Reading the tea leaves today...who POR may have a chance at will depend on CHA @ #2..... 1) NO - Davis 2) CHA - Barnes - I believe this is the pick they have wanted to make all along and unless he royally screws up his workout, this is who they will take. I think they want to trade down a few spots but are being too greedy right now in terms of what they are asking other teams for....So either they come off those demands, move down a few spots (Cle @ #4, Sac @ #5 or POR @ #6) or most likely they stay @ #2 and if they do they will take Barnes.... 3) WAS - Beal - Some hedging b\t Beal & MKG, but I think this the guy they have wanted all along, trade only makes it more apparent IMO 4) CLE - MKG - Beal is not going to make it to #4, only surprise would be if they trade up with CHA to get #2 and select him before WAS, but I don't think that is going to happen....If Barnes is still available (meaning Robinson @ #2) then I still think they would go MKG over Barnes... 5) SAC - Lillard - This is where POR has to be PROACTIVE, not for Lillard but for Robinson, who if he slides to #5 like I think he will, would be an absolute steal here for POR...I am not sure SAC takes him with Cousins & Thompson already, if they are going to go big then a center like Drummond makes more sense....Lillard makes sense as well as he could slide into PG, move Tyreke over to SG where he is far better suited and have Jimmer and Thornton...I think he fits there... The only caveat is the value of the pick or the player at that pick, being Robinson...meaning POR hopefully will be working the phones and working a flip flop trade for a relatively minor cost to insure they get Robinson...Also POR should let SAC know that if they trade with another team...Lillard will not be there....So, they have to gauge who SAC really wants....If they do want Robinson (who won't work out there) then the cost might be a little higher for POR to flip flop picks...but IMO POR needs to insure they get whomever falls to #5, be it Robinson, Barnes or MKG (in order of likelyhood).
I think the only way we have a shot at Barnes, MKG, Beal or Robinson is if some team fell in love with Drummond's potential. If not, and we keep the pick....which I still don't think we will, we will be drafting potential at #6
I really hope you're right..... because getting Robinson would by DY-NO-MITE! Seriously.... I get excited at times, but I'm usually fairly even-keel, or slightly reserved/pessimistic. But add Robinson, re-sign Batum, pick up a SG or PG at #11, whichever guard you don't draft, sign via free agency.... Maybe re-sign Hickson. Maybe bring over Freeland. That's a solid, young core to work with, and one that I could see being competetive enough to battle for #8 seed. Most will say, "Boo - #8?" With a young core that's only going to get more experience and get better, you have to be excited about even being a #8 seed. Robinson has a ton of potential to get better, but he's one of the guys I can confidently say makes the team better from the first time he steps on the floor, and he'll show right away that he belongs, IMO.
Here is what I would love to see happen: Portland buys #5 from Sac. $3million plus "future considerations" - these future considerations can play out after July 1st and free-agency shakes out. We can always have a fall-back position, offering our 2013 or 14 #1 (top 3 protected) to Sac. Now, with your tea leaves, would could happen if Portland picked #5 #6 #11 ? Now this would make Draft Night REALLY fun!!! We may wind up with MKG + T.Rob/Drummond + Kendall Marshall ? Or several other exciting scenarios.
We cannot trade any of our first round picks. It's illegal per the Stepien Rule and the protections on the 2013 we sent to CHA for Wallace.
