Been trading some emails with a few people on these subjects, so I thought I'd throw this out there:

1 - Koponen or Batum? Or both? Should Portland sign both guys now? That would fill up the roster and there would then be five rookies (Oden, Fernandez, Bayless the others). Is that too many? Should they keep the flexibility and only sign one? And which one would you sign?

2 - Should Bayless start? Has he shown enough point guard skills he can share the backcourt and the ballhandling duties with Brandon Roy? Or does he need to prove more first, let Blake start, and see if Bayless and Roy can be the backcourt? Neither one seem to be point guards first, though both are better than decent distributors and definitely good scorers.

 What do you think? I'll post my thoughts in a bit...

Considering what Batum did in Vegas I think I let him stay overseas for another season or two. He just doesn't appear to be ready. Let him actually play for a season or two come over in 2010. He's an incredible talent, come two years from now he should be a monster.

 I start Bayless simply because I think him and Roy in the backcourt is lethal. I think with the talent that Portland has Bayless will look to set people up more, and Roy is a very good assist man too (averaged nearly six a game last year). Bayless wasn't just the best player on his team in Vegas, he was the best player at the event. He knew that and capitalized. I think Bayless ends up like Tony Parker. He'll probably never see 10 assists per game, but he'll be a solid playmaker that is near unstoppable offensively.

Well, they signed Batum yesterday, so that makes that discussion moot. I think they need to sign Koponen too. 1, because he was the Finnish MVP and it will be tough for him to get better in that league, and 2, to keep him from signing a big deal with a major Euroleague team.

As for my other question, I bring Bayless off the bench at first. Make him prove he's definitely better than Blake before giving him the job - and he has to be consistent.

I agree with everything jflem, couldn't have said it better myself.

Petteri and Batum to the D-League? 

Koponnen wasn't going back to Finland, he was going to play for a Euroleague team but for a 3-4 year contract.  If they sign, Koponnen, I think that they should package Sergio Rodriguez for something.

http://boards.hoopsworld.com/forums/p/1701/14062.aspx#14062

Miami trades: Shawn Marion, Alexander Johnson, David Padgett and Daequan Cook

Portland trades: Raef Lafrentz, Sergio Rodriguez, Rudy Fernandez, Ike Diogu, Nicolas Batum and 2009 2nd pick

Portland
PG Bayless - Blake - Koponnen
SG Roy - Martell - Cook
SF Marion - Outlaw - Martell
PF Aldridge - Marion - Johnson
C Oden - Przybilla - Padgett

Miami
PG Sergio / Chalmers - Quinn
SG Wade - Fernandez - Wright
SF Wright - Batum - Beasley
PF Beasley - Haslem - Diogu
C Blount - Anthony - Lafrentz

Pimpsubs, I love how there is no screwing around with you. You made the logical jump from Portland should move Sergio to making a deal with Miami in excess of $20 million! That's not a dig, so don't take it that way.

I actually really like that deal - it would seem to boil down, really, to Marion for Fernandez - those being the only players of consequence expected to contribute to each team next season. Salarywise it gives Portland a little more flexibility, but any trade for Marion is going to come with extension talks.

Personally, I think if Portland can make a deal to get Marion that doesn't cost any of Roy, Aldridge or Oden, they have to do it. Adding Marion to that group makes this team a ton better.

But, would Miami do that? Doubtful. They think they are going to be back in the playoffs in '09, but with this trade they probably would not be - and Fernandez and Wade play the same position. I've been assured by Euro people Fernandez is not a three and Dwyane Wade does not want to be a PG and also cannot play the three. Maybe if that deal got tweaked a bit to include Outlaw Miami would be more interested.

yeah h  . . 

 

I got it  guy