Buchanan says we need a top 30 guard and my mind flashes to Petteri, who went #30 I think. But then I remember higher quality like Telfair and Erik Barkley. He says we need a guard more than forward or center, of which I'm not so sure. In 8 months we'll have quite different evaluations of remaining players, in light of the new coach's system.
LMA is our only chip that would land Davis. The only way to get both is to trade LMA for Wall and totally luck out in the lotto and land the #1 pick.
He's a top-tier PG prospect with elite athletic ability. Look at that roster and how unstable their coaching staff has been since coming into the League. Steve Nash wouldn't make that team a winner. Case in point, Deron Williams is a top-5 PG and when you're surrounded by D-Leaguers, like Wall, you're not going to win many games.
What guard are Blazers targeting? After reading this Oregonian piece http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/i...ised_to_take_advantage_of_new_cba_to_add.html I think it is most likely that the Blazers do not want to use those picks in June, but want to trade them for an allstar PG or SG. It seems to me that the best and most likely target is Deron Williams. But that would have to be a sign and trade and we don't have any big expiring contracts to include in such a trade. So who else is Aldridge's age or less? I think we would have to rule out Irving, Westbrook and Rose as not possible. Also I can't see GS trading Stephen Curry. Tony Parker 3 years older; if they can't get anyone else they might go for him, could probably get him for less and have two good years to go for it, but seems he would be last option. Jrue Holiday and Brandon Jennings I would rule out as not being quite good enough at either scoring or assisting. That leaves Rondo, John Wall, Kyle Lowry, Eric Gordon and Tyreke Evans. Who am I forgetting? I couldn't think of many available shooting guards in that age range. Rondo, Wall and Evans can't shoot threes. So if that is important, that just leaves Gordon and Lowry. I guess optimally we would try to sign and trade for one of these and then sign Deron Williams as a pure free agent; as MM seems to be suggesting. And if we had him it might not be as important to have a three point shooter, could consider Tyreke Evans, who would be used mostly as a SG, or maybe John Wall? How does the sign and trade work; that would have to be after July 1st, yes? And could we first sign one of the bums we collected (Okur, Williams) to a big one year contract to make the salaries match?
Re: What guard are Blazers targeting? Sorry I just realized this subject is already being discussed; magnifer has been starting so many threads lately that I have stopped reading some of them. I would be happy to see this merged in.
Re: What guard are Blazers targeting? i don't see us trading for eric gordon only because i think we could get him in free agency and why trade two good picks for someone we could just get out right....
Nah, no way. Batum would have to go. If the Celtics are going to go into full-blown rebuild mode, they'd need more than just the #6, especially to try to sell it to the fans. With that said, it'd be worth it! Rondo Matthews Pierce Aldridge Joel/Thomas/etc.
Re: What guard are Blazers targeting? I guess he wouldn't; I'm curious if there is any advantage to him under the new rules to go that route? As for Gordon, isn't he restricted FA; so it seems more likely that he would have to be part of a sign and trade.
Re: What guard are Blazers targeting? Why does everybody assume we will have two lottery picks? There is a really good chance we will have none.
Re: What guard are Blazers targeting? Jesus it BETTER not be Eric "I'll be injured as long as I want rather than play for the Hornets" Gordon. A destitute man's Mitch Richmond.
Re: What guard are Blazers targeting? To say that the Blazers' own pick won't be a lottery pick would require amazing optimism about this team, so I can't believe YOU would say that.
Re: What guard are Blazers targeting? I'm not a fan of often injured Gordon. I really hope it's for someone better.
Re: What guard are Blazers targeting? Tell you who I'd want, but I don't think they'd trade: James Harden. (Wouldn't it be fate? He's been called "the next Brandon Roy" enough.) I can see him doing a Joe Johnson and wanting to leave the Durant-Westbrook show to get a bigger role. (Of course, they all love each other SO MUCH in OKC, he'll probably sign for the minimum just to stay with his pals.) If OKC were smart, they'd've traded Westbrook for a real PG (Rondo/Rubio) and have Durant and Harden be the scorers. IMHO.
Re: What guard are Blazers targeting? You've also got to think something's got to give in Philly with Iguodala, Turner, Louis Williams AND Jrue Holiday, and with a lack of depth up front. Obviously Turner or Holiday would be preferable, as Iguodala is getting on in years and Williams is another Monta Ellis type.
Re: What guard are Blazers targeting? I think OKC will opt to keep Harden and let go of Ibaka instead. Still a year away, though, as they both came into the league in 09.
