[Portland talk Radio] Morey wanted to move Battier/Alston last offseason

Yep. I noticed that people rarely respond to good comments so i will.

You're right because we have good defensive concepts. Most of our players aren't really that effective in 1on1 defensive situations. Battier is the best defender on a good defensive team so i think he will get us more value back than he is giving us right now. It's not a knock on Batman but we were fine defensively w/o him before and we'll be ok now.

 

I think it was a right move to get Battier and it would have been a mistake to give up him. Outlaw is good , I love this guy because he is playing with energy but it wouldn't have been good for us.

We need shooters, we need guys who can shot the ball. We have Yao, we have T-Mac and when they are doubled we need to have guys who can knock down open shots.

And I think Battier is a very good 3-pt shooter. He can make shots and what's important - he added very good defense to this team.

Wanna move Rafer? GO AHEAD

 

So we traded Rudy Gay for Battier, who we are going to turn around and trade for Travis Outlaw. Is that really what you guys want?

This doesn't sound good at all to me.

Also, remember we are without Yao right now so a big chunk of our offense is gone. If we still had Yao at the moment I don't think people would be clamoring for more offense.

 

You've got to let go of what we gave up for Battier. We have to focus on what we have now and decide accordingly (well, the GM decides, but you get the gist).

It's like driving a car. If you look at your rear view mirror all the time, and not focus on what's in front of you, you'll crash.

 

I don't understand why you'd trade our team's best defensive stopper.

He was ranked 3rd in NBA Defensive Player of the Year voting, hits the three consistently, and a boon for team chemistry.

I'd never want to see him traded to another team.

 

If i wanted a SF-Sg who can create the shot and defend arguably well i wopuld try and get Delfino who is a free agent this season, he can come off the bench as he does in Toronto and i liked his season there.

He provided Defense and Scoring boost from time to time.

http://www.nba.com/playerfile/carlos_delfino/index.html

 

Portland does want Battier. They are looking for a veteran PG or SF. Battier would fit the mold of someone they would want to mix in with their youth. I think there was talk last summer about a Battier for Outlaw+Jack or Webster+Jack type deal.

I would say that Battier's trade value after this season will probably be at it's peak.

If the Rockets can get Outlaw+Fernandez for Battier then I think the Rockets have to make that deal. As a sweatner the Rockets might even throw in Luther.

Outlaw (6'10) can play the 2/3/4 spots on the floor. Fernandez (6'6") supposedly can play the 1/2/3 spots. So you have a lot of versitility there. Youth+athelticism+speed. Remember, Morey wanted Fernandez in the draft last year. If Fernandez turns into a poor man's Ginobili type player and Outlaw continues to improve and turns into a poor-man's Tayshaun Prince, then that would be a quite an addition to this team.

The Rockets would then still have BJax's+Francis expiring to add a final piece, like a Mike Miller to the team.

Portland will make trades this offseason for sure. We should keep tabs on them.

 

Batier will not flourish playing with TMac. He needs a long time to get the shot he needs, especially the hook shot and TMac will not pass the ball with enough time on the clock.

 

I'd love to get Outlaw. Barnes was one of the guys I wanted to get in the off-season, and Outlaw is far better, imo. He's signed through the next two seasons at $4 million per. Get a PG in the deal from Portland, or a third team, and I'm down for giving the Blazers Battier. And if they want Head, they can have him.

 

we need to get rid of other players before Battier. He is our best defensive stopper and that's what he does. His 3's are a bonus as well as his BB IQ. However others that are "supposed" to score.. that have crappy shooting %'s for the past couple of years need to go. I think this is BS portland talk.. just like bs Chicago talk radio.

 

If the Blazers will give you Outlaw and Fernandez for Battier and Head it's a complete no-brainer (though I don't think that trade works, cap wise).

Would you do something like this:

Portland Trades:
Travis Outlaw
James Jones
Channing Frye
Rudy Fernandez

Houston Trades:
Shane Battier
Luther Head
Chuck Hayes
First Round Pick (this years if necessary, preferably next years)

I would. Outlaw and James Jones are both listed above 6-8. Jones is listed as a forward, but at 38% or better from the 3 the last 4 years, and 44% last year, he can offensively play SG. He may not be as quick as Luther defensively but then is so much taller that he won't get posted like Luther always does. I like Outlaw because he's young, improving, tall, athletic, etc. Portland would prefer Shane because of his experience, veteran leadership, great defense, etc. (stuff the Rockets would definitely miss, too). Hayes for Frye is a wash. To me, Frye plays like a much lesser version of Aldridge, so if I'm Portland and have a chance to get a different kind of PF to back up LaMarcus, than that's a fair trade. Frye brings a little more offense. Chuck brings more defensive intensity. Then I'd definitely swap a pick for Rudy Fernandez. I could see him having a very Scola type year. He's got good size for the backcourt and seems to have improved over the past year. He is now definitely NBA ready. So would I give up this year's 25 for last year's 24? Yes. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzaRAZ_yNTQ

I'm thinking Portland would have to really covet Shane to do this deal at the end of the day. Luther/Chuck for Jones/Frye is a wash. I doubt they would straight up trade Fernandez for our pick this year. Which means they would want to get something more back. They probably do think Shane would be a better fir than Outlaw, but that much better? Especially considering they were already pretty good defensively last year (at least in regards to points allowed per game), whereas they struggled offensively.

If the deal did go through, short of other trades, the Rockets lineup becomes:

PG: Alston, BJ, Brooks, Fernandez
SG: T-Mac, Fernandez, Jones
SF: Outlaw, Jones, Fernandez, Novak
PF: Scola, Landry, Outlaw, Novak
C: Yao, Deke

 

I imagine that Portland would prefer hometown boy Brooks and give up Jarrett Jack rather than Jones. And from what I understand, Fernandez doesn't want to play in Portland, but Portland knows his value, and it would be higher than the #25 pick this year. Still, not a bad start; we do have to shake things up a bit.

 

Battier and Yao for the oldest-lookng player and outlaw.

 

I'm all for upgrading the SF position. But only if Les is going to exceed the Luxury Tax threshold and add talent to the roster. That means either retaining Battier and adding another player at the position or trading Battier in a package for someone like Artest. Otherwise we are just playing musical chairs with the roster and payroll and will be stuck in mediocrity for yet another season.

 

It was Outlaw and Jack for Battier

 

So can someone break down what Fernandez and Outlaw bring to the table? This Fernandez kid hasn't even stepped on an NBA court, right?

 

He's really good.....IMO, Brent Barry with more one-on-one ability

 

I agree. Bad move Morey dont do it maybe Head for Outlaw but thats a pipe dream.

Only trade core pieces only if its a serious core upgrade.

 

This is a good trade mock draft shows us taking Douglas @25

Douglas a 6'7 SG

 

Outlaw will be a stud.......