Maybe The Rockets Can make a Trade with Portland for Rasheed,Bozi or who ever. http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/sports/1058443102109012.xml Blazers News Nash promises changes 07/17/03 JASON QUICK Start squirming, Trail Blazers players. The man empowered to straighten the team's jumbled mess is in town, meaning nobody is a lock to return next season in a Blazers uniform. John Nash, an experienced deal-maker during three previous stints in NBA front offices, took over as the Blazers' general manager on Wednesday, promising imminent change. "I think it's fair to say that the roster will probably not come back the same as last year," Nash said. "It would be my goal to make some changes before the season starts." Nash, 56, said his method of operation will be based on achieving two goals: reducing the payroll and improving the team's reckless and troubled image. "(Owner) Paul Allen has made it clear: He wants a team that he and the city of Portland can be proud of," Nash said. "We are not going to tolerate the behavior that has been here previously." The question now, however, is whether Nash can negotiate deals involving Blazers with large contracts and/or troubled pasts. "I think it's safe to say that the players here have value," Nash said. "How much value, and how much baggage, I'm not certain, because I can't determine that until I start making calls." By 10 a.m. Wednesday, Nash said he already had spoken to three teams. "And I intend to be in contact with every team in the league," Nash said. Nash has an extensive history of making blockbuster deals during his years as general manager in Philadelphia, Washington and New Jersey. He twice has engineered nine-player trades, while also orchestrating an eight-player trade and a five-player trade. Nash made it clear Wednesday that he thought last year's Blazers had too much talent and that it might be time for the team's younger players -- such as Zach Randolph and Qyntel Woods -- to begin playing more prominent roles. "There is enough young talent here that even if the veteran players don't all return, that young talent can blossom into being stars," Nash said. The most pressing issues are at point guard, where the Blazers appear undecided on how they want to proceed. Free agent Scottie Pippen increasingly appears to be out of the Blazers' plans, while Damon Stoudamire clearly has fallen out of favor with Blazers management in the wake of his third mar1juana-related incident in 18 months. And Jeff McInnis, who played sparingly in his only season in Portland, was offered in a trade earlier this summer that was turned down by Milwaukee. On Wednesday, Nash said he doesn't know if Pippen "is the right fit" for the Blazers, while adding that he is "very interested" in determining the "value" Stoudamire has throughout the league. Another hot topic is Rasheed Wallace, the volatile and controversial power forward who has led the team in scoring the past four seasons. As the general manager in Washington, Nash drafted Wallace with the fourth overall pick in 1995. "He remains a marvelous player and he remains a player who has high value," Nash said. "There is a high level of interest in Rasheed Wallace among the NBA, and I think the Trail Blazers will put a premium on his value because of his talent." That doesn't mean the Blazers are sold on keeping Wallace, who is entering the last year of a contract that will pay him $17 million. Coach Maurice Cheeks said he wants to keep Wallace, "but anything is possible," while Nash said the Blazers need to identify a leader. "I don't know that (Wallace) is the type of guy I would classify as a consummate leader," Nash said. "In fairness to Rasheed, I'm not trying to criticize him because I haven't had the opportunity to talk to other players and the coaches . . . but this team hasn't had the greatest quantity of leadership." Reducing the payroll and cleaning up the team's image is a daunting task, and Nash admitted that it probably can't be done in one offseason. "It's going to be a slow process rather than a fast one," Nash said. In the meantime, Nash insisted that the Blazers are not undergoing a rebuilding process. Changes will be made, but not in a wholesale manner that will sacrifice salary and talent for wins. "I didn't come here to lose basketball games," Nash said. "I'm coming here expecting the Blazers to be a playoff team."
Given their "we want a good guy" slant...cross the following names from your list of trade proposals, I'm pretty sure everyone will aprreciate it. Mo Taylor - Caught dancing with Mary Jane Eddie Griffin - Caught dancing with the same "woman" Moochie - Well, he's just not good, but Nash did not specifically rule out bringing in "people who suck"; you could draw from the article that they would have little interest...it would be nice if he were player 9 in a 9 player deal though.
