Woj: Batum to Charlotte, Vonleh + Gerald to Portland

[predators]

While I agree the roster is better today than it was this time last summer, it isn't significantly better. We could easily be picking in the lottery again next year, and we would have traded a player with high upside for a one year rental of an above average starter. (I would imagine Batum walks if we don't make the playoffs.) I honestly think we are going to need some injury help from our eastern rivals and giant steps forward by Zeller, Kemba, MKG, and Lamb to get the 8th seed.

Portland knew LMA was walking, this deal was a no brainer for them. Vonleh looking much improved is only rubbing salt in the wound.

[stinger14]

That Portland trade was a huge "FU" to the remaining players and sacrificed the present for future potential. Ironically, the situation Charlotte wants to avoid with Batum and FA in 2016 and beyond.

Was pretty obvious LMA was not coming back.
Afflalo never liked being in Portland and it showed in his words and play
Matthews would be a big risk for a team that isn't contending without LMA
Lillard got a huge extension and the team is now his to lead
Robin Lopez was a free agent and not returning without LMA

I'm not sure how trading Batum coming off a bad year and entering his contract year is a big "fu" in any of these situations. They got a nice deal for a player that would have also left after one more year, because he wasn't sticking around for the rebuild either. They got the most skilled, talented, and biggest upside player that put on a Hornets jersey last year for him.

Not sure what you're driving at here - I'm defending both Olshey and Cho for making decisions based upon information available to them and the perils of drawing outcome based conclusions.

We'll never know if LMA was already out the door - PDX says no - but we don't know. Or if Matthews will return to form. Or if Paul Allen privately refused to pay 4 max contracts. But what we do know is Portland traded an above average starter in exchange for,in part, future potential at the expense of the present. That's not a good look for guys wanting to win now. Say yeah it's an "FU"

I completely understand what you are trying to do, but I see the league wide trends, and LMA wasn't going back to Portland. No management team would tear down a contending roster without knowing that LMA wasnt returning, just would not happen. You can say they traded an above average player, but in fact he was very average last year. That same player is going into a contract year and most likely wasn't returning to a roster that is one year into a rebuild. I think Portland made a great trade for their organizations future. That team has some nice young players and can continue to rebuild that roster for a bright future. Hornets on the other hand sold their future for a desperate win now mode for a coach that doesn't have a clue. Management tore down a playoff roster to rebuild and promised to be patient. We have spent the last several years adding young talent to build a bright future just to sell off our biggest upside talent for a possible rental. This offseason Al should be and better be gone. If Batum walks, and you strike out in free agency (what star is coming here), then you have vacated your patient rebuild plan, your best chance at having a young star, and your future for a one year run at a playoff berth.

[stinger14]

While I agree the roster is better today than it was this time last summer, it isn't significantly better. We could easily be picking in the lottery again next year, and we would have traded a player with high upside for a one year rental of an above average starter. (I would imagine Batum walks if we don't make the playoffs.) I honestly think we are going to need some injury help from our eastern rivals and giant steps forward by Zeller, Kemba, MKG, and Lamb to get the 8th seed.

Portland knew LMA was walking, this deal was a no brainer for them. Vonleh looking much improved is only rubbing salt in the wound.

I completely agree with this except I am not sure Vonleh looks improved, I think he has been freed up and given a chance.

[Mystical Apples]

Look at Batum's post AS game splits - he was near elite in lots of areas. He was great after a tough start with some injuries.

[Al Kidd-Walker]

Vonleh proving them wrong one summer league game at a time.. and dont give me "its just summer league" because he looked horrible last year

Funny how posters were quick to point out his slow start then he started cooking and ended up with 20 and 9 on 70% shooting

[yosemiteben]

Vonleh proving them wrong one summer league game at a time.. and dont give me "its just summer league" because he looked horrible last year

Funny how posters were quick to point out his slow start then he started cooking and ended up with 20 and 9 on 70% shooting

He rebounded better for us (10 rpg in 27 mpg for CHA vs. 8.6 rpg in 29 mpg for POR) and defender better for us (1.14 blk for CHA vs. 0.25 for POR). He's scoring much more and much more efficiently now (17 ppg on 55.8% FG for POR vs. 9 ppg on 28.4% FG for CHA).

