Yes you are right about hustle and toughenss but we are talking about getting an all-star 20-10 a night player here next to Yao. You know realistically the NBA these days requires 2-3 all-stars plus excellent role players to win a championship. T-Mac is done we need to replace with another elite player like Bosh. Look taking the Lakers to 7 games is a monumental achivement but in order to beat them especially now with Artest there you need to load up with the right players at each position and the frontcourt needs to be just as good as Gasol and Bynum. Also Fernandez is a superb Shooting guard in this day and age of combo guards and undersized 2s. Now none of the guys on my roster are considered soft or mentally weak players in any regards. Chemistry will naturally develop over time and leaders will created when the moment to step up is there. Overall the goal of these moves is to have young players plus veterans like Bosh and Yao to mix it up and contend for a title immeaditely not in 2 or 3 years.
If you want Rudy Fernandez then you are probably going to have to give up Brooks. Why would Blazers want Battier if they sign Hedo? They have Steve Blake at the PG spot and Brooks is younger,better,and from the area so Blazers would see him as a missing piece. With Hedo and Outlaw then they would have no use for Battier. You want Rudy then you have to start with Brooks. Question is what is more needed on this team right now a young PG or a young SG?
Portland would be too good. I guess if we did that it all depends on if either Yao plays next season or McGrady gets dealt for Bosh/Amare or we are essentially without any star. If thats the case I could see the need to get younger at the expense of making Portland NASTY (assuming they get Hedo). Id rather deal Ariza for Fernandez though.
Dangle Battier? Not sure he is the type of player that people are drooling over so dangling him really isn't an option. He is a role player on a team ready to break through. He has no use in that case in Portland if they get Hedo to play that position. AND YOU ARE NEVER AND I MEAN NEVER GETTING ODEN FOR BATTIER. Even with his injury issues. Portland would not take Brooks and Battier for Oden.
You forgot your smilie. Otherwise, why would Portland trade former #1 and #24 picks for an expensive, slow, aging, smart, likable SF like Shane Battier when they already have Travis Outlaw and Martell Webster?
Portland doesn't need Battier anymore than they need Fernandez. They need another playmaker next to Roy badly, which Shane can't provide. That's why they're going after Hedo. If they get him, their next move will be to go after a good defensive PG like Rondo or Hinrich. Maybe we can dangle Lowry as a cheap consolation prize?
I understand what you are saying, but there has to be way to get both Fernandez and Bosh (or Ama're) w/out sacrificing BOTH Battier and Scola. Both possess intangibles that I have yet to see from either Fernandez or Bosh/Ama're.
This is one pathetic DANGLE TREE. Got Lowry and Battier hanging from it. Might as well hang up Chuck and James White.
Rudy! Rudy! Rudy! What a backcourt with Brooks, Lowry, Ariza and Fernandez. From Portland's take, it could work, since the SF position is their weakest position with the French kid and Outlaw. Though, I guess Martell Webster will be back. Though, I hear Portland is looking for another dynamic wing scorer like Turkglou to take some of the heat off of Roy. Battier obviously couldn't do this.
Portland has wanted Battier for over two years now plus Outlaw is a goner and they're regretting the the Webster signing. They need a veteran presence and any combination of Hedo and/or a PG upgrade (Bibby, Miller) can provide that. If those moves fall through, I wouldn't sleep on Portland's desire to acquire a player like Battier.
I agree 100% even from last year everyone wanted Rudy and I couldn't figure out why and I still can't figure out why everyone wants him he's an average player that heats up every once in a while just like Wafer
He wouldn't. Just prefer Battier. Not exactly thrilled with Ariza for 5yrs like the rest of you guys.
well then you don't know rudy enough...he is a proven winner who can shoot the 3 like ray allen, can pass a bit, more versatile than wafer...got better size...defense a bit lacking but which white wing player can defend??? in short rudy is MUCH better than wafer...
You think Shane will stay the same player or improve in the future? I like Shane too, for the record. But sometimes you gotta read the handwriting on the wall and plan accordingly.
