[GOD]

His back problems will end up more serious then we all think. I am on vacation right now at a family type of event, and I was talking to my uncle who is a back surgen and a ucon fan. he explained to me that although the back problem is acute and not affected by excercise in most patients with his problem, there is no way in my uncles mind, that it will not be affected in a player with his position in a proffesional sport. He also said that in a casual athlete, there could be a fusion of the spinal vertabrae (sp?) and at the end of the healing process the athlete would be able to function normally. the problem is that a pro center is not a casual athlete, and there could be some big time problems caused by the surgery. He does not understand how this kid's stock has not been affected by this problem.

[B_&_B]

A guest (didnt catch his name) on Colin Cowherd's ESPN show just said that Okafor's back has bothered him in many of the draft workouts... raising red flags with NBA GM's.

[Peaceman]

I would consider the trade IF Zach still has unreasonable contract demands. He is no where near a max contract player and we should not make our cap situation worst. If Zach would take 8 million a year for 5 years, I would not do the trade. If we still wants to demand the max, I would take offers for him.

[STOMP]

I happen to think a whole lot of EO's potencial, and would be very interested in obtaining him if his back checks out. Here's an exerp from the Insider from earlier this week.

Once reporters couldn't chirp about his size (he measured just under 6'9 barefoot), everyone began focusing on his back. Over the course of an hour, Okafor heard the question a hundred times.

"My back is back, baby," Okafor proclaimed. "It's rested. It's ready. It's ready for people to quit talking about it. Most of the pain I've felt has come from having to deal with you guys talking about it all the time."

Okafor even claims his back never hurt him during the Final Four. "I felt fine," Okafor said. "It was you guys who kept writing about it."

One source familiar with the medical testing done in Chicago over the weekend claims Okafor's back checked out fine and he won't get a medical red flag from league doctors.

STOMP

[Terrible]

Okafor is going to protect his back rumors at all costs. If he's showing lame at all he loses millions and he knows it. Of course he's going to say his back is fine and doesn't bother him.

Wouldn't you?

[STOMP]

Originally posted by <b>Terrible</b>!
Okafor is going to protect his back rumors at all costs. If he's showing lame at all he loses millions and he knows it. Of course he's going to say his back is fine and doesn't bother him.

Wouldn't you?

Actions speak louder then words, especially in regards to athletes, and he sure didn't show up lame during the NCAA tourney... we'll see, but I think he's a near lock at #1.

STOMP

[Crimson the Cat]

Assuming his back's okay, I'd probably make this move. Ok's more complete game should translate into a better front court. Although, ideally I'd prefer a center next to him more like Sabas (who wouldn't). That's why P.Pod intrigues me, or Ilguaskas.

Anyway. Yeah, I'd probably do this bold move and hopefully not pay for it, with Randolph in the East.

[Terrible]

Okay, let's say we trade Zach for Okafor and SAR for Kittles?

Now where the hell does the offense come from?

PG- Damon
SG- Kittles
PF- Okafor
SF- Miles "if he resigns" or Patterson
C- Theo

Damon and Kittles can not carry the load in the mighty west. Not going to happen! Okafor will need a few years to adjust to the NBA. Do ya think Okafor is a double/ double guy a night in his first few years? Well ZACH AND SAR can do that for us now. If you're going to trade Zach for a unproven PF out of college trade SAR and some draft picks for a Paul Pierce or RAY Allen type of player to instantly replace the offense we lose when giving up Zach.

On a side note would you trade Zach for Bosh? Well had Bosh not left GT after his first year to go pro Okafor would not be a lock this year at all for a lotto. GT would have won the national championship, not UCON and it would have been Oka who? Bosh has 2 real inches on Okafor and he's younger, so would you trade Zach for Bosh?

If not, don't trade Zach for Okafor.

We need a real #2 guard and a taller PG, not another PF!

[Fork]

Originally posted by <b>Terrible</b>!

On a side note would you trade Zach for Bosh? Well had Bosh not left GT after his first year to go pro Okafor would not be a lock this year at all for a lotto. GT would have won the national championship, not UCON and it would have been Oka who? Bosh has 2 real inches on Okafor and he's younger, so would you trade Zach for Bosh?

If not, don't trade Zach for Okafor.

We need a real #2 guard and a taller PG, not another PF!

yeah, but if Zach had stayed in school, he'd be a senior this year and HE might just be the #1 pick.

He's already proven himself in the NBA moreso than Bosh has. I wouldn't trade Zach straight up for either of those two.

When you have the proven commodity, I don't think you trade them for an unknown like a draft pick or a rookie who's showed some promise, but not near all star level skills.

[MAS RipCity]

Zach for Okafor, wow you guys are ALWAYS good for a godo laugh, thank the Lord Jesus that none of you are our gm's!

[Blazerfan024]

Hmm..We finally have a semi-star, lets trade him for a rook who has know back problems.

Come on how long do you guys want to stay in the lotto?

Trading are only scorer for a rook is absurd IMO.

[Terrible]

That's why I said if you wouldn't trade Zach for Bosh straight up right now than nooooooo way do ya trade him for Okafor.

Zach is a proven double double guy a night, ya just don't trade that for a watered down draft like this years.

We've got two proven double double guys playing the same position here which is rare! We need a proven SG that's where one of them needs to go in return for. Okafor will be another SAR down the road if he's damn lucky. Zach will be a better Barkley!

You figure it out!

[Oldmangrouch]

12 monyhs ago, a rumor surfaced abot the Blazers trading Sheed for the #4 pick (ie Bosh). 80-90% of the responses on this board were negative.

Is Sheed that much more valuable than Zach? As several people have pointed out, EO is NOT a better prospect than Bosh. People must just have an amazingly low opinion of Zach.



For the record: I was one of the few folks here who was willing to even *consider* the Sheed/Bosh deal - and I still think the Zach/EO deal is whack!

[Crimson the Cat]

If I dealt, Randolph for Ok, I wouldn't deal SAR too.

I see what you're saying.

I'd be tempted by this though, still. A trio of SAR and Ratliff with Ok off the bench for half a season, then moving Ratliff (should Ok prove to be ready) for a guard, might be the answer.

A starting-five of Ok, SAR, Miles, ?, and ?, is a good start.

Is Ratliff, Randolph, and Miles better now? Maybe.

IMO, Ratliff's playing on borrowed time. Even he, about a year or so ago, said his injuries would get the best of him and that he'd never be the same player he once was.

SAR would compliment Ok's complete game. Either player could work in the post, both could pass well out of the doubles, rebounding would be more than covered, defense would be covered. With SAR's ability to stroke the J, the middle would open up for Ok. Many more options in the front court, potentially. This versatility would help big time come Playoff-time.

Ratliff's a great impact on the defense, but because of Randolph's limited game thus far, I'd be willing break it all up if the right dominoes began falling.

Sending Ratliff to say Indiana for say Freddie Jones, or maybe Ron Artest; NJ for Richard Jefferson; *gasp* Dallas for Daniels (hypotheticals, I know the numbers don't match)

Interesting to think about. The idea has a lot of merit!

[STOMP]

Originally posted by <b>Terrible</b>!
Okay, let's say we trade Zach for Okafor and SAR for Kittles?

Now where the hell does the offense come from?

If a team can effectively defend the paint, rebound, and get to more loose balls, then they usually get more breakaways and opprotunities. As we saw with the Pistons good team defense can create offense. Layups are my prefered shot.

If the Nash was to put Theo and EO (marketing campaign???) together, I'm sure they wouldn't be done wheeling and dealing. I don't expect the Blazers roster makeover to be done until after next season.

STOMP