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V · 12-31-2003, 01:58 AM

From Hoopsworld

Marc Stein of ESPN is beginning his own Rasheed watch. The Blazers are beginning cursory contract discussions which is as much to start the process as it is to drive up Rasheed’s value. The Blazers really like what Rasheed brings them and do not think they find anything better in the free agent race in 2 years that is worth letting Rasheed walk. The Blazers are targeting players who have 1 more year on their contract, would fill a need on the team and would come off the books at the same time as Stoudamire’s contract allowing them to be free agent players in the 2005 offseason: Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Ilgauskas, Steve Nash, Gasol, Ray Allen, Kirilenko, among others are targets of Portland. Of that list, players like Nash, Allen and Kirilenko are not available and a player like Gasol would be very difficult salary wise to grab.

Look for the Blazers to concentrate with Atlanta and Cleveland on possible deals. Trading Rasheed to Cleveland would allow Cleveland to be big free agent players this offseason and would be worth a draft pick or some young talent for Cleveland to make that deal. The Hawks are really two years away from making a free agent splash and Rasheed would be a talent bet. Right now, the smart money is on Cleveland for a package centered (I’m so clever) around Ilgauskas along with a package of Dajuan Wagner, Darius Miles or a draft pick in return.

The Blazers would like to entertain serious extension discussions at around $9-10 million per season. Rasheed has made an effective transition to small forward, can play the center position in a pinch and combined with Zach Randolph, makes an extremely effective forward combination. With $8 million to Derek Anderson at the shooting guard, the 2, 3 and 4 positions for Portland would be set for a few years at $25 million. In this scenario the Blazers will look to trade Qyntel Woods for a young point guard or a center and develop Travis Outlaw as a backup forward.

Right now the Blazers would have two lottery draft picks giving them their highest draft picks since Shawn Respert. These two lottery picks could be used to move up in the draft or to pick up a young point guard like Ben Gordon or Raymond Felton from the college ranks.

12-31-2003, 01:58 AM	#66
V Golden Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 1,208	RE:Rasheed Wallace From Hoopsworld Marc Stein of ESPN is beginning his own Rasheed watch. The Blazers are beginning cursory contract discussions which is as much to start the process as it is to drive up Rasheed’s value. The Blazers really like what Rasheed brings them and do not think they find anything better in the free agent race in 2 years that is worth letting Rasheed walk. The Blazers are targeting players who have 1 more year on their contract, would fill a need on the team and would come off the books at the same time as Stoudamire’s contract allowing them to be free agent players in the 2005 offseason: Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Ilgauskas, Steve Nash, Gasol, Ray Allen, Kirilenko, among others are targets of Portland. Of that list, players like Nash, Allen and Kirilenko are not available and a player like Gasol would be very difficult salary wise to grab. Look for the Blazers to concentrate with Atlanta and Cleveland on possible deals. Trading Rasheed to Cleveland would allow Cleveland to be big free agent players this offseason and would be worth a draft pick or some young talent for Cleveland to make that deal. The Hawks are really two years away from making a free agent splash and Rasheed would be a talent bet. Right now, the smart money is on Cleveland for a package centered (I’m so clever) around Ilgauskas along with a package of Dajuan Wagner, Darius Miles or a draft pick in return. The Blazers would like to entertain serious extension discussions at around $9-10 million per season. Rasheed has made an effective transition to small forward, can play the center position in a pinch and combined with Zach Randolph, makes an extremely effective forward combination. With $8 million to Derek Anderson at the shooting guard, the 2, 3 and 4 positions for Portland would be set for a few years at $25 million. In this scenario the Blazers will look to trade Qyntel Woods for a young point guard or a center and develop Travis Outlaw as a backup forward. Right now the Blazers would have two lottery draft picks giving them their highest draft picks since Shawn Respert. These two lottery picks could be used to move up in the draft or to pick up a young point guard like Ben Gordon or Raymond Felton from the college ranks. __________________ "If there's no more questions, I've got a beer that needs consuming." -- Don Nelson