I watched the BOS game (kind of wished I hadn't because I watched Smart get hurt and his yelling was a little disturbing), and POR looked much better when Vonleh was not on the floor. This is supported by his net -23 in that game. I definitely didn't finish that game thinking that Vonleh was ready to get meaningful minutes.

I'm pulling for the guy and would be happy to be wrong.

[stinger14]

Vonleh proving them wrong one summer league game at a time.. and dont give me "its just summer league" because he looked horrible last year

Funny how posters were quick to point out his slow start then he started cooking and ended up with 20 and 9 on 70% shooting

Yes, and those people are the same ones praising Frank in the summer league, and Vonleh is 3 years younger.

[Mystical Apples]

Vonleh proving them wrong one summer league game at a time.. and dont give me "its just summer league" because he looked horrible last year

Funny how posters were quick to point out his slow start then he started cooking and ended up with 20 and 9 on 70% shooting

It's just summer league

[BigSlam]

Vonleh proving them wrong one summer league game at a time.. and dont give me "its just summer league" because he looked horrible last year

Funny how posters were quick to point out his slow start then he started cooking and ended up with 20 and 9 on 70% shooting

He rebounded better for us (10 rpg in 27 mpg for CHA vs. 8.6 rpg in 29 mpg for POR) and defender better for us (1.14 blk for CHA vs. 0.25 for POR). He's scoring much more and much more efficiently now (17 ppg on 55.8% FG for POR vs. 9 ppg on 28.4% FG for CHA).

I watched the BOS game (kind of wished I hadn't because I watched Smart get hurt and his yelling was a little disturbing), and POR looked much better when Vonleh was not on the floor. This is supported by his net -23 in that game. I definitely didn't finish that game thinking that Vonleh was ready to get meaningful minutes.

I'm pulling for the guy and would be happy to be wrong.

Agreed. He racked up 9 quick points by hitting 3 three pointers pretty close together but outside of that he was ho-hum.

Was good to see Smart come back to the bench after he dislocated his fingers. I don't like Smart but you can't say he's not a tough little SOB.

[stinger14]

Vonleh proving them wrong one summer league game at a time.. and dont give me "its just summer league" because he looked horrible last year

Funny how posters were quick to point out his slow start then he started cooking and ended up with 20 and 9 on 70% shooting

He rebounded better for us (10 rpg in 27 mpg for CHA vs. 8.6 rpg in 29 mpg for POR) and defender better for us (1.14 blk for CHA vs. 0.25 for POR). He's scoring much more and much more efficiently now (17 ppg on 55.8% FG for POR vs. 9 ppg on 28.4% FG for CHA).

I watched the BOS game (kind of wished I hadn't because I watched Smart get hurt and his yelling was a little disturbing), and POR looked much better when Vonleh was not on the floor. This is supported by his net -23 in that game. I definitely didn't finish that game thinking that Vonleh was ready to get meaningful minutes.

I'm pulling for the guy and would be happy to be wrong.

I agree with a lot of this, however do remember Vonleh came into and played somewhat hurt in summer league play. It would have been great if we gave him the same opportunities last year that we have given Frank this year. Vonleh is ready to play, but not ready for crunch time minutes for a contender. Not saying you, but some fans need to realize this same thing about Frank as he is not ready to get meaningful minutes rather on start. Vonleh is as good overall, and maybe a little better because of defense and rebounding than Frank right now. Vonleh has a LOT more potential and upside on offense, and is better rebounding and defensively right now than Frank will ever be.

Not trying to rant about Frank, just stating that it was a bad trade off for the Hornets if Batum is a one year rental

[BigSlam]

Look at Batum's post AS game splits - he was near elite in lots of areas. He was great after a tough start with some injuries.

I just looked at his post all star splits.



Nice numbers. Would like to see him get to the line more but everything else is great.

[catch20two]

Look at Batum's post AS game splits - he was near elite in lots of areas. He was great after a tough start with some injuries.

Gonna have to do better than just 10ppg with that efficiency for us but those were some good numbers ppg aside.

