I know Maurice Lucas is trying to help Greg along, and I am confident that Greg will evolve as a player at some point. I can't help but wonder what a summer with Sabas would do to Oden's game. I'm not talking about a Rocky IV pilgrimage to carry logs through the Siberian snow. I say we bring Arvydas back to Portland to teach Greg some of those ball-palming bounce passes! It seems like Greg is goofy enough to dig the Sabonis style and experience, and I feel like Greg already understands how to out-muscle folks like the Russian rarely would.

I guess my only fear would be Arvydas' interest in all of the new craft vodka micro distilleries that have sprung up since he left... but I would love to hear Greg let out a Sabas "Aghhhh!!!" when getting hit going to the hoop. I would also enjoy watching Greg throw a towel at Rasheed during a game. (To avenge his mentor's honor)

So seriously:

Assuming the Grizzlies decide to incur our eternal vengeful wrath by playing Darius those two more games, and also assuming any appeals we put forth to the league are shot down, his contract goes back on our books, blah blah blah. Could we then trade his expiring contract season after next? Oh, how sweet would that be? It would make me so happy if KP could flip that deal! I would forever aurally associate Mr. Miles name as "Darius Smiles" in my mind. Oh, let us all perform whatever good luck rituals we believe in to make this so! Either way, I encourage every fan at the Rose Garden to fist-bump their noggins every time our Blazers score against those darn Grizzlies, forevermore. I love you Portland! Go BLAZERS!!!

First off, I have a ton of respect for Steve Blake as a professional basketball player. I think he does an adequate job at his position fairly consistently. His work ethic and heart are unquestionable in my mind. He seems to have the community extras that the Blazers front office demands as well. Why, then, do I whole-heartedly endorse trading Steve Blake? Talent.

We have too much guard talent and not enough minutes. Roy, Rudy, Sergio, Bayless, and Webster (SF/SG) when he returns. I am willing to live with whatever mistakes Sergio makes, as our new starting point guard, all season long. We can only guess at his ceiling at this point, and if we trade him before we ever know, we are foolish. I believe Sergio's game would flourish if he were given keys to Poppa KP's hotrod. For those of you that do not feel this way, think of this scenario:

Start Rudy at the point. With Roy in the game, all our PG does is bring the ball past half court and give it to Brandon. Would you rather have Blake or Rudy running and cutting and ready to receive a kickout?

When a substitution at guard is made, we bring in Sergio at point, and either slide Brandon (SF) and Rudy (SG) over, or rest one. If they both need rest we have  Bayless, and Webster/Trout/Batum to find minutes for... AGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The more I think of all the exciting combinations, the more emphatic I get. Blake just seems like an odd duck amongst a flock of hungry birds of prey.

If we do trade Blake (which I doubt we will, honestly), let me be the first to say:

"Steve Blake, thank you for leaving your home planet to come play basketball here on Earth. I admire your study game and demeanor. Enjoy your millions of dollars and a long career, in whichever galaxy you choose to play!"