ABM

Do you agree?

Playmaker0017

Yes. I think the Blazers are dumb enough to believe the future lies with Zach and whomever decent they get for Reef rather than Reef and the stud they could get for Randolph.

Play.

Paxil

Yes... AND no... I think the Blazers are taking a good long look at him too. I think they are trying to figure out whether Zach is worth the max, or whether Rahim can suffice. Bench minutes won't really show that. Remember, Rahim is leverage against giving Zach huge dough. I think we may have done something similar with Miles... though he did get a decent contract.

Playmaker0017

Rahim suffice? Wow. How far he's fallen. :P

Play.

TheBlueDoggy

Management want to build around young and promising players like Zach and Darius. SAR probably wouldn't want to be here after this season even if we paid him well and he was our starting PF. SAR has been very solid in his role of starting SF. I'm not decided yet on if it's harming Zach's role on the team, or Darius, as they could just be experiencing early season jitters or off season rust...

SAR hasn't been spectacular as starting SF, but he's played solid and consistent and put up good numbers... Darius looked inconsistent when I saw him play, although he did get warmed up and start playing better as the game went on.

I think SAR is starting right now because he's playing better as a starter than Darius is... who knows, maybe Darius will get out of his funk as the season moves along and will become a starter. Even Darius agreed that SAR should be the starter because of how he's playing.

Ed O

People just forget, Play.

And, to be fair, many Blazers fans on this board just didn't get a chance to follow SAR before he came to Portland, so they're basing their opinions of his abilities on the end of last year. It's not an accurate assessment, IMO, but it makes some sense.

As for why SAR is starting: I think it IS to showcase him.

I don't think Portland paid Miles all that money to sit him on the bench long-term.

Ed O.

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"In the end, it all comes down to talent. You can talk all you want about intangibles, I just don't know what that means. Talent makes winners, not intangibles. Can nice guys win? Sure, nice guys can win -- if they're nice guys with a lot of talent. Nice guys with a little talent finish fourth, and nice guys with no talent finish last."

-- Sandy Koufax

Playmaker0017

Of course it is to showcase him.

It is just unfortunate that they are so attached to Randolph, because I just think in the long-term ... he is not a horse that you want your wagon attached to. This has nothing to do with my animosity because of Reef ... but rather because I just don't see an amazing skillset nor do I see an off-the-court diplomat.

Play.

Scout226

At the end of last year, I was on the Zach bandwagon, and on the trade SAR campaign. After another incident with Zach being in the wrong place at the wrong time, wanting a max contract, and SAR showing in preseason that he can more than cover if Zach is trading, I'm now leaning towards keeping SAR and trading Zach.

I'm all for getting Redd if it's really possible. Heck, throw in next years 1st round pick with Zach for Redd. We have a lot of young talent already, we don't need another real young guy next year..

So there it is.. I'm guessing this is about as big as changing political parties..

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B_&_B

Am I wrong, or hasnt Nash already admitted in interviews that one of the reasons they are starting SAR is to raise his value?

e_blazer1

I'm with you , Scout. And I'd be willing to bet that before the Woods dog incident is done, Zach will show up as having been at another wrong place at the wrong time. In my view, if the Blazers are serious about improving the team's image and keeping their 25 point pledge, they have to keep a guy like Shareef on the roster. Trading Zach now for Redd, if that deal's available, would be a smart move IMO.

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Blazermania is BACK!!!

Kmurph

No doubt it is to showcase him, and it is a smart thing to do IMO.

Well I agree that in all likelyhood POR is looking to deal SAR, however I don't think that it is a 100% certainty, especially with Zach's latest escapades, and "max contract" salary demands, that SAR is DEFINITELY the one to go. I have to believe (hope?) Nash is prudent enough not to put all his eggs in one basket (that being, trading SAR), and that he will\is looking at all options regarding both Zach and SAR. But IMO, one of them has to go...eventually.

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Quit the Webster hate

Tince

I don't know how you could say its JUST to showcase SAR. If you think about it there are other Blazers named Woods and Paterson that we want trade just as bad if not worse. We had a perfect chance to start Paterson at the end of last season after we traded Rasheed, but we put Miles in (which just increased what we would have to pay to resign him). If the Blazers were starting people just so they could trade them we would be starting; Anderson, Woods, Paterson, SAR, Vlade. Increasing trade value might be a factor in starting him, but if he was way worse than Miles, he wouldn't be starting.

STOMP

Since the Blazers are essencially a work in progress, doesn't it make sense that they profile all their most desirable players? Between Zach and SAR, I don't really have a definitive opinion on who is better, but they do bring similar skills to the table and are definitely amoung the top 3-4 talents on the club. I'm sure that both will be more appealing to other teams if they are motivated and producing come the usual trading period then if they are languishing on the bench because the team is trying to maximize on-court chemistry so as to eek out a couple more wins. This year is probably more about doing what it takes to reshape the club then W's.

STOMP

mackthedj

Wouldn't SAR want a max contract too, so wouldn't the Blazers be faced with who they are willing to give that money to, SAR or Zach?

HOWIE

Are you ready for my bombshell people?

Here is what I believe to be happening this season. I think that the Blazers are in fact showcasing Rahim, but I also think that they are going to be seeing if Randolph is worth the time and trouble too.

One of these two players is going to be gone next season. Most likely Rahim, but Portland hasn't given Randolph a contract extention and I believe that they are going to make him prove he is worth his next contract.

I think that Rahim is an insurance policy for Portland, just incase something happens with Zach (Woods doggie stuff) or he just doesn't get that he isn't a max player, yet.

Personally I think that Portland would be best suited to either move Rahim for a shooting guard or just let his contract fall off the books. I think that is what would work best for Portland, just drop the salary.

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