StumpTownSports

Just for fun here’s a look at every team in the NBA with an eye toward whether they would make good trading partners with the Blazers based on they players they have, the players they need, the contracts involved and the likelihood that they would do the deal. I’m not going to bother with every possible scenario or deal with things like whether the Blazers could get in on a trade for KG or Kobe. I’m working with the premise that the Blazers would, for the right deal, be willing to part with Jack, Przybilla, Webster, Green, McRoberts, Outlaw, LaFrentz and Jones. I’m sure they would trade just about anyone other than Roy and Oden if the price was right, but the Blazers clearly want to keep Roy, Aldridge, Frye, Oden and Sergio…and Blake at least for this year. So, I’m not going to discuss those guys very much if at all. Also, I’m assuming that both Raef and D Miles are basically untradeable because of their contracts and health. Finally, I’m assuming that the Blazers really only nee...

Mike Vick was the Lebron James of the NFL. Hugely hyped when he came in the league and had the type of skills that translated very well to marketing prowess. Even though he didn’t match Peyton Manning’s endorsements and has never really lived up to expectations as a QB, he was nonetheless as much the face of the NFL as any other player. He was also such a freakish athlete, that he has the Bo Jackson “you never know what you might see when you watch him” factor. Some of the most amazing things I have ever seen on the football field were done by Vick. He may be the fastest guy in the league on the field and is so dazzling you can’t help but watch. Of course he had is downside as well. Even though he led Atlanta to some victories, he never really seemed to fulfill his promise. He is not an accurate passer (to say the least) and also seems to lack a mind for the game that allows him to pick defenses apart like Manning and Brady do. But even with that, he was still perhaps the great...

Now that the Blazers have finally signed Steve Blake, here are my thoughts on the signing and what the Blazers should do next. I like Blake. Good, solid veteran guy who limits his mistakes, plays hard and seems like a good teammate and person. I think he fits well in Portland where he was very well liked when he was here a couple years ago and should have a much more fun team to play with in a City that is electric with Blazer hype right now even when the news is all about Oden’s tonsils. Blake also brings much needed shooting and flexibility to play both the 1 and the 2. I really only have 2 concerns about the signing and only one of those is Blake’s fault. First, I’m afraid that it means the Blazers have to trade J Jack for chemistry reasons. From a talent standpoint, I still like Jack and would still prefer he get the minutes as starter or off the bench over Sergio or the other PGs on the team. However, I think Blake came in to start and I’m not sure Jack won’t sulk if he gets bench...

Sure, I could have posted something right after the most important NBA draft of my lifetime. Or I could have waited and posted something as soon as teams could talk to free agents. But then I would have been just like every other writer and blogger dispensing relevant insight in a timely manner. And where’s the fun in being just like everyone else? So, instead I decided to wait until no one really cares any more. It’s a technique I will be sure to teach whenever I’m invited to be a sports journalism professor at Harvard or some place like that. Lots to cover. Should be a long post. Let’s get right to it. DRAFT RECAP I got to watch the NBA draft (or as I like to call it, “The birth of a dynasty”), with my good friends John and Jeeva. Wanting to avoid the usual sportsbar dive food, we met at a swanky sports bar in a trendy part of Portland. Turns out, they import all of their food from dive sportsbars. Dang. Can’t really endorse the “Upper Deck” sports bar…or is it “On Deck”? ...