would boozer help?

[sacking101]

If somehow we got boozer for a thompson, thomas kind of deal and signed him to an extension would you guys do it. And more importantly would he help enough to make us a playoff team? I would think we would be at least a playoff team with evans martin boozer and hawes.

[pillwenney]

Ehh. It would certainly help us right now, but I don't think it would be a good idea for the future. Boozer/Hawes would just be a weak combination defensively--too weak to ever actually win a championship. I think Jason and Spencer have much better potential together in that sense.

It would definitely help us out now. Tough call on our chances at the playoffs this year--it would probably mean the more ready Beno starting, and then it would largely depend on Spencer's development.

[RoyalCourtJestr]

I wouldn't.

Boozer would be a one year rentail with little chance to stay, and I'd rather have JT.

[Silver Man]

We still wouldn't be a playoff team right now still I think, so getting Boozer would make us better record wise but we lose a player who can really help us in the future instead of a layer who'll be leaving us shortly after his arrival.

[Smills91]

Only way I add Boozer is if it's for Thomas+leftover cap space. Otherwise, just re-visit SIGNING boozer next summer if you're that interested in him.

[KF10]

Short-term? Maybe. Long term? No way.

[cdt3]

Boozer's stats from last year were 16/10/.2blks on 14 touches a game. When Thompson finally got to start the last year in the last 2 months he avgd 14/10/1.3blks on 10 touches. Thompson is younger, cheaper, a better teammate, just as good offensively when he gets the touches, as good a rebounder, a better defender and shotblocker, not injury prone, nor a head case. We also just picked a playoff level coach in Westphal was run out of town because he struggled with franchises betting on headcases.

But we can't make the playoffs with Thompson? We won 38 games 2 years ago with Beno/Martin/ Miller/Moore under Theus. Evans is better than Beno, Martin is better now, Thompson is better than Miller, Hawes is better than Moore, and Westphal is better than Theus. How is this team not at least in the playoff race?

[pillwenney]

But we can't make the playoffs with Thompson? We won 38 games 2 years ago with Beno/Martin/ Miller/Moore under Theus. Evans is better than Beno, Martin is better now, Thompson is better than Miller, Hawes is better than Moore, and Westphal is better than Theus. How is this team not at least in the playoff race?[/quote]

Because you left out that team's best player and leader, and the guy who we based things around more than anyone? Maybe?

[Wolfay]

If we're SIGNING someone, I'd rather go after someone like LaMarcus Aldridge.

[SacKingZZZ]

Boozer's stats from last year were 16/10/.2blks on 14 touches a game. When Thompson finally got to start the last year in the last 2 months he avgd 14/10/1.3blks on 10 touches. Thompson is younger, cheaper, a better teammate, just as good offensively when he gets the touches, as good a rebounder, a better defender and shotblocker, not injury prone, nor a head case. We also just picked a playoff level coach in Westphal was run out of town because he struggled with franchises betting on headcases.

But we can't make the playoffs with Thompson? We won 38 games 2 years ago with Beno/Martin/ Miller/Moore under Theus. Evans is better than Beno, Martin is better now, Thompson is better than Miller, Hawes is better than Moore, and Westphal is better than Theus. How is this team not at least in the playoff race?

Not a chance. Thompson is a nice young player and quite possibly more multi-skilled than Boozer but Boozer has shown he can be pretty close to a number 1 option in the post. Jason is nowhere near where Boozer is in terms of being able to comfortably and consistently get you 20 and 10 every night. Even if Jason becomes a 20 and 10 player, he's going to do it in a much different way I would think.

You can argue fit all day long, but I think getting Boozer for a Thompson/KT package could be the type of move that catapults this team up and since Boozer is fairly young himself it's not like our window gets immediately crunched. I also think he and Tyreke could be a dangerous pick and roll combo. If Tyreke gets a mid-range game down, he is going to DOMINATE the pick and roll and Boozer is awesome in the pick and roll/pop. With that said, I'd only consider it after seeing what Thompson looks like with our team. I don't want to give up a player like Thompson unless we are clearly taking a step up talent wise, or getting a player that fits much better even if the talent upgrade is marginal at best.

How you say? Ever hear the line, "Old age and cunning overcomes youth and skill". It's quite true and very true in the NBA. 19-21 year olds don't typically lead their teams out of the darkness right away. It takes time and the truth is, the majority of teams end up trading a lot of that talent away for fit purposes once they have a core unit intact. In looking at our team I can see a core beginning to form with Martin, Evans, and Hawes. Of course, it all depends on how they work together and how Evans performs. If we end up getting any one of John Wall, Derrick Favors, Demarcus Cousins, Xavier Henry, etc. the possibilities open up A LOT. I think this next draft could very well be worth sucking your way into the upper portion of the lotto.

[SacKingZZZ]

If we're SIGNING someone, I'd rather go after someone like LaMarcus Aldridge.

