there is a log jam. 
Facts
1)if Aldridge plays approximately  35 minutes, that leave 13 minutes at the backup 4. 
2)We had the opportunity to trade Batum in a good draft day deal and we didn't so it is clear that we wont trade him and we need to give him enough minutes.
3) It is also clear that Outlaw cant play starting SF because it didn't work out too well at the beginning of the year when we tried it. 
4)So if we keep Outlaw and give him a good chunk of the SF minutes that would mean that Batum would have to start, and he did a very good job of it last year, but he still has a long way to go until he can be a starter on a championship team, which is now what we want to be next year.
 5)Also Webster is coming back so there must be a place for him.  There is no use in wasting talent that never gets to play, when it could be used for an upgrade in PG or backup 4.  and Websters value probably isn't so high right now coming off of his injury so Outlaws expiring cheap contract would garner the most interest.  One of the SF's must go.

why it is Outlaw
Outlaw should be the one traded because he doesn't fit with our new scheme.  we want toughness and nastiness, and to improve on Defense.  Outlaw sometimes acts tough, but he is really just a goofball, and im not saying that's bad, just not what were looking for.  He also is an atrocious defender.  he is also easily distarcted by shiny objects.  If we hope to compete at the highest level and keep Oden out of foul trouble we need good team defense.  The shots that Outlaw does shoot always seem to be the poor choices whether they go in or not.  He loves his mid range fade away jumper which is not the efficiency or team idea that we are looking for.  He has gotten better at going to the basket, or at least done so more frequently , he still ends up losing the ball a lot.  and compared to Webster he is not as good of a shooter, who is someone who can open up the defense and keep them honest while Roy, Oden or Aldridge can get the high efficiency shots inside.  Webster also gives the solid man to man D, he not as good as Batum, but thats why we have him. 

What about our spark off the Bench??  Hopefully that is taken care of by Bayless, who can get to the hole and finish much better, and can hopefully improve his pointguard skills.
Last year we had a great bench of Sergio, Rudy, Outlaw, and pryz(for the most part).
                                    compared to Bayless, Rudy, Batum,  and Pryz add in a PF like Pendegraf or maybe Mcdyess or something like that.    Batum is a much better scorer than Sergio and Bayless could really do well next year while actually getting steady minutes.  It would also be much better defensively with Bayless and Batum rather than sergio and outlaw.

My conclusion,... trade outlaw for an upgrade in PG.  there have been many ideas to try and get big name Pg's like Harris, while that is nice, it is not entirelly realistic.  Getting someone like Heinrich would be a good enough upgarde, and if we could sighn someone like McDyess i think we could be a true contender.

Heinrich(28)  Bayless(15) Roy (5)
Roy (21)  Rudy ( 27)
Webster ( 20)  Batum ( 18) Roy (10)
Aldridge (35)  McDyess?(13) Pedegraph
Oden (29) Pryzbilla(19)

there is still a minute crunch that would need to be sorted out, but it is still better than if we stand pat and do not trade Outlaw.
This would improve our starting lineup because It would add more outside shooting; Heinrich=Blake, amd Webster>>>Batum.
It impove our defense because Heinrich=Batum, Webster>>Blake.  and they would also have more fire than blake and Batum.

Improve our Second unit because; it would add mor defense:  Batum>>>>Outlaw,  Bayless>>Sergio.  plus whoever our PF is would be a better rebounder and defender than outlaw was. 

Im not sure if Heinrich or McDyess  are the answer but i am sure that Outlaw must go.

            Saposedly, the six games that Darius Miles played with Boston in the preseason now count towards the ten games that were needed to have miles ruin  our capspace. 

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=Au1E_BMt71eYBXq5wJG6r068vLYF?slug=aw-milesblazers010709&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

                What does this mean for our plans over the summer, and our future trades we could have.  We would still have a desent amout of capspace, but it will be signifigantly smaller.  This could constrict some of our options, but we still have plenty, especially for KP to bring in whoever he sees fit.   Other teams will be more than willing to play miles 2 games, especially if they will be a cap space contender.  It seems though that we may not even need that one more impact player, if we can beat the likes of the pistons without Brandon,....maybe we dont even need B-Roy.....J-K.  But im sure KP will still be able to work with whatever he is given, and get who he wants.

All hope has been lost for the beginning of the season.  Especially those first two games.  That impossible game in Los Angeles against the MVP and his gang of little followers, and then to follow it up there is the home opener against San Antonio.   All is lost... right?.... I don't think so.   the stars of both those teams are playing in the Olympics, which puts a lot more stress and ware on the body.  Kobe has his pinkie injury, or whatever, that has been bothering him since he the all star break, (which is why roy got so much time in the game) and i heard while watching one of the Olympic games that he will probably undergo surgery.     And Manu ginobli has had a hurt ankle for a long time, and has now taken another fall, and could undergo surgery.  Now, these surgeries could go as smoothly as roys, and be ready for their games, but they might also have some leftover effects of the surgery, and may not be at 100%.  If by some way we won, because they wernt there, it wouldn't be as sweet, but any W is sweeter than L.  Just imagine if we did win, and they were there, the world would really have to take notice.   No matter what the circumstances, it will be tough, with so many young and inexperienced players, but hopefully everyone shows up early for training camp like last year to help get things started, and jellin as soon as possible.  Basically, this means that we might at least have some hope in these games, no matter how small it is.  And lets just hope that we got our injuries out of the way. 

