The Blazers making moves?
Posted on 29. Jan, 2010 at 5:49 pm by SKI in NBA Basketball, Portland Trail Blazers
ESPN is reporting that the Blazers are going after a big man for obvious reasons and it looks like the Blaze have their eyes on the Washington Bullets (they really should go back to that name for the rest of this season) big man Brendan Haywood. Haywood has an expiring contract and could just be a hired gun for the rest of the season, but what would the Blaze have to give up. Well I knew the Bullets have had their issues with guns this year but I didn’t think they would try to rob the Blaze at gunpoint. They have the nerve to ask for both Batum and Rudy. Now calm down the Blazers said no, but a voice in my head is telling me something bad is coming soon. It wouldn’t be anything new to Blazer fans if they did trade away one of our prized young players for an older big man. People remember a 21 year old Jermaine O’Neal being traded for vetran Dale Davis, or at the time the young up and coming Alvin Williams (plus 2 1st rd picks and a 2nd rd pick) for Damon Stoudamire. I know that Williams only had a couple good years with Toronto and Damon became one of the figure heads for the Blaze, but Jermaine became a perennial all star and Double D just dunked and blocked people hard. Should the Blaze try to make moves to make the team better? Of course, but they should not go back to the old days of trading their young could be stars for an old quick fix veterans. Pritchard has done to much work assembling this team of young talent to go selling them off now for mediocre players, but I won’t be surprised if one or more of our young guys are gone here in the next 2 weeks.
UPDATE….UPDATE….UPDATE
Tonight’s Boxscore
Haywood: 8pts, 6reb, 3blks, 4to in 28 min
Rudy: 25pts (9-14, and 5-6 from 3), 5red, 3ast, 3to in 25 min
Batum: 12pts, 9reb, 5ast in 27min
So Haywood is almost a non-factor in their win over the Nets while Rudy leads the team in points and just about brings them back for the win, while Batum in his 3rd game back shows how he contributes in every aspect of the game. And for those who don’t think Batum is going to turn into a dominant player just watch how he played today and you can see the potential that’s starting to come out now.
VS
3D
30. Jan, 2010
That trade would be horse shit.
Nice gun references, highly relevant at this time.
I dominate you from Japan
30. Jan, 2010
Ichiro’s awesome but you suck.
Magee
30. Jan, 2010
If either are dealt, it’s Rudy. Haywood’s stats aren’t great, but he’s a Top 5 interior defender, along with Przybilla. Getting rid of Blake and someone for Haywood would get the Blazers into the second without harming their young core.
brewSKI
30. Jan, 2010
I’m not saying that Haywood is bad by any means, but is he really gonna make the Blazers that much of a threat. Even if they were to just add him at best they would get out of the first round. But would it be worth it to lose Rudy for a guy that would play 1 year for the Blaze. I dont think so. And yes Blake has to go. I would trade him for a knee brace to maybe prevent another injury to the team.