CP3 Hype Thread
Written by Seth Johnston   
Sunday, 25 July 2010 08:08

Sometimes when a group of people get excited about something they follow up analysis with more and more analysis. This path is problematic when the answer is simple. Eventually, the group can arrive at final thoughts that are not optimal. We've all been in those meetings.

In the case of the potential Chris Paul trade, the answer is simple: do it. There are some basic caveats of course. You have to keep Roy and, in my opinion, two out of three of Oden, LaMarcus, and Batum. Of that group LaMarcus is probably the least desirable to New Orleans since he is owed a lot of money and they already have a nice power forward. That brings us to Oden or Batum.

The idea of trading Oden remains unacceptable to many fans. I'm all for keeping him, but in the case where you can get a young player that is proven All-NBA quality, an exception should be made. The Blazers are not "married" to Greg Oden. Also, can we stop comparing NBA relationships to matrimony? That has been irksome for a while. These are professionals in a business. If you want a framework to help explain things, economics is more useful. Everything Portland has invested into Greg Oden the asset is something of a sunk cost. That we have invested so heavily in him for a while doesn't mean that we should exclude him from trades that will help the franchise. Holding an asset because of what you've invested in the past is a fantastic way to limit success.

The League seems to hold Oden in high regard. The word on Batum isn't totally out to the masses yet. I'd rather keep Oden than Batum, but the fact that I felt the need to say that speaks volumes for Nicolas. Emotionally, it would hurt me more to see Batum leave. With Oden there has been frustration almost every step of the way. That makes it easier to see him leave. Batum has been the feel good story, always seeming to rise above expectations.

There aren't very many players that are on Chris Paul's level. He's a hall of fame guy. Opportunities to add that type of quality are rare. It would be a major change for the Blazers. It's scary. You have to give up high potential guys that you really like to do it. There's that risk that he will leave as soon as his contract is up. Doubt starts to creep in.

Because Paul was injured most of last year I think some of us have forgotten how dominant he is. Remember in 2008, when many became convinced that Dwyane Wade wasn't really an elite player? We have bad memories. The only reason there is a "best point guard in the NBA" debate today is because Paul was injured last season and we forgot a little bit.

Chris Paul is worth the risk. It's worth a little Brandon Roy pouting over his loss of ball domination rights. It's worth parting with a beloved young player. He's that good, and thats why it's that simple.

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Comments (11)Add Comment
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written by Scotty B, July 25, 2010
I absolutely agree. Batum surpassed Roy last year as my favorite player on the team. Even so, I would fully accept a trade for Chris Paul involving Batum. You're going to have to give up something to get something (unless, apparently, you're the Lakers making a trade with Memphis).

In other news, I ran into Matt "Sheed" Scheeler at a wedding last night so I can confirm that he is, in fact, safe and healthy. We can all breath a little easier now.
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written by Goosey McGhee, July 25, 2010
Is it worth the risk if he bails in two years? Especially if there's a lockout, Paul would be a Blazer for a year and maybe a half before he's able to opt out of his deal. If things don't click he can bolt and you get nothing in return. You lose Paul, Oden or Batum perhaps both and the franchise that was once promising is now erraticated because the club is star hungry. He is a future HOF player, he's 1 or 2 amongst PG's in the league and is very likely an all around better player than Roy, but do the Blazers need an elite PG more than a bench? More than an inside presence? Will Paul and Roy be able to work together and will Paul be able to work under Nate's slow methodical shackled system? When I look at on it's face it just doesn't fit, I'd love it to fit and I think we all want it to fit to the point where we're forcing it to fit, but I don't think it will and it certainly wont in one years time which is about all the time Portland had to it make work. As much as stars win in the NBA which is partially true history tells us it's only the elite stars that win, it's the MVP candidates that win, it's the top five caliber players that win and they don't do it alone they need size, length, toughness and defense. How much of that are we gaining with Paul and how much of that will we lose to get him?

