SF88 wrote:I could see Portland perhaps going after Brook Lopez now. It would pair him with his brother and also give them some much needed help in the front court.
Something along the lines of Batum/Robinson/McCollum/pick(s) while being willing to taking on Jarret Jack's contract I suppose.
I was thinking something along these lines as well.
The difference is that i believe they would move Matthews instead of Batum. Matthews will be a FA, so there for he would be a big expiring for Brooklyn. He also is going to be coveted in FA and seems like a guy they would go after seeming how they have been trying to find Wings to give to Charlotte in a 3-way for Stephenson. Matthews would give them everything that they wanted to get from Lance when they signed him, a player that can score 20 points on any given night, that can also hit the 3 and play great defense. If the 3 way were to happen, Hornets would get Matthews bird rights and would most definitely re-ink him on a new deal, something that seems hard for them to do when it comes to attracting players in FA.
I think if Charlotte were to get Matthews, they would have no problem remaining in the playoff hunt.
So this is the trade i think would happen:
http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=pt4v3phBlazers get Lopez
Nets get Stephenson/Claver/McCullum
Hornets get Matthews
With Brook spending time this past month or so playing PF, that would give the Blazers new options. He could start at C, but also play back-up PF (Next to his brother when he comes back in a week) when Aldridge needs to rest. It would also help them with the next few months while Aldridge is sidelined with injury. Batum would be called on to provide more, which i believe he could with Matthews gone and Wright taking over the starting 2 guard spot. Wright gives them the same thing Matthews did, but with a bit less defense.
