Here's what the Blazers own for this upcoming year: Portland 2009 1st Rounder Portland 2009 2nd Rounder LAC 2009 2nd Rounder NYC 2009 2nd Rounder Denver 2009 2nd Rounder $3 Million Trade Exception (Could purchase a pick without trading a player) In the future we also have Chicago 2010 2nd Rounder The trick is now what do we do with all of these picks. Certainly, we can't keep all the players, and I doubt we draft that many players to stash overseas. More than likely some of those picks will be moved for future picks and considerations. That being said, having a high 2nd round pick is extremely valuable. For example, European players may not want to be drafted at the end of the 1st round (*Rudy*) where they have a small rookie salary. If they're second round, we can give them a more fair contract, and it is an incentive for them to come over and play. Looking at this team and what we need (along with where we'll be drafting, in the 20's), what type of player do you think we're looking at. People mention our biggest weakness at PG and SF, but with those picks being so low, unless we trade up there's not reason to take a player at those positions because they'll be lesser players. I mean, if an Eric Maynor or Chase Buddinger slips, they'll have to be considered. I wouldn't mind Stephen Curry either in some ways, though he'll be gone unless we trade up. Another thought is that people have been saying we need a solid backup PF...a banger who is ready to do the work. With that in mind, and where we'll be drafting, what do you think about drafting Tyler "Psycho T" Hansbrough from UNC. He doesn't have the best athletic tools, but he's one of the most prolific scorers in ACC history and from what I've heard is as competitive as they come. He might be just the type of player to grab with that lower end pick. It's funny, because if he had come out after any year he would have been drafted at about the same position. Granted, who will be available depends on who declares, and the mocks I'm looking at have a ton of underclassmen listed. So I'm just curious where you all think we should head for this upcoming draft. Do you have a player you think will be a steal? Another young piece to add to "The Core"? Let me know.
Personally, I think Portland will be better off either packaging all of the picks and moving up, or packaging the picks along with players for another player. I'm not really keen on picking up another rookie, especially not in a draft as weak as this one.
Dejuan Blair or bust. Patrick Mills, the 6'0" PG from St. Mary's, is a very pesky player. Keep an eye on this player.
That's a boatload of second-rounders. But I expect KP is keep trading them for future picks if they don't see anyone they like. There's always players in picks 30 and so on that other teams want, and would trade multiple future picks for. But of course, if we keep going at this rate, KP will own the entire second round. But I'm glad KP has stockpiled these assets. You can never have enough picks, good young players and so on, eventually, it's got to pay off to something big down the road.
Please ... no more youth and potential. Please package the picks and potentially one or two of our current players and bring back a proven NBA player. I'm so sick of bringing in more young kids and pushing out our championship aspirations another one or two years. We've got five picks. If we come out of the draft with more than two rookies, I'll be upset. Draft picks are like gold right now because teams can add players at the NBA rookie salary scale. Very big in tough economic times. -Pop
It will be very unlikely Budinger will be available with Portland's first, same with Blair because his stock has been rising a lot lately. Mayor is definably a possibility. A second round pick you guys may look at is Antonio Anderson, SF from Memphis. This way be a homer pick, but I think he has the makings of a future lock down defender. He is a smart player and a stat stuffer too. Although he plays SF, he is a good rebounder for his size and currently leads Memphis in assists. He will be a late early to mid second, but he could be one of the steals of the draft.
I don't agree with this. We have our core established. Having young prospects that can develop into contributers in the future is a good thing. We aren't in the era where we had to rely on the rooks. We have the luxury of bringing them along slowly now. Bring on Dejuan Blair!!
Amen. Not only is this draft pretty weak, but taking on a draft pick bites into the team's cap space for the summer. I have a feeling there are going to be some team's interested in shedding high salary veterans and moving into rebuilding mode with cheaper younger talent; this should be a golden opportunity for KP to get some impact players and/or veteran help Just say no, to more rookies!! (at least for a year or two).
I'm amazed that people are in agreement with me on this. I thought I'd get torched for proposing we package some of our picks and bring back a proven NBA player. -Pop
2006 was considered a weak draft - and we still built the core of our team on it. KP does the opposite of what you expect him - I am willing to bet that if most people think the draft is weak - he is going to get someone he loves in it - and the TE just point to it. I am really thinking he is targeting the TE+our 1st+money+2nd pick for a high pick from Washington or the Bucks. When people want to sell - KP loves to buy. When everyone thought he should leverage the Raef contract - he did not. I am willing to bet he will find an impact player in the draft and the dealing will be pretty epic.
Don't take this as a personal attack, because it's not meant to be, but it feels like you are more in love with the thought of DaJuan Blair than the thought of cheap young prospects. I doubt a guy like him would even get minutes though. The rotation is tight enough as it is, and I can't see that adding MORE players is going to fix that.
Hmm, last time they said that about a draft class we got Brandon Roy and Lamarcus Aldridge. I like that Blair kid. He reminds me of Adrian Dantley or Charles Barkley. They would both use their low center of gravity and butt-rape you on the boards.
I am 100% sure that Washington and Milwaukee won't give up a lottery pick just to save 10-15 million dollars.
Blair is a serious talent. He'll make an impact from day 1. He has a high basketball IQ and, pound-for-pound, he'll be one of the strongest players in the League as a rookie.
I'd love for Portland to do that, if it's possible. I don't agree with your premise that rookies are bad for Portland because "they push the championship-contention window out another few years." Rookies don't make Roy, Aldridge or Oden younger. The Blazers are championship contenders the moment those three players are good enough for the team to beat any other team in a series. Batum, Fernandez and Bayless are slightly behind them in development, but that's okay for the team's secondary players. That's the core, and new rookies don't change the time line for the core. All that talented rookies do is provide a continuing, cheap supply of players to supplement the core as the years go on. After all, if a rookie center is chosen in the next draft, that may be the player who is replacing Przybilla in three or four years as the primary backup center. There will always be a need for adding more youth, no matter where the team is, in terms of title contention.
1.) Nate won't play Bayless, why would he play Blair? 2.) Who is he going to force out of the rotation?
