He's injured and will be out for a couple of months at least. Losing Batum is actually a big loss for them. There was a reason why Batum started for them last year as a rookie. He's the only capable perimeter defender they have on that team. All their other wings are offensive players whose first instinct is to score.
Fernandez should be a good fit in Adelman's system. If we give up on TMac, then Fernandez would be a valuable piece. I like Battier a lot, and don't want to see him go. But if we can land Fernandez and a good role player from Portland (Pryzbilla?), I'd pull the trigger. Assuming we could get some good return from trading TMac's contract, we'd be back in the picture in a short time.
The Blazers don't want McGrady's contract and they definitely won't trade Pryzbilla with Oden being so injury-prone and shaky looking. Would they trade Rudy plus whatever to get Shane is a good question. If they could get the Rockets to take on Webster's contract, maybe so, but I still doubt it. But Batum's injury really puts Pritchard in a more desperate situation than before so it's hard to say. They need more experience, toughness and defense at SF to improve their team. It's the most obvious way for them to get better. What they want to do is trade Outlaw and/or Webster, toss in Bayless and a draft pick or two for the new starting SF.
This is it right here. If you give them jvg and his philosophy, they would be a great defense and they have enough offense to be effecient. Nate is still a coach trying to learn and he's never had good defensive teams even in phoenix as coach. Some guys just know how to teach defense and some don't. RV6, it has nothing to do with quickness when you have length. The pistons with big ben didn't have quickness, but they had arms which equals deflections and they played on a string.
There's no way Portland gives up Fernandez or Batum for Battier. I know they want Battier bad, but Fernandez fits nicely into what they do and Batum has vast potential. I do see them possibly dealing Bayless though. Doesn't look like they have high hopes for him.
I agree. This is why a trade has not happened yet. I have a feeling that Morey has been dangling Battier in front of Pritchard since last playoffs ended. If the Blazers aren't doing very well before the trade deadline, there is a chance that they might be forced to make a move, giving up some good young talents for a defensive veteran like Battier.
This is nothing against Nate. He's an absolutely fantastic coach obviously with what he has done with that team. But I'm convinced that the coaching matchup was the difference in the Rockets' series win over Portland last year. Their approach to handling Yao was puzzling at best.
