meru

Here ya go - problems solved all round:

Portland gleefully dumps:
Miles (4 yrs remaining)
Randolph (5 yrs)
Dixon and Ratliff (2 each)

Portland grudgingly takes on:
Jalen Rose ($15.7M, 1 yr remaining)
Malik Rose ($7M, 2 yrs)
Maurice Taylor ($9.1M, 1 yr)

Philly angrily offloads: Iverson, Webber and Kevin Ollie
Philly reluctantly welcomes: Zach (likes Mo), Marbury, Theo and Juan (liked by Mo)

NY discards: Marbury, 2 Roses, Mo Taylor
NY says "what the hell, we'll take any crap" to:
Iverson, Webber, Miles and Kevin Ollie.

And it works!

Huh? Huh?

__________________
"I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that his justice cannot sleep forever." -- Thomas Jefferson, not-so-proud Founding Father

Dan

as much as I hate to say it (despite taylors issues) thats not a bad trade.

well done meru

__________________
A Buddhist walks up to a hot dog vendor and says "Make me one with everything".

when will the loss of life end?

The world respects the power of our example, not an example of our power.

I'd like to say I made this, but I didn't

Backboard Cam

The only thing crazier than Marbury and Francis on the same team would be Iverson and Francis on the same team. No, I guess Marbury/Iverson would be the craziest.

It'll be interesting to see who gets Jalen's big expiring (after 2007) contract, but I would think he'll expect to play.

__________________
' ////
( o )
////

BBert

I admire your work.

It makes Portland worse on paper, if you discount the attitude issues, but saves the new owners a bunch of money on car insur....makes the Blazers much more healthy financially for the current rebuild as well as long-term.

__________________
In KP I trust.

meru

Oh Hap, you've got me blushing! Now can you use your contacts to get that trade mentioned on Courtside?

Re: Freddie M. - (or Bulsara, as I believe his real name was) - our two-year old is going through a real Queen phase (hey, he's already gone through Bowie and ELO) and that band sure churned out the hits in the '70s. But it also reminds me that there used to be a column in the NME (New Musical Express) called "Bizmillah!" which was for readers to send in their most ridiculous lyrics.

But you're right - there will never be another. And what's with Queen touring with the ex-lead singer of Free (great band) and Bad Company (eh - not so much)? I mean, he's a great singer and all, but totally different style.

__________________
"I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that his justice cannot sleep forever." -- Thomas Jefferson, not-so-proud Founding Father

mook

that deal sort of makes sense for all parties. it'd definitely set us squarely in the basement, but I guess that's where we basically already are anyway. this move is just our way of saying, "Take your shoes off and have a glass of iced tea and a flashlight. We're going to be down here for a while."

I think you can also add that we give up Przybilla, because after a move like that there's no way in hell that you can convince him that Portland is a great place to be.

But it certainly makes us far more attractive from a financial perspective to a new owner.

Francis and Iverson in the same back court for New York? I guess it's no worse (and cheaper in the long run) than Francis and Marbury.

meru

I know, great isn't it? I can see Thomas doing it just to kill/force into retirement Larry Brown.

Um, you mean after Portland waives him?

__________________
"I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that his justice cannot sleep forever." -- Thomas Jefferson, not-so-proud Founding Father

meru

If the basement is the worst team in the entire league, then yes.

Maybe they'll make a charity song - "Sending our love down the well..."

I don't think so. I don't think his beef is that the team isn't winning, it's that some players (i.e., Zach and Miles) aren't doing their share on defense, and that means he gets in foul trouble trying to cover up for them. Dumping them would send the message that the team cares about playing the right way. I think he's less likely to return if we keep them, and let's face it, there's no way another team takes them unless it's for crappy players/contracts, as in this trade.

Canzano had a list of the top selling jerseys in the league on his blog, with the headline "Why can't we get guys like that?" and, astonishingly to me, Marbury is right there in the top 5 or 6. I was thinking "we could EASILY get THAT guy, but God, we wouldn't want him."

And hey, this year Iverson has racked up way more assists than Marbury.

__________________
"I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that his justice cannot sleep forever." -- Thomas Jefferson, not-so-proud Founding Father

Ed O

Sadly, I think that this kind of deal makes sense for Portland. It's a horrible deal on so many levels, and we might be the worst team in NBA history next year if it happened. But it would save the franchise a LOT of money and since the team's up for sale that is a significant factor.

But man... if we think we've had problems with Miles, just think about Jalen. And Malik's had his issues with Popovich, too. We might end up having to cut all three of those guys right off the bat or be willing to suspend any or all of them for discipline problems.

Ed O.

ThatBlazerGuy

Two things should be changed IMO...

1) Theo should be included

2) We should get something back. Whether it be Jackie Butler, Lee or one of thier 1st rounders

Ed O

Theo is included.

And I think that we get a hair shirt to wear.

Ed O.

mook

meru-

you may have a good point about Joel, although it's impossible to know what's really going on in his head for certain. I wonder if anyone has actually asked him if he'd be more or less willing to re-sign if we dumped Miles and Randolph.

mook

I think that's pretty much a given. we do need veteran leaders on this team, but these three guys clearly ain't it. we'd be trading for the privelege of paying them money on their contracts. any production they'd give us should be viewed as gravy.

man, this is starting to feel like the post-Jordan Bulls (and the Mao reign in China) all over again. out with the old revolution, in with the new one. wash. repeat.

hasoos