Schilly

Ok I have seen several trade Ideas the last week or so that have us trading Damon....just for the sake of getting rid of Damon.

That is flawed IMO.

Last year sure, the year before that sure, trade him just to dump him. This year is different. We want to hang on to him till we can get the best possible deal, probably closer to the trade deadline, when teams have a better idea about playoff rankings. If we don't trrade him we only have to bear him the rest of this season, which I would rather do thatn bring in bad contracts and poor players.

Heck we've put up with him since 1996 I think I can put up with him for 4 more months especially if Portaland essentially stays where they are competitvely.

RipCity9

Up until the Phoenix game I felt the same way, but at some point in the third quarter as I was spinning into a whole new level of pissed off I left all bounds of reason.

__________________
"The Blazers will bounce on up to the top again, just like they have before. And when they do I'll be cheering for 'em as loud as anybody."

- Bill Walton

mediocre man

Great points Schilly. You all need to look at the big picture.

Why trade Damon for a bag of chips when some team closer to the deadline might throw in the nacho cheese as well. This isn't a cute analogy either, it's prorbably about what he's worth.

Xericx

Exactly what is the "best possible deal" you can imagine for Damon?

Schilly

I don't think it would be a whole lot, in fact trading him may not be the best option for the team.

Obviously if he is the Salary Filler to get a player like Jason Kidd and the Blazers are will ing to take on that enormous contract of Kidds then that is a pretty dang good option, depending on who else Portland is trading.

Trades bringing in multiple mediocre players that won't help the team, but will have multi year deals reamiaing are what I am talking about.

Talkhard

VERY FUNNY.

I've had the same feelings a few times myself. The Blazers can do that to you.

__________________
"Damn the Blazers. Damn them to hell. They are working the rest of the league like a speed bag." --Jay, lifelong Pacers fan

Xericx

Well, obviously. In this case, I'd just move him to backup shooting guard.....the position he would be the best at on this team.

Xericx

My position hasn't changed on Stoudamire.

Trade for KIDD *ONLY* if a VC trade is imminent.

Otherwise, just Bench him.

Schilly

I'll agree with that

dkap

Puns aside, I don't think The Big Picture applies to Damon. Why would anyone take him? His only asset is salary relief, which applies equally well now or at the deadline, and is greatly offset by all the negatives he brings.

- can't shoot
- can't pass
- can't dribble
- can't initiate offense
- can't defend
- doesn't run

... and worst of all, will rot the stomach lining of any team acquiring him. I don't think there's a team in the league where he'd be an upgrade to the PG spot, and if doesn't get his starting spots and lofty minutes, he'll be back here crying in JQuick's milk. And all that's assuming he doesn't get himsely mired in more off court stupidity.

I just don't see it being worth the gamble on anyone's part to take him merely for salary relief. In fact, if I were a GM next summer, I don't think I'd even burn the veteran's minimum on him. He could be a decent sparkplug off the bench, but he'd never accept that role. And he certainly offers nothing from a positive mentoring standpoint.

Dan

Xericx

Actually, the best situation for Damon is on a HORRIBLE team like Atlanta or Charlotte. Some place where they need an agressive point guard (which he can be, in the right offense) and where there are no OTHER options on offense really.

Xericx

ATLANTA may be something intriguing.

Antonine Walker has an expiring contract......we could package Damon and DA for Walker + some youth. Al Harrington maybe?


Atlanta needs some players that WILL be ballhogs and dictate the offense...face it, they STINK.

Xericx

UGGH....Walker and NVE on the same team....

Schilly

Not true.

Usually the worst team in the league finsihes with about a .250 winning percentage.

Take a team theat has played 16 games to this point and factor that winning percentage.....Record 4-12.

Season Break down at 16 games target: .500 winnig pct to make playoffs.
66 games left: record needed to get there....37-29 (.560)

Fast forward to trade deadline. roughly half way into the season.
pct.250 = record of 10-32

Season Break down at 42 games
target :.500 winnig pct to make playoffs. 42 games left
record needed to get there....32-10 (.750)

Teams will hold on to the possibility that they can make the playoffs untill it is mathematically very unlikely that they can, when talking about simple salary dumping.

dkap

My point was that the salary relief is equally applicable now or later, but the numerous negatives Damon brings to the table far outweigh it. Even a team looking to tank the second half of the season would be foolish to take him on. I sure wouldn't.

Dan