Zach Lowe on the state of the (Portland Trail) Blazers

We should just have someone post Zach Lowe's Tuesday article every week. They're basically must reads.

 

A guy that works for me is a longtime Blazers diehard and mentioned this idea. Supposedly Wesley Matthews and even CJ McCollum are available.

Ain't no way the Rockets give up Asik for crumbs.

 

Olshey sounds like he sees rebuilding as the only path but the owner won't let him. Now I've always suspected that was the course of the ridiculous trade requests regarding Aldridge, but this is the first time he's actually openly implied it (he's more direct that the path is ownership dictated, not his own choice more than Morey was).

As for the footnote, I don't think anyone has ever suggested that it was a fair trade, lol, it's more a case of the best they can get (Lowe might want to research Mirotic, that he's implied he wouldn't come across from Europe for a **** team is a terribly kept secret, that's how he's ended up Chicago's in the first place), Vucevic etc for Dwight was hardly a fair trade either, lol

 

I'm all for keeping Asik at the expense of letting him go for less than FMV. With that said I wouldn't exactly call Matthews crumbs. He'd be an ideal sg off the bench to spell Harden. Good size, can flat out score the ball, solid defender, can do a little bit of everything. If we didn't sign all these players (Williams, Casspi, Brewer) I wouldn't have minded shipping out Asik for Matthews + Lopez or Leonard.

 

Asik is a legit starting center in the NBA. It's have to be a lot more than Mathews an McCollem. I'd ask for Picks, McCullem and Leonard.

 

Yeah, they're just kinda hanging around like Houston was a few years ago. Okay squad but not really going anywhere.

Time to flip those assets Allen/Olshey!

 

Would you trade Omer Asik for Nicolas Batum?

1. Jeremy Lin
2. James Harden
3. Nicolas Batum
4. Chandler Parsons
5. Dwight Howard

 

hmmmmmmm... probably not, Batum isn't as good as most people assume, and on the flip side Portland need him too, it's not like they have wings ready to take his spot.

 

I just don't see Morey trading Asik until he is absolutely 100% certain that LMA is unobtainable.

 

I probably would. It would put a lot of pressure on Dwight, but Batum can help in a lot of different areas. Dude is good.

 

I ran the exact starting 5 to a championship in NBA 2K13, so it definitely works. :grin:

 

I think it's clear regarding Aldridge. He is untouchable for as long as the Blazers are sort of, kind of winning. Probably some sort of chasing or obtaining a low seed to end the year. He's also obviously not available for at least our package currently.

But NBA is fluid. Imagine DMo or Jones showing some signs of success. Maybe not star level, but something like Dragic/Lowry level of potential. Imagine the Blazers looking at a 35-win finish. Imagine the Blazers not really improving from last year in terms of youth development and Aldridge makes it clear he's not staying beyond 2015. At that time, the Rockets package would suddenly look not too shabby.

My own personal hopeful long term Rockets plan is to hold out for Aldridge in any trade scenario, or just let everyone's contract runs out in 2015 and get Kevin Love in FA. Because the more I look at other trade scenarios involving Asik, the less I like them.

 

Getting Matthews + Leonard is intriguing, but the Rockets can't afford anything less than a starting PF in exchange for Asik. With such a gaping hole, nothing else will do IMO.

Even if PF wasn't a huge need, I would still pass on that trade, which would be a big win for the Blazers though.

Matthews has disappointed me since signing with the Blazers. I'm still down on him over his slumps in 2011/12 and think he's mentally soft.

 

Asik, Parsons and TJones or DMo + picks, filler

for

Aldridge and Batum

PG: Lin, Beverley, AB, Canaan
SG: Harden, Garcia, Brewer, B.J. Young
SF: Batum, Casspi, Reggie Williams, Covington
PF: Aldridge, TJones or DMo
C: Dwight, Camby, Smith

Finals, baby

 

What's so interesting about the Blazers that they'd get their own column on Grantland? No offense to any Blazer fans on here, but that team just bores me.

 

I thought Morey made it pretty clear that he wasn't tanking because Leslie wanted to win (he said it more respectfully obviously).

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Blazers are in kind of a weird position...they're trying to get better and win (like we were), but they already have the elite shot creator, they just can't fill out that roster like Morey can. And that Batum contract is going to end up being pretty bad in retrospect I think.

 

Interesting idea. I think Batum is kind of overpaid TBH, but that's one of the few trades I can see both teams accepting.

 

I posted this in the Random Trade Thread... I truly can see this happening.

Heck, I'd even throw in a few lottery protected picks to make this happen...your thoughts guys?