I anticipate backlash for this trade proposal. However, once emotion is cleared, think rationally about this trade and let me know what you think. Portland once had interest in Calderon but not too sure they still do with a new GM.
Trade Option 1:
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMa...radeId=25j5ckc
(Portland also sends the lesser of NOH 1st round pick or POR 1st round pick 2011)
Portland gains a PG who would be much better suited to a half court offense such as McMillan's, can play without the ball, and can knock down 3's. Maybe Calderon can help get Fernandez playing to his potential as well. Roy - when healthy - has the ball in his hands a lot and Miller cannot knock down the 3. If Evans does not get healthy, this trade would not happen (see trade #2). However, if Evans is healthy, it gives them a PF which they are desparately lacking outside of Cunningham. See POR's depth chart:
http://espn.go.com/nba/team/depth/_/...-trail-blazers
Weems gives a cheap back up to Matthews if Roy can't go. The team, while injury ravaged, are still a good team and a shake up is in order, IMO.
Toronto loses Calderon, Evans, and Weems. In Miller the Raptors gain a PG on a team option for next year (not picked up) so it is an expiring contract. Raptors lose Calderon's contract. Evans is an expiring contract as much as that pains many fans and posters here but he won't be back. Weems is showing (in a contract year!) he is unreliable and at times either lazy or stunned or worse yet, both! Toronto has enough mediocre wings.
Miller provides an experienced PG to run the team for the rest of the season and it would be an opportunity to give Bayless more minutes as it appears he could be a big part of the future moving forward.
Oden is a risk - a HUGE gamble. With a four man tandem of Bargnani, Davis, Johnson, and Oden, Oden's minutes could be limited to 25 per night. He would not have the pressure of being a go to scorer. His job - either starting or off the bench - would be to rebound and defend. Extending him a one year qualifying offer of $8.8M would essentially be like trading Calderon for Oden for next season. The Raptors would also have the right to match any contract or they could offer him 2 years at $6M per season. Many are sure to think this is a bad idea - and it could be - but it would be a low risk, high reward proposition for the Raptors. If he can't come back from his surgeries, he is done. However he is only 22 and what if he can recover physically as Amare Stoudemire did? In the same breath he could be Kenyon Martin or Chris Webber as well. Again, it is a gamble. This article raises the idea of maybe it is time both Oden and franchise had a fresh start:
http://blogs.hoopshype.com/blogs/gol...ith-greg-oden/
Babbitt essentially is a swap for Weems. Babbitt may develop down the road but if Portland is to contend for the playoffs this year, Weems may be a better option given Roy's history and Matthews play in Roy's absence. Also, he was included because the Blazers have 15 players under contract, and including Babbit in the trade moves them under the salary cap. From what I can see they are currently over by about $600K.
Trade #2:
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMa...radeId=2a3ovra
Same principles but Dorsey is included for depth at POR 4 spot. POR also gets $nearly 5M in savings this year plus flexibility going forward.
The key to both trades in my opinion is the inclusion of a 1st round draft pick in 2011. This would give the Raptors 3 1st round picks. They would also still have expring contracts, cap space, and TPE left.
The reason why I like this requires a flash back to 2005 and how Utah acquired Deron Williams:
"Hours before the start of the draft, Utah acquired the 3rd pick from Portland in exchange for the 6th pick, the 27th pick and a 2006 first-round draft pick.[7] Previously, Utah acquired a 2005 first-round draft pick on June 24, 2004 from Dallas in exchange for the draft rights to Pavel Podkolzin.[8] Utah used the 3rd pick to draft Deron Williams and Portland used the 6th and the 27th pick to draft Martell Webster and Linas Kleiza."
Who should the Raptors go after? KYRIE IRVING. This guy is looking like the real deal who is a pedigree with a good head on his shoulders and maturity and leadership well beyond his years. Here is some good reading and video on him:
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/column...ana&id=5895452
http://www.draftexpress.com/article/...ie-Irving-3591
Personally, I like the trades and the draft pick of course is speculation. But Irving is looking like the real deal.
