Batum to Hornets, Hendo + Vonleh to Portland

[CCU Norman]

Vonleh was a monster at Indiana as a 17/18yo. He has tremendous potential. It's not over hyping. Through this franchise's history ('04+), and more specifically through the rebuild after '10, Vonleh is the only player we've had with star potential. Our GM is trading away our future to tread water and save his job.

Mkg has star potential. Vonleh slid for a reason in the draft. I liked him alot. I wish it was Cody instead of Vonleh but he was not going to be an allstar.

[Jimmy]

I come in here to get my NBA news.  Learn more in 15 minutes here than I do anywhere else.  Never heard of Batum. 

[ItsPantone278]

Well Blazer fans hate it, so I don't know what to think.

The Blazers fans that actually watch will tell you he is an oft injured inconsistent player with a reputation for being a bit "soft."  At his best he is a very serviceable 3 man.  Good defender and decent range.  But you don't trade away sub 20 yo talent that you just took top 10 for a player hoping a change of scenery will get his career back on track or who is going to either play out of position or back up MKG.  Don't even mention we throw Hendo their way.  Love him or hate he and Batum, aside from slightly better offensive numbers, aren't very far off PER wise..

http://bkref.com/pi/shareit/JwhEU     

[Firefox]

Batum averaged 9.4 points and 5.9 rebounds as the Blazers' starting small forward last season. According to ESPN's Stats and Information, he has averaged 6.4 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game over the past three seasons, one of three NBA players to average at least six boards and five assists over that span. The other two players: LeBron James and Russell Westbrook.

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/13144136/portland-trail-blazers-agree-trade-nic-batum-charlotte-hornets-gerald-henderson-noah-vonleh

[CCU Norman]

17 Pt 14 Reb 2 blk as a freshman playing in the Big10 at Indiana. Shot 52% Fg 48% 3pt.. Saying he has no offensive game or 3pt range is hilarious... He's also younger than most of the guys in this year's draft class, he graduated high school a year early.

95 G, 19.7 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 2.0 APG Well if we are going by college stats this guy should be as good as Kevin durant. But he isnt. It's adam morrison. College stats mean nothing. Translating to the nba is so different

[yasuhara2241]

Ok well I could have sworn before this offseason that only MKG and Vonleh would be untouchables. Now Vonleh is gone for Batum. Don't get me wrong I like Batums game but I really felt Vonleh had the potential to be one of the only possible stars on this team with his potential. This has a feeling of panic move to win now and I don't agree with that at all.

Ok so what does the addition of Lamb, Batum and Hawes going to do with the 9th pick? Do we now go for our project big potential player in Miles Turner or Oubre? Or do we play it safe and go with Kaminsky and be on a never ending treadmill of 7-8 seed.? 

[Omega Atrocity]

I like the trade, Batum is a good piece. Sucks we gave up Vonleh, but you have to give up something to get better players.

[ItsPantone278]

 

[Omega Atrocity]

Vonleh was a monster at Indiana as a 17/18yo. He has tremendous potential. It's not over hyping. Through this franchise's history ('04+), and more specifically through the rebuild after '10, Vonleh is the only player we've had with star potential. Our GM is trading away our future to tread water and save his job.

He averaged 11 and 9 in 27 minutes. That's not my definition of a monster.

[Jakob]

Didn't even want to come into this thread because I knew it would be page after page of nonsense. I swear to god people hate on this team and everything it does just for the sake of hating.

[ItsPantone278]

By Casey Holdahl - It’s safe to say that nobody will look back on Nicolas Batum’s 2014-15 season fondly. Not the team, not the fans, and certainly not Batum himself, who, to his credit, was open and honest about his struggles this season.

 

"My numbers were lower as a rookie, but my different role. I can say this was my toughest (season)," said Batum. "I didn't play the way I used to play. I was thinking too much. This offseason I just have to relax and work on my game and just have a different approach for next year. I gotta change some of my routines -- my offseason routine, my in-season routine. I'll be fine. I'm gonna learn from it."

The 6-9 small forward averaged career lows in shooting percentage, three-point shooting percentage and points during his seventh season in Portland. And outside of a two week stretch after All-Star Weekend, Batum was never the multi-tool threat that has made him a mainstay of Portland’s starting lineup since the Trail Blazers traded for him during the 2008 NBA Draft. Fans are often quick to criticize Batum even in the best of times, but this season, it’s hard to argue he didn’t deserve it.

 

Here's to a bounce back season!  Cho's job depends on it(along with several other things..)! 

[Carl Spackler]

Jesus, you guys are overrating Vonleh so much it's nearing MKG levels. And that was previously unheard of.

Batum is a player who, for those who are completely ignorant (most people ITT), actually has talent. 

[ItsPantone278]

Jesus, you guys are overrating Vonleh so much it's nearing MKG levels. And that was previously unheard of.

Batum is a player who, for those who are completely ignorant (most people ITT), actually has talent. 

we are overrating him?  Or was Cho overrating him this time just last year?

[Carl Spackler]

we are overrating him?  Or was Cho overrating him this time just last year?

People calling him the next Bosh and saying he's gonna average 18/10 are overrating him. This is how this forum operates.

Unknown commodity drafted by Hornets: guaranteed future All-Star

Unknown commodity traded for by Hornets: guaranteed failure.

Can't disagree with me there, either. If you do, just read through this thread again.