These are two guys I would definitely think about going after in a package deal as this deadline approaches. I want them both. The question is what do you think it would take?

You guys already know how I feel about both. I've been talking up both of these kids for weeks now. Webster's a guy I really feel has all the tools to be a big-time player in this league sometime really soon. 6'7", 225+ pounds, lights out shooter (almost 40% from 3 this season). Can create his own shot and get to the rim when he has to. Runs the floor well and is usually rewarded as he's on the receiving end of a lot of pretty passes that usually result in dunks. Probably not the greatest defender in the world at this stage but has the athleticism to eventually show some potential in this area. All he needs is experience. This kid's right out of HS with no college experience under his belt so let's go easy right now for the time being. The improvement will come. Barely 21 years old. Already a decent player & starter on a very good NBA team, I'm in love with the youth and the potential he has to be so much more than what he already is.

Ditto Rodriguez. I would love to see this kid running the show in NY for the Knicks. Exciting playmaker who always looks to get others involved before he looks for his own shot. With that, he loves to get out there and run and when you run, you get others easy baskets and get the crowd involved. I mean, you think Zach Randolph would like to play with this kid again? And when he does have to score he can. Last game against Atlanta in 16 mins. he was 6-7, 2-2 from three, 16 points/4 assts. A couple of games back, in 10 mins. he had 8 assts. Equally good in the half court game, he can shoot and really carve up a defender. Like Webster, he too is only 21 years old and though not the greatest defender in the world he has the tools to be adequate if not better than adequate as he gains a little strength and more experience in the league. Honestly, he has the potential to be one of the best point guards in the league one day. I think he's that good.

I tell you this though, from afar it looks like both of these guys have weird roles on the Blazers right now to say the least. Although Webster starts, he generally only plays half a game and sometimes he's not even on the floor in the 4th quarter when the game's on the line. The Blazers usually lean heavily on a Brandon Roy/Travis Outlaw combo. at the wings down the stretch and why not, both are excellent players with bright futures themselves. I kinda get the feeling that if Webster's jumper isn't going on a given night, McMillian won't hesitate to quickly fill that spot with the kind of options most coaches would kill to have: a guy equally ready and able to fill in up from the outside in James Jones, the overall versatility of Brandon Roy's game or the incredible athleticism, excitement and heart that Outlaw displays. As for Sergio Rodriguez, this kid barely even plays and to me, that astonishing. First of all, he's so much more talented than Steve Blake it's not even funny and although I respect Jack's toughness and grit, I still would say Rodriguez has much more potential & the superior overall floor general skills of the two. As of mid-november, McMillian suprisingly even tried playing Taurean Green ahead of Rodriguez on the team's second unit for a few games. WTF?? Crazy... For whatever reason, it looks like Webster & Rodriguez are kinda set up as the odd men out here at times and it makes you think they could be available in a trade if Portland got back affordable players to fill holes, namely rebounding and defense, to add to their already formidable team that has a chance to really make some noise come payoff time. Enter the Knicks.

David Lee would automatically give them the young, strong rebounding presence they seem to be lacking. He'd fit right in there and would give that team everything they need out of a big-man reserve that Channing Frye will never supply. Who knows, it could even free up the Blazers to possibly deal Frye to another teams to fill other needs or for a draft pick or two. Along with Lee, I'm open to giving the Blazers anything else on our roster they'd want in order to acquire Webster and Rodriguez. Curry, Nate, Balkman, Chandler, Morris, you name it. I even might be willing to take back a bad contract that could give Kevin Pritchard some immediate cap relief, which we already know is important to him.

How's this for a trade-
David Lee (the rebounder they need to maintain a solid second half and go deep in the playoffs - jewel of the deal for the Blazers)
Balkman (a defensive-minded/rebounding SF who can compliment all of their offensive firepower)
Morris (young inexpensive bigman with promise, insurance up front in case Oden doesn't regain top form)
Malik Rose and Fred Jones (contracts to exchange for a worse contract in Raef LaFrentz - gives Portland about 5-6 million in cap relief next season)

for

Martell Webster (our future SF/SG for years to come)
Sergio Rodriguez (our future PG for years to come)
Raef LaFrentz (a bad contract to sweeten the deal for Portland)

And if Pritchard didn't go for this, I'd continue to mix and match (Curry, Nate Robinson, Wilson Chandler, etc..) until I came up with something he liked.

The bottom line is I wouldn't mind moving forward with our #1 pick in the draft (DeAndre Jordan? Eric Gordon?), Martell Webster and Sergio Rodriguez. With that, we might be able to turn this thing around a lot quicker than I originally thought.

Any thoughts?????


[Edited by - finestrg on 01-23-2008 06:28 AM]

This team needs a big point forward if Mardy is not going to get burn.

There are too many wasted turnovers and last second chucks that are the result of having no point. Atlanta is tanking again. Maybe we can make a run at Joe Johnson.

Webster, Outlaw, James Jones... all would be the nice players because they all can shoot. Outlaw is a lights-out athlete too. I'd do the deal.

BTW........I would trade for Sergio and anyone of Portlands small fwds. David Lee can go.

........but how good is Wilson Chandler? Damn man I wish he was playing more.

Fan favorite?

