Sonny-Canzano

With Monta Ellis likely to sign a pretty huge deal with Golden State, could we snag Baron Davis? His contract is short and, if healthy, is a much better option than any of the PG's we've apparently had interest in (Hinrich, Calderon, ect.).

Baron Davis is the type of player that would vault Portland into the elite.

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PorterIn2004

I'm pretty sure there's a thread around here somewhere that discusses Davis specifically, though I'm too lazy to try digging it up now.

Myself, I don't see him being a good fit. Davis seems like a player who's pretty all about himself, wanting to get his share of "touches" and generally come off as The Man. Personally, I'd like to see him start in the backcourt in Dallas next to Kidd (basically making Kidd a point-SG) if Cuban can pull that off. On this team, though, I think he'd both be frustrated and frustrate.

LameR

Wasn't KP talking sometime in the last week about not looking for stop-gap or short-term players? He's building a team for the future, not the next year or two. Wait for the cake to be ready! Don't put on icing now and end up letting it burn!

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PDXshelbyGT

Let's just say for a moment that (as a veteran) Davis has matured a little. Perhaps he'd come in as a leader - and clearly see what he has in leading this young Blazer team into a playoff condenter for the next several years....

With that stated, I also can envision the team playing a few games where things just aren't "clicking" - we've all seen these sort of games. You know, a back to back road trip (second game) where everything is in slow motion: Davis could take over a game like this, score 36 pts and win the game for us outright. Let's say he does this 3 to 5 games during the regular season and one playoff game; this could make all the difference in making the playoffs, advancing to the second round - perhaps even winning a champioship.


What might we do to preserve our #13 (with hopes in landing Westbrook) and still sign Davis?


Imagine:

Davis, Blake & Westbrook as our point guard rotation!
Roy/Rudy
Outlaw/Jones
Aldridge/Frye
Oden/Pryz


So we can part with Jack/Webster/Raef/second rounders/etc. - find a third team to participate...and I think we could land Davis and Westbrook.

Then, through Free Agency or mid-year trade, we could pick up a veteran banger to help with our playoff push (let's call THIS, the "icing" on the cake - rather than calling Davis the icing)

B-Roy

Ugh, I've said this before and I'll say this again. Getting a scoring first point guard is going to ruin team chemistry. Not to mention he only has 1 year left on his contract, so we'd be trading our assets to rent him for one year.

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Balian

I hate the idea of a veteran point guard AT THIS TIME. Lets test out the pieces we have and see what we can do next year. Adding Rudy, Oden, and #13 will be crazy enough already.

PorterIn2004

Agreed.

That said, there are only 48 minutes per position per game. I'm thinking Fernandez and Oden between them will account for 48 minutes per game themselves, which means there's 48 minutes that needs to come from the PT this last season. A bunch of that will presumably be Jack. It's also likely that guys like Blake, Przybilla, Frye, Outlaw, Webster, and Jones will take at least small hits to their minutes.

Guys tend to lose value when they aren't on the court. So, much as I hate to think about it, it does seem like consolidation may be a good idea. So if Pritchard does consolidate the roster, he's going to be getting at least a player or two back. Maybe we're looking at someone like LaFrentz -- a vet mostly out to pasture -- and picks, but it seems far more likely that he'll target either a veteran PG or a veteran SF, bringing us back to the current debate.

I can see where it might still make more sense to sit tight, let some guys potentially lose value, and see how it all shakes out. It's just very much a double-edged sword.

PDXshelbyGT

Anyone interested in packaging players and picks to draft:

Westbrook & Love?


Westbrook/Blake/Sergio
Roy/Rudy
Outlaw/Jones
Aldridge/Frye/Love
Oden/Pryz


Gone= Jack/Webster/Raef/picks

PorterIn2004

Were it up to me I might part with Frye or Outlaw over Webster, particularly with the addition of Love (not to mention McRoberts and Freeland), but I doubt very much that Jack, LaFrentz, picks, and any one of Webster, Outlaw, or Frye would net both Westbrook and Love, especially since there'd almost certainly need to be salary coming back. Otherwise I'd not be opposed.

LameR

Westbrook yes.

Love no.

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Perfection

Don't care much for Love, but Westbrook seems like he could be solid. He seems to have a head on his shoulders, CAN shoot the ball pretty well and play GOOD defense, I wouldn't be above moving up to grab him if necessary. Let's solidify the CORE this year!!!

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Masbee

The proposed trade of Raef, Webster, Jack and 2nd rounders is not anywhere close to market value for Baron Davis.

As for the "one year" rental comment on Davis, what do you think Webster and Jack would be for any team that trades for them?

B-Roy

Except Jack and Webster will be relatively easy to resign. Baron on the other hand......

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Nate Dogg

How about Gilbert Arenas? Sure he has to do some knee rehabbing but is it worth it for sign with a minor deal? He just declared free agency from the Wizards.

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