A Portland swap for Barbosa and Outlaw

[shamelessblazer]

Over on the Portland board there's been tons of discussion on the type of player to put on the floor with roy in the backcourt. Roy basically plays PG in all of our half-court sets as he runs the plays, however he seems to play at a slower pace. The PG's we have next to him are a little out of place not running the offense, and also fit the slowed down game. However, we have an extremely fast mobile big in Aldridge, and we have Rudy Fernandez coming in that would greatly benefit from some transition opportunities.

A lot of fans feel that we need someone next to Roy that can defend PG's on defense, handle the ball in the open court, shoot fairly well off the ball (when Roy is running the offense), and push the tempo.

In a lineup this type of player could run the floor with Webster and Aldridge while Roy trails as a spot up threat and Oden hits the secondary break.

Players talked about have been Devin Harris and others, but I wanted to inquire about Leandro Barbosa.

It seems like he would fit this role well as a quick guy to defend PG's, good shooter, and great player in transition and really compliment Roy and the rest of the team well. It also seems that with Shaq in Phoenix he might not fit the best there in the future.

I hear that he is labeled as having a bad defensive rep but doesn't he normally have to guard SG's much bigger than him with Nash on the floor?

In Portland with Oden playing next year we also will have a glut at 3/4 with Outlaw, Frye, and Webster all deserving a real role, and not enough minutes to go around. Outlaw probably has the best value of the three with a very small deal (with a team option) and a very scary ability to create his own shot on command. However Webster and Frye seem like very good complimentary pieces to have as third or fourth options on the floor, and Travis seems like more of a third option. With the need so much greater at PG it would seem to make Travis expendable if we were to get a well fitting PG in return. I could see him fitting in very well in Phoenix providing more youth, firepower on the floor, and energy.

What is your guys' opinion on the status of Barbosa, how he would fit in Portland, and whether a trade like this could benefit both teams:

Outlaw, Jack, #13
for
Barbosa, #15

or

Outlaw, Blake, #13
for
Barbosa, throw-in, #15

Barbosa/Rodriguez
Roy/Fernandez
Webster/Jones
Aldridge/Frye
Oden/Pryzbilla

Outlaw and Blake both have one full year remaining, and a team option after that, expiring at the same time as Shaq and Nash, leaving Amare and Diaw as the only long contracts on your books. Blake is a very steady unselfish backup PG who can shoot the three.

[rsavaj]

You'll find that Suns fans in general are pretty down on Barbosa right now, so I imagine that most(myself included) would view this as a "yes" from our side.

[shamelessblazer]

You'll find that Suns fans in general are pretty down on Barbosa right now, so I imagine that most(myself included) would view this as a "yes" from our side.

what is everyone down on him for? Is it the way he plays, a shooting slump, a bad attitude?

Am I right that he is forced to guard bigger SG's much of the time or is that a false assumption?

[biskvito]

I think a change may do some good to Barbosa's career. But I just read an interview in portuguese about brazilian NT, and when asked about trades Barbosa says that Kerr told him "his place is in Phoenix". Let's see about that...

[jlove_26]

As a Suns fan, I love Barbosa don't get me wrong, but some changes on the Suns needs to happen. Barbosa is our biggest trade commodity (aside from Amare and Nash), so for good changes to happen, especially with the cap restraints were under, he'd be the most likely to go.

In this trade scenario with Portland, I'd do either of the proposed deals.

In both deals, we get a capable back-up PG for Nash. With either Blake or Jack, our Offense shouldn't suffer from the let downs that normally take place when Nash is sitting down. We also get an above average SF/PF in Outlaw that would allow Hill more rest and a scary guy next to Amare when Shaq sits. I'd like to do a deal where the Suns get a PG in the trade prior to the draft so that if Westbrook or Augustin isn't there when the Suns pick, it isn't as big a deal if we lose out on one of them. If we can get a deal similar to the ones proposed and we get a back-up PG (Jack or Blake) then we can focus more on BPA (preferably a big ala, Jordan, McGee, Greene, Alexander, Thompson, Arthur)

[shamelessblazer]

I really am curious as to why everyone is so down on Barbosa? What he brings to the table, and if suns fans think he'd fit next to Roy in a system like I described. Interesting to see that you guys would be interested in something like that though.

[PhilipNelsonFan]

Would Suns fans be down with a simplified swap of Jack and 13 overall for Tucker and 15 overall? Maybe with some lining for Sarver's pockets?

(Many Blazers fans, including myself, are reluctant to pull the trigger on an Outlaw deal.)

[PhilipNelsonFan]

I really am curious as to why everyone is so down on Barbosa? What he brings to the table, and if suns fans think he'd fit next to Roy in a system like I described. Interesting to see that you guys would be interested in something like that though.

From what I gather skimming the board, Barbosa plays listless defense and cannot create for others. Which makes it a pretty easy pass on Portland's end, since we need a playmaker to facilitate the offense so Roy has more freedom.

[valle del sol]

Getting rid of a small contract with so much offensive firepower is a mistake. He can't guard bigger guards but then who's perfect. What the guy does, he does well. Besides you really would make him cry.

[nba_addict]

The best way of hiding Barbosa's weaknesses is playing him alongside a playmaking 2/3. To certain extent PHX played well with Barbosa, Giricek, Hill and Diaw on the court at the same time. But who among the playmaking 2/3 are available to pair with Barbosa?

[chrice]

-= original quote snipped =-



From what I gather skimming the board, Barbosa plays listless defense and cannot create for others. Which makes it a pretty easy pass on Portland's end, since we need a playmaker to facilitate the offense so Roy has more freedom.