           Here is an interesting video about OJ Mayo,  to me it sounds like his problems are just way overblown, and are not that big of a deal.  He would not be a bad apple, especialy if he came into such a good enviornment.  To get him we would have to give up alot.  he has been very highly regarded lately, but could he slip down a little, maybe to memphis or New York which could be good trading partners.  If we got him i think we could run a fastbreaking team, and give everyone their points...But KP will have to decide if he is good enough...... In KP we trust.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amR81vv-0O0

I know everybody has been posting about oj, but i didnt really think anybody would see it if i put it as a fanshot, or comment

In kp we trust

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdOTelhqVYw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JB3z6VSlogY&feature=related

Next year i think that the rookies will finally be able to beat the sophmores. or at least get very close to doing so. 

Rose-  Bayless

Gordon- Mayo

Fernandez- Gallinari- Greene

Beasley- lopez- Randolph

Oden- Jorden

Vs.

Conley- Stuckey

Durant - Navaro

Thadeus Young- Thorton- Moon

Scola-Landry

Horford- Noah

The rooks will have more impact players, rebound size advatage with horford being kind of small for a center.  Anyway Oden already dominated Horford and Noah in the title game. It looks to me that besides horford and durant the the rookies are a higher caliber team (Rose, Beasly, Oden, mayo?, and hopefully fernandez) but they are still rookies and inexperienced... what are your thoughts. 

And the rosters are just estemates.  I put rudy in at sf here because they are weak at sf and didnt have other better options.

Here is the trade that I could find that will bring Rose home to the rose city.  And let's say Miami gets the# 2 pick, they would probably take Michael Beasley if they got #1.  I think they could get more for the pick at than rose; they need about everything and might not want another dominant guard that can't shoot well.  Assuming the team that gets #1 doesn't take him, here is the trade.          
http://www.realgm.com/src_checktrade.php?tradeid=4562601

Continue reading this post »

I think that our team operates better when the tempo is pushed up, and there are more fast breaks.  Everything seems to be running smoother and better.   This will especially be the case when Oden can get every rebound and everyone else can leak out for the fast break.  

What are the problems with Roy becoming the "point guard of the future?"  The only one that I have heard is that he would not be able to guard the super quick and small point guards (Chris Paul- Tony Parker).  I also think that he could not run an up-tempo /fast break offense because he seems to slow everything down to "Roy Speed."   What we need out of a point guard is someone who could do these two things.  What I have heard and seen of Russell Westbrook seems like he could fit both of these criteria's--He is a phenomenal lock down defender, and I heard that he was the Pac-Ten defensive player of the year--He also likes to push the ball and scores most of his points on fast breaks.   He is not that great of a shooter, but that is not what we need, we are already a jump shooting team, and it seems like someone who could drive to the basket would be very much needed.  He can also throw down a killer dunk-  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FP0ua5xFw4&feature=related - Which can really help to turn the momentum and draw a foul.  I remember that his dunks in the Oregon game were completely demoralizing.

Roy could be at the point for most of the half court sets while Westbrook could push it during the fast breaks.  He is not that talented offensively yet  but that is not what we need with Rudy coming over and Webster blossoming, and the BIG Twin towers inside and Roy, and Outlaw if he manages to stay around long enough.  He could be the sleeper of this draft, but I would not expect that much out of him at first, he could play behind Blake and gain more experience and gain some more point guard skills which he needs.  But a couple years down the line he could be exactly what we need.  This "Explosive combo guard", who they compare to Monta Ellis is also said to be a hard worker and someone who would fit our culture.  
Maybe there is someone better out there, and maybe Nate will never let them fast break, but he is an option and could be had cheap with our own draft pick.  He could at least have as much point guard skills as Jarret Jack.  Is he a good option or should we get someone more experienced and less of a project.  I think we would be fine if he backed up Blake, who is improving as well.  Make sure that you watch Westbrook and UCLA as they go for the championship and tell me what you think.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGzllXpnBf8&eurl=http://www.nbadraft.net/admincp/profiles/russell westbrook.html
http://www.nbadraft.net/admincp/profiles/russellwestbrook.html (written last year i think 50% free throw shooting up to 70%)
http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Russell-Westbrook-5062/
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/player/profile?playerId=31663

In recent years many European players have come over and have not been able to adjust and play in the NBA game.  It seems to me from eaverything that ive heard Rudy has all the tools to be an effective player.  He can shoot it, and effect the game, but can he defend?  When and if Rudy comes over how many minutes and points will he be able to get his rookie year and into the future.  What would you consider a success?  How good will he be?

succes for me would be something like 20 ish minutes, and 8 or 9 points.

and a little under 30 min and 12 or 13 pts, thats really all we would need with all the other wepons on the team.

Take a look at the career points and rebounding of Travis and Webster.  Both coming right out of high school.
Outlaw                 Webster
Pts    Reb               Pts       Reb
1        .6                6.6        2.2
5.4      2.1              7          2.9
5.8      2.7             10.5       4
9.6      3.3
13.5    4.8
Nobody thinks that Webster could ever amount to greatness.  Do we need greatness, and who would have said that Outlaw would even play in the NBA when he was in the same position as Martell.  Webster averages a little less than double outlaws stats at the same time, and on a better team than outlaw played.  I know he still has a lot to improve on, but he is held to a higher standard, i think he has a higher ceiling and potential.  He is already better than outlaw on defense and a better stroke.  Once he can consistently get open, dribble and drive to the rim he could be a good player alongside what we already have.  He could really do good, and get open next year with Oden in the middle and someone to spread the defense.  Although competition will be tough with Rudy coming over.   I don't think that we should give him up, although I wouldn't be opposed if we were able to get a killer deal.
I still like outlaw and his step back jumper but with rudy and oden coming in next year, shots might be hard to come by.  What else could he give to us.