<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">In all likelihood this pick is Kevin Durant the freshman from Texas. Rick Sund saw him when Texas played Kansas this year and said it was the best performance he had ever seen in college basketball. Durant stands at 6 foot 10 and 220 pounds. He is able to shoot from the outside as well as play the inside game. During his freshman year he averaged 25 pts and 11 rebounds while shooting 47% from the field and 40% from three. This dude is a sick talent. To put Durant's 25 pts and 11 rebounds in perspective. Carmelo Anthony averaged 22 points and 10 rebounds at Syracuse in his only year in college. Anthony shot less well than Durant 45% from the field and 33% from the three. In his rookie year Anthony averaged 21 points a game. That is the type of scoring we just added to the team. Most impressive to me is some of Durant's huge games. He had 37 points and 10 rebounds against Kansas in the Big 12 Championship Game. He had 32-9 at Kansas in the game Sund mentioned. He had 25 in the first half of that game before hurting his ankle. Against Texas Tech he had 37 points and 23 rebounds. 10 times he had at least 30 points and 9 rebounds.</div> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The first question is what does it mean for Rashard Lewis? It means you re-sign him. Lewis and Durant can most definitely play together. Lewis has developed the ability to play in the post as well as the outside. With Durant and Lewis on the floor you just find the mismatch and go to work.</div> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">With a scoring stars like Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis this would allow Durant to develop his game without a huge amount of pressure and maybe most importantly without teams scouting reports focussed on him. This is enormous for the make up of the team. If Durant can score on the NBA level which I find it hard to believe he won't this elevates a lot of pressure on the other players. If Swift and Collison can defend and patrol the boards they will get plenty of offensive opportunities by just playing off the Sonics dynamic three of Allen, Lewis and Durant. The options from this point are numerous. The Sonics could alter the entire way they play the game. Could you imagine Allen, Lewis, Durant and Wilcox on the floor. Heck, Swift and Collison fit that mold well.</div> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The Sonics jobs have just changed dramatically. The new Head Coach is going to be able to mix and match a roster in numerous manners. The new GM will have lots of different pieces to shop around the league to fill in the gaps of the current roster. I believe strongly that you win in this league via the Triangle roster. That is a megastar on the top with two all-star caliber players forming your triangle. Below those three you are filled with veteran role players who understand how to win and play the game correctly.</div> http://lockedonsonics.blogspot.com/
I think he's bang on about Rashard too. The case to re-sign him is IMO stronger after the lottery, not weaker.
Collison/Sene/Petro Durant/Wilcox/Brown Lewis/Gelabale Allen/Wilkins Ridnour/Watson Seattle better make it to the playoffs. Ray Allen (3) vs. Kobe (6) would be great.
In my opinion we have to sign Sweet Lew, see how it works for the first year, and then explore our options to bring in a top notch point guard (Mike Bibby and a pick possibly) to make our team more well rounded. Earl Watson/Luke Ridnour Ray Allen/Mickael Gelebale Kevin Durant/Damien Wilkins Rashard Lewis/Chris Wilcox Robert Swift/Nick Collison/Johan Petro/Saer Sene That doesn't include any possible free agents or second round picks (and we do have two very high second round picks this year). Imagine if Derrick Byars or Marco Bellinelli slip into the second round. We could have one hell of a team next year. I've turned into a huge Sweet Lew fan this year, when I once thought that he was nothing more than an above average second option. That being said Kevin Durant means more to the franchise before he has even been drafted than Rashard Lewis will ever mean to this franchise -- and that statement is made from the business side of basketball not how much better Kevin Durant is than Sweet Lew b/c I honestly feel that Rashard Lewis at this phase of his career is better than Durant. We will see how it all pans out but if there is one thing certain with this draft is that we will not be criticize for making the wrong decision this year.
What if Greg Oden does horrible in workouts or gets hurt? Wouldn't that prompt Portland to select Durant leaving Oden or Wright for Seattle? I don't think anything is set in stone yet, things could still change (even though it's not very likely).
If I were Portland there is no doubt that I'd take Durant. You already have a pretty formidable frontcourt in Zach Randolph, LaMarcus Aldridge, and Joel Pryzbilla. They need scoring more than they need shot blocking and Zach Randolph is on a max deal and doesn't need to be deferring to an unpolished rookie center. If they got Durant it would give them one of the best inside outside duos in the league and would also give LaMarcus Aldridge an opportunity to develop into an upper echelon post in this league. If Kevin Pritchard were smart he would look to do a trade with Seattle to acquire some backcourt depth (Luke Ridnour/#2 pick for #1 pick) and roll with Durant. Portland is already a good defensive team, with Durant they would be one of the most balanced teams in the league.
