First Blush

could be the answer to both questions. Bayless and Budinger.

1. At 13, I do like DJ Augustin (Texas) if he falls that far (Coach Self at KU says Augustin is the best guard in the country). Budinger is an immense talent that would provide immediate dividends even though he is a SG/SF. He may be the best athlete in the draft. He has excellent lateral quickness and speed and is a leaper.

2. Bayless is impressive as well. He projects at 3rd pick. I would rather have a more experienced PG if we take a PG. The third pick is not unlike last year when there were two top players (maybe not as good) and the 3rd pick is a bigger drop. If I were praying for another miracle 1 or 2 might be the better requests (smile).

3, In the 2nd round if he declares Mario Chalmers would be a terrific addition defensively as well as a play-maker and is among the most efficient offensive players in the country. He can run the break, score in the half-court, distribute, and leads the Big 12 for the 3rd straight year in steals. Small wonder KU opponents get less than 40% FG%.

I am not a fan of DeAndre Jordon, Brook Lopez, Anthony Randolph of the bigs and any guard with less than 3 years in college (maybe except for Rose). I don't know that we need another project in a player who is more potential than production.

Don't know about Love. His outlet passes and rebounding might change much of the team's style and his playing on the white unit for us could be dynamite.

Finally who we draft might influence Rudy's decision to come to the NBA. Augustin would be a nice complement without playing with the style and size that might threaten Rudy's minutes.

It hurts to say but he is a guy that can step in and really help out next year, he is a smart and versatile player(and I wouldnt mind those outlet passes in the 2nd unit with Serio).  I also like Augustine but dont really see why we take a point guard.  Hansborough might be a nice 15 or 16 pick for us as well. You usually cant go wrong with a hard nosed big like him.  I got lots to look for in the tourney, I am excited...

The last thing the Blazers need is another young player to develop, especially at such a vital position.  I might accept Rose but I think I would rather trade down, and dump a guy or two off the roster in the trade to make some room.  Then pick up Hansborough or Love a little lower.  

We've got enough young players.

draft at #3.  That's a pick we should trade.  I agree with tominhawaii, developing a point guard isn't a good move. The #3 would be a great commodity to trade for a proven PG.  At #13 I would either draft Hansbrough or trade down a couple spots and draft Hansbrough.  We should stay away from young guards we'll have to develop and get young big (or biggish) guys that we know will fight for rebounds.    

The Blazer's priority will be looking to acquire a big man either through draft or trade.  They have to be at least a little nervous about Oden's health next year and need a back-up plan should he  go down again.  

Yep, you can book it (I think).  

I agree with Leeroy, I think we should look to trade our pick first, no matter if it is 13,3 or whatever.

The fact is, we have a roster full of young guys we're developing as it is, plus we have a ton of draft picks this year as well. I'm thinking we can leverage those, and a player or two for an established PG or big.

Ideally I'd like to see us trade the pick for an established pg. If that's not possible I like to see us take either the best pg or sf available. I think we need upgrade both positions at some point.

I've seen Arizona play a few times this year since my wife is Tucson. Both Budinger and Bayless have a lot of talent but both seem lost at times and often underachieve. Maybe this has to do with Lute Olsen being out this year but I'd be leary of taking either Arizona player.    

I know your just dreaming,... but i think that we should have some sense.  How in the world would we get the #3 pick.?  We have like .6% chance of getting it.  

And since we will end up with #13 or so, i dont think we want another project.  We shouldnt take Westbrook even though he is good at D, he doesnt really have that much potentiall besides his crazy dunks witch he wouldnt be able to do very often in the NBA.

Is it determined that he is entering the draft? His strengths are the Blazers weakness (this year, who knows, maybe greg solves all)

A draft of a PG would be a catastrophe. THAT'S the guy to sign as a free agent, whenever that happens.

Need somebody who is big enough, proficient enough, and has the right attitude to be a rebounder in the NBA. That might be Love, but I'll bet he doesn't last to the 13 slot...

t

If we get...