With LeBron's mafia whispering in his ear, I just got a bad feeling he's gonna bail in two years and if that happens it's gonna set this team back years.
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written by T-Mac1, July 25, 2010
Why is Roy off the table when CP3 is better than him? My trade offer would be Roy, Joel and Patty Mills for CP3 and a 2011 # 1. NO does is because they get a new franchise player who won't leave in two years, plus cap space and a fun PG prospect. Portland does it because Roy's ceiling is lower than Paul's--remember when Paul was 2nd in the MVP voting and had one of the best statistical seasons ever for a PG? Remember when they had the Spurs on the ropes and were projected by many to make the finals the next year before Tyson Chandler crapped the bed all season? Roy has worse injury problems than CP3 and can be simply taken out of the game (like the entire Phoenix series, and other games, highlight). Plus, Paul and LaMarcus are a perfect fit, better even than Paul and West, and with Camby and Oden protecting the middle and Batum and Jerryd roaming the perimiter, along with Miller holding down the 2nd unit, that's a better team than we've got now.

The reasons not to do it are mostly the contract--Paul might leave in two years. In fact, I think he's going to Miami (or wherever) if he doesn't win right away. Plus, Nate's style of play isn't really conducive to Paul's up-tempo moves, so he'll likely clash early and often in his time in PDX. Injuries aren't nothing, either, so I'd have to think about it. But, I will say this: I don't think the team as currently assembled will win an NBA title, and if Paul gives us a better chance to do that, and I think he does, then I say roll the dice.
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written by SethJohnston, July 25, 2010
@Scotty: Having never seen Matt and Sheed in the same place at the same time, I was starting to suspect that they were in fact one person: MattSheed. Thank you for confirming this and reporting the sighting. I feel like we may need to start a MattSheed Watch.

@Goosey: That's the scary thing, but I would still go for it. Would you rather have the Blazers pass on this opportunity and never become a true title contender? If super-teams are going to be the new thing, I'm skeptical of this team's ability to win a title if they don't make this move.

I would be conservative to a fault if I were a GM. And this is a risk that even I would take.

@TMac: I applaud your willingness to put Roy in perspective. That can be dangerous in these parts. I agree that Paul is better than Roy.

I think Portland needs to keep Roy because without the both of them I don't think they are a super-team beater. Roy can be taken out of the game when he's the only superstar on the court, but not with CP3 at the point. They would help each other immensely and be the most dominant back court in the league. Swap Roy+change for CP3 and I think they Blazers could improve, but not by enough to justify the risk of CP3 leaving when his contract is up.
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written by kneejerknba, July 25, 2010
I'd do Roy and change for CP3 in a heartbeat, flight risk or not. Same goes for any deal built around Oden.
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written by JB4, July 25, 2010
Would Bayless be gone if CP3 went to the Blazers?
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written by SethJohnston, July 25, 2010
@JB4: I see what you're doing. Trying to get me to smash my computer so I can't blog anymore. I'm impressed.
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written by Goosey McGhee, July 26, 2010
The thing I'm most curious and even shocked about is..why Portland? Why not Denver, OKC or Atlanta? Orlando makes the most sense but why Portland over those other markets that includes players Carmelo and Durant? Does he know something that we don't about Melo? He did tease about playing with him in NY after all. Is it because Portland's a potential threat in a bigger scheme? Crush all competition and just have 3 to 4 superteams?

After the collusion we just witnessed with LeBron's mafia, I just got this feeling that they're planning something big and I have a hard time buying into the fact that those plans include the Blazers becoming a force in the league.

I know it's a wacky conspiracy theory, but aything is possible now after this Summer.
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written by CHEAP ugg boots, August 05, 2010
Camby was listed as questionable and I heard if he wasn't feeling good at all, he'd skip the game. My guess, no Camby tonight. 2010
I think roy make good shots and Rudy playmakes long
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