Rudy mostly operated as a spot up three point shooter and finisher at the rim last year. Those are the only two things Ron Artest does well on offense. So really it's not that much of a downgrade. You could argue that we'd also be losing some basketball IQ, but with Rubio and Roy in the back court basketball IQ should never be a problem. On the defensive end it's obviously a massive upgrade. The only big, "Holy crap we're now not even in the playoffs!" risks I foresee is that Artest has a major meltdown and takes his team down with him (a la The Pacers Episode). This team is a lot less fragile than the Pacers were, though. There's also the risk, I suppose, that Bayless and/or Fernandez just wind up being much better players than Rubio. Most people don't see that happening, but "most people" are sometimes wrong. But that's always a risk when you trade quantity for quality. So the risks on the court are reasonably low, and the rewards could be amazing. Sounds like a Pritchard deal to me.
I guess I disagree with the premise of the Smokescreen. The player the blazers said they liked before a draft is Roy - and they took him - no smokescreen. The blazers are said to have liked a player or two last year, but those players weren't available when Indy picked for us. So, can you give me some examples of when KP or Nate has said they really liked a player right before the draft and then passed on that player?
I don't think he will do anything in the draft, but would love to be pleasantly surprised. Don't forget about our TE though.
If Mook's scenario opens up, KP would do it. I would doubt it could happen, but who would have thought we'd get Roy and LMA? If KP does have his eye on a free agent, then I think the pick is deferred (traded) for cap space. My guess is that they Blazer keep their picks and take Lawson with the first, and Brockman with the first second rounder. Lawson replaces Sergio (who leaves somehow) and Brockman battles other options for the backup tough-guy spot.
Not from the top of my head - but it was posted recently on the forum - it was an interview with KP (which surprised me, my memory was that Nate was very complimentary of him, and apparently it was KP). Can't remember who posted it - but it really was within the lat month or so... The only thing I could find with a quick Google search was: http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindblazersbeat/2007/06/new_workout_schedule.html But - as I said - I read a much more detailed one about him...
I've heard the same story plenty of times, but never with a source. I'm starting to wonder if it's just some myth based on KP's mystique as a killer talent evaluator, with Nate being the easy scapegoat. Maybe it's true though. Thanks for looking.
I did read something - and pretty recently, too. If memory serves - it was on the Blazer's draft_2007 site - but all that is now on there are video interviews.
Kinda. I did call the Euros thing, but my intent to bump this thread was to see how other Blazers fans fared with their predictions.