He's cool, but he really isn't a "franchise big" type either. I think franchise bigs are the type that can pretty much get their own without much help and therefor are players you can really build any type of team with. Boozer is almost there, I don't know if he's 100% there, but very few bigs are these days.

[KF10]

If we're SIGNING someone, I'd rather go after someone like LaMarcus Aldridge.

That's basically an improved/polished perimeter-orientated, less rebounding Jason Thompson.

[Silver Man]

At this point in the career's of Thompson and Boozer I don't think it's a very close comparison. Boozer is just overall a better and more talented player in Thompson. Maybe in a couple years things will be different but Boozer is a legit number one option and Thompson on a GOOD team is third, maybe fourth.

[RoyalCourtJestr]

We're not in any shape to be trying to win now. Boozer may be better now - but that doesn't matter to a team like us. Even with Boozer, we would never make the playoffs - and thus, I'd rather have higher potential JT than a one-year rentail

[Silver Man]

^^
Exactly. We are not yet in shape to be a contender right now, so why trade a potentially solid power forward who contribute who years to come at a cheaper cost or have an expensive rental for less time and at a steeper price. I mean I wouldn't mind getting Boozer, but it would depend what we'd have to give up.

Also I doubt we'll have a chance trying to snag Lamarcus later on because of the Blazers talks with him about an extension.

[Wolfay]

If we're SIGNING someone, I'd rather go after someone like LaMarcus Aldridge.

He's cool, but he really isn't a "franchise big" type either. I think franchise bigs are the type that can pretty much get their own without much help and therefor are players you can really build any type of team with. Boozer is almost there, I don't know if he's 100% there, but very few bigs are these days.

I know he isn't. I wasn't looking for a franchise big because I don't think we can get one. I'm pinning our franchise-player hopes on Tyreke.

That's basically an improved/polished perimeter-orientated, less rebounding Jason Thompson.

I wouldn't say less rebounding. When Oden was in, Aldridge was about even with Thompson, and when Oden was out, Aldridge was consistently better than Thompson. Aldridge can be a consistent 20 and 10 guy, which I don't see Thompson as being.

I don't like Boozer given his health history and like mitch said, the defensive problems it would create for us.

[KF10]

I wouldn't say less rebounding. When Oden was in, Aldridge was about even with Thompson, and when Oden was out, Aldridge was consistently better than Thompson. Aldridge can be a consistent 20 and 10 guy, which I don't see Thompson as being.

I might went overboard about the rebounding aspect of Aldridge. But I don't see Aldridge average over 10 rebounds with Portland because:

-#1 Rebounding Rate in Pryzbilla.
-#1 Offensive Rebounding Rate in Oden.

And given that Aldridge is a perimeter power forward, he hurt himself with the rebounding category. But I think Thompson has Aldridge on offensive rebounding in general. As a rookie, Thompson posted a higher offensive rebounding rate than Aldridge entire career.

Aldridge may average 20/10 if he was a primary option of a team but an 18/9 is much more realistic for Aldridge IMO.

[Wolfay]

I wouldn't say less rebounding. When Oden was in, Aldridge was about even with Thompson, and when Oden was out, Aldridge was consistently better than Thompson. Aldridge can be a consistent 20 and 10 guy, which I don't see Thompson as being.

I might went overboard about the rebounding aspect of Aldridge. But I don't see Aldridge average over 10 rebounds with Portland because:

-#1 Rebounding Rate in Pryzbilla.
-#1 Offensive Rebounding Rate in Oden.

And given that Aldridge is a perimeter power forward, he hurt himself with the rebounding category. But I think Thompson has Aldridge on offensive rebounding in general. As a rookie, Thompson posted a higher offensive rebounding rate than Aldridge entire career.

Aldridge may average 20/10 if he was a primary option of a team but an 18/9 is much more realistic for Aldridge IMO.

18/9 sounds great to me. I'd settle for that easy, and have Thompson coming off the bench for both Aldridge and Hawes would be a pretty big and capable frontcourt.

I don't know where you get this perimeter-oriented stuff from. It's true he has range and likes to use it, but he also has a nasty post-up game and he can drive to the basket easy as well. How many skyscrapers do you know who can do that? Outside of Rasheed Wallace in his earlier days, I can't really think of any. He and Tyreke can be a nasty pick-and-roll combo too, kind of like he already does with Brandon Roy.

I think you're sleeping on him a little bit or your opinion of Thompson is just a tick too high.

[Smills91]

We're not in any shape to be trying to win now. Boozer may be better now - but that doesn't matter to a team like us. Even with Boozer, we would never make the playoffs - and thus, I'd rather have higher potential JT than a one-year rentail

Honest question here:

When will we be?

At some point, we have to make the conscientious effort to begin WINNING NOW. When will that be? I think we have a great crop of youngin's to either build with or trade off for a superstar looking for a new address.

So IMO, this needs to happen by the end of 2010. THe time to begin WINNING now is near. VERY near.

[KM44]

Boozer is not the answer.