[stinger14]

Vonleh proving them wrong one summer league game at a time.. and dont give me "its just summer league" because he looked horrible last year

Funny how posters were quick to point out his slow start then he started cooking and ended up with 20 and 9 on 70% shooting

He rebounded better for us (10 rpg in 27 mpg for CHA vs. 8.6 rpg in 29 mpg for POR) and defender better for us (1.14 blk for CHA vs. 0.25 for POR). He's scoring much more and much more efficiently now (17 ppg on 55.8% FG for POR vs. 9 ppg on 28.4% FG for CHA).

I watched the BOS game (kind of wished I hadn't because I watched Smart get hurt and his yelling was a little disturbing), and POR looked much better when Vonleh was not on the floor. This is supported by his net -23 in that game. I definitely didn't finish that game thinking that Vonleh was ready to get meaningful minutes.

I'm pulling for the guy and would be happy to be wrong.

Agreed. He racked up 9 quick points by hitting 3 three pointers pretty close together but outside of that he was ho-hum.

Was good to see Smart come back to the bench after he dislocated his fingers. I don't like Smart but you can't say he's not a tough little SOB.

"He racked up 9 quick points by hitting 3 three pointers"

I agree and that's what drives me crazy about fans getting all excited about Frank having a couple hot stretches where he does the same thing. Our team sure didn't give Vonleh those chances last year. Frank hits a couple shots (does nothing else) and people want him to start. At least Vonleh also plays defense and rebounds.

[Mystical Apples]

I would say Frank was good enough to get Harrison a contract.

[CatgutStitches]

I just really dont get all this "mortgaging the future" talks still...Im sorry, we are still a young team...we did NOT pull a Brooklyn and trade everything for old guys. We still have all our draft picks, and the vast majority of our team is not even in their prime yet.

I get that some of you seem to think that Vonleh is an all-star waiting to happen, but clearly the staff, who sees him every day, disagreed or they wouldnt have dealt him. I was super happy about the Vonleh pick and like him as much as the next guy, but there is just as much evidence that Frank is the next superstar than that Vonleh is...I just dont get the un-ending love for him...

All this doom and gloom talk is just conjecture, like anything else is, but it amazes me how passionate the hate is for the team you supposedly love. Everyone blasts Cliff and the front office for "giving up" on the rebuild to win now (which I strongly disagree with obviously) but how was he supposed to win with that roster...it was full of maybes. MAYBE MKG becomes a serviceable offensive threat and clears the lane a bit, MAYBE Vonleh becomes an NBA player and not just a set of great tools, MAYBE Biz learns how to play the game, MAYBE Lance stops sucking. I really feel like the roster makes a lot more sense now than it did last year, and we still have just as much potential...MAYBE Frank is the next Dirk, MAYBE Lamb hits his very high ceiling...its all maybes until a couple years from now, so just chill out and enjoy the ride.

Honestly Im more excited about the team this year than I have been possibly ever, I just really like the balance and the depth that we have along with the young guy maybes. It seems Im in the minority but thats alright, Ill be watching all season.

[Mystical Apples]

I watched the BOS game (kind of wished I hadn't because I watched Smart get hurt and his yelling was a little disturbing), and POR looked much better when Vonleh was not on the floor. This is supported by his net -23 in that game.

Really? That almost seems mathematically impossible for a close game

[catch20two]

We're obsessed with role players. When are we gonna get or groom somebody that can score over 20ppg as a go-to guy? Batum barely moves the needle for me outside of the fact that he can and will take 3s unlike Hendo.

[LofJ]

We're obsessed with role players. When are we gonna get or groom somebody that can score over 20ppg as a go-to guy? Batum barely moves the needle for me outside of the fact that he can and will take 3s unlike Hendo.

If Big Al could look like this again, we'd have at least one guy that could do that.



Instead we got this:

[BlackOutBuzz]

We're obsessed with role players. When are we gonna get or groom somebody that can score over 20ppg as a go-to guy? Batum barely moves the needle for me outside of the fact that he can and will take 3s unlike Hendo.

I mean, teams aren't exactly willing to just give up All-Star talent.

[Mystical Apples]

Meh - half the playoff teams didn't have a 20 ppg scorer. Multiple efficient scorers in the teens can be really effective.