Trade Option 1:
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMa...radeId=25j5ckc
(Portland also sends the lesser of NOH 1st round pick or POR 1st round pick 2011)
Portland gains a PG who would be much better suited to a half court offense such as McMillan's, can play without the ball, and can knock down 3's. Maybe Calderon can help get Fernandez playing to his potential as well. Roy - when healthy - has the ball in his hands a lot and Miller cannot knock down the 3. If Evans does not get healthy, this trade would not happen (see trade #2). However, if Evans is healthy, it gives them a PF which they are desparately lacking outside of Cunningham. See POR's depth chart:
http://espn.go.com/nba/team/depth/_/...-trail-blazers
Weems gives a cheap back up to Matthews if Roy can't go. The team, while injury ravaged, are still a good team and a shake up is in order, IMO.
Toronto loses Calderon, Evans, and Weems. In Miller the Raptors gain a PG on a team option for next year (not picked up) so it is an expiring contract. Raptors lose Calderon's contract. Evans is an expiring contract as much as that pains many fans and posters here but he won't be back. Weems is showing (in a contract year!) he is unreliable and at times either lazy or stunned or worse yet, both! Toronto has enough mediocre wings.
Miller provides an experienced PG to run the team for the rest of the season and it would be an opportunity to give Bayless more minutes as it appears he could be a big part of the future moving forward.
Oden is a risk - a HUGE gamble. With a four man tandem of Bargnani, Davis, Johnson, and Oden, Oden's minutes could be limited to 25 per night. He would not have the pressure of being a go to scorer. His job - either starting or off the bench - would be to rebound and defend. Extending him a one year qualifying offer of $8.8M would essentially be like trading Calderon for Oden for next season. The Raptors would also have the right to match any contract or they could offer him 2 years at $6M per season. Many are sure to think this is a bad idea - and it could be - but it would be a low risk, high reward proposition for the Raptors. If he can't come back from his surgeries, he is done. However he is only 22 and what if he can recover physically as Amare Stoudemire did? In the same breath he could be Kenyon Martin or Chris Webber as well. Again, it is a gamble. This article raises the idea of maybe it is time both Oden and franchise had a fresh start:
http://blogs.hoopshype.com/blogs/gol...ith-greg-oden/
Babbitt essentially is a swap for Weems. Babbitt may develop down the road but if Portland is to contend for the playoffs this year, Weems may be a better option given Roy's history and Matthews play in Roy's absence. Also, he was included because the Blazers have 15 players under contract, and including Babbit in the trade moves them under the salary cap. From what I can see they are currently over by about $600K.
Trade #2:
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMa...radeId=2a3ovra
Same principles but Dorsey is included for depth at POR 4 spot. POR also gets $nearly 5M in savings this year plus flexibility going forward.
The key to both trades in my opinion is the inclusion of a 1st round draft pick in 2011. This would give the Raptors 3 1st round picks. They would also still have expring contracts, cap space, and TPE left.
The reason why I like this requires a flash back to 2005 and how Utah acquired Deron Williams:
"Hours before the start of the draft, Utah acquired the 3rd pick from Portland in exchange for the 6th pick, the 27th pick and a 2006 first-round draft pick.[7] Previously, Utah acquired a 2005 first-round draft pick on June 24, 2004 from Dallas in exchange for the draft rights to Pavel Podkolzin.[8] Utah used the 3rd pick to draft Deron Williams and Portland used the 6th and the 27th pick to draft Martell Webster and Linas Kleiza."
Who should the Raptors go after? KYRIE IRVING. This guy is looking like the real deal who is a pedigree with a good head on his shoulders and maturity and leadership well beyond his years. Here is some good reading and video on him:
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/column...ana&id=5895452
http://www.draftexpress.com/article/...ie-Irving-3591
Personally, I like the trades and the draft pick of course is speculation. But Irving is looking like the real deal.
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