All teams that don't make the playoffs are in the lottery. There ar 30 teams with 16 of them going to the playoffs and the other 14 getting the lottery. We are definitely out of the playoff race, I am hoping for at least a 500 record, but that is even looking tough. Next year is going to be fun!
nbadraft.com has the blazers at 13 in there mock draft taking Kevin Love. More young talent and lets hope the Spaniard comes over next year too!
I hope they finish with at least a .500 record as well....It's going to be very hard to do though with some tough games ahead. I heard Brandon Roy say he was cleared to practice and may play Sunday when the Spurs come to town. Regardless of where we draft at I'm glad we showed a spark this season and gave us all something to cheer about again! GO BLAZERS
The Blazers really need a PG more than anything from whatever lottery pick they're getting. They're not packing it in by any means but the schedule remaining is brutal, so a pick of 13 or so sounds about right. We have pretty much zero fastbreak, and we need a speedy PG that can run the floor and has great bb smarts and can call effective plays. And can score at will and take care of the ball. Yes, that's a lot to ask for but Roy and LA can't carry the team themselves. We are still a bit of a question mark at SF but that's less important a position to rectify than PG. I realize we have too many so we're in good position to move up in the draft if we have to, by packaging Blake/Jack/Serge/Miles(I wish)/LaFrentz(I also wish), in a combo of any of those to swap another team for the top PG in the draft. Hopefully the buzz about Rudy Fernandez is well warranted, and he can provide solid minutes. I also realize we could use more rebounds but Oden will definitely help with his arrival. So we need a PG more than anything. Who should we try to draft, that would be a can't-miss prospect?
if we get lucky enough to pick at 1 or 2 we take Derrick Rose, if we stay at 13 we should try to package that pick with a few players to move up and get Eric Gorden. thats my 2 cents.
Yeah, I was thinking about Eric Gordon, but do you think he will be a can't-miss prospect? We need someone who can immediately step in and deliver 15 or more a night, and help create fastbreaks. Are there any other PGs headed for the draft that might be more suited for that role?
I've read Kevin Love, Tywon Lawson, Darren Collison or Chase Budinger. Most peoples mock drafts have us at 13. I like Love and he is an Oregon guy, not sure how his game will translate to the nba, seems a little slow. I do not like Collison at all, please do not pick this guy. Lawson is a little undersized but I like his pedigree. No on Budinger, he may not even leave. Can't wait for next year.
I understand the thinking of putting us 13, but with the Draft Lottery you never know how things will work themselves out. I'm not sure that Love is entering the draft or not, at least i know that he is not saying either way yet. We don't need a Big anyway, what we need is a PG, anyone know where Eric Gordon is predicted to be selected if he declares? That would be my target, you obviously aren't going to get Rose, but I think Gordon has a lot of potential, and getting a top notch point guard is what the Trail Blazers need to compete in the west.
Eric Gordon will be selected between draft picks 6-10. I wouldn't say he's a "can't miss" PG, but he is a can't miss scorer and 3-point specialist. He has a great outside shot with decent driving ability, but his passing skills are marginal at best. I think he's a slightly taller version of Ben Gordon. I see his game translating into more of a scoring guard position rather than point guard.
Some might think that the Blazers could use a little more scoring and outside shooting. I agree, but with our PG I would prefer someone also with the ability to be a distributor that can get everyone involved in the offense. Obviously the cream of the PG crop in the draft is Derrick Rose. He's a Chris Paul type of impact PG that not only knows how to score but has the ability to get everyone involved and has a knack for distriubuting the ball to the right player at the right time. He's a very special player indeed, so much so that I think if he was added to Roy, Oden & Aldridge he could elevate the Blazers to instant championship contender next year. And how perfect is his last name for a team that plays in the Rose Garden? But we can all get that dream out of our head because it's not going to happen. I think he will be the first pick in the draft because most of the worst teams have PG as their biggest need. I don't think the Blazers could put a good enough package together to move up to the #1 pick, and I don't think a Seattle or Miami or Minnesota or Memphis or New York is going to pass on either Rose or Beasley so moving to one of the top 2 picks is out of the question unless the Blazers are including either Oden, Aldridge or Roy in their package offer, which defeats the whole purpose.
So, forgetting about Rose, there are other PG's that will be available in the first 10 picks that the Blazers could move up from 13 to get. Besides Gordon there is also Jerryd Bayless, O.J. Mayo or Russell Westbrook. I think Bayless has a similar game to Gordon. In my opinion neither of these players are worth moving up to get. If either slip to 13 fine, but I think between Brandon Roy and Rudy Fernadez the Blazers will have enough scoring guards. They need a distributor.
