there is no better time to offer Boston a Felton/Wallace/Wesley (type of package) for Rondo.

 

[Natebishop3]

Btw, there is no better time to offer Boston a Felton/Wallace/Wesley (type of package) for Rondo.

The problem with that trade is it makes us extremely thin at small forward... unless you're saying we are building for a year or two down the line. If that's the case, I would try to trade Camby too for something with that expiring.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

The problem with that trade is it makes us extremely thin at small forward... unless you're saying we are building for a year or two down the line. If that's the case, I would try to trade Camby too for something with that expiring.

That's what I was thinking. With an upgrade at PG and the cap room next summer I think this is the smartest rout. I don't mind sacrificing a shortened season. For cap room, I'd keep Camby and sign a stopgap like Moon or somebody like that.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Remember when Barkley wanted to come to Portland because he felt he was the missing piece? I think we build the team with as good and as many players as we can. Then hope that we can either make a consolidation trade for a better player that will compliment LMA, or hope that a really good player will see he is the missing piece of the puzzle and want to come here. It won't be Howard, but it could stil be a good player.

No one wants to come to a team that is starting over. But they will go anywhere to win. (Even Cleveland) Right now we are in the category where we are one really good player away from championship contention. Whether that is by lotto, trade, or free agent, we need to get lucky. Blowing things up IMO reduces the chances of getting lucky.

 

[Minstrel]

Btw, there is no better time to offer Boston a Felton/Wallace/Wesley (type of package) for Rondo.

I don't think Boston even considers that deal. While it makes them slightly deeper, it takes away their only prime, impact player and without acquiring any players who have even a hope of becoming blue chip down the line. IMO, it makes them weaker in the short-term without materially improving their long-term forecast.

 

[Kaydow]

Btw, there is no better time to offer Boston a Felton/Wallace/Wesley (type of package) for Rondo.

I like that deal for a lot of reasons. They just lost Jeff Green for the season, and Wallace would be a great fit for them. He's been praised for his ability to guard guys like Lebron, and any road to the finals for Boston would presumably go through Miami. Boston has had success the last few years by being a grind-it-out half court/defensive oriented team. Wesley and Wallace can play in that system. Felton is certainly a downgrade from Rondo at PG for them, but they get so much better at b/u SG & SF. After Ray Allen & Paul Pierce who aren't getting any younger, it gets real ugly on their depth chart (Kenyon Dooling? Sasha Pavlovic?)

For us, I'm not sold on Felton at all. You hate to lose Wallace and Wes, but we need to give Nic a shot. I'm worried that he's not going to get enough minutes. With Wes/Jamal/Crash/Nic, it's getting crowded.

I think if I was a Boston Fan, I would like this trade as well. It truly could help both teams.

 

[magnifier661]

This is the season to see what we really got. Have the players play a full season to evaluate what we truly need. Who knows Felton or Crawford may not turn out the way we hoped. But if there is a great deal for a team either desperate to shed salary or possibly lose their star; then go for it. Those opportunities don't happen all the time. We were lucky enough to have a disgruntled pipped wanting out of Houston and was able to get a star. Same thing with sheed Wallace for Strickland.

I don't really think blowing up in hopes of getting a high draft pick is the answer. Stay competitive and possibly make some noise in the playoffs; which attacks free agency.

 

[TheBeastBoy]

I can see them trading at the new deadline if A) there are injuries (which for our team, is likely...); B) We can get value for one our players that doesn't burn us; C) we are completely out of it and can get one heck of a deal; or C) we have a player develop the allows us to trade another. I like how the team has been built right now, but the bench and health is the key this year. The team that has the strongest and most productive bench, and can stay away from major injuries, will have the best shot to make a run. That's my opinion.