Tonight is part four in our ongoing series where I use trade machine to try and trade Derek Williams to the team the Wolves are playing that night. My goal is for Derek Williams to become aware of this and use it as motivation. That or David Kahn becomes aware of these posts and tries to make these trades.
Portland and Minnesota have become rivals of sorts over the past couple of years. To think a rivilary coule be started as a result of a General Managers who developed a distrust from one another because one thought it was in poor taste to trade a player with a broken back while the other thought it to be brilliant. For what it is worth, if you are the one getting rid of the guy with a broken back I would call that a win for the organization.
Since that time there have been lawsuits, offer sheets, trade rumors, agent double speak, and offer sheets matched. The odds of these two teams dealing with each other in the future is probably limited. At least until the Blazers offer Pek a max contract this off season.
Speaking over huge contract offers, let's check in on Batum before looking at tonight's trade offer to unload Derek Williams.
20.1 ppg, 6 boards, 3.2 assists, 2 steals, 1.1 blocks.
and for the heck of it, let's look at AK.
13.8 ppg, 8.3 boards, 3 assists, 1.6 steals , 2.1 blocks
Batum can score a little bit more but it seems AK is giving more on the defensive end. Look for AK's ppg to go down with Love back, too. Not saying one is better than the other just pointing out the two off season targets for the Wolves.
And now, trade time!
Derek Williams and 2 first round picks for Batum.
http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=acvracn
PDX gets: Williams
Minnesota gets, Victor Claver, Will Barton, & Elliot Williams.
One of these players hasn't gotten off of Portland's bench, and the other two are averaging 5 min a game for a team with an awful bench.
We all really liked Will Barton coming into the draft though!
Wolves/Blazers tip off at 9pm CST. Blazers are -2.
One thing that's cool about the bike I ride at the gym is that it has a TV attached. I will be watching this game while I pedal.
Well, I'm awake. My body demands to know what the hell is going on. I worked the full twelve hours, shopped for about 45 minutes, and went home, as usual with the grand idea of staying up until night to get back on track. As always, I fell asleep within minutes and woke up just as it was getting dark.
I love working Black Friday, but I don't know how much longer my aging frame will put up with it. Well, at least I woke up in time for this game.
Not out of the question that Rubio could return by the next home game, Adelman says.
huzzah!
It was 259 days from when Peterson tore his ACL and MCL to the first game of the season. It would be 264 days from when Rubio tore his ACL and LCL to the November 30 game. Seems quick but possible.
I was reading something I cannot find at right now but the idea was that it is much more difficult for a basketball player to come back from this injury than a basketball player due to the nature of the sports. Don't quote me on this but the idea of the pressure or psi put on your knees from jumping is going to cause more damage, making it tougher to come back than just running and cutting would be in football.
Jumping and explosiveness aren't huge parts of Rubio's game but there is no reason to rush him back right now.
Pek is moving the Blazers bigmen under the basket. what a beast.
I really want to see Pekovic work Meyers Leonard over tonight.
I hated ML at Illinois.
He looks like he is 16 years old.
Me too. Hey, I'll take Kevin Love working him over, also.
Man, I've missed Love.
I missed Wednesday night's game so I didn't get to say this but I really enjoy Love's game.
that was an enjoyable quarter of basketball
Wow. Howard and Lou both in the rotation before Williams.
He was DNP-CD on Wednesday.
Really? I missed that.
Coach is doing everything he can do make my trade offers seem even more unfair for the Wolves.
yeah, Cunningham has taken over that slot in the rotation
Wisconsin playing Crieghton on ESPN right now...somehow Wisky has 34 points before halftime.
Love might have embellished a little to get that third foul on Aldridge.
that tie on Rubio....yikes.
Damian Lillard is alright.
heck of an outlet pass by Love to Howard
That was one of the sweetest outlet passes I have ever seen my whole life. Holy moly.
the starting guards for Portland have combined for 31 points.
And their bench has combined for zero.
why did Love get a technical there?
these Portland shots...I cant believe they are going in.
that was a charge on Love. he got away with it.
I like how new play by play guy tries to sugar coat things, then Jim Pete is giving him the verbal eye roll
i'm sick of big, evaporating leads.
well, those last few minutes weren't very good...
The third quarter has not been kind
this is getting out of hand. wow
well, these first few minutes weren't very good.
really, you couldn't get 2 points off of that?
I am so sick of this crap.
i can't remember portland missing a 3. or minnesota making one.
D Will and Ridnour for Darko and a bin full of towels.
get it done
Pek has been taking awful shots tonight. fadeaways and running hooks
another bad loss for the locals. yuck
how did they only lose by 8 points?
Wolves 0-2 with Love. Fire the bum.
If it makes you feel better, the Kings pissed away a double-digit lead in the last couple minutes to lose at Utah tonight.
nope, didn't work