Well that went up quick. Some interesting guesses on his part (Insider only : http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/draf...ory?columnist=ford_chad&page=MockDraft-100518 ) He's currently got the Blazers taking Patrick Patterson at 22 ... which seems insanely low for a guy projected as a lottery pick all year long). And you've gotta love his pick for Memphis: Luke Babbitt at 12 My money is on "The next Ammo."
Ford has Minny taking Wes Johnson ... as an aside Jonathan Givony was at the lottery talking with David Kahn and he was "pissed" when he found out where they were picking -- apparently not real enthusiastic about the thought of Cousins. And as I mentioned in another thread I just started. A-Woj just tweeted this about 20 minutes ago:
If the Blazers really think Wes Johnson can do all of those things then why would the Wolves -- who are starved for a talented wing -- trade us that pick? It makes you wonder if some package of Rudy, Martell, Bayless, draft picks (current and future first?) and/or maybe the draft rights to Claver could get them to nibble. That would leave the Wolves with the rights to three spaniards which might make Rubio a little more amenable to the idea of coming over ... I guess
So they think that a swing man is the "most obvious" reason to trade up? Let's see. Starting SG = Roy. Starting SF = Batum. Backup swing men = Webster, Rudy, Bayless. Even if Johnson is an upgrade over Webster and Rudy (and I'm not sure that's the case; the guy is only 7 months younger than Webster... I think Martell would have been pretty darn good at Syracuse this year, don't you?)... we'd move all the way up to #3 or 4 for a guy who's never going to start for us? I find that very hard to believe. If we ARE going to trade that high up, I would think we'd need more depth up front, rather than replacing pieces we already have. Ed O.
If there is any truth to the rumor I do think it is Wesley Johnson we are after. They must think he is going to be a star and be our 2nd or 3rd option. I guess if you really think Johnson is the star we need then you go for him. I'm not sure if this isn't just some smoke screen from the Blazers though. It seems every year a rumor about who we are going to draft comes out before the draft and it never ends up being true.
I don't see any reason to trade an Aldridge or an Oden for anybody not named John Wall. I really like Evan Turner, but I like Roy even more, so I'd pass on a deal to bring Turner. The rest of the bigs are all projects with limited games. The Wes Johnson scenario also makes no sense to me. I agree with you. Why trade starters for a back-up?
That actually makes some sense -- trade them Rudy & Claver in the hopes of luring over Rubio. I just don't know what a package like that can get us. I liked Flynn in College, but I haven't seen enough flashes in the NBA to show me he can be a starting PG. I don't know if the #3 pick has a lot of value either, but I would be willing to give up Bayless/Rudy/Claver/Martell (that's a decent amount of salary though -- don't know if Minny would want us to take some salary back). We would still have the MLE to address backup PG/SG/SF if all of those players went out. Maybe we bring back Trout or Blake. If a trade like that doesn't happen, I would be stoked if the Blazers just traded out of the first round of the draft. We have enough young players looking for playing time as it is. So basically, I have no idea what the Blazers should do this offseason, which means I will probably be happy with whatever happens.
If POR traded up to #3, I have to believe it is for a big guy...either Favors or Cousins... Right now, POR is pretty loaded with big men, Camby, Oden, Przybilla & Aldridge (not forgetting Pendergraph). So, in theory, you COULD deal from a position of strength here as both Camby and Przybilla give you an approximate 2-year window before they head off into the sunset and suddenly you are void of big men and have only a injury prone Oden & Pendergraph as your only quality bigs.... That is why I have a tough time seeing POR trading Aldridge to go after a guy like Johnson or Aminu....and they are really high on Batum, and Roy is entrenched at SG, so Johnso is a back-up? or Batum is? Doesn't make sense....UNLESS they view one of those guys as just a can't miss star....and I haven't seen anyone label either of these players in that category..... Now dealing Aldridge for Favors or Cousins would be aheck of a ballsy\risky move...Aldridge is a solid 18\8, and he may improve, or IMO, more likely what we see is generally what we can expect from him, which isn't bad at all.... The key here is what do Favors and Cousins project out to as NBA players using POR scouts metrics? If one of them (or both) project out to All Star caliber players, then maybe it makes sense for POR to take a hard look....There is no question that KP is on the hot seat, and maybe he feels the need to make a big move? You get out from under Aldridge's contract for one, you have other veteran bigs in Camby, Przybilla & Oden (perhaps Pendergraph) to help ease Favors\Cousins along...if that is even necessary, and 2 years from now when Camby is done and Przybilla may be as well, you have Oden (hopefully healthy) and another young big in Favors\Cousins, still under thier rookie contract and hopefully coming into thier own. I think both players have immediate impact ability, but the key is if POR scouts believe thier upside is greater than Aldridge's... I think NJ certainly would look at a deal, thier new owner wants to get better and get better quickly. They have the cap room to not only acqire Aldridge via trade, but still have enough for a top tier FA.
Like you profess to be, I'm a fan of adding the talent over addressing needs. But there are guys in this draft that would represent a talent upgrade over the guys already on the roster right? The real question is, what is the cost of adding these superior talents and does it exceed the value achieved in the upgrade? There is nothing wrong with being active and enquiring what it would take to get a guy you think will thrive. I like the upside of Aminu and think the frontcourt could use another long athletic defender. STOMP
Trading that high up in the draft for a wing would be a stupid move, especially what it would take to get New Jersey or Minnesota to bite on a deal. Favors or Cousins are the only logical choices.