Barbosa struggles against quicker guards, and gets overpowered with relative ease. If you want playmaking ability, you don't want Barbosa...although, I think he would do very well alongside Roy. If I had a choice, I'd take Harris. He doesn't have range, but he is smarter with the ball, less prone to turnovers when attacking the basket, he can pass and his defense is levels above Barbosa's.

[dantian]

Under DA's reign, players are required to fit with Nash. The downside was, great talents like Amare and Barbosa never got chances to develop into a more complete player. In LB's case, the DA brothers just pampered him and no pressure on improving defense or play making were imposed on him, partially due to the roster philosophy of short rotation and trusting his players through mistakes. He has never been made responsible for anything.

I believe LB's decision making and defense can improve a lot under the right coach. If you followed Parker's development, he did the same mistakes the first 3 years as the starting PG for Spurs. With the responsibility and experience, he's improved a lot. LB is certainly athletically at the same level if not better. Suns fans are frustrated since we have been seeing him do the same mistakes over and over, thus willing to believe the pasteur was greenier elsewhere. Given his contract, I think he'd be a good gamble for any team, particularly the Blazers. In fact, a new coach like Porter might just what the doctor ordered for LB to blossom fully.

I don't like Blake somehow. Actually, if Jack for Tucker is on the table I'd happily take it even without the swap of #13/#15.

[eastsidecrossover]

Barbosa has been at times a good scoring spark off the bench. His numbers are great too as a starter. Problom is, he is a SG in a PG's body. He is not big or strong enought to guard 2's, and seems to not beable to keep PGs in front of him. Mentelly, he is soft too. Can score the ball on about anyone in the league. Good range and quickness.

I think he would do well with a guy like Roy. To me, Roy is a better creator than JJ was for us, but barbs played well next to him.

Let me ask, why not trade webster instead of outlaw?

And I rather have blake than jack. Blake is what this team needs a backup pg. I am not impressed with jack.

The trade is not bad idea. If Cash was involved, Sarver might want to do it.

[shamelessblazer]

Problom is, he is a SG in a PG's body. He is not big or strong enought to guard 2's, and seems to not beable to keep PGs in front of him...Good range and quickness.

sounds like exactly what we could use next to Roy (who runs the offense). Barbs could push the tempo on the break, and play SG in the half-court, while guarding the PG's. Do you see him being pushed into a decent PG defender? Could he be pesky and gamble for steals? With Oden and Aldridge behind him that wouldn't be so bad.

I think he would do well with a guy like Roy. To me, Roy is a better creator than JJ was for us, but barbs played well next to him.

Let me ask, why not trade webster instead of outlaw?

And I rather have blake than jack. Blake is what this team needs a backup pg. I am not impressed with jack.

The trade is not bad idea. If Cash was involved, Sarver might want to do it.

Is JJ James Jones? He seems to have a lot of veteran saavy that really helped us last year. I'd rather trade Outlaw (along with 2/3 of blazer fans on the board) because I feel that Webster is a more natural third or fourth option and deep threat while Outlaw is more of an isolation player (probably with more potential too) I just haven't seen him running off screens as much. Webster is younger too and more inconsistent, so he likely doesn't have the same trade value as Outlaw.

[nevetsov]

JJ = Joe Johnson.

[shamelessblazer]

JJ = Joe Johnson.

Oh, okay. I see a lot of simliarities in his and Roy's games, maybe things could work out.

I bet it kills you guys that you don't still have him and yet signed Diaw and Banks to those big deals, I understand letting Q-rich go though. I just imagine if you would've kept Johnson and your picks (one turned into Iggy right?), while letting Q-rich and keeping Leandro (at his small price tag) you guys would be even more scary.

[rsavaj]

-= original quote snipped =-



Oh, okay. I see a lot of simliarities in his and Roy's games, maybe things could work out.

I bet it kills you guys that you don't still have him and yet signed Diaw and Banks to those big deals, I understand letting Q-rich go though. I just imagine if you would've kept Johnson and your picks (one turned into Iggy right?), while letting Q-rich and keeping Leandro (at his small price tag) you guys would be even more scary.

JJ wanted to go though...Sarver offered to match ATL's max offer, and JJ asked him not to.

[Buckeye-NBAFan]

What's the point in swapping #13 and #15 in this trade?

Unless you know exactly who the Suns/Blazers want and where everyone will fall, there's very little difference in value between those picks a month before the draft.

If #15 wants player A, #16 wants player B and #17 wants player C, the only difference in 300K or so a year.

[Cash]

What's the point in swapping #13 and #15 in this trade?

Unless you know exactly who the Suns/Blazers want and where everyone will fall, there's very little difference in value between those picks a month before the draft.

If #15 wants player A, #16 wants player B and #17 wants player C, the only difference in 300K or so a year.

Given our front office's recent draft $trategy, I could see a move up to 13 as being a negative for the Suns. But from a fan's perspective, I think there's a pretty reasonable chance that Golden State drafts someone who'd be a good fit for the Suns, so leapfrogging them would have some value. Not much, but a little.

[shamelessblazer]

Should we perhaps read into this...

"We feel very, very confident that the 15th (pick) will be a solid player and potentially a contributor," Suns Senior Vice President of Basketball Operations David Griffin said. "The draft is very deep. It's not too terribly heavy after the first two picks. That's a good thing, because beauty is in the eye of the beholder. You could get a guy at 13 who may have been third on your board or, in our case at 15, who may have been fifth."

http://basketball.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/52865/20080606/suns_expect_top_pick_to_contribute/

Portland has the 13th pick.