<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>The Portland Trail Blazers have agreed to a deal with the New Orleans Hornets to acquire the 27th pick in the draft for cash considerations, a Blazers source told ESPN.com. The deal was agreed to verbally between the two teams on Tuesday night, according to the source. The teams have scheduled a trade call with the league in the morning to make the deal official. Blazers GM Kevin Pritchard has been very active in the past few drafts acquiring picks. Armed with the financial might of owner Paul Allen, the Blazers acquired the 23rd pick in the draft last year and drafted Rudy Fernandez. They also used cash to acquire Sergio Rodriguez in 2006. It's unclear who the Blazers are eyeing at No. 27. One possibility is Croatian big man Ante Tomic, who the Blazers have coveted for years. Other potential targets are French swingman Nicolas Batum, who has slipped in the draft because of concerns about his heart, and Memphis swingman Chris Douglas-Roberts.</div> ESPN
So thats the first trade of the draft? Wonder what the Celtics will do with their pick. (I bet they'll trade it away)
Portland doesn't have roster space for all of the draft picks we have now. So what do we do? Get another pick! I have to think a trade to move up is coming.
This doesn't make any sense. Until a bigger trade happens. A trade involving the Nets, both the Blazers' 1st rounders, and Richard Jefferson.
This is such a stupid trade. Now the Hornets have no picks in the entire draft. Hopefully they plan on landing someone descent with the extra money.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Asp @ Jun 25 2008, 01:05 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>This is such a stupid trade. Now the Hornets have no picks in the entire draft. Hopefully they plan on landing someone descent with the extra money.</div> I concur. Welcome to S2, Asp! Are you a Hornets fan..?
I think the Hornets did it cause, they can't afford any more salary on their roster. They got Chandler, Peja, Peterson in big contracts, and expect to give Paul a HUGE extension this summer.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (o.iatlhawksfan @ Jun 25 2008, 12:10 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I think the Hornets did it cause, they can't afford any more salary on their roster. They got Chandler, Peja, Peterson in big contracts, and expect to give Paul a HUGE extension this summer.</div> They should try to get out of Pejas contract. way too overpaid.
Selling 1st round picks is not good for the league in my opinion, but If I was GM, Id buy as many picks as I could get and draft and store tons of international talent....
My issue with this was (though I'm not surprised) is that McHale once again dropped the ball on this one. All the talk about wanting to package the two 2nd rounders to move into the lower 1st round and all they had to do was just buy it?!?!? McHale could've then packaged the two 2nd Rounders and the 27th pick to move into the low lottery or mid 1st round and pick up some inside help for Big Al (Robin Lopez). Damn it, McHale! Do you ever pull your head out of your ass long enough to see the world or do you just breath with a snorkle?
Well Portland was smart knowing George Shin is cheap. and I don't know how big the budget is for the Wolves.
I would assume that there is a fairly significant fee that would prohibit some owners, namely the Wovles owner as Natta mentioned, from going forward with buying a pick. This is getting somewhat ridiculous though. How about who ever sells a pick has half of the fee received removed from their luxury tax number. So if you receive 3 million for a pick and the luxury tax treshold is 50 million, its now 48.5 million for you. I'm sure that would make some owners think twice about it.
Interesting move only because nobody knows is Portland is going to trade up or trade their other pick for a vet. Either way Portland is one of the most exciting teams to follow during the draft. Can't say the same about the Clippers.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (agoo101284 @ Jun 25 2008, 01:05 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I would assume that there is a fairly significant fee that would prohibit some owners, namely the Wovles owner as Natta mentioned, from going forward with buying a pick. This is getting somewhat ridiculous though. How about who ever sells a pick has half of the fee received removed from their luxury tax number. So if you receive 3 million for a pick and the luxury tax treshold is 50 million, its now 48.5 million for you. I'm sure that would make some owners think twice about it.</div> True, in hindsight...Minny probably just couldn't offer as much money. But there was no excuse for missing out on the Denver pick traded to Charlotte. Minnesota has 3 picks in the first round next year...we coulda made that happen
