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Is Outlaw in Blazers' future?

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Travis Outlaw ponders his place with the Blazers' upswing. He has experienced enough success -- last season hitting game-winning shots at Memphis and Atlanta and finishing ninth in the sixth man of the year voting -- that he thinks he could one day be an All-Star. But he wonders whether that potential will be stifled on a team built around Brandon Roy, LaMarcus Aldridge and Greg Oden. And all of that feeds his apprehension of how the team perceives him as he enters what could be a contract year. "We have a really good team," Outlaw says. "But I don't know if they are going to be able to keep us together."

The Oregonian

Travis Outlaw, Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images Travis Outlaw, Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images
September 2, 2008  08:17 AM ET

Blazers is overloaded w/ up and coming players. W/ Fernandez also signed up and getting more minutes accourding to the coach, Travis seems to be the odd man out. There is also Martel Webster who will also fight for minutes. Outlaw is a freak of nature who can jump out of the gym but has improve his shooting and consistency. Dallas should make a trade for this guy. He is long and wiry and can also defend. Staying in Portland will just hold back his progress because they have so many stars to be.

September 2, 2008  08:56 AM ET

Outlaw is a good athlete who could become a player. If he is dealt, I hope it's to a team that can develop him still.

September 2, 2008  09:01 AM ET

If you step up your game they will HAVE TO play you.
if other players around you are just better- you will ride more pine
MOTIVATION in a contract year is a good thing....

September 2, 2008  09:12 AM ET

He can be a solid player if developed and coached right.. hope he can go to a team that is not looking for a miracle but future.

September 2, 2008  10:06 AM ET

the blazers will be interesting this season

September 2, 2008  11:12 AM ET

If Outlaw plays better, he'll get PT. If they start winning, ownership will hold the team together.

September 2, 2008  11:15 AM ET

he is the odd man out but not a bad player at all he just needs to be traded to a good team that can help him develop

September 2, 2008  12:37 PM ET

Outlaw would be better off staying in Portland and being a part of what could be something special. He could probably get more recognition for his personal accomplishments elsewhere, but at the end of the day, there might not be anything to show for it

September 2, 2008  01:26 PM ET

Travis Outlaw is an underrated young man. He is better off somewhere else. His name was on the trading block before the trading deadline last year. He has a lot of upsides and a very modest/nice person.

September 2, 2008  01:30 PM ET

"Travis Outlaw is an underrated young man. He is better off somewhere else"

Huh?
and why is that?
- if he can't crack portland's line-up this year -
a team that has accomplished NOTHING (yet)
what makes you think he'd get more PT elsewhere?

September 2, 2008  02:04 PM ET

If you watch Portland last year you would have noticed that the team was on the rise and almost lead the west in wins coming into the all star break. Outlaw showed a lot of improvements including his outside shooting. His field goal percentage is very high. He feels uneasy now because they have too many good players and the coach has already said that Fernandez is going to get a lot of playing time. Watch the guy play and you will see how good he is.

September 2, 2008  03:32 PM ET

It's crazy because I always forget about him. He actually came off the bench and led the Blazers in scoring for chunks of the season last year. Travis is an excellent athlete--he should be named "the trampoline" . He's a really good player off the bench. Portland should keep this kid. I'm excited to see this team play this upcoming season.

September 2, 2008  03:58 PM ET

I wonder if the Bulls could be in play for a player like Outlaw. What about trading for Outlaw with Gordon? An experienced scoring guard might be useful with a player like Roy.

September 2, 2008  05:04 PM ET

... i would rate outlaw above webster...much more dynamic player... i figure outlaw starts at small forward and webster comes off the bench...he's earned it....

September 2, 2008  05:15 PM ET

Outlaw will be a solid contributor for years to come in POR so long as he doesn't do anything negative to get himself dealt away. If he IS dealt, PHX would be a good fit. There are many who would love to see Boris Diaw dealt, and he'd be a good tradeoff for you. I guess the only probelm would be the salaries involved... :(

September 2, 2008  06:35 PM ET

Dang, Portland is absolutely loaded with young talent...almost makes me want to become a Blazer fan..almost...If the Blazers can keep this young nucleus together and devlop their skills close to their potential, then they will have something special.

Skybill...I would love to see us unload Diaw for really anything of value, (Jock straps, toilet paper, anything...) but I do not think any NBA GM is that stupid to trade for the french pastry and his 10 mill a year now that Isiah Thomas has been canned...Memphis might be willing though...

September 2, 2008  06:49 PM ET

Portland is good and will be championship contenders in one or two years. The problem is that most of their team is young and are on their rookie contracts and Roy won't be getting paid like that in a year or two and neither Aldridge and Oden, plus you still have Rodriguez, Outlaw, and Webster. Plus, Miles who if he plays will hurt them a lot in the next two years(salary whise).

September 2, 2008  06:51 PM ET

Barbosa could be traded though, since he's pretty good compared to what he gets paid, which is 6 million a year, but I don't know especially since we just got Barnes and have Hill and Diaw at the 3.

September 2, 2008  07:15 PM ET

Barbosa could be traded though, since he's pretty good compared to what he gets paid, which is 6 million a year, but I don't know especially since we just got Barnes and have Hill and Diaw at the 3.
ramirez993 | 09/02/08, 06:51 PM
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I am not sure I follow you after the trading Barbosa part...I for one would trade Diaw way before I trade Barbosa...Of course the issue of "how to trade Diaw" is another matter altogether...

For starters, Leandro is a scoring machine...He has a great attitude and is willing to try hard on defense. He is lethal quick and doesn't mind deferring to his teammates.

Diaw on the other hand, makes you want to scream at the TV (He is mostly the reason the Doc upped my blood pressure meds...) Off the top of my head, he is lazy, nonchalant, and uncaring. Just when the team needs him most, he dissappears for long stretches of games, and to top it off, he loves shoving pastries down his gullet during the off-season.

He just makes fans mad because he is so skilled and plays like the nuns at the annual Abbey of St. Mary's charity game. I really hope we can dupe some team into taking him and his bloated contract..

 
September 2, 2008  07:42 PM ET

colangelo call portland and take him cause this guy can definitely fit in toronto system and we have a spot at 3 for him

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