Rumor: Hinrich to Blazers

[Hangtime84]

According to ontheinside2 on the Oregon Live Forums (a massive Blazers forum that is part of an Oregon newspaper’s website), the Bulls are discussing a trade that will send Kirk Hinrich and Cedric Simmons to the Portland Trail Blazers for Raef Lafrentz and Sergio Rodriguez.

ontheinside2, according to Blazer fans, is a reputable source who has broken news in the past.

http://dabullz.com/2008/11/17/bulls-and ... rich-trade

[jhern87]

Hahaha.. wow... I was just in there and people were talking about how "ontheinside2" was the first to announce the Blazers signed Livingston and details were on the way.. hahaha.. Also he announced after Greg Oden had his MRI that it looked "Bad".. Haha... This is a load of BS..

[MrSparkle]

If Paxson does this now, would LaFrentz be a trade-able contract before the deadline in February?

[Telfaire]

If Paxson does this now, would LaFrentz be a trade-able contract before the deadline in February?

Yes, but I think it would take about two months before he could be traded again with another player. By himself, Raef would be trade-able.

[Tim Lehrbach]

Given Rose's readiness to take over full time point guard duties and the presence of Gordon and Thabo off the bench, plus Hinrich's injury and contract (not to mention his lousy 2007-2008 season), the Bulls would have to offer something more to entice anybody to take Hinrich.

[jhern87]

Given Rose's readiness to take over full time point guard duties and the presence of Gordon and Thabo off the bench, plus Hinrich's injury and contract (not to mention his lousy 2007-2008 season), the Bulls would have to offer something more to entice anybody to take Hinrich.

I agree.. I don't think KP is this stupid.. Unless his Jayhawk homer goggles are strapped on too tight?

[Milkdud]

Kirk is currently putting up Steve Blake #'s at like 5 times the price. Why on earth would the blazers been that interested?

[Billy]

I'm not as opposed to Hinrich as I was over the summer when his price was insane--but I still don't entirely see a great fit.

He is putting up some strong numbers off the bench. He had 5 steals, 5 assists, 1 blk and 5 points in 16 minutes against Phx in his last game. Portland would of course take that any day of the week. But the fact that Portland would have to wait on him until late January presents a problem to me.

For one, I think there will be some awkwardness all around trading for a guy that is still 2.5 months away from even playing again. For one, Fernandez will have lost a buddy that he has developed great chemistry with. Secondly Blake will be looking over his shoulder knowing that Hinrich would eventually start. While I don't think some healthy competition is a bad thing, I don't think Portland needs an upheaval when they should be getting a gauge on their playoff hopes.

Lastly, this just worsens the Blazers minutes crunch ten fold. Portland would essentially be replacing a 10 mpg player with one that will demand 25-30. Clearly it's an upgrade (and that's obviously not the bad thing), but who loses their minutes suddenly? If Portland is in the midst of a terrific stretch of basketball do they just bench Blake and throw Hinrich in? Do they suddenly start passing out DNP's to Bayless again?

Too many things can happen between now and then. Not to mention there is a decent chance that a better option will come along for that LaFrentz contract. If Hinrich wasn't hurt I don't think it would be as bad.

Also... you have to wonder how much of a rumor this really is..

[BlackMamba]

why would KP be stupid to make this trade?

if the trade is made i think with hinrich injured it could be a good time for bayless to get good/enough PT.

[541Blaza]

Total BS...would never happen.

[Billy]

Kirk is currently putting up Steve Blake #'s at like 5 times the price. Why on earth would the blazers been that interested?

Excellent point. Kirk is the better player, but I don't think he's 2 times better.

Reading the Bulls board it seems it's about 70% praying the deal happens, and 30% hoping it doesn't. I take that as a pretty ominous sign considering what Portland is giving up.

I don't consider this kind of deal for a second with him currently out for so long. Wouldn't give it a whole lot more thought even if he wasn't. Rather stick with Blake/Sergio/Bayless and if need be just let Blake walk next year.

[mojomarc]

I have to disagree, Mamba--this wouldn't be a bad trade for us. It isn't likely we could get a better FA with Raef's contract, and it is clear the Soft Porn doesn't play good enough defense to really help us contend, that Nate's dislike of Sergio isn't going to diminish any time soon, and that Bayless isn't ready. Plus, Hinrich actually has a contract that diminishes over time, so by the end of his contract he is an $8m/year player rather than a $10m per year player like he is now, so it makes him more easily tradeable down the road if Bayless turns out to be good. The issue is that Blake is not a starting NBA PG, and Hinrich is and he is the best available option. Your choices are to get him pretty cheap like this, or to not get a full time starting PG for perhaps 2-3 years.

[edit] Good point on his health, Billy--I agree that you delay this sort of deal until closer to the deadline, but I still disagree with the general premise that this isn't a cheap price to pay for a PG who, up until last year, was considered a true starting quality PG. Blake absolutely is not, and Sergio is not.

[Hangtime84]

It's a good trade for you.
30% who don't like the trade is because it's a salary dump. But we have given up hope of getting value for Kirk

[mojomarc]

Given Rose's readiness to take over full time point guard duties and the presence of Gordon and Thabo off the bench, plus Hinrich's injury and contract (not to mention his lousy 2007-2008 season), the Bulls would have to offer something more to entice anybody to take Hinrich.

What are you thinking? A future first? I don't think Sergio and Raef's expiring this year is worth that much to the Bulls since Sergio woudl be a 10mpg player for them until the end of time with Rose there.

[Butter]

I really do not like this idea at all...not at all!

Hinrich doesn't fix the Blazers problems, and surrendering Raef's deal kills any chance of getting a true impact player. If the Blazers ever made this deal, I agree with the poster that said that the Blazers shouldn't make this deadline. If the can't get anything better, then maybe. Why make this deal now when Hinrich doesn't help us. Is Bayless going to magically be ready to contribute?

Bottom line, they should wait till the deadline, and then if they do it, they should trade Blake instead of Sergio (I haven't actually checked the salaries to see how that would work?).