Chad Ford's latest blog is up and there are some interesting tidbits in there regarding our Blazers ... Nothing shocking here, but the Cavs could be looking to trade the No. 1 pick: Blazers moving into the lottery: Read the rest of the article here >>>
Ha! Shows what he knows. We don't even have a first pick so we can't move up or acquire a second pick.
Paul loves the draft too much. I'd be stunned if we didn't end up with at least one draft pick on June 26th.
If they could deal for him without giving up their #1 this year, Horford would be a great get for Cleveland.
For entertainment purposes, let's say this is true. What spots 5-14 should we target, and what would it realistically take to get there? Some of those teams have multiple firsts, so that may be intriguing.
I know everyone gets a little leery with the Blazers drafting centers but IF the Blazers where to get the #1 pick by trading Aldridge to the Cavs, Joel Embiid would be tough to pass up.
Nothing like passing on a hyped wing talent for a big man with an injury issue. Fool me three times...
All of them? No, seriously, just looking at who would be selling in that area, first... Article mentioned Utah holding onto their pick and while that's likely, I dunno what they're going to do with it. Burke, Burk, Hayward, Favors, Kanter, they have young pieces at every position. Now, not all 5 are guaranteed future staters for them, but you wonder about development of one if picking another. So maybe they'd move the pick. More so, though, as a 3rd big off the bench, I'd see if we could pry Kanter away. Favors at C, and at 5 a perfect spot to take one of Randle, Gordon or Vonleh. After the top 4, it's PFs as the next best options, and they don't really NEED one. Who knows. I wouldn't move Aldridge for 6 to Boston, and I can't see them being interested in moving it NOT in a big deal like that, Love, Horford, etc. Don't see 7 with Lakers happening for similar reasons. 8 from Sacramento a definite possibility. Again, anything below basically 1,2,3 I wouldn't move Aldridge, without a stud coming back with the pick, but at 8, if they're actually looking to trade the pick for a vet, can ssee them having interest in Wesley or Nic. Likely, with us having to take back salary of Thompson or Landry in the process. Charlotte, Philly, Denver, Orlando, Minnesota, PHX can all very easily be sellers, I just don't like that portion of the draft as much. With a better top 5 or so, it reminds me of a recent draft, maybe the Lillard draft, or the one prior, can't remember, where it seemed like the top 5 there was good value, and then the better value after that was late 1st, not late lotto. Chicago, with 16 and 19 can be a definite possibility, as I doubt they want to fill up 2 roster spots with rookies, and two salary slots if they're considering a push for Love or Melo. Phoenix at 14 and 18, same thing where, they have so many young guys, are they adding 2 more? I doubt it. Though I can see them maybe drafting with one, stashing with the other.
I think people forget it was Olshey who traded Camby, Eric Gordon, Bledsoe, et al to get the Clippers to where they are now. And every time he told them "You're part of the squad, totally special" and then swung the axe. He's ruthless, and this offseason should be fairly exciting because of it.
Not a player they want, more a salary they want to dump. I think it could be close, issue is Sacramento's lineup. With McLemore and Gay there, maybe not. But they mentioned wanting to move 8 for a vet, and I dunno if it'd be at PG or C, realistically. But looking at their salary, they're at about 68 million next season, with Gay opting in. 38 million of that is at the PF and C position only. Thompson, Landry both make over 6 for the next 3 seasons. And both play basically the same position as their best player. Derrick Williams also up there with 6, and you got Outlaw kicking in for 3 also. If they were to move the remaining 17 million dollars off of Landry or THompson's deal, and land what woudl be their best defender in Nic or Wesley, and as an added benefit two very unselfish players, coming from a good team, I think they very well might. Now, is it the best offer they get for 8? I dunno. But I've seen their fans elsewhere suggest trades similar to 8 and Outlaw/Evans(not the longer deals of thompson and Landry) for Afflalo. I like Afflalo, and would actually love for us to target him. But he doesn't do anything significantly better than Wesley does. A year older, and if it was a deal like that versus us moving Wesley and being willing to take on their longer, less desired salary, then maybe so.
Without looking at the order of the teams, I think Nic can fetch as early as 6 or 7 and on. Wes? No. Maybe the Blazers want to shed salary and see Will Barton as a possible replacement for an expensive Nic? I don't think I see it, but who knows. I can understand the notion that paying a role player 11+ million per season is too much, but he is fairly productive and still has room to grow. I don't ever see him being more than a role player however. A very good one, but a role player none the less.
I think my bigger issue is not being enamored with what's there at 8, potentially, as someone who can contribute to us this season. Also, that I think Robinson could be a solid role player for us this year, but the available players at 8 are likely PF types.
