Do you think this is a good trade

[Chronz]

The Blazers have offered me Theo Ratliff for Raef Lafrenz

That would give me a starting lineup of

Delonte
Wally
Pierce
Jefferson
Theo

Would his defense be a good tradeoff for Raef's offense or should I keep Raef?

Keep in mind both are hideously overpaid but Raefs contract is 1 year longer. And that I could also squeeze Travis Outlaw for a filler out of them.

[Fitzy]

keep raef cause theo is an old fart, unless you plan on developing the younger guys and only having him for a season or two

[Andrew]

LaFrentz is a more versatile offensive player but in NBA Live 06 a tall, strong player can chip in with points without too much fuss and Ratliff is the superior defender. Would you really miss LaFrentz in your offense? Ratliff is of course older so he's more of a short term solution but LaFrentz isn't that much younger and probably won't develop much more anyway.

I say it's a good deal with Ratliff's defense and he could easily give you between 8 and 12 ppg if you feed him down low, so it's really a matter of whether you can afford to give up LaFrentz's offensive production. If you can, I'd make the deal. You'll also have his contract come off the books at the end of the year and if you can exchange filler to your benefit, even better.

[Chronz]

Well the way I see it I would do this trade to give Jefferson his minutes and he could probably pick up some of the scoring load, while putting Perkins back to the bench because hes only rated 66 right now and Theo is a hell of a shot blocker.

On the flip side I like having Jefferson come in alongside of Raef and giving it to Raef on the perimiter throwin it downlow to baby al and letting him work. With Raef by the 3pt line teams dont really double him that much and when they do Raef hits those 3 balls. I dont know how it would work with Theo there now. I also love pick and pop with pierce and raef its my main set.

So I dont know what to do. I like having a defense first team but I like having 4 players who can hit the 3 ball with pierce, raef, wally and west. So what would you do?

[Andrew]

If you're playing well, Raef is working for you and you don't really feel you need to make the change then perhaps you shouldn't make the deal. I'd personally prefer Ratliff because three pointers aren't my strong suit but it sounds like Raef is a pretty big part of your offense.

[hova-]

I´d do it.
LaFrentz is pretty ok, you will miss pick and pop maybe.

BUT:

Ratliff is a nice shot blocker and since he is a big man you may get easy points with him anyway.
Swich from pick and pop to pick and roll, its NBA live ---> Ratliff will get his points.

[Ty-Land]

Isn't Raef a pretty good shotblocker as well? I don't mean on the same level as Theo, but respectable at least. I would keep Raef, good on offence, average of defence, younger. When your younger guys develop he could become a solid bench player at both PF and C. In contrast Ratliff is only going to get worse.

[Chronz]

Yeah Ratliff just got injured so I probably wont be doin that trade, last time I traded for Steven Hunter he came back from an injury and became a 55 rated player. Ive grown weary of injured role players.

But I got 2 choices I still want a 3pt shooting 4 man so I found a trade that could work I checked it to see if the computer would take it so its kind of a 3way trade.
I send C Raef LaFrentz and F Ryan Gomes to toronto for Charlie V and then send Charlie V to the Cavs for Donyell Marshal. I like Raef and all but I dont want to pay him 10+million a year for 4 years so hes got to go

Option B is I can package Raef and Gomes to the Cavs for Zydrunas and a filler. Z doesnt have 3pt range but hes an all star caliber center and might be worth it. Both options seems like better fit for my team needs.

So which option makes the most sense. Cuz I aint keepin Raef on board.

[Chronz]

Isn't Raef a pretty good shotblocker as well? I don't mean on the same level as Theo, but respectable at least. I would keep Raef, good on offence, average of defence, younger. When your younger guys develop he could become a solid bench player at both PF and C. In contrast Ratliff is only going to get worse.

Yea your right, I looked at their avg Raef has avg 1.45 blks a game for me and Theo has avg 1.9 for the Blazers. I know if I had Theo though I could easil avg over 2.5 but I made up my mind on either Donyell Marshall or Zydrunas.

[hova-]

Big Z could be sweet !
He is a good shotblocker and scorer ... average rebounder... but not weaker than Raef.
Z and Pierce could be a good one two punch !