So far the book is still out Draft-Some might consider it a controversial draft as the Blazers tageted and got who they believe is the best PG in the draft and the PGOTF. They used the 11th pick on a big white center project who they felt was the best center on the board. Blazers could have gone a differnt route by drarfting Barnes and Lamb (SF and SG), but have hopefully help fill two positions of need. Draft grades are all over the map. FA- Paul is being Paul, which is good news for Blazer fans. Offering serious cash for Hibbard shows he wants to improve now and is ready to spend to do it. Trades- no news on the trade front yet Summer league will be fun to monitor (Rep me ABM )
You might want to grab hold of something ABM ... I think the Blazers have done a really, really nice job since hiring Olshey. They drafted players that you can defend from a "BPA" standpoint and now they appear to have adopted a "swing for the fences" mentality in free agency and don't appear to be afraid of failing -- effectively settling for MLE type guys just to try and stay afloat. That's all I could ever ask for. Regardless of how free agency plays itself out and what the roster looks like at the start of training camp, the change in mentality and the team's direction are both major positives.
I think even if both Hibbert and Batum sign with us there's still something missing and that's someone to play alongside Lillard that can be a good 2nd ball handler.
If we end up sending out some assets in a S&T for Hibbert, might we end up with additional cap space to sign someone outright or to use in such a trade? A S&T for Hibbert, using players and cap space, might even be better for us than Indy not matching.
Sunday 7/15 (Thomas & Mack) 7:30 PM – New Orleans vs. Portland Tuesday 7/17 (COX Pavilion) 5 PM – Portland vs. Houston Thursday 7/19 (COX Pavilion) 3 PM – Portland vs. Atlanta Friday 7/20 (COX Pavilion) 3 PM – Denver vs. Portland Saturday 7/21 (COX Pavilion) 1 PM – Portland vs. Miami
