Monday, October 20, 2008

You can't steal an Outlaw

Gavin Dawson, one leg of the Trailblazers.com Podcast tripod, often comments that Trail Blazers fans over-value their favorite players. He uses Travis Outlaw as an example. I believe Gavin to be incorrect in his assessment, but it's a valid argument nonetheless.

So today I'm going though my Google Alerts when I notice an Outlaw mention in the Toronto Star that illustrates both of our points. Beat reporter Doug Smith answers a question about the possibility of the Raptors making a move for Outlaw in exchange for Anthony Parker, which speaks to Travis' perceived value and also the notion that fans over-inflate the quality of the players on their own roster.
Q: Don't you think the Raps are missing a certain 'je ne se qua'? I think the addition of Travis Outlaw would be great for the Raptors, he would bring intensity on both sides of the ball and he can play the 2 and 3 positions well. The Blazers have 7 players going into free agency and the cap will be a problem for them. Do you think trading AP to the Blazers would work? They could use a veteran on the team, or how about Moon and Graham?

Sam E, Toronto

A: Actually, with Martell Webster hurt, the last thing the Blazers are likely to do is move Outlaw. Almost as unlikely as they’d move him for a three-year vet (Parker) or Moon and Graham, neither of whom are any better than Outlaw.

Sorry.
See how that proves both Gavin's and my own points? At least one fan in Toronto thinks Anthony Parker, a full-time starter for the Raptors the last two years, or a combination of Jamario Moon and Joey Graham, could net Travis Outlaw. A crazy notion to we Portlanders and to Smith, but seemingly legitimate to a Raptor fan. That's Gavin's argument.

My argument, that Travis is better than Gavin thinks, is illustrated by the fact that, despite being a bench player on a small market team, he's still coveted by other teams (or at least their fans). Granted, "Sam E." from Toronto seems to have a few outdated notions regarding Outlaw (Trav really isn't a 2, for example), but Smith has been reporting on the Raptors for the totality of their existence and even he thinks the proposed trade is rubbish. That speaks to Outlaw's better-than-average value, which is my argument.

So I guess, at least to an extent, we're both right.

3 comments:

BRoyFTW said...

Gavin is just the annoying guy that thinks he knows what he is taking about. He ties so hard to be unbiased that he just goes negative. It's sad really.

appel82 said...

i think Outlaw will work well with rudy and sergio in the 2nd unit well, and as a starter when called for. He just needs play makers around to help him out a little. People forget about the fact that he is a pretty damn good on the ball defender, which Nate's 2nd unit will need.

game winning block:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=am8rOYsjiO8
nice steal off and dunk against kobe:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMnmz_OIz7w


Since Magic Johnson says the Blazers are "the most athletic team in the league," I think we should maintain that by keeping Travis.

Unknown said...

I think Travis is a real diamond in the rough. A complete player. Plays offense and defense. He's a matchup nightmare for opposing coach's. He's young and makes some silly mistakes, but given a little more time I think Travis has the potential to be an All-Star