-A pick in 1-3, then it is either

1. Draft a pg (rose, mayo, etc).  Most of them seem to be can't miss projects, so the real question is which appears to have the best chemistry with the team.  Most should be able to create for themselves/others and play "D" in a year or two.  We all cry for Deron and Paul, but the next big pg is in this draft.
   
2. Trade the pick (and other stuff if necessary) for a superstar pg/sf.  Picks 1-3 are worth a lot, so a rebuilding team with one star could be very interested.

-a pick at 13

1. I see us trading this for veteran experience.  The draft has talent, but we have talent with players who are showing a good work ethic and a team with chemistry.  Find a way to get another JJ33 piece, decent player with all the tricks.
   
2. If no one wants to give us the player we want, then pick for the pg spot again.  Augustin from Texas should be available and his game is solid.  

Probably we get the vet as getting a high pick is very unlikely.  But another pg project would be fine.  It would suck to develop another one, but jack/sergio do not appear to be the answers (as Dave said, they were all late picks anyways and how many pg's taken down there become stars?) and Blake steadies the boat for now.  Plus:
-SG is locked up (unless Rudy doesn't come over)
-SF has way too much potential (If Outlaw or Martell gets "it" we'll win championships for a decade straight...and they work hard with offsetting strengths on offense.  As for defense...work in progress)
-As for bigs, see Oden, LMA, Joel, Frye (he sucks, but put him on the floor next to Oden for spacing), Raef, and McRob (nearly the Kevin Love of Duke, just not quite as good).  The bigs are set unless we can find a sucker for Frye.

     If you have watched more than one UCLA
game, you would know he's a SG/Wing man. He's
tremendously athletic and very good defensively,
but dosen't have the ball handling ability or
pass first mentality that Collison (PG) has
shown consistantly.
     Collison is 6' - 6'1" and 170. He's not
as big as some PG's, but he is a dynamo on
defense. He is a junior who has been to two
final fours with a very good team (pressure)
and a defensive minded coach. His stamina,
defensive pressure, steals and ability to
break down defenders with the right or left
hand (Nice crossover as well) is exactly what
type of point guard we need playing along side
BRoy.
     Everyone knows that our point guards
(Blake, JJ & Sergio) have been getting torched
on drives by the Chris Paul's, Steve Nash's
and even the Earl Watson's of the NBA. Blake
and Jack are just not quick enough to defend
the Tony Parker type quick point guards. Even
though our defense will be better with GO
next year, he will get into foul trouble if
we don't address the top of the key perimeter
defense. I think Collison can get stronger with time in the weight room and shooting can improve
with practice. For now, we need perimeter
defense, another ball handling slasher that can
get inside his defender, leadership and team
play/pass first types of players. Collison
should be available at around 13-14. If not
trade a couple of the 2nd rounders to move up a
couple of spots.
     With a 2nd round pick, I would like to see
the Blazers pick up a Paul Milsap type PF. We
need a bruiser to take up some of the slack
on the boards and inside play to make up for
Travis and Frye who are both SOFT. Travis could
play more SF, depending on the matchups.

One of the reasons KP is a great GM is that he thinks creatively. When he makes a trade, it's usually at least a three step process.

Remember the NY trade that landed us Frye and a second rounder? That's what gave us Rudy and Jones.

He could take our #13 pick and turn it into a #6ish pick.    

We have a huge expiring contract (LaFrenz) sprinkle in the PDX pu-pu platter [JJ+Frye+Jones(maybe Sergio)+3 2nd rounders] we could get a pretty high pick. Now with the players/salary exceptions he has from the initial trade he makes the move for what he really wants.

Not saying it's probable, but if he sees the player we need in the draft he'll make some very strange moves that will get us what he wants in the grand scheme of things.

Second, I think he'll buy or trade for another late first rounder. For that pick I think he should find a way to grab Tyler Hansbrough. He's not going to be a star in the NBA but he is one of the best, if not the best, players in College Basketball.

He's not ranked very high because he lacks athletic ability. I feel like a lot of GMs go for broke when they draft, trying to get that 1 diamond in the rough that turns his star potential into actual star production. TH doesn't have that potential, but he is going to have an impact right away in the NBA.  

