To me, this is why you have to ignore the rumor mill and look at it in terms of what makes the most sense for this team (addressing weaknesses on and off the floor, what is possible for FA’s, what is feasible in terms of sign-and-trade or imbalanced trades, etc.).

Like Dwight I’m down on Miller and I’m warming up to Hedo, but ultimately I’m suspicious that both are smokescreens.

When comparing the 3 this is what you get.

Shooting % – Miller has the highest shooting %, then Hinrich, then Blake. That is very heavily related the number of 3’s they take. Miller seldom shoots threes, and shoots a very low %. Hinrich and Blake shoot the same amount, and Hinrich is slightly higher %.

True Shooting % – This is essentially a measure of points per shot attempt. Miller is slightly better than the other 2, but the difference is minimal.

FTA and FT% – Miller shoots 4.7 per 36 minutes, Hinrich 2.9, Blake 1.4. Hinrich makes 81.5%, Miller 80, Blake 78%. This is a big measure of pick and roll.

Assist % – Miller easily generates the highest % of the three. His assist % is 35.4, Hinrich, 30, and Blake 26.

Turnover rate – Miller will generate 16.4 TO/100 plays, Hinrich 14.7, Blake 16.5.

Rebound rate – % of rebounds by player while on the floor. Miller is highest at 7%, Hinrich 5.6%, Blake 4.8%.

Points produced per 100 possessions
Miller – 110
Blake – 108
Hinrich – 107

Points allowed per 100 possessions
Hinrich – 105
Miller – 107
Blake – 111

Wins produced per full season as a starter (36 minutes 82 games)
Miller – 7.66
Hinrich – 7.07
Blake – 4.18

The difference between them is that Miller is more of a classic pick and roll distribution PG, who gets to the FT line, dominates the ball, but seldom shoots the 3. Blake is the opposite, does not do much in the P&R, shoots lots of 3’s, seldom gets to the line, and does not dominate the ball. Hinrich is somewhere in between.

It seems to me that the best option in Hinrich. He is 5 years younger than Miller, is a better defender, better deep shooter, but he can be effective in P&R, gets to the line a reasonable amount, can run the offense, but can be successful when he defers to others.

The Achille’s Heel for this team is perimeter defense and fighting through picks. You can quote this guy’s 3 pt%, that guy’s driving to the basket, that other guy’s ball handling & side pick&roll. Perimeter D and fighting through picks is what hurts this team. Keep Oden on the floor and not on the bench with fouls – get a perimeter defender and a guy who fights through picks. That’s one reason I like Hinrich, but there have to be other guys available for the right offer…

Stop focusing on the offense and start playing defense!

If we do make changes at the point, I hope they bring someone who can really defend and breakdown defenses on the other end…

I know it is a longshot, but the Hornets are so screwed cap wise…I wonder if they would trade Chris Paul? How much would it take?

Before you call me foolish, remember the Lakers getting Gasol?

When it comes to the PG, we should dream big

Toronto is resigning themselves to losing Bosh and going into full-on rebuilding mode.

- He’s the anti-Aaron Brooks point guard. He punishes those smaller, quick guys in the post. He even punishes decent-sized PGs in the post. If you don’t believe me, re-watch the Philadelphia at Portland game and see him school Blake on several possessions. If the double comes, he’s an outstanding passer.
- He’s a fantastic finisher despite a lack of jets and hops. He’s deadly inside 10 feet with his midrange jumper despite an unorthodox delivery, and he is able to effectively use angles and screens to drive and finish at the hole when not posting up.
- Even if he looks like he moves like sluggishly in the half court, he is fantastic at running the fast break and setting up more athletic teammates, like an Andre Igoudala or LaMarcus Aldridge.
- He’s tough. He’s played all 82 games over multiple seasons, playing through injuries if needed. Last year he played a career year despite a calf injury.
- As had been pointed out elsewhere, nobody can guard Tony Parker. By themselves that is. So even if Miller was an ace defender (which he isn’t), it woudn’t matter if the team he played with didn’t play team defense. A decent defender should know his limits and know how to force quicker players to where he knows help from his teammates is waiting. Trading for a point guard that can keep up with the Tony Parkers of the league won’t matter the least bit if the team doesn’t learn how to play team defense and defend the pick and roll.
- Three point shooting is overrated. Even the best teams can go cold. Ask the Magic. Re-watch the first half of the Philadelphia at Portland game where Philly embarrassed Portland but getting to the hole at will while chucked up brick after from beyond the arc. There’s simply no substitute for getting the ball to the hole. Miller is a floor general that can feed the post, run the break, throw alley-oops, pick and roll, post up smaller players, etc. He has unique skills that make him a headache for a lot of teams.

Your time tested skepticism and cynicism may have led you astray in this instance.

In fact, he would have been the second-best three point shooter last year for Portland based on shooting percentages — behind Steve Blake.

So, maybe the crux of this argument that Portland needs a three-point shooter is flawed. I mean, Blake is a top-tier shooter in the league (13th) and we saw how far that got PDX.

Maybe a PG with some lockdown D would be good?

I would actually love to see Portland get Mario Chalmers as a backup for Blake … I’m not enough of a basketball salary cap guru to know how to make that happen.

maybe there is a way to get cp3, this report says hornets have the highest payroll at this point for next year.