I don't see the Blazers giving up blake until Rodriguez develops further. What other teams have an abundance of guards?
And what do we have that Portland would want without giving Shane, Landry, Scola...basically our core rotation players? I'm fine giving up Rafer, Head and Francis. But what sane team with a good PG that we would want would want any of those 3? It is certainly looking like we need to do what Sacramento did in the White Chocolate/Mike Bibby trade to fully realize our title aspirations potential. But White Chocolate was young and had promise when he was traded, Rafer not so much at this stage of his career.
Why not consider Battier? If it can improve your PG play..but for Battier I would want more than Blake....it would have to be something more substantial......maybe Charlotte and one of their 2 PGs. I would be willing to deal....some of our bench pieces for the right starting PG.... Even Landry if necessary. Trading a bench guy who plays 20 mpg, for a starting PG that plays 36 mpg and can shoot the ball well would be a massive upgrade...... DD
I doubt Rafer,too, But despite his bad shoot, he qulifies to start..... Maybe what he needs is a little time,and what we need is patience. Don't be radical,if we let Luther on the floor with Tracy, it definitely will get worse, I have no confidence in Luther who once let me down, what we need to focus is our C, I think Jory is definitely a good choice, though he is undersize, his long arm can make up his short... When will Steve come back, I can't wait for it , and what about Shane,
Look, start Rafer, and if he struggles....put his arse on the bench..... Luther can bring it up, unless pressured, and if he is pressured Tmac or Artest can bring it up, or Barry, or AB..... But you can not continue to have a guy chucking it up there at 20% and the defense ignoring him on the perimeter and packing the paint. I don't want this Rockets team to lose because they refuse to acknowledge that Rafer is the problem.....and continue to play him because he can dribble and play OK...D. DD
The only player the Blazers would want is Battier but none of those players any where near what Battier's worth unless they threw in Fernandez which simply won't happen. Gersson Rossas like Kyle Lowry. Memphis have Mayo & Conley ahead of Lowry and Jaric can cover PG too. Chucky Atkins name was on the block before the Billups trade and he's now been pushed down to third option. Then there's the Bull's crowded backcourt Larry Hughes is currently injured but it's thought he'll be given the starting SG spot on his return. Thabo is starting at SG over Hnrich because their coach likes the size he brings. So when Hughes returns does Thabo go from starter to DNP or Hinrich's minutes are reduced?
Your basically taking 1 step forward 2 steps back unless we get a stud PG. Now you created other defensive holes when you trade away Battier, need I remind all the defensive lapses we've had in the young season? And this is with Ron...
No, I admit that losing Battier would hurt us a bit, but I think our D will shore up with Artest getting more comfortable and Tmac getting his lateral quickness back. I believe that Battier is a bit of a redundant piece right now.....I love the guy but if it can get us a quality starting PG...then I think you have to seriously look at it. Don't you? DD
Is Hinrich worth giving up something for? Seriously, I'd rather trot Francis out there on 1 leg than watch Rafer clank it up out there night in and night out.
Battier and Rafer for Hinrich? Salaries match up I think. Would you do it? Bulls need a veteran player like Battier to help the young guys. I'd give it a serious thought. Actually we might want to pry an additional player from the Bulls for the salary match. I just can't make up my mind between Noah and Tyrus Thomas, as their salaries are close enough.
That's how I feel too. TMac's 3pt% definitely isn't anything to be wow'd over, but defenses respect his shot making ability. Rafer HAS to start hitting enough to make the D respect that shot. Otherwise, I agree 100%, you have to put someone in that will hit it. Whether it's moving Mac to the point and having Luther play the 2, or starting AB, or having Barry split PG duties with TMac. Rafer has quick hands, and he really is involved in a lot of steals in the paint but Luther has quick hands too. Give him another week or two at the starting PG spot. It's his spot to lose basically. He earned it last year, and so it's his right now. But as you said, if he doesn't start hitting his 3s at least around 35%, we just can't take that chance.
Man, that is VERY tempting....if you think you can re-sign Artest, I think I would do this deal. I love Battier, but Hinrich is so much better than Rafer on all sides of the ball and it makes our starting team (which plays 3/4ths of the game) so much better. Does it effect us in 2010? I would do this...good suggestion V. DD
I'm guessing the Bulls want expiring contract/s and big/s. Also with Deng and Nocioni they don't need another SF. Rockets would need to give up either Scola or Landry.
Isn't Rafer an expiring? Toss in Francis and/or Luther instead. Hinrich would be a great pickup for this team. DD
No way... Giving up Battier is just crazy. I understand Rafer is hurting us badly but who are you going to get? No one is out there right now that can help us and that we can actually get without breaking up the core. Sure Blake can hit a three but he doesn't play defense. You need a PG that can play defense and Rafer does that for this team. I hate his shooting and by God it has to get better. Right now there isn't a fix and we're going to have to see what Morey can do.
Hinrich is a great defender and a good shooter. He had an off year last season, but I think he's a tremendous upgrade over Rafer at this point, the question is what would we have to give up to get him in here?
