Rumors, "Shorts" and other chatter

[TBpup]

Chad Ford had a couple mentions of where he thought Jamal Crawford could end up.

Minnesota - for Ridnour
Indiana - didn't say

Crawford for Ridnour and Felton for Blake (Lakers) have been out there because they are both former PGs under Nate. (Wish he was comfortable with a PG that actually had talent but that is another thread ) So I started digging around and heard some of the following. First of all, no "shorts" as of this post.

There are two streams of thought. If they lose so many games before a trade can be made that they are basically out of the playoff hunt, they may go the "let the expiring contracts play out and take a shot at FA'cy" route.

If they can win couple games before the deadline and stay in the hunt, they have looked at any of the ending or possibly ending contracts as movable.

That means Felton, Crawford, Wallace and Camby. The impression was that both Nash and Rondo had already at least been inquired about just to see the asking price or how a deal might be worked out. Otherwise, they would like a PG that had a manageable or ending contract (they didn't think Calderon was in play) that would still address some of this seasons issues.

Of the most likely, they seemed to think Camby was as likely to go as Felton just because of the size of his ending contract and with the addition of Przybilla.

One week to go....

[Mr Odd]

Ridnour & Blake are a step backward
so im sure it will probably happen.. .

I would hate to see Crawford go in a
trade like that. If youre going to trade
then put Crawford in a package deal
that would get a better player back.

I HATE SHORTS!! (this time of year)

[JasonStern]

If they lose so many games before a trade can be made that they are basically out of the playoff hunt, they may go the "let the expiring contracts play out and take a shot at FA'cy" route.

@MIN
@BOS
@WAS (back-to-back)
@IND
@NYK (back-to-back)

even slumping, there are 2 or 3 wins there... I hope.

[cucad8]

so there options are only seeming right now to be trade to make a push, or let it play out? No option for get some value for expirings if we begin to lose?

[JasonStern]

so there options are only seeming right now to be trade to make a push, or let it play out? No option for get some value for expirings if we begin to lose?

and miss out on the felton fat jokes?

[TBpup]

So the MInnesota Trail Blazers (Adelman, Porter, Bayno, TR Dunn, Webster, Portland's own Kevin Love and UofOs Luke Ridnour) defeat the Portland SuperSonics (Nate, Bickerstaff, Paul Allen, Seattle's Jamal Crawford and B-Roy....they are still paying him) to get the road trip off to a tenuous start.

Cucad8...if the Blazers keep losing, they value the cap space more than taking on another contract unless it were a no brainer deal.

[Blazinaway]

So the MInnesota Trail Blazers (Adelman, Porter, Bayno, TR Dunn, Webster, Portland's own Kevin Love and UofOs Luke Ridnour) defeat the Portland SuperSonics (Nate, Bickerstaff, Paul Allen, Seattle's Jamal Crawford and B-Roy....they are still paying him) to get the road trip off to a tenuous start.

Cucad8...if the Blazers keep losing, they value the cap space more than taking on another contract unless it were a no brainer deal.

would make more sense to trade for picks and young guys we could let go after a 25-30 game tryout. For example trade Crawforf to Minny for the Mem Pick and A Randolph and filler. There are other similar trades we could probably do if you don't like that one, maybe Crawford to Clips for their young PG? Get some value from these guys if you can. Letting all these guys expire seems extremely stupid, but then again we have the crew of the ruderless SS Minnow at the helm.

[TBpup]

would make more sense to trade for picks and young guys we could let go after a 25-30 game tryout. For example trade Crawforf to Minny for the Mem Pick and A Randolph and filler.

Very true but most young guys have small contracts that don't add up to Portland's ending contracts so the other team would have to be under the cap.

[cucad8]

I guess I can't complain without knowing possibilities, but it's depressing, to say the least, with guys it would seem have enough talent to help out contending clubs in trade. I think with some, if we were to get a quality young piece, it'd be worth taking on salary. We'll just screw up the cap space anyways.

[deanwoof]

i'd rather let felton and crawford walk/cut them and let them be free agents this year to sign with a team than take back BOTH ridnour and blake, and their long-term contracts. NOT because i want to free up cap space, but i'd rather give the young guys some PT and see what talent they have, than be mediocre and still miss the playoffs.

[CB-Blazer]

Ridnour & Blake are a step backward
so im sure it will probably happen.. .

I would hate to see Crawford go in a
trade like that. If youre going to trade
then put Crawford in a package deal
that would get a better player back.

I HATE SHORTS!! (this time of year)

I think Blake would be a bad idea but Ridnour would be great here. He's not a PGOTF, but he certainly is a serviceable veteran on a contract that isn't going to prohibit us from doing things this summer and still would be a good deal even if he becomes a back-up.

I'd do a Crawford for Ridnour swap in a heartbeat.

[Zohan]

Thinking about a good young Center for the future, what do you guys think about Kosta Koufos from Denver? He is 7'1" and 270, only 23 years old, moves well and has decent all around skills at both ends of the court, plus he is locked up for only 3 mil per year for the next 3 years. He has played very well when given the minutes and is still developing. Denver does not need him because they have Mozgov and could probably use Camby for their playoff push. I think with his size, skill set and contract he is a low risk/high reward player the Blazers should make a play for as a potential Center of the future.

