Swamigp’s Sports Blog

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Nothing like a false three-way trade involving the Blazers

The Portland Trail Blazers are looking to upgrade and add even more depth. There is nothing wrong with this, especially since power forward Paul Millsap is one of their targets.

The Blazers offered Millsap a contract, one that they hope can trump any possible counter-proposal by the Utah Jazz, his former team. They definitely see him as a tough competitor that can fill their backup power-forward spot, but it appeared unlikely that he would end up in Portland once a intriguing rumor surfaced.

According to a report by ESPN’s Chad Ford and Mark Stein:

“Another major multi-team trade might be looming in the NBA with the Portland Trail Blazers, Utah Jazz and Chicago Bulls having discussed a deal that would be headlined by Carlos Boozer and Kirk Hinrich, according to NBA front-office sources.

Sources stressed to ESPN.com that no deal was imminent Thursday and that both Portland and Utah are still evaluating multiple trade scenarios. But two sources with knowledge of the three-team proposal confirmed that there have been substantive talks regarding a trade that would land Boozer in Chicago, Hinrich in Portland and Tyrus Thomas in Utah.”

I’d like to know who these sources are. A majority of the time, so-called “NBA front-office sources” don’t know what they are talking about. This is the case here, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports…

“[The]Bulls haven’t had a “single conversation” about a 3-way deal Blazers and “have nothing going” with Utah about Boozer, Bulls source tells Y!.”

Sam Smith, a writer for Bulls.com, similarly refutes the rumored deal, saying “nothing’s going on.”

Since nothing is going on, how does this even get started? The fact that the three sides haven’t even seriously discussed a deal bothers me. Are “sources” bored? Do they get their information from some blogger proposing a hope? This is most likely the case. The blogger is probably a fan of the Blazers, wondering if such a fabrication would actually lead to some action on the part of General Manager Kevin Pritchard, who has been relatively quiet this offseason aside from the Hedo Turkoglu saga.

Rumors, true or not, are published for the viewing public to stir things up, to get fans excited. Following the posts on the Blazers forum once ESPN’s story hit the web, it appeared the rumor did it’s job. Fans were going crazy, voicing varying opinions. Some wanted Hinrich no matter what it took, while others wanted both him and Millsap. The competent group wanted Portland to lose Hinrich’s agent’s phone number and focus all their attention on signing Millsap to backup LaMarcus Aldridge, knowing a lack of toughness from that position is their only glaring weakness.

I find it odd that Portland would even go after Hinrich. I don’t blame Pritchard for wanting to upgrade, but Hinrich’s the best he can do? He is a lesser, more expensive version of current point guard Steve Blake. Playing 26 minutes per game last season, Hinrich averaged 10 points, 2 rebounds, and 4 assists, while shooting 43 percent from the field including 40 percent from the three-point range. In comparison, Blake played in 69 games to Hinrich’s 51, and averaged 11 points and 5 assists per game, while shooting 43 percent from the field including 43 percent from three-point range. Why is Hinrich even on Portland’s radar? He isn’t even better than Blake.

Blake’s weakness is his inability to keep up with quicker guards. Hinrich, similarly built, is a tougher defender, but isn’t quicker on defense. So, if the Blazers think that Blake isn’t formidable and that Jerryd Bayless isn’t their future at the position, why not go after a Raymond Felton or Ramon Sessions, two younger guards known for their speed? I don’t understand why Portland would want a point guard, but since they do, they should at least focus on someone who makes sense.

Because Utah has an inkling to trade Boozer, re-signing Millsap is their top priority. So, even if the Blazers offered him a lucrative contract, the Jazz would have the opportunity to match. Therefore, Portland will most likely lose out on Millsap, meaning they would be more inclined to make a rash decision.

Yet, if they were to sign Millsap, it wouldn’t be too difficult to integrate him into the fold, primarily because he wouldn’t play a substantial amount of minutes. His toughness, rebounding, and aggressive scoring ability would mesh nicely with Portland’s surrounding talent.

Hinrich would adapt quickly as Blazer because he’s so similar to Blake. Yet, because he and Blake differ in some respects, there would still be an adjustment period, which could lead to a slow start to the season. If he didn’t pan out, he’d be an expensive poor-man’s Blake. I would rather stick with what has worked, instead of taking an unnecessary risk.

I hope Pritchard realizes that his team will contend and win 50-plus games without any changes. Millsap would make them better, whereas Hinrich would not.

