That's exactly how I had that draft rated. I liked Roy, but I prefered Gay over him. Glad I wasn't picking.
That is what made that draft legendary for Blazer fans. I was pissed we didn't win the lottery after that craptastic season and didn't think we would be able to get either LaMarcus or Gay with the #4 pick as I felt they were the top two picks and surely would both be gone at #4. Very close to the draft it started looking like we would get one of them as Toronto was locked in on Barganani, Chicago was lasering in on Thomas, and Morrison was rocketing up the board. That we got LaMarcus, AND Roy, (a player I liked, but not as our top pick) created instant legend. Once Roy turned into an All-Star, even non-Blazer fans realize what an amazing draft that was. Of course, you and I didn't get to see the Roy workouts. It turns out that Roy killed in them and just blew the Blazers away. He was better than anyone they saw. Had I seen those workouts I might have changed my tune. All I know is that when I saw Roy in his first several summer league games (aired on NBA TV) I went crazy over how good Roy looked. His skill level and control and poise was off the charts. I had never been so excited about a rookie.
Chris pollutes our survey with a garbage number. Gay should be at $10mil - $12mil per. Not $16mil. Crazy. Supposedly a "please don't leave us in Memphis high and dry, oh wise and kind and good but not really that good, Mr. Gay" premium was needed. But a $6mil per year premium. Jesus.
Rudy Gay was my first choice too. Bargnani was my second. Roy, third. I hated the Bassy trade, and I didn't think LA would amount to anything.
I had Gay as my definite first choice in the draft. I liked Aldridge, too, but solidly behind Gay. I didn't rate Roy highly at all, unfortunately. I saw him with limited upside...but I did discover one reason, later, for my mistaken appraisal. It turns out he had elite athleticism and, in fact, was a high flier in high school. But he purposely reined that in in college because he didn't want to be viewed as just an athlete. I never saw him in high school, only in college...and in college, he was almost purposely hiding that elite athleticism. Polished skills with elite athleticism is blue chip...without the elite athleticism, not so much. Roy, it turns out, was what I expected Gay to become.
Roy's game in the NBA isn't really based on that athleticism that he decides to show us once in a blue moon. The thing that people didn't realize IMO that would make Roy so good at the NBA level is his calmness and ability to finish with either hand. The guy never gets flustered, is completely confident in his game and is smoothe as silk.
I don't really agree. Athleticism isn't simply thunderous dunks. His first step, quickness and body control in the air are all part of it. He has a magical ability to get to the hoop...it's not as flashy as the way Kobe or LeBron might get to the hoop, but it's just as athletic in a different way. And a lot of his game plays off the fact that defenders are aware that he has the athletic ability to blow past them, forcing them to give him space to get his shot or pass. IMO, his game is based very much in both athleticism and polished skills.
I don't think athleticism is based solely on ability to jump out of the gym. I think Nash is a great athlete. I just think that Roy's ability to get to the hoop has more to do with his craftiness than athletic ability. A lot of times it his ball handling ability and crossover that allow him to get to the hole.
I originally wanted LA, but then got caught up in the Morrison hype and was hoping we'd get him. Glad it went down as it did!
I wanted: LaMarcus, Bargnani, Gay, Thomas, in that order. I seriously underrated Roy, ranking him 6th. At least I was right about Morrison -- he had stiff written all over him, I still don't know how some people didn't see that. I'm glad KP did.
I remember being not at all disappointed that we got the 4th pick, because I viewed it as a toss-up between LMA, Bargnani, Gay, and Roy ... roughly in that order. Picking 4th just meant you have less pressure and less pay for an equally good shot at a top rookie.
Yeah I did not want us to get Morrison either. But I didn't want Roy. I loved the LaMarcus pick, he was my first choice in the draft. I was pissed when we passed up on Gay and took Foye! Gay and LA were my top 2 choices in the entire draft. I never understood how so many people could be in love with Morrison, a white un-athletic shooter from a small conference school that cry's at the end of games.... Bird comparison's were stupid, Bird could rebound and pass.
I didn't care about him crying at the end of games, but to do it when the game wasn't over that was a different matter.
After he was pulled out for the last time, sitting on the bench, Bird cried on camera when Magic beat him in the NCAA Final.
I just wanted to buy a Blazers jersey with GAY on the back. After the Blazers initially picked Foye, he was so highly praised that I regretted when he was dealt for Roy. I met someone who follows college ball and he told me of seeing Roy when UW played at Stanford. He was not impressed, thought Roy had not shown a lot. Then looked at the box score and Roy had something like 15 pts, 8 rebounds 4 assists, 2 steals, and thought where did all this come from? Not showy but sure got the job done. Of course, what really made that draft legendary was the famous "Don't talk to me about Portland! What is Portland thinking?" from Stephen A Smith.
