On February 20, 2009 at 7 pm PST, the Atlanta Hawks will take on the Portland Trail Blazers at the Rose Garden Area.  The question is, will Travis Outlaw and Sergio Rodriguez be there?

Countdown to the "Trade Deadline"

Perhaps no two current Trail Blazers cause more controversy within the fanbase than Travis and Sergio.  Both are young players who have shown flashes of brilliance and basketball playmaking ability, yet they also have a knack for pissing off fans due to inconsistency or inadequate overall skills.  If they are not in the long term plans of Kevin Pritchard, there is a decent chance they will be traded before the February 19 trade deadline.  The Blazers only play 8 games between now and then, with 4 of those at home.

These may be our final opportunities to see Travis and/or Sergio donning the red and black on our home court:

1/31 vs. Utah

2/8 vs. NY

2/11 vs. OKC

2/18 vs. Memphis

Seniorities Priorities

It's odd to think that Travis is the longest tenured Trail Blazer.  We drafted him out of high school in 2003, and his first 5 years were 5 of the worst in franchise history (we have not had a record above .500  during Travis' tenure).  If fact, Travis is probably one of losingest players in the NBA since he joined the league (the Blazers  averaged nearly 50 losses per season from 2003-2008).

Today we sit in a very favorable position to make the playoffs for the first time since before Travis was drafted, but he might not get to stay around to experience what playoff basketball in the RG is like for someone on the home team.  Since Travis has been around so long, should that factor into the decision on whether to trade him or not?

Spanish Disconnect

Sergio was the extra sweetener to our epic 2006 draft.  He came over with the high expectations of possibly being our "PG of the future".  Unfortunately things never really took off for Sergio.  He has been stuck behind other guards and has never really gotten quality playing time until this season (and still only average 16 MPG). 

Many have placed the blame for Sergio's non-emergence on Coach Nate.  Does Sergio play the wrong style?  Does Nate favor veterans over young PG?  At the start of this season it looked like things might boil over when Sergio's Spanish agent took his grievances public.  Sergio responded by playing better and Nate rewarded him with more minutes.  Since Blake got injured Sergio has become the temporary starter.  But the days of Blazers fans thinking Sergio is the "PG of the future" have come and gone and many think he will never be the long term starter if he stays on the team.

The Endgame

The trade deadline is fast approaching and the next couple of weeks could be the Blazers farewell tour for Travis and/or Sergio.  Or not.  KP will decide.  If you had to take a stab at it, will Travis and/or Sergio be traded?

via cache.daylife.com

Great idea from Canzano!

If Memphis plays Darius nominal minutes in a handful of games, the NBAPA should file a grievance to the leauge on behalf of guys like Fred Jones, Luke Jackson, Ime Udoka and other potential free agents (dare I say Shavlick Randolph... my personal favorite) over the next two years.

• If Memphis does this stunt to screw the Blazers and make money for themselves, they are removing $9 million in Portland cap space each of the next two summers.
• If Portland had that cap space, they'd most likely use it (principles of SPAM).
• If Portland was able to use it and did, that is a ton of money for potential Free Agents.
• That's also more money for agents and even NBAPA dues! 
  
• Perhaps Billie Hunter doesn't like the Blazers--but he may be on the wrong side of this issue!
• Billie Hunter embarrassed the Blazers the other day by filing a grievance, but who will get the last laugh?

Should Jay Jensen be carrying this picture in his wallet?

From Self Help Magazine here are some ways to prevent choking:

1. Perform for yourself rather than attempting to please others.
2. Set your own realistic goals that are attainable yet challenging.
3. Use imagery prior to competition to review strategy and technique.
4. Use positive self-talk prior to and during competition.
5. Practice deep muscle relaxation exercises or meditation prior to competition.
6. Use music prior to competition to help maintain focus by controlling negative thoughts.

Here's the link:  Sorry Greg

First off, I listened to them and was, quite frankly, embarrassed. I didn't intend to come across so abrasive, but I did, and I have no other choice but to own up to it.

There is one line I would like to take back, where I said "I can't stand to be around" Oden. I think a more accurate reflection of my feelings would have been to say 'I'm sick of dealing with the entity of Greg Oden." The entity of Oden is the media mosh pits around him. It's hearing stupid questions, like ones about his beard. It's the incessant questions on the radio, and in internet chats, about him. And yes, it's the actual dealing with Greg himself. I totally stand by my comments that the guy is not pleasant to be around. There is nothing enjoyable about it.

At the same time, he has never been a jerk. Never. But he's sullen, uninterested, he mumbles, and generally acts like he is living a tortured life. And that's where it gets frustrating for me. There is a great kid somewhere inside this shell he has crawled into. I've seen it. I saw it at the Orlando Pre-Draft camp before Portland drafted him, when he had a table of reporters practically rolling on the ground in laughter. I saw it in an interview I did with him at a downtown Portland hotel, when he was moving, thoughtful and engaging and smart. I miss that. I think Portland misses that. Because really, that's Greg. And that part of Greg is a sliver of what made him a great basketball player. Now, that sliver is gone.

Here's my 2 cents:  Get over it and move on in life.

Trade Machine won't work because some players can't be traded until December 15.  But that's only a couple weeks away, and I checked out the money on these to be sure they would work.

Deal #1:

Charlotte receives Travis Outlaw

Portland receives Ray Felton

Deal #2:

New York receives RLEC, Steve Blake, Sergio, and Channing

Portland receives Curry, Duhon, and David Lee

Portland's new depth chart:

PG:  Felton/Duhon, Bayless

SG:  Roy, Fernandez

SF:  Webster, Batum

PF:  Aldridge, Lee, Shavlick, Ike

C:  Oden, Pryzbilla

*We buy out Curry

We don't need to go out and get old veterans to contend for the title this season.  These two feasible moves (feasible because NY and Charlotte would both be amenable to these trades) would give Portland a roster that is deeper than the L*kers.  And since we're getting younger players in return, we don't sacrifice our 12-year Manifest Dynasty window.