RipCityBlazer

Obviously, no one's gonna trade the #1 pick away. But if Portland can get the #2 or #3 pick and send Rasheed out, I'm not sure if I'd do it.

Financially, it would help Portland, A LOT. But getting Carmelo Anthony for Rasheed Wallace, I dunno. Carmelo was unbelievable during the national championchip game, but he just wouldn't get the playing time he would like in his rookie year w/ PDX. He'd have a better chance at being the backup SF instead of a backup SG, unless he's a natural SF (I'm not sure what position he plays), then ignore this sentance. If that's the case, then it might be a pretty good trade. Telling by the fact that he led Syracuse to the NCAA title as a FRESHMAN is very impressive.

If I had to choose, considering the fact that I want Z-BO to start at PF next year................I'd make the trade. The biggest risk is not taking one and 'Sheed has been in PDX for 7 seasons w/out living up to the hype of being a franchise player.

Ed O

Not to nitpick, but it would not help Portland out financially at all. Portland would have to take back contracts that about equalled Rasheed's and they probably won't be expiring contracts (they could be a Brian Grant/Antonio Davis-type: long-term, massive and nasty).

If the Blazers are most concerned with finances (in terms of the salary cap) they'll hold onto Wallace and either let him walk or re-sign him to a lower amount at the end of the upcoming season. If they're most concerned about PR or getting younger, they'll look to trade him.

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

Vintage

Teams that are drafting on potential aren't looking for benefits right away. 2 years ago(Chandler, Brown, Diop, and Gasol) isn't a long time ago. Especially considering they came straight out of HS. Judging them will have to take place in a few more years. So, thats not really fair to say.

And yes, the Suns made the playoffs, but they had a good team, just missing some pieces. Amare fixed that.

And the Rockets just missed. Yao was taken on potential as well. Grading him after his rookie year is unfair too.


Ill agree with Rip and Wally- both have been in the league long enough. Players take different amounts of time to adjust to the NBA.

The Clippers have a different problem- people playing for contracts. Its unfortunate. But the Cavs kind of started over by drafting Wagner and trading Andre Miller for Darius Miles. Yes, they are still struggling, but they are still rebuilding.

Paul Pierce did. Its hard bec. of the luxury cap, trades, FA etc. Many teams have players that were drafted in the lottery that really helped out. But now its rare for players to play for the same team for their entire career- So in that prespective, thats not fair.

But lottery picks now- Dirk, Webber(now injured), Chauney Billups, etc. They are all helping their teams now.

Miami and Toronto are in different situtations than the other lotto teams. Both the Heat and the Raptors have playoff talent, but due to injuried missed them. I dont see the Heat interested in Rasheed. Riley and Rasheed wouldnt be a good combo. Toronto might be interested in Rasheed, since they need a big man. But they might also be interested in drafting Carmelo to form with VC and have a new dynamic duo(now that TMac is in Orlando). That, we'll have to see come draft day.


True, Toronto might be interested. But Miami/Riley would not be a "dream match" for Rasheed. New York would be more of a likely candidate than Miami.


Drafting on potential means waiting for more than 2 years. It means 4-5 years down the road, you'll start seeing the dividends(or not). Chandler/Curry have only been in the L 2 years. Yet, they are showing promise. Gasol is the same. Kwame has had a tougher situation. But the fact is 2 years on "projects" isn't enough time to evaluate if the are working out or not.



But would Portland want Brian Grant and his large contract back?

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w00t

Schilly

I doubt anyone trades away #1 or #2, but #3 is a possibility, if the lottery pans out right.

Here are the 5 teams most likely to land the #3

Denver: Denver is actually in need of a SF, they have some 3's but a better one would be good. The nuggets don't have the salaries to return to Portland in a trade for Rasheed + they are well under the cap to get FA's. No need to trade the pick.

Cleveland: CLeveland has a glut of young SF's with a lot of potential. ALso they have a large contract they likely would wnat to clear out. Having Miles, Davis and Anthony wouldn't make a lot of sense. Cleveland is also interested in clearing salary so a large expiring contract like Sheeds would be attractive.

Toronto: This team at this point probably wants to win now. Drafting another player with potential doesn't help them. This team already has decent wing men and a near super star, but needs that serious 2nd threat. Again the salary relief could be attractive.

Miami: Having Anthony and Caron Butler would be a little redundant, especially when the Heat have other holes to fill other than SF. They need an interior scorer, to free up the outside for Jones and Butler. Again cap relief could be a factor for a team looking to retool over the next few years.

LA CLippers; Well the Clippers will take him no doubt. They have dealt Miles and are looking at losing Odom, this could enable them to retool a bit.

Kmurph

Personally, depending on the team....only #1 is untradeable. I just cannot see any team trading LeBron away.

Vintage - I think if Den or Cle are #2 and\or #3 then yes you are correct, trading for Sheed makes little sense. B\c they are bad, they are young, they are a LONG way away from being a contending team, let alone the playoffs. So trading for a 28-29 yr old Wallace doesn't make sense.

