Why I'm happy today . . .

[BLAZER PROPHET]

There are several reasons to be excited about the Blazers going into next season:

1. Travis Outlaw and Martell Webster are no longer on the team. This is HUGE. I used to hold my breath every time one of those guys touched the ball, because something stupid usually quickly followed. As far as I'm concerned, we are now a smarter and better team because of these two subtractions.

2. Luke Babbitt, Elliot Williams, and Armon Johnson (who was high on the Knicks' wish list) have arrived. These 3 guys can all help us right away--and we are now stronger in outside shooting and at point guard. This should open up things more in the middle for our centers and forwards.

3. ODEN. He's going to be healthy from Day One, and now he's got an improved supporting cast. Admittedly, he may not make it through the season healthy, but I'm going to cross my fingers and believe.

4. The potential for a blockbuster trade . . . We have a wealth of players now, and we are deep at every position. This allows our new GM to wheel and deal and bring us a quality veteran, or even an All-Star.

In short, there is MUCH to be excited about. I really like the look of this team--and I think Babbitt has the potential to be a sleeper from this draft.

No offense, but you are insane. Bad draft. Lost our top defender. How you get excited about that is beyond me.

 

[BGrantFan]

No offense, but you are insane. Bad draft. Lost our top defender. How you get excited about that is beyond me.

We lost Batum, Oden, and Camby? News to me.

 

[e_blazer]

I'm thinking that the only way MIXUM will be happy about the GM change is if the Blazers hire Jeff Petrie so he can keep his schtick going with "J-Pee".

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Miller, Rudy and Joel plus the draft rights to Claver. Not quite the aiming for the sky deal that Paul represents, but not bad nonetheless (I hope).

This seems incredibly optimistic. In fact I don't think I've ever heard you this optimistic. That deal would be ridiculously great for us if it happened.

 

[Wheels]

I won't be CP3 now that they found a taker for Mo-Pete, but I'm going to call it, I say it's Tony Parker AND we won't have to give up Nic Batum to get him.

Miller, Rudy and Joel plus the draft rights to Claver. Not quite the aiming for the sky deal that Paul represents, but not bad nonetheless (I hope).

I would do that in a heart beat.. not sure SAS would though.

 

[KingSpeed]

There are several reasons to be excited about the Blazers going into next season:

1. Travis Outlaw and Martell Webster are no longer on the team. This is HUGE. I used to hold my breath every time one of those guys touched the ball, because something stupid usually quickly followed. As far as I'm concerned, we are now a smarter and better team because of these two subtractions.

2. Luke Babbitt, Elliot Williams, and Armon Johnson (who was high on the Knicks' wish list) have arrived. These 3 guys can all help us right away--and we are now stronger in outside shooting and at point guard. This should open up things more in the middle for our centers and forwards.

3. ODEN. He's going to be healthy from Day One, and now he's got an improved supporting cast. Admittedly, he may not make it through the season healthy, but I'm going to cross my fingers and believe.

4. The potential for a blockbuster trade . . . We have a wealth of players now, and we are deep at every position. This allows our new GM to wheel and deal and bring us a quality veteran, or even an All-Star.

In short, there is MUCH to be excited about. I really like the look of this team--and I think Babbitt has the potential to be a sleeper from this draft.

No mention of Gomes?? He was the steal. He is already a proven player in this league and he's better than Webster. Babbitt is icing on the cake. Elliot is taking Rudy's job if he wants it.

 

[barfo]

No mention of Gomes?? He was the steal. He is already a proven player in this league and he's better than Webster. Babbitt is icing on the cake. Elliot is taking Rudy's job if he wants it.

Someone posted that Miller said we were cutting Gomes. I haven't seen where Miller said that myself, but if true, then he wasn't much of a steal.

barfo

 

[BoomChakaLaka]

Any thought on trading Rudy and JPEC for Boozer? Suppose for a moment that we don't get CP3 or Bosh...why not go get a stud PF like Boozer...or even Lee?

Or how about another .... Rudy and JPEC for Dirk? Not the inside stud, but if Oden were to play...wow, Dirk might be a great scoring addition to get us past the first round. And if we could get Dirk for Rudy and JPEC....we just might want to move LMA and Bayless for Amare!

Lots of scenarios just thrown out....but this lineup would be killer:

Miller
Roy
Batum
Amare
Oden

With Dirk as 6th man (which would prolong his career and value to the Blazers)

 

[BrianFromWA]

No mention of Gomes?? He was the steal. He is already a proven player in this league and he's better than Webster. Babbitt is icing on the cake. Elliot is taking Rudy's job if he wants it.

I'd be interested to see how you possibly come to the conclusion that Gomes is a better player than Webster. Here's the comparison based purely on stats. With Webster being 4 years younger, 400k more expensive (I guess that's a downer), and playing on a better team? And the only thing he's proven is that offensively he's worse, defensively he's worse, he doesn't contribute as many win shares, and he's older. The only thing that makes him a wanted man in the league right now is a 2.9M cap savings starting July 1.

Babbitt's goal is to take the minutes Travis had. They're there for him, if he beats out Dante.

 

[BrianFromWA]

Any thought on trading Rudy and JPEC for Boozer? Suppose for a moment that we don't get CP3 or Bosh...why not go get a stud PF like Boozer...or even Lee?

Or how about another .... Rudy and JPEC for Dirk? Not the inside stud, but if Oden were to play...wow, Dirk might be a great scoring addition to get us past the first round. And if we could get Dirk for Rudy and JPEC....we just might want to move LMA and Bayless for Amare!

Lots of scenarios just thrown out....but this lineup would be killer:

Miller
Roy
Batum
Amare
Oden

With Dirk as 6th man (which would prolong his career and value to the Blazers)

Dirk's getting close to 20M a year to start. We'd need Andre, JPEC and more just to meet the minimum TPE.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Dirk is over the hill.

