Repost from Trade Board

TowelBoy12 · Post #1 » by **TowelBoy12** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 1:21 am

There have been plenty of rumors linking these two teams over the past year or so to justify speculation that discussion may continue this summer. Conley's improved play probably makes him harder to pry loose, but what might the Grizzlies say to the following...

Portland Trades:

Jerryd Bayless, Travis Outlaw, and 2009 first round pick

Memphis Trades:

Mike Conley, Marko Jaric

Why for Portland: After a slow start to his career, Conley has shown that he is a starting PG in the NBA. This would get Portland their young answer to the PG question with the possible side bonus of boosting Oden's morale. Webster will be back next season and some feel this is the last chance to get value for Outlaw before he walks as a free agent. The Blazers have very little roster needs and can easily do without a pick in the 20s. They still have several 2nd rounders for stashing European prospects, etc.

Why for Memphis: Dealing Conley is a tough pill to swallow, but he's probably the least essential core piece after Gay, Gasol, and especially Mayo. The Grizzlies are winning this deal on talent, as Bayless is a decent young PG prospect and might even be a better fit off the ball with Mayo. Not only do they save about $4-$5M next year with Portland's cap space absorbing some salary in this deal, but they also save the nearly $8M on the last year of Jaric's deal. Outlaw is a better 3/4 than Warrick, and can resume his work as one of the league's best 6th men, or perhaps form part of an unconventional starting lineup. Finally, the Grizzlies still have a high lottery pick in 2009 and add this 20s pick with a chance to really boost their core. Might Hansbrough make some sense?

I Am Awesome-O · Post #2 » by **I Am Awesome-O** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 1:57 am

I would do that trade in a heartbeat. I love Conley, and he has been playing brilliantly ever since Hollins took over. But to acquire, an extremely talented scoring guard loaded with potential, a perfect backup SF, a mid 1st round pick, AND to get out of Marko Jaric's bull contract, just by giving up Conley? There's no way Memphis would pass up on a deal like that, no matter how good Conley has been.

I just don't see why Portland would want to do it. I understand the infatuation for Conley; he is looking like he could be a star right now and he is Greg Oden's best friend, but Portland would be giving up a helluva lot in that deal.

TowelBoy12 · Post #3 » by **TowelBoy12** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 2:03 am

I Am Awesome-O wrote:I would do that trade in a heartbeat. I love Conley, and he has been playing brilliantly ever since Hollins took over. But to acquire, an extremely talented scoring guard loaded with potential, a perfect backup SF, a mid 1st round pick, AND to get out of Marko Jaric's bull contract, just by giving up Conley? There's no way Memphis would pass up on a deal like that, no matter how good Conley has been.

I just don't see why Portland would want to do it. I understand the infatuation for Conley; he is looking like he could be a star right now and he is Greg Oden's best friend, but Portland would be giving up a helluva lot in that deal.

Thank you very much for your input. Right after you proclaimed your lack of understanding of the Conley infatuation, you went on to explain the infatuation pretty well from my perspective.

I Am Awesome-O · Post #4 » by **I Am Awesome-O** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 2:08 am

Thank you very much for your input. Right after you proclaimed your lack of understanding of the Conley infatuation, you went on to explain the infatuation pretty well from my perspective.

What led you to believe that I am not infatuated with Conley? This is the second sentence that I wrote in my first post-

I love Conley, and he has been playing brilliantly ever since Hollins took over

TowelBoy12 · Post #5 » by **TowelBoy12** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 2:17 am

I Am Awesome-O wrote:
Thank you very much for your input. Right after you proclaimed your lack of understanding of the Conley infatuation, you went on to explain the infatuation pretty well from my perspective.

What led you to believe that I am not infatuated with Conley? This is the second sentence that I wrote in my first post-

I love Conley, and he has been playing brilliantly ever since Hollins took over

Your second paragraph stated that you don't understand the infatuation with Conley. I took you to be saying you don't understand why the Blazers would overpay for him. The answers, at least according to this Blazer fan, would be along the lines of what you said after that. He looks like a much surer thing at PG than Bayless or Sergio and potentially a much better fit in Portland, plus he's friends with Greg. The Blazers have a deep enough roster to overpay for the "final piece," as it were.

I Am Awesome-O · Post #6 » by **I Am Awesome-O** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 2:31 am

Your second paragraph stated that you don't understand the infatuation with Conley. I took you to be saying you don't understand why the Blazers would overpay for him. The answers, at least according to this Blazer fan, would be along the lines of what you said after that. He looks like a much surer thing at PG than Bayless or Sergio and potentially a much better fit in Portland, plus he's friends with Greg. The Blazers have a deep enough roster to overpay for the "final piece," as it were.

I said I DO understand the infatuation with Conley, I just didn't think Portland would give up that much, but your last post persuaded me otherwise. Simple misunderstanding.