<div class="quote_poster">Iron Shiek Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">If I were Portland there is no doubt that I'd take Durant. You already have a pretty formidable frontcourt in Zach Randolph, LaMarcus Aldridge, and Joel Pryzbilla. They need scoring more than they need shot blocking and Zach Randolph is on a max deal and doesn't need to be deferring to an unpolished rookie center. If they got Durant it would give them one of the best inside outside duos in the league and would also give LaMarcus Aldridge an opportunity to develop into an upper echelon post in this league. If Kevin Pritchard were smart he would look to do a trade with Seattle to acquire some backcourt depth (Luke Ridnour/#2 pick for #1 pick) and roll with Durant. Portland is already a good defensive team, with Durant they would be one of the most balanced teams in the league.</div> You think Portland should pick Durant over Oden? I do know he is the most NBA ready over Oden, but Oden will be the one to win championships. Plus if we draft Oden, we have that very minimal chance to try and do a sign and trade for Rashard Lewis. It will probably be a lesser chance to get Lewis than we had to get the number 1 pick, but hey it happend, so I am keeping my hopes up! As for the draft, being a Blazers fan I would rather take Oden, but I wouldn't neccessairly riot or be angry if we took Durant. Edit: Oh and I am very excited that the I-5 Rivalry will most likely be renewed. Oden vs Durant for years will be exciting.
Shiek, I am actually glad we got the two pick over the one, as Durant intrigues me more than Oden and his upside is just out of this world. But I think the pattern has been set, and that's you win with bigs, particularly defensive bigs. Oden is a guy who can change a game defensively in the middle, and that is just the most valuable thing to have right now. Durant could be the most talented kid in the league, but Portland have the centrepiece for a title run.
<div class="quote_poster">The_Future Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">You think Portland should pick Durant over Oden? I do know he is the most NBA ready over Oden, but Oden will be the one to win championships. Plus if we draft Oden, we have that very minimal chance to try and do a sign and trade for Rashard Lewis. It will probably be a lesser chance to get Lewis than we had to get the number 1 pick, but hey it happend, so I am keeping my hopes up! </div> Who does Portland have that we'd be willing to do a sign and trade with Rashard Lewis besides Brandon Roy. If we were to do a sign and trade with Rashard Lewis we would need to take back a starting point guard or center. Considering with the exception of Mike Bibby, most bonafide starting point guards/centers are off of the market it will be extremely difficult for us to acquire one via trade. The real question is whether or not Sweet Lew wants to return to Seattle as a potential 3rd option. Kevin Durant will demand a primary role the moment he steps on the floor and I'm not sure that Ray or Rashard will appreciate not being involved as much in the offense. Chris Wilcox was once a cornerstone for our rebuilding now is an afterthought who may very well be on the trading blocks. I just wish that Rick Sund was at the helm b/c I know that he'd do a good job of sorting out how to make this team more equipped to contend. If we do bring in Sam Presti as reported by most publications he is going to have to hit the ground running.
<div class="quote_poster">Iron Shiek Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Who does Portland have that we'd be willing to do a sign and trade with Rashard Lewis besides Brandon Roy. If we were to do a sign and trade with Rashard Lewis we would need to take back a starting point guard or center. Considering with the exception of Mike Bibby, most bonafide starting point guards/centers are off of the market it will be extremely difficult for us to acquire one via trade. The real question is whether or not Sweet Lew wants to return to Seattle as a potential 3rd option. Kevin Durant will demand a primary role the moment he steps on the floor and I'm not sure that Ray or Rashard will appreciate not being involved as much in the offense. Chris Wilcox was once a cornerstone for our rebuilding now is an afterthought who may very well be on the trading blocks. I just wish that Rick Sund was at the helm b/c I know that he'd do a good job of sorting out how to make this team more equipped to contend. If we do bring in Sam Presti as reported by most publications he is going to have to hit the ground running.</div> Well the only option from us to do a sign and trade deal for Lewis is Randolph I think, most likely Portland would have to get a third team involved such as the Chicago Bulls. We give the Bulls the low post scorer they want in Randolph, maybe they give you Gordon or Deng or this years first round pick and a filler such as Nocioni and you give us Lewis? I'm not too sure on how the trade would exactly work, but I guess somewhere along those lines.
I don't agree with this article- on one hand it makes a point about how good Durant is and all but implies he's going to be better than Carmello Anthony. Then in the next second it say you should resign Lewis so that him and Ray can take the pressure off Durant. Where is Durant going to play? They're all wing players, Rashard doesn't have the handles to run the point. Neither does Durant, that leaves your best shooter running the point. PG- Ray SG- Rashard SF- Durant That doesn't work AT ALL. Either way or Rashard has to go and it's most likely gonna be Rashard...TO PORTLAND
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Who does Portland have that we'd be willing to do a sign and trade with Rashard Lewis besides Brandon Roy</div> Like some other kids mentioned...Zach Randolph. Your guys' post presence (what pressence) isn't so hot these days.... Imagine Randolph Ray and Durant VS Oden, Aldridge, Roy oh yeah...this is gonna be good
No way i'd trade Rashard to an in-division team either, especially the Blazers. I'd try to trade him as far away as possible, like Orlando or something.
Orlando would make sense on a few levels, but what could we get back? I don't like Jameer Nelson as a pass first point and their pick isn't going to be much as a playoff team. That said, Rashard could opt out and sign with them for nothing, but would he?
