Should the Blazers Even Want Their First-round Pick?

Best case for the pick seems to be somewhere between 10-12, which rarely yields a player who is going to be a major contributor his rookie years. An argument could be made the giving up the 13th or 14th pick to Charlotte would be better for the Blazers than having the 12th pick, simply based on the money that becomes available without having to worry about the cap hold for that pick.

The cap hold for the 12th pick last year was ~ $1.7million.

Crazy talk? Does not having the pick improve the chances of getting some veteran bench help for 2013-14?

 

My take is the 12th pick in the draft would be a better player than the guy we could sign for 1.7 million. It would also be a much more valuable trade chip than 1.7 in cap room

 

The $1.7 million is added to cap space and potentially could be the difference in getting two solid vets instead of one. Just an idea I had, though, and I haven't made a decision on what would be better for next season.

 

The team needs help period, veteran or otherwise.

Certainly, there's no guarantee a lottery pick can contribute, but at 1.7 million per year that's not a lot to pay for a guy who might at least turn into an underpaid asset for a trade down the line. The veteran's minimum is always going to be there to round out the roster and I somehow doubt that the Blazers are going to get a truly elite (near) max money free agent to sign here. The opportunity cost of losing that 1.5ish million for free agency doesn't seem that high.

 

This is probably the last chance this team is going to have at a lottery pick for awhile, if you assume the bench can be improved over it's current state this off-season. So I tend to see it as add as much talent now while you have the chance and then surrender the pick next year when it's likely (hopefully?) in the late teens or twenties next season.

 

Ya, I see the flip side. I'd rather have the pick.

 

trade the pick + young guys for a more expensive veteran from a team looking to dump players. we really don't need more young guys that suck off the bench, which is the most likely scenario for that pick.

 

That pick would be better than anyone on our bench...ANYONE

But ya, trading the player we picked there plus something for a young vet would be fine as well. Can't trade the pick

 

I'm torn, not from the financial impact of the lotto pick hold, but more because of the flexibility of still not being able to trade a future pick, because of the Charlotte trade.

 

It's roughly the same pick as Leonard, wh is on our bench. There's nothing to say it's anything better than him.

 

Leonard was a shitty pick though

 

My take exactly - that draft pick, if we retain it, will be our biggest trading chip. And since I believe the only way to make this team markedly better is via trades, I think it's vital that we retain the pick.

 

There are a few players that could be that scorer/playmaker off the bench (Burks/McCollum) but if they're out or reach this is the draft you'd want to give CHA. It really is at best a mediocre draft outside the top-10.

 

While a draft pick is always a gamble it is also the best chance of getting a contributor that doesn't break the bank in 2-3 years. Draft picks are crucial for small market teams.

 

I think it was a 'need' pick and a gamble, rather than a BPA pick, and I thought so at the time. And I like Leonard a whole lot more than you do.

 

our bench is the sum of these kind of picks.

 

I tend to look at it like, what is going to help us more and sooner: a 10-12 pick in this year's draft, or a 16-18 pick in next year's draft? I'll take this year's pick and either keep or trade the player. We could get a sleeper, who knows.

 

What are you talking about? We have all this money, surely FA's will come to Portland? Who needs the draft?

 

Can someone remind me of the details of this pick and Charlotte?

 

top 12 protected in 2013-2015, unprotected 2016