I really don't understand the obsession with trading a player like David Lee for unproven players. That being said, Lee for Outlaw/Rodriguez would be pretty good. Martell is also starting to come around.

Posted by SlimPack:

The Knicks overpay in that deal. Although, trading david lee for sergio rodriguez is something that I've considered doing before. I wouldn't be opposed to doing it, but it depends on exactly how special you think Rodriguez is. I don't watch him enough to know for sure but from what I've seen I think he can be a VERY good Pure pg. we might be able to get someone around as good in the draft though without trading lee though.

Also I don't think webster is all that good, In fact I think Travis Outlaw is the better Portland SF between the two. so I would say no to your trade. the Knicks are giving up to much. However I would (98% of Knick fans wouldn't) consider trading Lee for Rodriguez straight up. I think Sergio can be that good. But I'd have to think about it first.

As far as your deal goes, if you substitute Webster for Outlaw I'd think about it, but I'd probably still not do it. Outlaw does have some promise but he isn't exactly a once in a generation player. If the Knicks just stand pat, keep their draft picks, trade for more draft picks, and draft well we can get guys like Webster and Outlaw through the draft without giving up anything.

[Edited by - Slimpack on 01-23-2008 12:48 AM]

First of all there's no way we're getting Outlaw back. He's big for them and probably one of their few untouchables along with Aldridge and Roy. And to be honest, for the package I proposed, I doubt it's even enough. The reason I'm targeting Webster is because he hasn't shown too much yet and the Blazers are basically winning games without Webster having a huge impact. It has nothing to do with Webster really, rather it's a tribute to the type of depth they have out there. Point is, he could be expendable in the right deal. I think he'd thrive in a situation where he can go somewhere and get 40 minutes/night and not be looking over his shoulder all the time because a combination of Roy, Outlaw and Jones are ready to jump all over his playing time if he's having an off night. And it's obvious Sergio Rodriguez is not in their current plans. If not then why play Steve Blake big minutes? Why draft Taurean Green?

Regarding both Webster and Rodriguez, in addition to their vast potential, they're also 2 years younger than Outlaw and about 3 years younger than David Lee - a big plus considering it would give us time to develop young players the right way and then have those players battle-tested and ready to go a few years from now when we hopefully add a few more pieces to the mix and continue to mold this roster into a much more cohesive unit than this mess Isiah continues to march out there right now.

And DarkKnicks, it's easy to get on Sergio for the turnovers now. The kid barely plays 10 minutes a night, sometimes less. What's he supposed to show in limited playing time like that? Of course he's gonna take some chances. He wants to show he belongs. He wants consistent playing time. When you get a young guy out there trying to maximize his situation in such limited playing time mistakes and turnovers are bound to occur. Not something I'd be concerned about. Like Webster, I think Rodriguez would settle down considerably in a situation where he just gets consistent PT, lets his natural talent take over and stops thinking about being benched for making mistakes.

Posted by EnySpree:

Travis Outlaw is the David Lee of the Blazers.

"Oh my God how dare you compare a winner like Lee to an unproven loser like Outlaw"......

Well, Outlaw has always been a guy that could fill up the stat sheet and highlight reel when given minutes......right now he actually could win the 6th man award cuz his team is winning.

Lots of similarities between the guys over the past few years in respect to the positions they play.

Anyway.....Lee is a power fwd. Knicks can get by just fine with Zach and Malik.

Then again.....why does Portland need Lee if they have aldridge who can play next to Oden with Frye and pryz behind them next year?

On the flipside......the Knicks have Balkman, jared, and wilson (and Q-brick). Outlaw could start @ the 3 just like Lee could for the 4 but what do the Knicks have in wilson? If wilson steps up bigtime in the next few months and next year....it kinda would be a log jam.....Knicks still would have a pool of decent talent.

The deal would have to include sergio for me to really wanna do it. I'd definately take on LaFrentz if it ment opening a roster spot also.....

Well, right now Oden's hurt, Prizbilla and Frye don't give them too much and Aldridge averages under 7.5 rebounds/game for the team lead. That's why they might like Lee. Right now, Aldridge in the middle along with Outlaw and Lee would be one awesome frontcourt that has a chance to go all the way. At least that's what I'd be thinking if I were Kevin Pritchard.

Posted by crzymdups:

Why would the Blazers mess with their chemistry right now?

Thought I explained this but to summarize:
I don't think Webster and Rodriguez, particularly Rodriguez, are really part of the core chemistry. Even though he does start, if Webster's not on he gets the quick hook and Sergio barely plays at all - but they're talented players that I'd love to get and develop here with the Knicks for the future. And you don't think that Lee would mess with their chemistry do you? If anything he could be the missing piece between a real good team and a championship in Portland.

Portland reminds me of the Bulls.......

No way you can seriously look at that roster and how the coach manages the team and say yeah that team is so good.....lets be like them.

That team looks exactly like they did last year. McMillan is still benching guys and dnp'ing dudes after having good games. Its not a formula you follow. These guys are seriously lucky.

Look at the Bulls.....their team is the same as its always been.....but this year why are they losing all of a sudden?

Knicks need to do it their way. Isiah has got it wrong but I hate to dick ride the new "it" team every year.....it doesn't work for everyone.