ESPN: Portland will not make any moves

Dakotah612 · Post #1 » by **Dakotah612** » Thu Feb 7, 2008 6:39 pm

This morning on ESPN's "NBA 411," the talks between Portland/NJ/Dallas are all but dead, stating Portland has decided to keep the current roster as is until the summer.

Post #2 » by **Mr Odd** » Thu Feb 7, 2008 6:44 pm

Dakotah612 wrote:This morning on ESPN's "NBA 411," the talks between Portland/NJ/Dallas are all but dead, stating Portland has decided to keep the current roster as is until the summer.

I guess the playoffs next season.. .

SinceClyde · Post #3 » by **SinceClyde** » Thu Feb 7, 2008 6:48 pm

Probably a good thing. While we all like the roster shaken up a bit, every trade I've heard so far we end up giving too much for pieces we don't need. See who we draft, how Rudy will do, which of the two (if not both) green/mcbob we cut, and if anyone stashed overseas is ready to play.

Post #4 » by **Billy** » Thu Feb 7, 2008 6:53 pm

Bit of a bummer as I think Devin Harris would be great for this team. But if the rumors of NJ's asking price for Kidd is true I'm not at all surprised that Portland would have backed out of that. Frye/Jack/Webster or Outlaw is incredibly steep.

When you have a team that you are building for the future, I think you certainly look at the possibilities, but you don't need to make any moves while in the evaluation phase.

Wizenheimer · Post #5 » by **Wizenheimer** » Thu Feb 7, 2008 7:48 pm

yeah, those rumored 3-team trades had portland absurdly over-paying for harris. Don't forget, that besides outlaw-frye-jack the blazers were also supposedly going to ship out draft pick(s) and cash.

It was all propoganda from the Nets FO trying to drive up Kidd's price and it failed.

But these same espn sources who were pumping the trade were out of the loop then and the same things holds true now...they are simply guessing.

Portland probably won't make a trade till summer, but I don't think KP has ruled it out. If he gets a great offer, I'd bet he moves on it, otherwise, no.

swede · Post #6 » by **swede** » Thu Feb 7, 2008 7:52 pm

Devin Harris wouldn't/couldn't run this team like does in Dallas anyway. I have been against it since day one.

R11 · Post #7 » by **R11** » Thu Feb 7, 2008 7:59 pm

I see no reason why this should come as news to anybody. This season has always been about player growth and evaluation of how they have progressed and handled things. It's only been a half a season so far with this group. Even when it's done there are still a number of question marks (Rudy/Oden/draft pick, even Koponen) and how all that will/may mesh together. Making moves now wouldn't make much sense unless they were simply too good to pass up. There's not many of those out there and trading away two or more of our young talent without knowing how the unknowns will pan out would just be short sighted and foolish unless it's a no-brainer.

Rudy in particular is a key question that will have many implications. Can he really be an impact player counted on for significant contributions? Will Oden fully recover and be able to play without concern? I think we assume he will be able to but the fact is we really don't know yet for sure. Who might be available to us in the draft (possibly incorporating trades)? Has Petteri really improved to the point where it looks like he may have a viable NBA future? Is there any way he could perhaps be a possible Point of the future? There's just too much that is not clear at this point to go making trades for the short term hope of possibly making the playoffs. Especially considering the quite possibly negative effect they could have on the cohesiveness and "chemistry" that the team has been relying on so far this season.

ron

Post #8 » by **Spykes** » Thu Feb 7, 2008 9:36 pm

Like Wiz said, I'm sure KP hasn't unplugged his phone and refusing to listen to any offer, but it would have to be a no-brainer steal for the Blazers to make any more during the season.

Keeping this team together for the rest of the season is in the best interest of the teams future.

Post #9 » by **Mr Odd** » Thu Feb 7, 2008 9:58 pm

Yea but theres some players that dont
need to be evaluated anymore, the
sooner you move them the better.
But I guess if Pritchard thinks he
can get more value in keeping
the players & showcasing
them then I guess you
hang onto them 'til the
draft. However I think most
GMs wont deal with Pritchard
anymore around the draft.. .

Post #10 » by **BlackMamba** » Thu Feb 7, 2008 10:04 pm

yeah, i also think that the best thing for the blazers is to keep the roster intact until summer when you will supposeldy have everyone at 100% and now you know what way to make.

