Rumour: Portland and Minnesota talking deal

[shangrila]

Another rumour proudly brought to you from Canishoopus, this one from Portland radio station "The Fan" via NorthernLights666:
[url]
http://www.canishoopus.com/2010/7/7/155 ... on-the-fan[/url]

The rumor stated on the station has a potential deal involving Flynn, Love, and Brewer for Pryz, Rudy, and Batum. They stated we didn't like that trade and wanted Portland to include LA too, Portland doesn't like that deal because they feel they're giving up too much talent to a division rival. Supposedly they really want Love and are willing to include Batum in a deal for him. They just don't want to have to give up LA without first making sure Oden will be healthy by the start of next season. I for one could go for a three wing rotation in Wes/Batum/Webster, is this why Ridnour visited with us today?

He also later adds:

Supposedly the Blazers have had trade discusions involving Batum with the Nets and Kings as well as us, I’m assuming they asked for Favors or Cousins and were shot down.

So what are your thoughts about this potential deal?

Personally, I don't mind the idea. They'd definitely need to include Aldridge for value and I'd rather Bayless then Fernandez to help balance out the roster. But this would also mean no Lee I'm guessing, because Aldridge is BYC which means all of our remaining capspace would be taken up in dealing for him.

[IAmTheTruth]

we need Rudy to convince Ricky that MN doesn't suck ass. I think the value is okay. LA is cool and Batum is nice. I don't like breaking up Wes and Jonny before they even get going though.

[Winter Wonder]

If LA is included, than it can be discussed as value is closer, but as it is listed with those six players, value seems brutal to MN in my opinion. Maybe I overvalue our players, but you are looking at three recent high draft picks from the MN end. I know you can't simply base a trade on former draft position, but that is an ugly way to start a trade. Then you look at the players lined up against there value counterpart and it looks like a huge loss for MN

Love = Batum (roughly, I could see this argued either way who is better now vs potential vs position)
Flynn > Fernandez (both probably not utilized properly last year, Flynn younger with higher ceiling)
Brewer > Pryz (Brewer is younger & vastly improved, Pryz is decent center recently injured & older)

So if it was as listed there, I would not be able to defend Kahn anymore. Sad thing is, I like Batum and Fernandez alot as players and for this team, but this price just seems, again, brutal.

[The J Rocka]

I want Oden or LMA.

[revprodeji]

If we can do

love+Flynn+Brewer
for
Batum+Rudy+LMA then I do it.

I would even do Batum+LMA

but Batum+Rudy+Pryz for love+Flynn+Brewer is rough.

Problem with getting both Rudy and Batum would mean we have a 5 man rotation at the wing spots with guys who all need minutes.

[Winter Wonder]

And how many Blazers do we plan on grabbing?

The MN Timberblazers coming up.

[revprodeji]

I want Oden or LMA.

I agree, we need to be getting one of those guys back if we are giving away love.

LMA/Oden would fit better in our system and Love would fit better in theirs. But they need to be exchanged.

If we get one of LMA/Oden and Batum

for

Brewer+Love+Flynn

I say we jump all over it.

[jpatrick]

Yeah, with LMA I think's alright, w/o LMA it's terrible. LMA is VERY soft but since we seem dead set on dumping Love and Jefferson he's not a bad replacement.

[cpfsf]

Is this the All Euro Team? Rubio, Fernandez, Prestes (Brazilian, but plays in Spain), Milicic, Pekovic, Batum, and Bjelica? Oh, and I guess we have Norel too. Lets hope they all wouldn't have to represent their countries (fortunately we already know Milicic won't).

[Hoop Dreams]

Why is there nothing about this on the Portland board?

[Breakdown777]

I'm not sure how I feel about this. If LMA is involved I'd sadly pull the trigger. Could we reasonably take out Flynn? Love+Brewer for Batum + whomever they want (Rudy/Pryz/anyone else)?
What is MN's obsession with POR's wings? I get that POR has Roy, so they'll be able to get by just fine, but why would MN want to absorb another teams 2,3,and4th best in a 4 wing rotation? That doesn't seem like a step forward to me. It seems neutral, especially after considering that Brew and Flynn (mostly) compliment what Rambis is trying to do.

[revprodeji]

I wonder something with this.

1.) Does this mean Lee is still coming? We would need the rebounding bad if love/Jefferson is gone.

2.) Does this deal (moving love) mean that Jefferson might be staying?

oden/lMA+ Batum is a great package.

[AQuintus]

I wonder something with this.

1.) Does this mean Lee is still coming? We would need the rebounding bad if love/Jefferson is gone.

2.) Does this deal (moving love) mean that Jefferson might be staying?

oden/lMA+ Batum is a great package.

I don't see how for either of those. Darko + Peko + LA = No minutes for Lee or Jeff.

[revprodeji]

darko+pek+LMA is a horrible, horrible rebounding group. Perhaps Oden would be included because of them not signing him to an extension, and worried about his health. Oden/Darko/Pek is nice if Oden is healthy.

I am not considering much with this other than speculation because nobody else is discussing it.

Poor Webster.

[dunkonu21]

I hate LMA

[AQuintus]

darko+pek+LMA is a horrible, horrible rebounding group.

I agree, but that still doesn't explain where the minutes for Lee or Al are coming from.

Perhaps Oden would be included because of them not signing him to an extension, and worried about his health. Oden/Darko/Pek is nice if Oden is healthy.

Who plays Power Forward? I could see all three of them being able to play spot minutes at the 4, but none of them would be a good option full time.

Edit:

As far as speculation goes, Al + Pryz for Josh Smith + Bad contract/cap space might work. A Horford/Al/Przy rotation would be a solid upgrade for them, and Josh Smith is pretty much exactly what we're looking for in a big man (though rebounding would still be a problem).

[Calinks]

Rudy F is ok, Batum is supposedly God's gift to the game. Pryz... meh. So our bigs would be Darko, Pek, Pryz, Hollins? Frontcourt doesn't sound too appealing to me.

[revprodeji]

darko+pek+LMA is a horrible, horrible rebounding group.

I agree, but that still doesn't explain where the minutes for Lee or Al are coming from.

Perhaps Oden would be included because of them not signing him to an extension, and worried about his health. Oden/Darko/Pek is nice if Oden is healthy.

Who plays Power Forward? I could see all three of them being able to play spot minutes at the 4, but none of them would be a good option full time.

I prefer a 3-man roation at pf/c also.

Darko can, and has played the 4 before. Pekovic is considered as someone that could do both also. I think an Oden/Darko starting 5/4 would be fine and defensively great.

[AQuintus]

I prefer a 3-man roation at pf/c also.

Darko can, and has played the 4 before. Pekovic is considered as someone that could do both also. I think an Oden/Darko starting 5/4 would be fine and defensively great.

Yeah, an Oden/Darko front court would be really, really hard to score on. I'd be worried about their long term health and ability to score, though.

As far as Darko at the 4, why not, I guess, it worked for Orlando. Pekovic playing extended minutes at the 4 scares me, however, it seems that whenever international posters here talk about him, they describe him as a pure 5.

Edit:

I'd also like to say that I'd do the Batum + Rudy + LA deal despite any potential logjam it creates. Having too much talent (even all at the same 1 or 2 positions) is a much better problem to have than not enough talent.

[revprodeji]

You would still look to flip Jefferson+wing pieces for something else. I could even see Webster being the flip if we are bringing both Rudy and Batum to avoid any chemistry issues.

I doubt it is both Rudy and Batum simply based on who would be remaining on their roster.