I have no knowledge or inside info on this but over on real GM someone said a team talked to the blazers about trading picks. (the team picks before Portland) No further details given. What team do you think wants to move down the most? I would guess they would be looking to get 6 and 11. My guess is Charlotte. Would you trade #6 and #11 for #2 and our protected first back?
In a second. I doubt the Bobcats would give us our protected pick back, but maybe they are desperate enough in the wake of losing out on Davis.
Well, Buchanan said in his interview that he considers 2 through 8 kind of all in one group with similar attractiveness. And I tend to agree; i don't think there is anyone who will be going at #2 that we are really anxious to deal for. We need a great center or great PG and there are none who are obviously great in this draft; so why trade up?
That'll change after workouts. I think it'll be pretty clear that you're going to have to trade up for a Bradley Beal or MKG. Don't settle for what falls to you, get the prospect you want!
I don't get the Bradley Beal love. His shooting form looks really good but I don't think he will ever be able to consistently create a shot in the NBA. He will be a guy who always has to come off screens and pin downs or get a kick out. I think Austin Rivers will end up being the best SG in this class. His game is a lot like Roy's but a little more raw then Roy coming out of college. Rivers has great handles and has pretty good range. I think he would be a really good fit in Portland because lord knows the Blazers need some payers that can create off the dribble. [video=youtube;00oTfCihkgs]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00oTfCihkgs[/video]
Bradley Beal is very good and the best 2 guard in this class but I wouldn't trade two picks to get him. I like both Ross and Lamb at pick #11 to fill our sg need. Austin Rivers is a black hole...once the ball is in his hands, it's gonna stay there. I'm a HUGE Duke fan but I don't want Rivers in Portland.
I would like to trade our picks to Charlotte so that we can select MKG. Then, I would like to have a team select Drummond for us - and later sign & trade Batum for the rights to Drummond. With our cap space, we then push hard to land DWill, followed by signing JJ Hickson and possibly Flynn. And if Pryzbilla is healthy, sign him too. With our two late 2nd round picks - I'd like to see us package these and move up higher so that we can select the best possible SF. Batum is good, but simply not worth $9 or $10 million. I'd rather put the money toward securing DWill. DWill / Flynn / Smith Matthews / EWill MKG / Babbitt / Best Available with a 2nd round selection LMA / Hickson Drummond / Pryzbilla / Thomas This makes for one of the strongest defensive teams in the league - with DWill and LMA being our 1 & 2 scoring options.
Dunno why this keeps getting mentioned. We can offer DWill a Max and still Match a contract for Batum.
Yeah, I think 4 and 24 would be interesting. You would get to make a pick rather than take what falls to you. Also, there are going to be some solid players still at 24. It is a close call though: 6&11: Lillard/Beal and PJIII? 4&24: MKG/Drummond and Moultrie/Wroten/Royce White Close call
4 and 24 for 6 and 11? Sounds like a bad deal (if it's not just some made up internet rumor). You move up 2 slots in a draft where it's said 2-8 are fairly equivalent talent-wise, but then trade a lottery pick for a late first round? Not my call, obviously, but if it was I'd say no way. Not unless there was more to the deal, like a player on the Cavs the team wants.
I dont like that idea. Moving up 2 spots isnt worth dropping 13 spots IMO. Unless of course we think we could have better trade options with #4 and #24.
I'm not sure it wouldn't be worth it. If you believe that Beal is a solid shooter, but otherwise an undersized 2 with limited penetrating ability, and you believe Barnes is no more than a spot up shooter in the NBA, couldn't you find a lot more value by moving up to 4 and taking Drummond, Robinson or MKG? Also, if you think Sullinger can't get his shot off in the NBA, and PJIII doesn't have the motor . . . then all the sudden the difference in the players available at 11 and 24 aren't all that different. I could see Ross slipping in at 11 though and the Blazers liking that. His workouts look fantastic.
Despite all the scouting and measurements and over analysis, the draft remains a crap shoot. Buchanan and other knowledgeable posters on this board believe picks 2-6 are about equal in talent and risk. Players who turn out to be good or even great often fall to the late lottery or even out of the lottery. That is why we need as many lottery picks as we can get, and why I would not use both picks to trade up for one, or trade simulataneously up and out of the lottery (i.e. 4 and 24). With our brain trust, we definitely need two trys to get one of those picks right. A gem will fall to us. We just need to catch it. I wouldn't close the door on trades, but you'd have to make me a damn good offer.