Argyle · Post #11 » by **Argyle** » Thu Feb 7, 2008 10:10 pm

Mr Odd wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

I guess the playoffs next season.. .

I really don't see any reason to give up on this year...

Post #12 » by **Mr Odd** » Thu Feb 7, 2008 10:17 pm

Argyle wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

I really don't see any reason to give up on this year...

Ah, no I didnt mean give up.

I personally dont see how the Blazers can make
the playoffs, thats all I was trying to put out there.
.. .Hopefull im wrong!!

mcblaze · Post #13 » by **mcblaze** » Thu Feb 7, 2008 10:34 pm

I hate to see us wait until next year. As it is, we are going to be adding Oden and Rudy into the mix, so any more could take some time. I'm fine with keeping the front court as is, and letting it play out. I'm okay with the 2 guard situation, with Rudy on the way. Our point guard situation is simply horrible, in my opinion. We have Blake, who is a great PG off the bench. We have Sergio who is not there, and looks to be a year or two off. We have Jack.....Well, Jack is not a point guard. You then have Green riding pine.

I think taking care of the guard situation this year, gives us a chance at the playoffs, and needs to be addressed anyway. They need to pull the trigger.

Yadadimean · Post #14 » by **Yadadimean** » Thu Feb 7, 2008 11:53 pm

ESPN = BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH

they seem to be pretty good with football and boxing, but they really seem to just scramble and reach for stories or outright make stories up when it comes to the NBA. They are basically professional speculators when it comes to basketball. I dont necessarily believe anything they have to say about the NBA until it becomes official.

PDXKnight · Post #15 » by **PDXKnight** » Thu Feb 7, 2008 11:57 pm

I'm betting this was never a story to begin with. If KP really was offered this deal and turned it down, great, no way should he part with Outlaw for Harris, even if he does fill a dire need on this team. I'm beginning to think Outlaw is one of our core players and trading him for anything but another up and coming player of equal or greater value (or a no-brainer) would be a terrible move.

Butter · Post #16 » by **Butter** » Fri Feb 8, 2008 4:08 am

mcblaze wrote:I hate to see us wait until next year. As it is, we are going to be adding Oden and Rudy into the mix, so any more could take some time. I'm fine with keeping the front court as is, and letting it play out. I'm okay with the 2 guard situation, with Rudy on the way. Our point guard situation is simply horrible, in my opinion. We have Blake, who is a great PG off the bench. We have Sergio who is not there, and looks to be a year or two off. We have Jack.....Well, Jack is not a point guard. You then have Green riding pine.

I think taking care of the guard situation this year, gives us a chance at the playoffs, and needs to be addressed anyway. They need to pull the trigger.

Who would you want to target at PG? I think a smarter move is to package some of the excess talent on this team and move up in the draft to snag one of the PG/combo guards at the top.

Let Blake start for a couple of years, and let the rookie combo guard grow into the starter spot?

Post #17 » by **Mr Odd** » Fri Feb 8, 2008 5:08 am

Butter wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

Who would you want to target at PG? I think a smarter move is to package some of the excess talent on this team and move up in the draft to snag one of the PG/combo guards at the top.

Let Blake start for a couple of years, and let the rookie combo guard grow into the starter spot?

I think we need a vet PG that can create points.
BUT
If the Blazers did try & move up how nice would Gordon be, lol.
I dont see how Pritchard could pull that one off tho without giving
up LMA, Roy or Oden.. .Here are some other players I kinda like.. .

Bayless - Can shoooooooooooooooooot & has lightning speed.
Collison - I believe underated, quick & can defend, nice jumper. Small but has long arms & can jump. He cant play SG in the NBA.. .
Shipp - Another guy I believe is underated. Has a mindset to score and is smart at it, doesnt force things. Can probably help right away. His long ball is a little inconsistent but nothing to bad.. .
Kemp - My supersleeper!! I dont think he'll become a All-Star or anything like that in the NBA, but the kid can flat out shoot & unlike a lot of pure shooters he can create his own shot. Hes not afraid to try & board either, but he'll probably have trouble in the NBA at that. He will be able to score but will need to bulk up some but should be able to help right away.