Ed O

One important factor is that he was never THAT young in the NBA. He was 24 by the end of his rookie year. He was 26 when Cleveland sent him to LA and he's going to be 29 later this year.

Secondly, he just has never developed a strong perimeter game. Very few guards, as we all know, can remain at a high level with an inability to consistently hit perimeter shots. Miller has never made more than 23 treys in a season (and when he got 23, he did so in 108 attempts) and he's not a strong mid-range jump shooter (like, say, Rip Hamilton or Speedy Claxton).

He's a big, strong, pass-first PG. Certainly better than anything Portland's seen since Pippen was healthy but not much above average, either.

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

BlazerMania

I agree 100% about being sick and tired of athletes thinking they're in charge.

I don't know about Kidd. But I sure am discouraged with our guards....I'm almost tempted to say "START TELFAIR-WHAT THE HECK!"

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BlazerMania is Alive - - We Still Believe.

e_blazer1

Portland to Kidd: "Bite us."

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Blazermania is BACK!!!

jackiejackal

"Is this a haiku?"
darling,it's whatever you want it to be..
I am at your mercy.

Blazer Ringbearer

Well, for starters, Kenyon Martin is there. They seemed to have good chemistry.

Secondly, I just see Denver as more of a Kidd type team. With guys like Martin, Mello, Camby (when healthy), and Nene (if they keep him) running the floor - they would look a lot like Phoenix (or New Jersey last year). Lots of fast breaks, alley-oops, better defense (Kenyon >> Zach)...

Also, it's would be a team with Kidd that could make some noise now and be even better in the next few years as Kenyon and Mello develop further.

Portland is probably more suited to being a halfcourt team. Miles is the only open court guy that Kidd would play with... Zach and Theo are both slower half-court type players.

Denver is also clearly putting pieces together to make some noise in the next few years... the direction of Portland's front office is less apparent.

I would pick Denver if I were Kidd...

jackiejackal

Denver is a good team with really pretty uniforms.

Schilly

This is posturing, unfortunately it helps Toronto if Portland is indeed still looking there.

If Portland could still poosibly land VInce then Kidd maybe changes his tune.

Captain Chaos

I think Portland is too much of a half court team. They should get out and run more. I really think they can be more of an up-tempo team. Z-Bo is really not too bad on the break. Miles and Patterson are very good on the run. Portland could change more to a running team if Kidd was on the team with Miles starting.

Ed O

I'm really not worried about Kidd's feelings for two reasons:

1. If he gets traded here, he'll play and he'll adjust. It makes NO sense for him to actually sit out considering how much money he makes and that Portland would be a playoff team with him here.

2. Portland should be in a position, if they choose, to get both Kidd and Carter. Damon, SAR, and NVE are the backbone of the two deals, and taking Mourning and Rose would seem to be necessary, too. If Carter is here, I can't see Kidd having trouble coming to Portland.

The thing is, I'm worried about Portland having already overspending on Miles and Theo and now not being willing to take on that much salary. I HOPE that they are, at the end of the day, will to do so and right now they're just posturing (for a better deal or deals). I have my doubts, though.

Kidd trying to steer where he's going is perfectly reasonable to me. He signed with the Nets for a lot of money, and they've pulled the rug out from under him. He doesn't have MUCH leverage, but he should feel free to use what he has. If he really sat out for the team trading for him, I'd feel differently perhaps, but at this stage it doesn't seem unfair.

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

Blazer Ringbearer

CC -

I agree that they could...

But compare Zach being "not too bad on the break" as you said to Martin who is a badass on the break.

Compare Theo and Przybilla on the break to Camby and Nene.

Miles would certainly excell, but so would Carmello.

Two more considerations...

Denver has two budding stars in Martin and Anthony. Kidd would be their third star level player. Portland has one budding star in Randolph. Kidd would be their second star level player. For a point guard who excells in playmaking - the more stars the better...

Also, Portland has two point guards who want to start and one heir apparent rookie. Perhaps this is something that is turning Kidd off to Portland. Even if the trade sends Damon or Van Exel to NJ, there is still one veteran point who wants to start and one rookie who the franchise has a lot hedged in... sounds sketchy.

Oooh ooh! One more... Cheeks is terrible.

Okay, I'm done, I think.

ProudBFan

I never thought getting Kidd was a good idea anyway...

...unless it was for Damon, straight-up.

PBF

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Terrible

This Xmas season is turning out great for me as a Blazer fan, no Kidd and no Vince. Just what I wanted, now we can go after what this team really needs a player who wants to be a Blazer and comes in positive and ready to go.

I know there are some players in this country that can stroke a three that would love to be in a Blazer uniform.

The other good news is Vince and Kidds contracts wont choke the life out of this franchise.

Don't we have two Euro's that are big and tall + can shoot? Do we just draft these guys for drafting sake? Let's play them! We could have the next Dirk or Ginobli on our hands just rotting away.

Did we learn nothing from J Oneal?

Tince

That sounds good, but I can't think of anyone who fits that mold. The only player that I would think wants to play for Portland and can stroke the outside shot is Dan Dickau, and I don't think he'll change the team too much.

Do you have any names in mind of players who would like to play for Portland?

As far as Kidd saying he won't play, that sounds a lot like SAR's threats this offseason. My guess it Kidd would play in Portland, but his advisors or friends just don't want him to.

Fork

Flip Murray?

I know he only shot 29% last year, but maybe he's actually better than that?

I think he shot better than that when he was starting, but kind of trailed off at the end of the season.

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Terrible

I would rather watch this team suck for a year and build a nice young group of chemistry than have an ego supersized guy like Kidd come in and turn this team into his own personal war zone.

Same with Vince.

Let's put a little faith in Telfair, Outlaw, Miles and Zach. Let's let them play for a while and get to know each other.

I would love to aquire JJ Redick this offseason. Then we'd have our shooter for 10 years.

Until then how about the Euro guys we have?