However, for a team like TOR, DET, NY who have pieces in place and are closer to\or already in the playoffs, it makes a HECK OF A LOT MORE SENSE. TOR had an abysmal year, but with nthe addition of Wallace, they would most likely make the EC playoffs. TOR just has no legitimate 2nd option besided Carter. Wallace would flourish in that #2 role, and the change of scenery IMO. Allowing MoPete to be a lot more effective in a #3 role. Whoever they draft at #3, will not step in and be more effective than Wallace. That is just COMPLETELT UNREALISTIC. If they want to make a run now, they should get Wallace. Players like Sheed don't come on the market everyday. POR will not accept PURE GARBAGE in return for him, that will just not happen.

tlong

The #2 and #3 picks in this year's draft will be Carmelo Anthony and Darko Milicic. There is NO WAY that a team that drafts one of these guys would turn around and trade them for Rasheed. Each one of the top 3 picks are considered "can't miss stars."

Siouxperior

I can't believ a BULLS fan is talkin junk! Vintage, when your team get's to .500 in the pathetic East, then talk shyt

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If you even dream of beating me youd better wake up and apologize - Ali

Peaceman

I can't believe all the love Sheed is getting on this post. IF we could get a top three pick for Sheed, we should jump on it. Sheed is not getting better, but worse. Yes, he doesn't get thrown out of games as much and has less T's, but he has almost completely quit being a post player. Add core lockroom cancer, doesn't take winning seriously, and thinks he is a SG now. What are we waiting for him to develop? Players seldom get better after 29 after two years of moving the wrong direction. Carmelo might not have as good of a career as Sheed or Darko, BUT they might become a superstar. We are not going to win a chanpoinship next year, so lets see if life without Sheed makes us the Seattle Marniers without K Griffy Jr. Maybe we will shock the league and see more positives out of Bonzi.

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Driving across the Ross Island bridge you see a haggard homeless man with a long beard and is faithful dog. He carries the a sign. It says " Love the peaceman"

dkap

That irony doesn't get enough attention. I'm inclined to think we'd be better off with the volatile Rasheed of old. The preference would obviously be to channel his aggression against the opponent, but since that doesn't seem to be an option, I'd take the demonstrative-toward-the-refs version of Rasheed that no one could guard inside.

Has anyone noticed that Rasheed's shooting motion around the basket seems to have changed? He doesn't seem to have that incredible extension anymore that was so admired by commentators. I suspect that's a byproduct of putting so much more emphasis on his 3 point game, which is a shame, because he's gone from a borderline spectacular post player to a very average one. He often looks out of control down low now and gets a lot more shots sent back in his face than I ever recall.

Dan

Ed O

Rasheed Wallace is a very average player? Man... I can't believe I'm reading that.

What's Rasheed's worst part of his game? His rebounding, probably, right?

He finished #27 in the entire NBA in rebounds per game.

Is he as good as Duncan? No. But to call him an average player or to say that we should "wait for him to develop" when he's already one of the top 40 or so players in the NBA is just silly, IMO.

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

Vintage

Im not talking "junk." I dont see most lottery teams giving up a top 3 pick for Rasheed.

Teams such as New York and Toronto, I can see.

But most lottery teams are rebuilding around youth and wouldnt want him.

I wasn't dissing your team at all............. I dont like Rasheed, but that doesn't mean I dont like the Blazers. The Blazers are more than Rasheed. In fact, I have made it clear in the past that I like the following players:
Randolph
Woods
Anderson
Pippen
Sabonis
Wells

But dont like:
Wallace
Patterson
Stoudamire

So, in turn, **** off.

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w00t

Vintage

What I never liked about Rasheed was his willingness to work on his game like the other greats. Rasheed, at his size, speed, athleticism, and abilities, should have been one of the best players in the league.

How many PF's can shoot from the outside consistently, rebound, defend, block shots, handle the ball well, etc. Rasheed has such a unique set of skills........but by not working at it like stars like Kobe, MJ, TMac, Duncan, etc. I feel that has gone to waste somewhat. Rasheed is someone who should be dominating a game. Someone who should be unguardable.......but at times, doesnt seemt o have the focus.

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w00t

Ed O

All this is cool. You very well might be right. But it doesn't really matter as far as his trade value goes, and it doesn't mean that he's an average player (I know you didn't say that).

He's as good as he is. Whether he's as good as he is because he's worked so hard to get to where he is or if he's as good because of his "natural ability" and in spite of the fact that he hasn't worked as hard as the elite players in the game: it just doesn't matter except on an emotional level.

It could be argued that, if he's not a hard worker, as he gets older his body is going to break down and he won't have the longevity some great players have had. That might be true. On the flip side, though, there is a possibility that things will click and he'll work a little bit harder on his game and tap some more talent that's lying latent. That possibility seems to cancel out the earlier concern, so I see it as a wash when it comes to talking about his trade value.

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

Vintage