I really like O.J. Mayo. I didn't like this kid at first because I thought he was a ball hog. But I watched a lot of USC games this year and he is a great scorer and 3-point shooter, but he also really knows how to distribute the ball and get everyone involved. I was very impressed. He would be able to knife through the defense and then kick it out to Roy or slip an underneath pass to Aldridge or Oden. Mayo is worth packaging their #13 pick with a combination of players and/or future draft picks. He's not as good as Rose right now, but I think Mayo's upside as a PG is much higher than Bayless or Gordon.
Problem is that with such a need for PG out there Mayo is the likely #3 pick. It would take at least the #13 and Sergio, Webster & Jack to make this trade. Most likely the Blazers would need to throw in next year's pick too. I know that seems like too much. But I'm telling you, unless there is an impact PG free agent out there (Chris Paul & Deron Williams aren't going anywhere) they are going to have to find their guy in the draft. Sometimes it is necessary to sacrifice some depth to get the player you need.
The other option that I like is Russell Westbrook. He may not be a pure PG, but to be fair he didn't get the chance to handle the ball much with Collison on the same team. Westbrook did show flashes of brilliance as a scorer & distributor. He has a great drive and a decent jump shot. But the best thing about Westbrook is he is an amazing defender. He would fit right in with the tough defensive minded Oden-centered Blazer team next year. I think the Blazers could really benefit from having another great perimeter defender. Between Westbrook & Roy it wouldn't really matter who the designated PG was because either can handle the ball, drive to the bucket, shoot from outside and distribute. Add Rudy Fernandez to the mix and the Blazers would have 3 very capable distributors and scorers. The other great thing is Westbrook should be available in the 6-10 area so the Blazers would not have to give up quite as much to move up to get him as they would Mayo.
If the Blazers try to draft a PG at #13 they will be choosing between Collison, Lawson & Augustin. These are all undersized PG's that will be exposed defensively. Lawson & Augustin would be better than Collison because they are better drivers and distributors with higher upsides in my opinion. But I'd much rather they move up to get Mayo or Westbrook than settle for Lawson or Augustin.
This is a realistic possibility if the Blazers are really serious about moving up.
Of course if we get out of this world insanely lucky and win another lottery we can go ahead and start celebrating future championships now. Derrick Rose is going to be the real deal. But realistically I am targeting either Mayo or Westbrook for the Blazers to get in the draft. My first choice would be Westbrook because I love his defense and the Blazers would not have to give up as much to move up to get him as they would Mayo.
1. Package the first pick and players (Jack, Webster, Miles, Lafrentz) for a top 2 pick. Then select Derrick Rose from Memphis. His style of play is perfect for the Blazers, he can control the clock, throw the lob for Oden, Aldridge and Outlaw. He can pass all day and Portland could possibly have the best 1-2 combo in the NBA for many years.
2. Sign Chris Paul, he's a free agent after this season and we would have the cap space to sign him to a max contract.
quick thought, with how much the blazers have both of tese scenarios could possibly happen. Have Rose learn from Paul, think about that.
Great Post ShokTart, I read it over two days, but still great> Thanks for the info, and isight, I definately agree that Rose is the cream of the crop and should go #1, but it would definately be great for him to be playing PG in the Rose Garden. I also agree that Gordon isn't "can't miss" talent, and if I said that before I must have mis spoke. I do though believe that he could slip that far, and who knows we may break top ten once the lottery is all said and done. So who knows, only time will tell, but hopefully this time next year, we will be concerned about the playoffs and not the draft.
Well, so much for finishing strong. The game against the Kings last night was one I feel we should of had especially since Coach Theus from the Kings played alot of reserves heavy minutes. James Jones and Steve Blake were combined 0-15 from the field, that just isn't going to get it done. Hope we can get it done against the Mavs, who should be resting some starters I think. It was good year, hope we can close it out on a winning note. Go Trail Blazers!
New Orleans isn't going to let Chris Paul go. He is the face of their franchise and probably the top point in the game. Not to mention the face of a rebuilding city.
A more realistic approach would be to trade for one of Toronto's point guards. Both T.J. Ford and Jose Calderon are capable of quarterbacking a team. Another option would be to trade for Jordan Farmar from the Lakers or Kyle Lowry from the Grizzlies.
If the Blazers put together the right package, they may be able to land a guy like Baron Davis from the Warriors. My guess is that Frye, McRoberts, Jack, and Webster would have to be included in that deal.
With the win against Memphis last night we can't finish with a losing record, so I was happy we got the win! I hope we can play tough and beat the Suns tonight but I think it will be a tall order considering the Suns need this game for ranking in the playoffs. Last game of the season tonight for our Blazers....hope it's a good one. Go Trail Blazers!
