"procerus quod rudis"

Its a small fraternity, but not in physical size and certainly not in the pocketbook.  No, its small in accomplishments.

career averages

Todd MacCulloch (6 year, $34 million) 6.1 points  4.0 rebounds

Calvin Booth (6 years, $34 million) 3.3 points 2.8 rebounds

Jim McIlvaine (5 years, $33.6 million) 2.7 points 3.1 rebounds

Travis Knight (7 years, $22 million) 3.4 points 3.1 rebounds

Jerome James (5 years, $30 million) 4.3 points 3.1 rebounds

Adonal Foyle (6 years, $42 million) 4.1 points 4.7 rebounds

Vitaly Potapenko (6 year, $33 million) 6.5 points 4.5 rebounds

Joel Przybilla (5 years,  $32 million) 4.2 points 6.4 rebounds

sorry Joel I didn't mean it, it was just sooooo easy. Who's my Vanilla Gorilla?  Thats right! You are!

4.33 points and 3.96 rebounds on $260 million invested.

Marcin Gortat 3.7 points and 4.4 rebounds

5 years, $27 million

welcome to the club.

(btw "procerus quod rudis" means tall and clumsy)

"Where there is smoke, there is fire."

-some guy

Why would the Blazers want David Lee? Great rebounder, shoots a high percentage but at a cost of 8 to 10 million a year.  No thanks right? A lot of money for a PF backup.  But what if David Lee is more than a backup at PF, what if he is also your backup at Center.  

pause.

Trade the 'billa?!  Ludicris you say.  But the Billa is a valuable trade asset, manageable contract and a legitimate starting center in the league.  Teams would be asking for his services correct?  Teams that might have small forwards that are potentially available.

Tayshaun Prince.

Gerald Wallace.

Caron Butler (dream).

All player virtually have the same contract of about $9.5 million for next year.  Package the Vanilla Gorilla and Troutlaw and you can have any of them. Would you do it?

Why would Detroit? 

If the Pistons had interest in the Turk as reported, perhaps they aren't sold on Prince for the future.  Joel gives them a starting center and would improve their team's rebounding and defense.  Outlaw provides a one year scoring punch and salary relief if wanted.

Why would Charlotte?

Again they have been searching for a starting center since the team was founded (hello Alexis Ajinca!).  Joel gives them that and Outlaw again. scoring. cap relief.

Why would Washington?

They really wouldn't.  Caron Butler is one amazing player.  They did trade for Randy Foye and Mike Miller oddly enough though.  Trade Butler to the Blazers (if I keep saying it it might happen) shift Mike Miller to the SF.  In 2010 the Wizards would be around $15 million under the cap potentially.  That summer of '10 might make GM's do foolish things.

Why wouldn't the Blazers do a lopsided trade?

The ship of getting a SF for nothing sailed with Jefferson to The Spurs.  Team will want Batum they will want Rudy or Bayless.  Is Joel in the long term plans?  Or better yet, would Joel want to sit behind Greg Oden for years?

Center for Center Joel is better than David Lee as a starter, but David Lee is a better backup because you could player him at either backup PF or backup Center.  He can rebound.  He actually can score ie Joel's main weakness.  What about defense though?  David Lee is not a good defender according to the metrics.  But who on New York is?  Is it a product of the system?  Hey at least he can rebound.

So no Joel for a SF make little sense (re Greg Oden injury history) but if David Lee is signed the murky water of the offseason gains a little clarity.