July 9, 2009 - Posted by swamigp | Chicago Bulls, NBA, NBA Trade Rumors, Portland Trail Blazers, Sports, Utah Jazz, basketball | , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

4 Comments »

  1. You are close in your analysis, but I don’t think the purpose of these reports are to stir up interest, after all the reporter is not an employee of the team or the league. Instead it is just a matter of the reporter being on salary and being required to file a story on deadline, and there is nothing to report. Also, sometimes a reporter consciously allows themselves to be used by one of the GMs who uses the story to put out a trial balloon, and the reporter does it, because playing ball with that GM means that he owes you one, and now that GM becomes an inside source for the reporter regarding other matters.

    Usually when something is attributed to an unnamed source, it is either an outright falsehood, or someone has an agenda. Granted many credible and legitimate stories are broken when attributed to sources, but the overwhelming majority of reports attributed to nothing other than unnamed sources ultimately prove to be false.

    All of that being said Hinrich, while certainly not an All-Star, is a much better player than Blake.

    I have no idea why you are so enamored with Blake. There really is a reason why he has moved around the league so much, and Portland has already gotten rid of him once.

    Comment by Eric Gallagher | July 10, 2009 | Reply

    • I just think that Blake is servicable, and a good fit for their offense. They don’t need 18-20 points per game out of their starting point guard because they have so many other options. They just need someone who runs the offense well, passes well, and can make shots, which Blake does.

      Sure they could upgrade, to target Hinrich is ridiculous. He’s only a year younger than Blake, and he put up lesser numbers than him last season. He’s injury-prone and expensive. I understand why Portland would want a change at point, but to go after Hinrich makes little sense.

      Comment by swamigp | July 10, 2009 | Reply

  2. Looks to me as your guy Pritchard is giving Milsap the offer sheet to try to force their hand on the Boozer trade.

    By all accounts there is just no way Utah lets Milsap walk for nothing.

    So the next 7 days will be interesting.

    Does Utah then drop their expectations of what they want in return for Boozer, which then lets Portland get Heinrich without parting with Bayless?

    That is the expectation the Pritchard has, but funny things can happen when you do business with people by putting a gun to their head, which is basically what he is doing to Utah.

    Sometimes they capitulate, but sometimes they go out of their way to burn you.

    Utah has 7 days to burn Pritchard, and they will if they can.

    Utah has two was to do this. One is to recruit the Thunder and their cap space into a 3 way deal, but it is unclear what pieces they would part with that Utah or Chicago or any other 3rd dance partner would want.

    Another potential avenue is the Knicks.

    I know the Knicks are keeping their powder dry for next year, but they are saving their money for 2 max contracts, not one, so they could still get Boozer, and have money for LeBron, and still have money left over, and they are probably inclined to think that having Boozer would further entice LeBron.

    Whatever the case may be, if I am Utah, the way I am looking at it is that I am negotiating with Portland in good faith, above board, and Portland is dealing from the bottom of the deck, and I would do anything I could to burn them, and see that they get shut out, and end up with nothing.

    Things should get interesting sometime on Thursday.

    Comment by Eric Gallagher | July 11, 2009 | Reply

    • What’s so intriguing about the Millsap offer is that there is a huge signing bonus attached. This means that Utah would have to spend more money than they want on him. The bonus alone scares Utah, but since they want to trade Boozer, I expect them to match.

      If they don’t, the Blazers are set for the future. Pritchard’s contract offer is exactly what Millsap wants, and I sure Millsap is flattered and wants to go to Portland. The four-year deal includes only a player option, with no opt-outs. That’s the security he wants, and Portland knew this.

      Apparently the three-way deal involving Utah, Chicago, and Portland is “not going to happen” according to Prtichard. And, it appears that Boozer to Chicago altogether won’t happen. So, your other options are very possible.

      The Knicks idea is interesting, considering the Knicks, if they want to recruit Lebron, are going to need to have a team ready to compete once he arrives. Boozer, given his injury history, would be overpriced, but worth it if it meant getting Lebron.

      Utah is in a predicament, you are right. If they don’t match, they’ll fall behind Denver and Portland in the division. And if they decided to get rid of Boozer midseason, they will be without him and Millsap, and have really only Williams to build around.

      It will be interesting, and fun to follow. I hope the Blazers get Millsap, because this would keep them from doing something really stupid like target Lamar Odom. I can’t imagine Pritchard if he missed out on both Turkoglu and Millsap.

      Comment by swamigp | July 11, 2009 | Reply


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