TowelBoy12 · Post #7 » by **TowelBoy12** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 2:34 am

I Am Awesome-O wrote:
Your second paragraph stated that you don't understand the infatuation with Conley. I took you to be saying you don't understand why the Blazers would overpay for him. The answers, at least according to this Blazer fan, would be along the lines of what you said after that. He looks like a much surer thing at PG than Bayless or Sergio and potentially a much better fit in Portland, plus he's friends with Greg. The Blazers have a deep enough roster to overpay for the "final piece," as it were.

I said I DO understand the infatuation with Conley, I just didn't think Portland would give up that much, but your last post persuaded me otherwise. Simple misunderstanding.

Friggin' A, you're right. I simply misread your sentence over and over again...

It_Was_Typed · Post #8 » by **It_Was_Typed** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 5:06 am

Bayless, Mayo and Gay would be a disaster.

BarbaGrizz · Post #9 » by **BarbaGrizz** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 5:32 am

It_Was_Typed wrote:Bayless, Mayo and Gay would be a disaster.

Not if we play with three balls on the court...

MaceCase · Post #10 » by **MaceCase** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 8:18 am

I doubt Portland overlooks the whole Darius Miles slighting Memphis dealt them and their cap space...you know because in my mind GMs are all petty.

vanjulio · Post #11 » by **vanjulio** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 2:24 pm

OHHH NOW YOU GUYS want that trade.... the one we offered a year ago. SORRY TOO LATE.
:evil:

If you want Conley you better be talking one of your starting 5 and nothing less now. His stock has doubled since the allstar break. Ok yeah you include Bayless now. Uh check our history this season. We let 2 superior guards go this year: Jcritt and Lowry. We could find a better guard in the DLeague than Bayless.

Back to the drawing board Portland..

GrizzledGrizzFan · Post #12 » by **GrizzledGrizzFan** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 2:49 pm

vanjulio wrote:Back to the drawing board Portland..

In all fairness vanjulio, Portland's going back to the playoffs and not the drawing board

- Like their GM or not, he's built a heck of a young squad, on which Conley would be a luxury. I do agree that the time has come and gone for this deal though. The Grizz need to (IMO) keep Conley unless he brings us a legit post presence (offensively and defensively) at the 4. Period.

vanjulio · Post #13 » by **vanjulio** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 5:12 pm

so because they are going to the playoffs we should just give away our players to them and call ourselves ****?

GrizzledGrizzFan · Post #14 » by **GrizzledGrizzFan** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 5:24 pm

vanjulio wrote:so because they are going to the playoffs we should just give away our players to them and call ourselves ****?

Not at all - if anything the opposite. I was just making the point that even in earlier bypassing a Conley deal earlier in the season the Blazers are still in great shape. In regards to whether the Grizz should trade Conley, if and ONLY if they are getting back a huge upgrade at the 4.

vanjulio · Post #15 » by **vanjulio** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 7:43 pm

Steve Blake has had a hell of a ride. But their happiness is having Brandon Roy run the show

TowelBoy12 · Post #16 » by **TowelBoy12** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 9:18 pm

Hello again, Griz fans.

First question: if it's a starter you want, would Blake make you think harder about it, or did you misspeak and mean primarily to refer to the Blazers' young group?

Comment: surely you realize that on present talent and production, Outlaw is more of a "starter" than Batum. Just saying.

Second question, Re: legit post presence: How about if the Grizzlies lucked out in the lottery, and the pick from the Blazers was able to net them Darren Collison? Would the resulting squad make you feel better about the deal, or no change?

In that fantasy scenario:

Collison-Mayo-Gay-Griffin-Gasol

Bayless-Outlaw-Warrick-Darko

Finally, I should have realized in my original post that a Conley/Blake back court in Portland effectively makes Sergio Rodriguez chopped liver. As much as Rudy would hate it, would sending him your way make much of a difference?

GrizzledGrizzFan · Post #17 » by **GrizzledGrizzFan** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 9:36 pm

See my earlier posts - I just don't see the Grizz parting with Conley now for anything other than a deal involving a 4 coming back. I just don't see him being moved for depth. The last 6 weeks or so have shown a glimpse of what he's capable of. Additionally, landing the first overall pick would greatly lessen the chance of him being moved, in that it would secure the 4 the Grizz so desperately need.

I Am Awesome-O · Post #18 » by **I Am Awesome-O** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 9:46 pm

GrizzledGrizzFan wrote:See my earlier posts - I just don't see the Grizz parting with Conley now for anything other than a deal involving a 4 coming back. I just don't see him being moved for depth. The last 6 weeks or so have shown a glimpse of what he's capable of. Additionally, landing the first overall pick would greatly lessen the chance of him being moved, in that it would secure the 4 the Grizz so desperately need.

I would respond to this post by suggesting trading a package featuring Conley for LaMarcus Aldridge, but I know that Portland would never give up Aldridge.

GrizzledGrizzFan · Post #19 » by **GrizzledGrizzFan** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 2:13 am

Honestly I don't think that Aldridge is the answer for the Grizz. Don't get me wrong - he's a great player. The Grizz need more of a Griffin/Boozer/Millsap/Lee type of 4.

vanjulio · Post #20 » by **vanjulio** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 4:37 pm

haha - you got me on that one! Blake for Conley.... hmmm? let me think about it!