From what I have read they used Lin as part of deal to get Kidd - - come here, mentor Lin and make us Eastern elite.
Now, go get Camby to back up Chandler and Stat and resign Novak and Smith and the Knicks look much better.
Printable View
Blazers just complete meeting w/Batum and agent in downtown Portland and say they will match any offer and will not engage in sign-and-trade
Damnit
Ray Allen to add some bench power to the Champs. Sort of surprised he is leaving Boston.
Allen will help that team a bunch. At crunchtime, look for Allen, Wade, LeBron, Bosh, and Battier to play.
That's enough, IMO, to give them another ring, assuming no injuries and no one does anything monstrous between now and the playoffs. (Howard going to LA without giving up Gasol, for example.)
Minnesota did sign Brandon Roy and Nic Batum
Quote:
NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- Orlando has agreed to a sign-and-trade deal, sending restricted free agent forward Ryan Anderson to New Orleans for forward Gustavo Ayon, a person familiar with the agreement said.
The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the NBA's trade moratorium prevents clubs from announcing such moves before July 11.
Why Orlando would do that is hard to fathom. Love that deal for New Orleans. Anderson gives the Hornets a very nice perimeter scorer to team with Davis, Jack, and Rivers. That's three or four 15 point a game guys, two of whom can shoot from 3 at a decent percentage. Add a small forward that can slash and a big who can rebound and throw around his weight, and you've got a solid .500 or better team.
(And perhaps Gordon, though I'd do a sign-and-trade deal in that instance, as Gordon's gone on record as saying he wants to play in Phoenix. Perhaps New Orleans would take Marcin Gortat and a couple 1st rounders for him.)
They still need a small forward (Courney Lee would be an ideal fit).
I hope they do a S&T for Ridnour +pick.
Would be nice to free up an additional 4 mil in salary to see if they could swing Courtney Lee and Steisma by chance as well
Rubio/Barea
Lee/Roy
Batum/Budinger
Love/Williams
Pekovic/Steimsma
Dream offseason, that team would make the playoffs
That team would be a top four seed even in the West, IMO.
The Lakers are probably better (though 4/5 of their starting lineup are old, older, and ancient.)
OKC has a better roster.
Who else matches up?
Not San Antonio.
Memphis? I don't think so.
The Clips have better top end talent, but Minnesota's bench would be much better. Call it a push.
No one else is close.
Just my impression, but I think Batum and Budinger are similar, if not redundant, players. Both hyper-athletic SFs who do little more than jack 3s. Batum is just 23 though and has all the ability in the world. His defense is wildly overrated though (some metrics have him as a negative contributor), as he's more of a flashy, weak-side shot blocking, lane-gambling defender.
I think a change of scenery may serve Batum well. Maybe Adelman could tap all that potential.
I'd really like the think the Blazers could get more than Ridnour and some mid-first picks though.
I know Batum did not adapt at all to McMillan's offensive philosophy where he basically stood in teh corner and shot 3's.
If anyone's gonna get the best out of him, it will be Adelman.
In regards to Budinger, his numbers under Adelman in Houston were much better than they were under McHale also.