1. Trade Zach Randolph and Jarrett Jack to Miami for Udonis Haslem and Jason Williams. 2. Draft Kevin Durant 3. Re-sign Udoka What's in it for Portland: 1. Dumping Randolph's contract. That alleviates a LOT of cap room that will be used for Brandon Roy, LaMarcus Aldridge, and Kevin Durant when they all command max or near-max contracts. 2. Of course, trading Randolph, you need to get something back that could be of use. Swapping Randolph for either Lewis or Jefferson doesn't look so promising. Why? Both are All-Star potential guys but are also injury-prone players that are will have big salaries that will take up too much room in the long run. 3. Getting back Haslem and Williams will give them some veteran presence. Haslem can be that rebounding bruiser they could put in the front court with Aldridge and Durant. He can knock down jumpers and give them another well rounded player. Jason Williams can play the starting point guard role but his greatest asset is that he's off the books by the end of next year (more cap room) What's in it for Miami: 1. They get a frontline scorer. Shaq is pretty much just collecting his paychecks right now and he's nowhere near where he was even a couple of years ago. When Shaq sits, they have zero low post presence and this will help keep teams from doubling and tripling Wade when Shaq is on the bench. 2. To save their future. Payton, Mourning, Walker, and Shaq have seen better days and Wade only signed that 3-4 year contract. So I'm assuming if Miami doesn't make a youth movement soon, they'll be in Lotto Purgatory if/when Wade leaves. Getting him a young low post player like Randolph (and have a Dorrell Wright and hopefully re-signing Kapono) now gives them something to fall back upon. 3. Jarrett Jack. I would think Miami would demand a point guard back if they're going to send away Williams. So it's either Jack or Rodriguez and I'm thinking Miami picks Jack. He's a combo guard of sorts and at least with Randolph and Jack, they can actually have some semblance of a well rounded offense. Portland's lineup: C: Aldridge PF: Haslem SF: Durant SG: Roy PG: Williams Bench: Pryzbilla, Udoka, Rodriguez Miami's lineup: C: Shaq PF: Randolph SF: Wright or Kapono (or Posey if he re-signs?) SG: Wade PG: Jack Bench: Walker, Kapono, Mourning
Also I think trading Randolph for a Haslem/Williams type combo is a better choice for the long run. You're not handcuffing your young players (Roy/Aldridge/Durant) by bringing in a max player like KG or Carter. You're also not risking the very possible chance that a key player going down during what could be a (small) possible playoff run (i.e. Lewis and Jefferson). After next year, Williams' contract is off the books. They still have only a couple of years left of Haslem by then they can either re-sign him or just let him go. The main point is that for these players to fully develop, they can't have an All-Star type player coming in to hog the minutes/glory.
If they are gonna take Oden, then it would probably wouldn't be a bad idea to trade Randolph and clear cap space while all of their young players are still on their rookie contracts. That would allow then to be in the market for some free agents from other teams before they have to spend money locking up their current guys long term.
If i was the Portland GM, i would take Danny Ainge out to dinner for getting Roy and Oden for Sebastian Telfaire.
Nate McMillan is a defense-first head coach and I can’t imagine him choosing Durant over Oden, who could anchor that defense for many, many years. A front line with Aldridge and Randolph as your 2 big men is marshmallow soft inside. They should draft Oden and see what they can get for Randolph. Keep the starting backcourt intact. Jarret Jack is a solid young point guard. Reminds me a bit of Billups, with his size, great mid range game, and calming influence on the court. I would stick with him as the starter at the point and Roy at the 2. Use Randolph to get a new starting small forward, like Rashard Lewis, Richard Jefferson, or Lamar Odom. Start Aldridge at the 4.
Personally I am not sold on Oden being at the level of Hakeem/ Shaq/ Duncan/ Robinson type sure thing dominant center, even defensively. Oden blocked 3.3 shots last year, nothing remarkable in the college ranks and I think less than guys such as Ewing/Hakeem/Zo and even Shaq did as freshman. (Consider Durant himself blocked 1.9.) Okafor as a freshman even hit the 4 blocks per game mark and I think his last season was about 6--for one reference point anyway. Sheldon Williams blocked over what Oden did his last year in college too. Also, unless you are Shaq physical and Duncan refined it is going to be awfully hard for a traditional big to dominate offensively with zones allowed. Oden undoubtably will be an above average NBA center at worst (if he stays healthy), but dominant on either end is certainly a question. I also don't think Aldrige as a PF compliments Oden. If I am Portland and I can get Durant plus a substantial bit more (e.g., Wilcox for a bad contract, extra future 1st rounder), which I would think I can do from Seattle, I do it. I don't see such a huge overall difference in upside/talent/polish between the two players, but I can really understanding why Seattle would really pay for Oden because their C spot and defense is such a weak spot.
The problem with drafting Oden is -- how many years does he have left in the tank? He'll turn 34 next year -- so he has maybe 3 or 4 solid years left in him before there is a sharp drop off.
If he retires he doesn't get paid. If Portland releases him, he gets paid and it still counts towards the salary cap. Portland can only get rid of the salary cap problems of Raef, Randolf, and Miles through trade or the unlikely scenario that any of them would throw away millions by retiring. Given the long-term nature of their deals it is highly unlikely that Portland will be able to get rid of Miles or Raef. Randolph is still a good basketball player so somebody might take a flier on him, contract and all.
I would trade Zach Randolph to the Bulls for Ben Gordon. The Bulls need a low post presence. The Blazers need a guy who can hit the long range jumpshot. win win for both teams.
you know I think thats the only other guy who looked as old as Oden coming into the league from the pics i've seen of him
I would draft oden and trade d. miles, and some 2nd round picks. I think Randolph is going to stay in Portland in 2 or 3 years portland will be a contender if they keep doing the things right.
I would draft Oden and try to trade Randolph; however, if the Blazers can get Seattle to do a deal like the one that Desert Scar described, then they would be nuts not to do it. Either way, they are in great shape and will probably be better than the Rockets within 2 seasons.