He can rebound, he has good footwork, and a decent jumper. Plus he's tough and has a lot of heart.

If Hansbrough is not available, go for Love.

 Thing I don't like about love is that he's very bloated weight-wise. He's not going to last long in the nba at his 255, he's waaaay too slow. Love's size let's him be very effective in college, but when he is in the NBA against quick strong forwards he'll be very ineffective.

we SHOULD NOT be spending lottery picks on projected pine-riders.

For a veteran, but it has been shown that if you can get a top 10 pick, they have a good chance to contrubute right away, especially now that HSers cant come out.

Look at our former 1st top 10 picks. Webster doesnt count as he was from HS, but look at the players that we could of gotten tha had gone to college, Felton, Williams, or Paul.

The next year we got LMA and Roy, both of whom came in and were able to provide a lot, however LMA was injured coming into the season and was a little late coming to the party.

We cant say anything about last years pick but #1 overalls tend to have a BIG impact on their teams.

What I am trying to say is that, this is the last year that we will have a lotto pick for the next century.

I say that we try to package our 2009, 10 or 11 picks to try to move up and grab a top 10 pick. The 2009+ picks will likely be in the 15+ and will be backups or projects at best, headcases or delinquents at worst. This draft should have a lot of good PG/SGs that would be great next to Roy and we should package perhaps:

Jack
13th
09 1st top 3 protected
$3mill

for the

#5, 6 or 7
cap filler

or

Jack
$3mill
13th
09 1st top 3 protected
11 1st top 3 protected

for

#2, 3

The second is not likely to happen but I would throw as many 1sts in the next couple of years to collect more talent right now.

We have 1 more year to add young talent and then the bus is full. We can stand adding one more young talent but we do not need more talent 2 years from now or even 4 years from now.

to get #2 and take Rose or Beasley (whoever Miami doesn't take. See how below.)

If we got #13 I would trade it for a 2010 1st rounder from either Miami or Seattle, or a 2011 1st rounder from Boston (all non-top 3 protected for that year only).

To get up to #2:

If we got #3 the most likely odds are that Miami will be #1 and Memphis #2. Since Memphis doesn't need another young point guard (they've got Crittendon and Conley, they could slide to #3 and still get the guy they want, probably a SG like Bayless or Mayo. What else does Memphis want?

As evidenced by the Gasol trade, they want good, cheap, young talent or expiring contracts. They've got PGs, with Gay and Warrick at the F spots, Mike Miller at SG, and Darko at C.

If they want to get rid of Miller's contract, we could do #3 pick + Raef + Martell + 2nd round pick for #2 pick Miller + Collins.

Raef & Martell would expire next year for Memphis (or they can hang on to Martell). They get rid of Miller's contract, too.

We get an expiring contract next year (to partially make up for Raef) in Collins and a good SF shooter in Miller. If we don't want him, KP has all year to trade him, or trade him after the season is over, to stick to the '09 cap space plan.

If the Blazers get the 13th pick and simply draft a player with the 13th pick, there will be a lot of disappointed Blazers fans.  

I'm going to play along the way Dave layed it out, I'm assuming current roster and looking at 3 and 13.  There are just too many variables when you start talking trades and KP is too creative to predict.

First off, under the current collective bargaining agreement there is somewhere around a 0.01% chance we're going to get a special PG through free agency.  The likelihood of someone trading us that same PG is perhaps 0.02% given that you can count all terrific NBA PGs on less than 2 hands.  I'm with KP, I think you need a very good to great PG to win rings.

We've got so much young talent at this stage, I think you've got to roll the dice and try to get that special PG at #3.  If he doesn't pan out, you've still got a ton of young talent to continue building the team around and if he does, that's a huge step towards a championship.  I think you've got to look real long and hard at one of these guys with good size and exceptional speed - I like Rose but there are several with big upside.

At 13 you could be a little more flexible and take the best available PG, try to fill that lockdown defensive 3, or address our lack of inside toughness and rebounding.  Normally I would think BPA first with a lottery pick but a Hansborough may not be a bad option with a good motor, banger, and rebounder off the bench.