So which deal do you think best suits Portland??? Note RLEC is Raef LaFrentz Expiring Contract
This was from True Hoop via Dwight Jaynes
See what I mean about the Blazers? chances of making a trade that would change the face of the franchise?
February 17th, 2009 by Dwight Jaynes
This from True Hoop this morning, quoting an NBA executive from a Chad Ford column:
?I guarantee you [Blazers GM] Kevin Pritchard has gotten better offers for LaFrentz than the Suns have gotten for [Amare] Stoudemire.?
Amazing, huh?
I guess, ordinarily, here?s where you?d do some kind of statistical comparision of the two players, or talk about how if his jumper is falling, LaFrentz can really help a team.
But LaFrentz is out for the season, and won?t play before his deal expires. Stoudemire is a young, healthy, starting All-Star big man.
Assuming this is really the case ? could there be a clearer sign that in today?s NBA economy, cost-cutting is king?
Ford says the Blazers are getting new offers all the time and that Gerald Wallace, he of the recent collapsed lung, is available:
The focus for the Blazers right now appears to be at the small forward position. It appears that three players ? Gerald Wallace, Caron Butler and Richard Jefferson ? are on Pritchard?s radar screen. A fourth one, Mike Miller, is also a favorite of the Blazers, but the Wolves have been reluctant to include him in a deal.
Sources say the Blazers have intensified their focus on Wallace. He?s young, athletic and physical, and he doesn?t need to score to be an impact player. He has four years and $38 million left on his contract, which is a lot, but given his age and production the past few years, it?s not unreasonable. The problem for the Blazers is that the Bobcats want Portland to take back Nazr Mohammed as part of the deal. That could be a deal-breaker for Pritchard.
Butler might be the best player of the group when he?s healthy. He was an All-Star last year and is excellent in the mid-range game. He too has a reasonable contract, with just two years and $21 million left on his deal. But it?s unclear what the Wizards would want in return and whether they?ll ultimately opt to keep Butler and reevaluate the team when Gilbert Arenas returns. If the Wizards are to make such a deal, certainly they?ll want the Blazers to take back Etan Thomas? contract, and they?ll likely also demand one or two young players from the Blazers. That price might be too high for Portland.
Jefferson is the most available. The Bucks need to clear his salary from their cap if they?re going to re-sign their two restricted free agents this summer: Charlie Villanueva and Ramon Sessions. Sources say there have been conversations that have included both Jefferson and Milwaukee point guard Luke Ridnour, though the talk has quieted down. As a proven scorer and defender who?s played in the NBA Finals, Jefferson has some appeal for the Blazers.
One wild card for the Blazers is Vince Carter. His contract is the most expensive of the group, but Carter has been fantastic this season and would give the Blazers the biggest bang of anyone out there. It appears unlikely the Blazers will go that direction, but New Jersey would certainly listen if Portland wanted to do a deal.
Assuming he?s healthy (and he?s expected back in the lineup tonight), I like Wallace a lot. He?s got a great motor. Works his tail off and is content working to get his own points wherever they are ? off turnovers, the offensive boards, whatever. I?d be a little afraid of Carter.
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