Question from a Blazer Fan

[Wizenheimer]

there's a thread on the GB where Blazer fans are getting a lot of grief because they are completely unwilling to trade both Nicolas batum and Rudy Fernandez for the expiring contract of Brendan Haywood.

Now obviously, Haywood is a big man, and a pretty good one at that. But he'll be an unrestricted free agent this summer when a dozen teams will have significant cap-space. He's also spent his entire life living within 50 miles of the Atlantic Ocean. So, just the fact that Portland would own his bird rights would likely mean next to nothing. Portland's a small market team all the way up in a rainy corner of the country. Not a very attractive destination for young, urban young guys.

In any event, Blazer fans were getting a lot of heat for maintaining that both Batum and Fernandez are pretty good players right now, with a lot of potential, and that the trade idea was a real stinker.

You guys got an opportunity last night to see them play so I was wondering what the take was here.

Almost all Blazer fans are higher on Batum then Rudy, and we're pretty high on Rudy. Batum is quick and long, with fluid grace and great athleticism. We see him as kind of a do everything glue type player like Tayshaun Prince or Shane Battier. His 7'4 wingspan is longer then Al Thornton (7'1), Joakim Noah (7'1.25), Carl Landry (6'11), Anthony Randolph (7'3), Kevin Love (6'11.25), Tyrus Thomas (7' 3), Marcin Gortat (7'3.5), & Andrew Bogut (7'3). But he can move his feet instinctively well and is capable of playing great defense on PG's/SG's/SF's and an occasional PF. He was probably the most effective Blazers at keeping Brooks under semi-control last night, and that is becoming one of the toughest jobs in the NBA.

And we like Rudy's energy and offensive skill. His 3 point shooting can be a real weapon, and in the current NBA, that's an important component for a team to have. Obviously, the fact that Rudy is behind Roy in the rotation is a problem long term, but giving up Rudy alone for a 30 game rental of Haywood seems dumb.

But what's the perception of Houston fans on this?

ps: I'm a UofO alum who watched Brooks play 4 years there, and I knew he was going to surprise the NBA. There just aren't many players in the league that can prevent Brooks from driving by. I was ticked when the Rockets took him before the Blazers got a chance. I remember some of the supposed draft experts saying the Houston picking him that high was a "big reach" and that he was too small to be an effective player, let alone a starter. idiots

[Rendezvous]

Don't trade Rudy and Batum for Haywood.

It's a ridiculous trade

Rudy is 24 and Batum is 20,
very young players that are growing..

Blazers probably would have been up in the Western conference, had u guys not have injuries.(same for us).

lets say u get Haywood.. it probably would help this season a little..but once next season and Oden is back and your roster is healthy, where is your depth at SG/SF?

Cunningham, outlaw and webster? not enough.

Also GB is wack.

[Mr. E]

I think that it would be a bad idea to trade Batum & Fernandez for Haywood. Sounds like a panic move for this season without consideration for future seasons.

Adding Haywood and losing Batum/Fernandez does not make the Blazers a contender this season. The only reason to make that move is if it did make them contenders. Since it does not, stay smart and don't panic.

[PocketRockets]

The organization understands that they have a lot of players that are on the same level and are interchangeable on the blazers. They need another potent player to add to Roy/Aldridge to make them real contenders. Rudy, fernandez, webster, etc are all interchangeable. They are all 4-5th tier players and getting a 2-3 tier player would help you guys out a lot. Is haywood that type of player? HELL no. Haywood, quite frankly, sucks. You guys have two serviceable big men (when healthy) so why even waste ur trade chips on a crappy C. To me, you guys should try to get chris paul. Miller is old so you guys will need PG help soon. You guys would be super scary with CP3 and i'd give up webster, Rudy and a big man. Your lineup would look sick, if healthy. NO is trying to shed salary, so if you had some expirings, it would be very enticing.

[AntiSuperstar]

The organization understands that they have a lot of players that are on the same level and are interchangeable on the blazers. They need another potent player to add to Roy/Aldridge to make them real contenders. Rudy, fernandez, webster, etc are all interchangeable. They are all 4-5th tier players and getting a 2-3 tier player would help you guys out a lot. Is haywood that type of player? HELL no. Haywood, quite frankly, sucks. You guys have two serviceable big men (when healthy) so why even waste ur trade chips on a crappy C. To me, you guys should try to get chris paul. Miller is old so you guys will need PG help soon. You guys would be super scary with CP3 and i'd give up webster, Rudy and a big man. Your lineup would look sick, if healthy. NO is trying to shed salary, so if you had some expirings, it would be very enticing.

Wut?

[TMU]

The Blazers are 9-9 after both Oden and Przybilla went down. However, this record is also a consequence of Roy's absence in the last 5 games, where the Blazers went 1-4. Portland's recent struggle was largely due to Roy's injury. There's absolutely no need to give up two of your best prospects for a 30-year old center just to salvage your center position.

[Wizenheimer]

just a post script: one night after losing to the Rockets, the short-handed Blazers went into Dallas and won in OT. Andre Miller scored 52...wth?

anyway, besides Miller making like Kobe, the key for the Blazers was the defense that Batum played Jsson Terry early in the 4th Q and on Dirk at the end of the 4th and in overtime. The night before he spent time guarding Aaron Brooks and Battier...tonight it was Marion, Jason Terry, and Dirk. He turned 21 a month ago and the Blazers are giving him the toughest defensive assignments regularly, especially in crunch time.

The Wizards can go pound sand.

[Hoopalotta]

You know us Wizards are just posturing.

[Mr. E]

Wizenheimer -

Please remember that if you guys up in Portland just can't get past the urge to send Fernandez & Batum packing, then they'll always be welcome down here in Houston.

We'll take good care of them.

[PocketRockets]

The organization understands that they have a lot of players that are on the same level and are interchangeable on the blazers. They need another potent player to add to Roy/Aldridge to make them real contenders. Rudy, fernandez, webster, etc are all interchangeable. They are all 4-5th tier players and getting a 2-3 tier player would help you guys out a lot. Is haywood that type of player? HELL no. Haywood, quite frankly, sucks. You guys have two serviceable big men (when healthy) so why even waste ur trade chips on a crappy C. To me, you guys should try to get chris paul. Miller is old so you guys will need PG help soon. You guys would be super scary with CP3 and i'd give up webster, Rudy and a big man. Your lineup would look sick, if healthy. NO is trying to shed salary, so if you had some expirings, it would be very enticing.

Wut?

(Im assuming ur a blazers fan) In layman's terms, you guys have a bunch of crap players. You need to trade a couple of those crap players for a good player. The good player plus Roy and aldridge would be a good core to try to win a championship....

Got it?

[moofs]

Kinda strange that you're even asking. I'm fairly sure that KP wouldn't pull that, but things have surprised me before (sometimes even because I'm wrong ohohoho!).

Anyway yeah, GB is a complete waste of time. Why worry about them when your board is so much better?