A Changing of the Guard: A trade-recap amongst the Madness of March
Blazer fans I ask you: Was today a case of ushering in the right pieces? Or are we caught trying to pick up the proverbial pieces of a devastating fire sale? Only time will tell but with the current state of the team and with a few of its best players in rapid decline, the time is now to get aggressive and change the components in order to gain some building blocks.
The Marcus Camby Trade
Marcus Camby’s expiring $9.2 million contract from 2011 was traded to the Houston Rockets. This happened right at the deadline for the two expiring contracts of Hasheem Thabeet, Jonny Flynn, and a 2nd round pick. At this point, the 38 year old is past his prime and has been non-existent on the offensive end of the floor. He provides great passing out of the post and at his age has played his best defense away from the ball. His FT% is atrocious and he can barely put in 28 minutes of floor time anymore. He is the starting center, but with the re-signing of Joel Pryzbilla, losing the oft injured Camby won’t be that big of a hit this season or beyond.
A 2nd round pick gives Portland another chance to hit on a draft choice and solidify a future role player or bench player. To get a 2nd round pick for a 38 year old could be enticing enough as the market showed earlier this year. Even a player like Michael Beasley couldn’t command a late 1st round pick, as the Lakers denied a possible trade offered by the Timberwolves. To get two young players on a rental basis along with the 2nd round pick is definitely more enticing of an offer. Both young players expire after this year. The truth is Hasheem Thabeet’s three year career in the NBA has been lack luster at best. Here in Portland none of that will matter. Portland is not looking at him to be the starting center of the franchise. If he has any resemblance of a plug and play bench player, for the right price, it may be worth it to keep him on the roster.
In the case of the 6th pick in the 2007 draft, Jonny Flynn, is a true point guard. Because of injury he lost his job and was traded away from the point guard heavy Timberwolves. Soon after, he ended up landing and getting buried in Houston behind Kyle Lowry and Goran Dragic. He hasn’t had the game experience to showcase his talents. He will surely get some chances in Portland for the remainder of the season and if he flashes that speed and court vision which commanded such a high draft pick, maybe the team has found a cheap and very solid backup at the Point.
The Gerald Wallace Trade-
Gerald Wallace, and his contract of $11.4 million for 2012, has been traded to the New Jersey Nets for a protected (1-3) 1st round pick. In return, coming to Portland, is the expiring $10.9 million contract of Mehmet Okur and a young talent with a lot of upside, Shawne Williams. Shawne Williams has a player option of $3 million next year. Not a hefty price tag for a potential back up to Nic Batum. This trade will have no immediate or positive effect especially because the Blazers will take on more money and lose arguably the 3rd best talent on the team. Next year is when this trade actually becomes influential as it gives the Blazers New Jersey’s 1st round pick alongside Portland’s own first rounder.
With Portland playing as bad as they have been and losing two starters along with the head coach, it’s not really feasible to estimate a winning end of the season. With the Nets automatically upgrading themselves talent wise, it’s possible that they start winning a little more than what this season has shown. With the pick being protected, the Blazers don’t want NJ to drop too many games. If they fall into the lottery and end up with a top 3 pick, Portland won’t be picking twice in the first round until next year. Although this is unlikely it would be a major setback for the team. The last time the Blazers had two top 12 picks, they drafted Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge.
The truth about Gerald Wallace is that his game has seen a slow decline since the 2009 season. Gerald’s nickname, “Crash,” boasts the intangibles that he brings night in and night out. He is a player with true grit and determination; a tough blue collar athlete; a player that won’t be pushed around. His role became more and more unclear on the team with the sudden emergence of Nic Batum. Age has not been kind to Wallace and he has lost a step. It is a tough loss when you lose a player of his caliber, but this has to be looked at as a business and by the numbers his performance does not match the contract he is owed.
There is a lot that can be done with these picks and in this draft they could come at a high premium. The trade bait that a large expiring contract brings could clear up just enough cap space for two young lottery picks or make way for another max money player. I personally like Austin Rivers at one of these picks, as I believe we might be able to sign a point guard like Goran Dragic or Aarron Brooks for the now. It has become abundantly clear that this guy (Raymond Felton, pictured below) is no longer the answer to the point guard problems in Portland.
Check out how Gerald Wallace’s replacement in the lineup, Nic Batum, compares to another great all-star that played his position, in arguably the best season of his career. Link Below.
The Waiving of Greg Oden-
Good Riddance… I need not say anything more. Biggest bust in the history of the NBA Draft is finally done plaguing our minds as fans and the team’s salary cap space. The Oden Era in Rip City is officially over!
-CeeFree
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