Battier does have to go. Rox can't rely on him when the other 2 stars can't make a bucket even though he has improved his offensive game from last years. He disappears in crucial games but plays incredible D. Things need to change before Tmac retires.
no way portland does this. they will take a young talent with tremendous upside because they can afford to wait and develop him. they are a really young team i just dont see them wanting battier that bad.
Actually, who cares if you're ready to deal Battier or not... JJ On a serious note...the best we can hope for is if we can buy Memphis' 28th pick for maybe 3 million. That means we get to draft another solid rookie to add to the bench next season. I've been calling for us to follow what Boston is doing for ages. We don't need to add any more overhyped rookies. Boston could have easily just kept the 5th pick last season, but what did they do? Trade it for a veteran from a fire-sale. We need veterans like Battier. I'd be really happy if we can get Mo Williams from the Bucks. They are pretty keen on trading him since they have an awesome rookie PG in Ramon Sessions. Personally I like James Posey alot...oops I mean I like Brandon Rush alot. Milwaukee gets: Rafer Alston/or Bobby Jackson Luther Head Chuck Hayes 2009 first rounder Houston Gets: Mo Williams Dan Gadzuric/or another bad contract
Trade Battier for Darius Miles. Darius is the kind of freakish talent that could put the rockets over the top. Get on the phone Morey.
It's obvious we got screwed in trading Rudy Gay for Battier. We need to do somthing now to salvage that move. I would do this deal in a heartbeat. Both Martell Webster and Travis Outlaw are the real deal. I would trade Battier to Portland for either Webster or Outlaw straight up. I would prefer Outlaw though. Outlaw can play SF and is an athletic freak. Good ball handler, strong finisher, can block shots, good outside shooter with 3 pt range, and can take and make clutch shots. This team needs an upgrade at the 3 spot. Shane is just too much of an offensive liability.
I really don't see why everyone is so willing to sacrifice Battier's defence and intangibles for a few extra points on the board. Look, Battier is an offensive liability but Battier is also probably the most important piece in our starting lineup if our 2 stars are healthy. And if we're gonna go deep into the playoffs and contend for the title, our 2 stars better be healthy, otherwise it'll be out of the first round again even if we get a Travis Outlaw or Martell Webster or Maggette or whoever's not a bonafide franchise player. Our starting lineup is locked. The more important questions are, can Scola improve his game to give us a solid 3rd option if they take McGrady and Yao out of the game? And can we get someone off the bench who can create for himself and keep the offense rolling when one of our 2 stars are out? In that sense, Maggette makes sense. And you DON'T have to trade Battier away to get him. Bobby Jackson, Carl Landry at 8 million over 3 years + the 25th pick + maybe Luther Head for Maggette over 3 or 4 years is probably a fair trade. And it would give us that consistent 3rd scorer off the bench, starting or whenever and give us plenty of lineup flexibility at the perimeter spots.
What if one is limping a little then what? What will Battier give u then? What about when the other team doesnt have that dynamic scorer like Utah? When that happens, he's like the Elliot Ness after prohibition, a man without a fight. When u see boston win it, yet struggle early because Ray Allen was struggling, it tells you how important that 3rd guy is. BTW, why would maggette come off the bench when he's the better player? Scola is good, but i dont see teams leaving yao or tracy because Scola is going off. Scola is a good 4th option. Asking him to get 17 ppg every night is asking too much of him.