The Al Harrington Project: A New Prospect

So previously, I had ranted all about how Al Harrington is untradeable, etc... etc...  However, I had also addressed that one idea that would make a lot of sense would be Al Harrington for Chris Wilcox and Damien Wilkens in a trade between OKC and the Warriors.  Throw in a draft pick from OKC and a mascot from Golden State and it would've worked out nicely.  Others thought it had a lot of merit too.  

Now as the season progresses and teams are becoming more than just paper theories, it looks Harrington might find a fit in a couple more places, well, at laest one.  Portland.

I know, I had said that they didn't want anyone.  However, they have a large glut of young talent and it's becoming almost redudant how many people they have.  Depth is definitely a strength, however, while I believe they're trading some of it away, I don't believe that it's enough to warrant it a no go.  

So here's my call: 

Golden State sends Al Harrington and a draft pick

Portland sends Sergio Rodruigez, Travis Outlaw, and Ike Diogu

So if we look at the Blazers' roster as currently constructed we get something like this going across the depth charts:

PG - Steve Blake, Jerryd Bayless, Sergio Rodruigez, Jamal Tatum

SG- Brandon Roy, Rudy Fernandez

SF- Martell Webster, Travis Outlaw, Nicholas Batum, Luke Jackson

PF- LaMarcus Aldridge, Ike Diogu, Channing Frye, Steven Hill

C- Greg Oden, Joel Przybilla, Raef LaFrentz

That's a pretty nice looking roster.  Ok, granted, most people don't know Luke Jackson, Jamal Tatum, or Steven Hill, most people probably have only heard of Batum and Rodruigez in passing, but I really don't see them getting that far into their depth chart.  If they do, it means that a lot of people are injured, and there's a problem.  So right now, we have Webster out due to a stress fracture in his foot, Frye out due to a surgery on his ankle, and LaFrentz out with a shoulder injury.  Frye won't really miss all that much time, and Diogu and Przybilla can fill in his shoes quite well.  With Oden on the roster, they have a lot of solid big men, and should Frye come back he'd have to fight with Diogu for playing time, very limited playing time.  LaFrentz was never really anything of a factor, since he hasn't really cracked the rotation in like 2 years, and probably won't when his contract expires.  Having Webster out hurts the most because it limits Portland in removing their key 3 point threat.  Rudy Fernandez will likely look to fill that role, and Outlaw could see some more playing time.  However, there are talks taht Batum is progessing nicely, and could start over Outlaw, leaving Outlaw to take charge of the scoring load in the 2nd squad.  So that covers the center and foward positions, what about the guards?

Well, arguably, the Blazers are weak at PG, Steve Blake is serviceable, no more, no less.  However, they will probably try to develop Jerryd Bayless into a combo guard that fills the 1 spot, especially with Brandon Roy taking over the ball handling capacities toward late game scenarios.  As much as everyone likes how Rodruigez has developed as a PG, he's pretty expendable.  So what we end up having is several serviceable, and expendable pieces.  What do we do about that?

Enter, Al Harrington.

With a starting lineup based around Roy, Aldridge, and Oden, the SF slot basically is relegated to 3 pt shooting and defense.  I would argue that Harrington answers those issues as well as Webster does.  Some would argue that Harrington only shot 37.5% from beyond the arc last season, however, I would argue that Nellie swapped him around the roster so much that he never found a rythm in a lot of games and couldn't find his shot.  I would then point out that the previous season he was hitting 43.3% from three-point land, a statistic I think is more indicative of how well Harrington performs.  While he's supposed to have the post moves of a 4, I actually would like to see Harrington run with a team that plays him as an SF.  I don't know that Harrington is a stop plug defensively, but I think with Nate McMillan's team defense tactics it's just as good if not better than starting Batum and hiding him on some matchups.  With this trade, you jettison some excess players, and then fill an immediate need.  This way, when Webster returns, he can come back slowly as a 6th (or 7th) man behind Harrington thereby adding to the 3pt weaponry that the Blazers have.  Additionally, during the 8 month period that Webster is out, you don't have to rush the development of Batum by foisting a starting slot onto him.

For the Warriors, maybe bringing back Ike Diogu isn't a great idea, but he does add size to a frontcourt thin lineup.  You can replace Harrington with Outlaw in the starting lineup, while a little smaller, is still a scrappy player, and I think can bang it.  Outlaw gets the starting slot he wants, and gets to play in a run-and-gun system that would fully utilize his athleticism.  Rodruigez would bolster a PG spot where neither DeMarcus Nelson nor Marcus Williams have been able to beat out CJ Watson, which is just plain sad, so it could potentially be an upgrade to both of those.  If that doesn't work out it's ok, because the only player you keep is the best player of the bunch, and that's Outlaw, just let Rodruigez and Diogu walk.

Granted the Blazers might have that problem with resigning Harrington should he prove an asset, but I don't see a huge problem what with Raef LaFrentz's expiring contract.  

It makes sense to me, but that might not mean it works.  Still, it's something.

Update: I sent the post over to the Blazers experts at The Rip City Project, here's their take:

Onto the actual Al Harrington trade...That's giving up way, way too much on the Blazer side of things. Those three names you mentioned are on the 'expendable' side of the Blazer spectrum. That being said...it's too much to give up all three for just Al Harrington. You had some points that he could fit in roster wise with his ability to shoot the three and play defense. That being said...too much going against him. In the past two years we've let Ime Udoka (the king of three's and defense) and James Jones (stroke and a half and tried on D). Harrington doesn't fit into the timeline. Outlaw, Webster and Rudy are young. Al....not so much. Also...he's too expensive. Travis Outlaw (while overrated by many Blazer fans) can give just as much value at a much lower cost. Sergio has this weird vibe going with Rudy Fernandez that is rejuvenating his career and Ike...well we haven't seen much of Ike. And I doubt Golden State would take him back. 

So, I can definitely see how that's a lot for Al Harrington, he does command a bit of money for the skill sets he brings.  Considering that they weren't too hesitant to let Udoka and Jones walk leads me to believe that Harrington would be a quick fix solution at best, which perhaps isn't something you'd sacrifice your youth for.  Guess it's not going to pan out in this case.  The $9 mil price tag does seem to leave me inclined to believe that Harrington will just play out this year and walk.