Sounds very skilled, but I think I'm actually more intrigued by Mikhail Torrance. FWIW, Landry Fields loves both of them.
I want a lockdown defender with PG skills. Is Rajon Rondo available? Failing that, I want DeMarcus Cousins to turn out to have the personality of Brian Grant and the reformed eating habits of Mike Huckabee and us to draft him.
My ideal draft day? Eat a hearty breakfast, get my balls waxed (figuratively, not literally) while watching "A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum," followed by eighteen holes of golf, a shower, and a nap. Awaken to the smell of a perfectly charcoal-grilled ribeye steak. After dinner, grab my Blackberry and see if I've ever heard of the guy the Blazers drafted.
It depends on what we think we can do in trades this summer; if there is some way we could get a PG like Devin Harris or Darren Collison, that would change my strategy for draft day. If we can't do that, I would go for Kevin Seraphin http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Kevin-Seraphin-5278/ as our 22nd pick. A "super athletic, physical" 20 year old French player, presumably he would stay overseas for a couple years. Then I would do whatever necessary to try to find a PG of the future, try to buy a late first round pick (or trade Rudy for one), try to move up in the 2nd round, maybe even draft three guys and hope to find one keeper. Guys I would think about would be: Jerome Randle http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Jerome-Randle-5778/ a guy who seems to be good at scoring and distributing, biggest drawback is lack of size and strength, has four years of college; Mikhail Torrance http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Mikhail-Torrance-5846/ 6-4 without shoes with a near 6-7 wingspan, excellent athleticsm, creative passer, still needs more time as a PG, and Dominique Jones http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Dominique-Jones-5052/ "tied with Wall for longest wingspan among point guards in the 2010 class at 6-9 ¼, and measured out a half an inch taller as well." More of a combo guard, very strong defender. Since it may not make much sense to draft a Euro with potential in the first round (might have to wait I think four years until you can offer him competitive salary), then maybe they could trade down with this pick for two picks late first, focusing only on point guards.
I was just reading about him. And read that he is going to have knee surgery in the next couple of weeks. It appears that right after draft express had him listed as Portland's 22nd pick Kevin blew out his knee. It's getting to the point now where it is just fucking stupid.
Agreed. Here's another article on him. And here. (Watch the Michigan/Alabama game - Torrance makes a great pass in the last Alabama play.) Also, apparently he has awesome +/- stats.
I'm really starting to like what I'm reading about this kid. Check this out: If anyone's going to be successful as a PG under Nate, it's one who can excel in iso's and pick-and-rolls, right?
Looking at players in the lotto that fits what KP likes - high character / high potential players, would it surprise anyone if the player we have targeted in the lotto is Ed Davis? Defense is his forte who's often compared to Dale Davis and PJ Brown. 6'10" 227 LBS. 9'0" reach 36-Inch vertical 21 years old He's projected to go in the top-10.
Also, I think Darington Hobson will be a steal. A bit under the radar playing at UNM, but he's a player who does a little bit of everything. Chad Ford said he's been dominating other prospects during workouts. Apparently, he has a promise from a team in the late first-round. A 6'6.5" SF, reading articles and profiles, he sounds like a Udoka/Dudley type of player.
Davis seems alright, but you don't spend a top 10 pick on a Dale Davis, PJ Brown type. That's generally what the 2nd round is for)Landry, Blair, Millsap, etc.)
I think he'd be a good player for someone to pick up in late-1st early-2nd. He seems like a way-less athletic Turner. And that concerns me a bit. He doesn't do anything super-great, and doesn't necessarily have the athleticism to even dominate NCAA Tournament-level teams, much less NBA teams. I'd say more a homeless, toothless man's Grant Hill than someone who's built on D and 3's like Udoka, Dudley or Bowen That said, if we don't get Turner at 2 or Pondexter at 22, I wouldn't mind at all getting him at 44. Or buying an early-2nd.
Dale was a late lotto pick, a longtime productive starter and even made an AS game. While he wasn't the GOAT or anything, his career at least rivals that of any 2nd round selection Portland has ever had... or, you're selling him short. Landry and Millsap were also tremendous selections and far from the norm of what you'd expect to pull there... do their respective drafts over and they're lotto picks STOMP
Trade all of our draft picks and make a trade to acquire Tony Parker. Like Pryzbilla + Bayless + #22 + #44 for Parker. I don't have a problem running with both Parker and Miller next year! This gives us an interesting trade potential at the 2011 Trade Deadline (moving Miller? as a possibility) And through trade (Rudy or Webster) make a move to bring in a veteran banger. And then go play some ball. Parker / Miller / Koponen Roy / Webster / Veteran Signee Batum / Cunningham LMA / Veteran Banger via trade of Rudy / Pendergraph Camby / Howard / Oden After all, even with massive injuries we managed to win 50. So tool / tweek and add Parker and with an injury-free year - we'll be solid. The ability to trade Miller at the deadline could bring us any missing piece to advance us within the playoffs...if need be, that is.