Boozer wants the max and he's just not worth that.

No thanks on those ideas.

 

[BrianFromWA]

As for the Travis Knight situation, it still occurs in the current CBA. Unsigned first-round picks are thought of much the same way that an unrestricted free agent's cap hold is: it's there until you renounce it. Normally, UFA's are renounced almost immediately (though they are usually carried into the FA period and then renounced right before you want to sign someone) and first round picks are almost always kept (their cap hold is actually 100% of the rookie scale, but you can pay a rookie 120% of rookie scale, which most do. However, for teams with cap space that want to scrape every penny, they might keep them unsigned through summer league (or until they sign their FA target) and then sign them for the 120%.

Long story short, you CAN just renounce a 1st round pick, and you don't carry his salary cap hold and he becomes a UFA. It just doesn't usually happen.

 

[LOTBfan]

To me, yesterday was like being promised Disneyland and getting Knott's Berry Farm instead.

It's all good.

i thought i was getting a redline, but instead got a huffy

 

[VanillaGorilla]

These picks felt like Houston Rocket picks, quick guards that get in the lane and shoot. It will be interesting to see if any of them actually make the team though.

Greg Oden
Joel Przybilla
Marcus Camby
LaMarcus Aldridge
Jeff Pendergraph
Dante Cunningham
Nicolas Batum
Rudy Fernandez
Jerryd Bayless
Brandon Roy
Andre Miller
Ryan Gomes (expected to be waived)

Thats 12, which leaves 3 roster spots for the rookies. Why wouldn't they make the team? Or do you expect us to sign free agents instead?

 

[Shooter]

It's Sunday, and I'm still happy . . .

This team is loaded, once again, and we're bursting with young talent, experienced veterans, and a great, great player in Brandon Roy. If Oden can stay healthy, we will be contending for a championship next season.

GO BLAZERS!!!!

 

[Nikolokolus]

It's Sunday, and I'm still happy . . .

This team is loaded, once again, and we're bursting with young talent, experienced veterans, and a great, great player in Brandon Roy. If Oden can stay healthy, we will be contending for a championship next season.

GO BLAZERS!!!!

If Roy can stay healthy too ...

 

[STOMP]

...nm

 

[jlprk]

2. Luke Babbitt, Elliot Williams, and Armon Johnson (who was high on the Knicks' wish list) have arrived. These 3 guys can all help us right away--and we are now stronger in outside shooting and at point guard. This should open up things more in the middle for our centers and forwards.

I'm happy because we got rid of the Oregonian's main infiltrator in the team! Now they have to go back to using their other paid informers in the bureaucracy to run the team by pouring hatred into the paper.

As for your point no. 2, the rookies aren't ready to play. Nevada isn't in a top conference and their competition wasn't the best. And their draft positions weren't very high either. They will all need a full season before helping much, especially with McMillan as coach.

 

[Nikolokolus]

This seems incredibly optimistic. In fact I don't think I've ever heard you this optimistic. That deal would be ridiculously great for us if it happened.

I was clearly drunk ...

I would do that in a heart beat.. not sure SAS would though.

Honestly I don't see them doing that (Miller, Joel, Claver, Rudy for TP) either, San Antonio is going to want quite a bit more for a player of Parker's caliber, but the one glimmer of hope is that I think the writing is on the wall that Pop sees George Hill as their 1 guard of the future. It's also no secret that Parker has clashed with him for years. Really the only way I see Parker ending up in a Blazers jersey is if he demands a trade and makes it clear that Portland is his preferred destination ... even then he won't come cheaply.

 

[MrJayremmie]

We really need a nice trade here. I'd still love either Aaron Brooks or George Hill. That would totally make this off season worth it for me.

I don't think we really need bigs, honestly. And I think we are alright at SF also. I think Bayless can back up the PG and SG for us. Which leaves us like Rudy, JPEC and Miller to trade for a nice piece (IMO). I think that could get us a lot.

New PG | Bayless | Williams
Roy | Bayless
Batum | Babbitt
Aldridge | Pendergraph/Cunningham
Oden | Camby

Though a backup PF would be really nice. Would love to try and trade SA for Hill and Blair!

 

[LittleAlex]

There are several reasons to be excited about the Blazers going into next season:

1. Travis Outlaw and Martell Webster are no longer on the team. This is HUGE. I used to hold my breath every time one of those guys touched the ball, because something stupid usually quickly followed. As far as I'm concerned, we are now a smarter and better team because of these two subtractions.

2. Luke Babbitt, Elliot Williams, and Armon Johnson (who was high on the Knicks' wish list) have arrived. These 3 guys can all help us right away--and we are now stronger in outside shooting and at point guard. This should open up things more in the middle for our centers and forwards.

3. ODEN. He's going to be healthy from Day One, and now he's got an improved supporting cast. Admittedly, he may not make it through the season healthy, but I'm going to cross my fingers and believe.

4. The potential for a blockbuster trade . . . We have a wealth of players now, and we are deep at every position. This allows our new GM to wheel and deal and bring us a quality veteran, or even an All-Star.

In short, there is MUCH to be excited about. I really like the look of this team--and I think Babbitt has the potential to be a sleeper from this draft.

Unfortunately Trout is a free agent, Portland has money and Nate loves the kid.

Don't be surprised if he and Blake are the big free agent signings in the off season.

Feel free to be disgusted but don't be surprised.

 

[maxiep]

Unfortunately Trout is a free agent, Portland has money and Nate loves the kid.

Don't be surprised if he and Blake are the big free agent signings in the off season.

Feel free to be disgusted but don't be surprised.

I think Travis is joining Monty in NO. Blakey could be headed back to us, however.