<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>TUALATIN -- The Trail Blazers on Thursday held their most meaningful predraft workout this offseason featuring three players eager to fill the team's most glaring weakness: point guard. A blend of athleticism (Russell Westbrook), quickness (Ty Lawson) and untapped potential (Rodrigue Beaubois) visited the Blazers' practice facility during a workout that general manager Kevin Pritchard called the most competitive yet. Its significance is summarized by one fact: For the first time this offseason, owner Paul Allen was in town to watch. "He gets very interested during this time . . . and it's fun for him," Pritchard said. "It's fun for all of us. This is the time where we can be creative, we can look at guys, and we can see if guys separate themselves during their workouts." As the Blazers take the next step in rebuilding, evolving from young and blossoming to playoff contenders, the team seems to be in search of a point guard to lead the movement. Of the team's three floor leaders, only starter Steve Blake has played with poise and consistency. One-time starter Jarrett Jack too often committed head-scratching turnovers and struggled to run an up-tempo offense last season. Exciting-but-erratic third-stringer Sergio Rodriguez was arguably the only Blazer who saw his game decline from the previous season. Rodriguez's discouraging season turned more sour this week when he was demoted from the Spanish National Team as it prepares for the Olympics. Two weeks from draft day, speculation is that the Blazers will most likely acquire help at point guard through a trade or free agency. But after Thursday's workout, Pritchard said he wouldn't hesitate to add a point guard in the June 26 draft, even if that prolongs the Blazers' rebuilding. "If the guy is going to be a good player, he's going to be a good player," he said. "Developing is hard. We've gone through a lot of developing, but I think now that we've got Brandon (Roy) and LaMarcus (Aldridge) kind of taking it to another level, they can become that solidifying force in the locker room. "Rookie point guards in this league tend to struggle. Even the guys who have had huge success, the Chris Pauls and Deron Williams . . . had to go through some bumps and bruises. The guys we're looking at may take some time." All three of Thursday's point guard prospects will likely need NBA seasoning, but the most coveted is Westbrook, a 6-foot-3 sophomore from UCLA. He revealed superb athleticism, strong leaping ability, impressive defense and a better-than-expected shooting touch during a workout that Pritchard praised. The knock on Westbrook has been shooting, but he awed the Blazers during three-point shooting drills by making 36 of 50 shots (72 percent). He seems to be an ideal fit for the Blazers in more ways than one. Westbrook is an excellent on-ball and help defender -- he was the Pacific-10 Conference defensive player of the year last season -- and he played point guard and shooting guard in college, an attractive combination for the Blazers because All-Star shooting guard Roy often plays the point. "I know (the Blazers) are looking for a guard that can come in and fit in well with their style of play and their coaching," Westbrook said. "They want good players on the team because they have a group of good young guys right now. I'm probably going to mostly be a point guard. But if Coach wants me to come in at (shooting guard), I have no problems doing that." UCLA teammate and former Oregon high school star Kevin Love said he wouldn't hesitate to recommend Westbrook to any NBA team. "He's a great dude," Love told The Oregonian via text message. "He's a great locker room guy and a big-time character guy. He comes from a great family and is a workaholic. He's a big guard who's the best defender in the draft. This kid is very good." So good, in fact, that some mock drafts are projecting Westbrook as a top-10 pick. The Blazers acknowledged that he could be off the board by the time they select at No. 13. But that doesn't necessarily rule out Westbrook -- or any other high draft prospect. "We will definitely move up in the draft if we feel like it's possible and that our player is there," Pritchard said. Outside of Westbrook, Thursday's visitors probably will be available at No. 13. Lawson, a steady and speedy point guard from North Carolina, raised his stock with a strong showing at last month's NBA predraft camp in Orlando, Fla., and reports suggest he has fared well in previous workouts with Indiana, Denver, Cleveland and Washington. But Lawson damaged his standing -- particularly with the character-conscience Blazers -- when he was arrested this month in Chapel Hill, N.C., and charged with driving after consuming alcohol. Pritchard said North Carolina coach Roy Williams assured him that was a one-time mistake, but Pritchard acknowledged that such transgressions could cause the Blazers pause. "We'll do our due diligence on that," Pritchard said. "If we feel like it's a mark, we won't draft him." One player who apparently fits just fine with the Blazers is Beaubois. The 20-year-old French point guard worked out in Tualatin for the second time in eight days and for the third time in two seasons. He could be an option for the Blazers with one of their three second-round picks (33, 36 and 55).</div> Source: Oregon Live