[Blazermania08]

would make more sense to trade for picks and young guys we could let go after a 25-30 game tryout. For example trade Crawforf to Minny for the Mem Pick and A Randolph and filler.

Very true but most young guys have small contracts that don't add up to Portland's ending contracts so the other team would have to be under the cap.

We've heard reports of Minnesota and LAC inquiring about Crawford with OK deals, but Indiana was also mentioned. There one of the few teams I think that have a ton of cap space with young attractive players that we can make a fair trade with. Has anyone heard what the trade talks with Indy were surrounding Crawford?

Not sure how high they are on guys like Paul George, George Hill, Darren Collison,Tyler Hansbrough etc.

[Blazinaway]

would make more sense to trade for picks and young guys we could let go after a 25-30 game tryout. For example trade Crawforf to Minny for the Mem Pick and A Randolph and filler.

Very true but most young guys have small contracts that don't add up to Portland's ending contracts so the other team would have to be under the cap.

I disagree with that as there are a lot of teams with ending contracts AND picks or a younger guys or someone at position of need we could go after. I think it's mistake for mgmt to to think of doing no trades and maxing out capspace, how valuable capspace is for a team like POR with so many other teams having it has been well discussed. The better plan IMO is to try to perhaps make a few trades now and also have a signicant amount of capspace which IMO is very doable.

[TBpup]

Sam Smith of Bulls.com writes that Portland Trail Blazers guard Jamal Crawford could be one player the Chicago Bulls consider making a run at prior to the deadline.
-----------------------------
Still another former Bull whom the Bulls did look at as well before he signed with Portland. But things have not gone well there and he likely can be had now. Although he’s having a poor season shooting 40 percent overall, he is a big shot maker and can handle the ball and make plays. I don’t see what the Bulls have the Trailblazers would want. After all, they’re not a team that rebuilds with draft picks. Could you talk them into Watson, Jimmy Butler and a No. 1?

That would be a very low 1st round pick but considering Jamal came via FA'cy, it's at least a place to start with no big contracts coming back.

[cucad8]

it could be argued that a very high 2nd is more valuable than that Bulls pick. At the same time, if you are losing him anyways, and if it more balances the rotation, it's better than getting stuck with Ridnour, IMO. I liked Butler in the draft last year a little. Watson would be a good backup PG for us. And it's not great, but a 1st is a 1st still.

[tester551]

Sam Smith of Bulls.com writes that Portland Trail Blazers guard Jamal Crawford could be one player the Chicago Bulls consider making a run at prior to the deadline.
-----------------------------
Still another former Bull whom the Bulls did look at as well before he signed with Portland. But things have not gone well there and he likely can be had now. Although he’s having a poor season shooting 40 percent overall, he is a big shot maker and can handle the ball and make plays. I don’t see what the Bulls have the Trailblazers would want. After all, they’re not a team that rebuilds with draft picks. Could you talk them into Watson, Jimmy Butler and a No. 1?

That would be a very low 1st round pick but considering Jamal came via FA'cy, it's at least a place to start with no big contracts coming back.

The Chicago trade would be great if Portland could get Charlotte's pick. This is the best one I have heard for Crawford.

Thinking about a good young Center for the future, what do you guys think about Kosta Koufos from Denver? He is 7'1" and 270, only 23 years old, moves well and has decent all around skills at both ends of the court, plus he is locked up for only 3 mil per year for the next 3 years. He has played very well when given the minutes and is still developing. Denver does not need him because they have Mozgov and could probably use Camby for their playoff push. I think with his size, skill set and contract he is a low risk/high reward player the Blazers should make a play for as a potential Center of the future.

There is NO WAY Camby is going back to Denver. However, I do like Koufos.

[Wickzki]

San Antonio is up to something but what is it.

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/21 ... t_Deadline

“The trade will get made if it makes sense,” added Popovich.

[Billy]

Thanks for all of the insight TBPup. As always, we appreciate it.

What does seem apparent to me is that Portland has to make a trade if they want to accomplish either of their goals. I don't think they can realistically expect that Jamal Crawford or Gerald Wallace are going to opt out of their deals, so they would want to move those guys for expirings and/or picks. If they want to target Nash or Rondo they will want to likely move one or both of those guys because they represent veteran talent than can either be shipped elsewhere (if going somewhere like Phoenix) or used for one last hurrah (if going to somewhere like Boston).

What I just absolutely hope for is we don't do something remarkably stupid like facilitate a deal that moves a FA target to a team that would almost assuredly resign them.

Also, I think if Portland truly is opting for the cap space plan, they may want to consider moving Matthews to resign Batum. I suppose if you are going to go all out for FA you might as well assure yourself of maximum return (pun intended). I'd rather offset 6 million of the roughly 9 million that we likely would have to pay Batum to keep him by sending Matthews packing than cancel out roughly 15 million of that cap space.

[TBpup]

I don't think they can realistically expect that Jamal Crawford or Gerald Wallace are going to opt out of their deals,

I think it's almost a guarantee Crawford will opt out of his deal. Wallace is more of a question because where is he going to get $11M for next season With all the FA money that will be out there with so many teams under the cap, maybe he will opt out looking for a long term deal now versus waiting another year and being older.