Draft Day: What WILL KP do?
by Idog1976 on May 25, 2008 12:34 AM PDT
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With KP...
I have come to expect the unexpected. It might be a combination of the above options, but I have a feeling that we may not see it coming.
Let me try
I say if KP doesn’t do a trade to move a lot higher up (like up to get Mayo or Balyess), he will take some one who will be on the Blazers roster next season around 13th. Then, KP will trade back up into the 20s and grab a player who is open to playing in Europe (Kosta Koufos or Batum). Giving the Blazers another player to stash in Europe and to use as trade bait next year along with the cap space for that final piece.
Joel Freeland=Stud
Mayo has the early lead- my thoughts...
My thoughts on why Mayo won’t happen, and it has nothing to do with how good a player/skill-wise fit he is:
1. Moving up (or down) in the draft almost always occurs the day of the draft.
2. KP typically picks players (early in the 1st that is) with whom he has had a chance to sit down and meet post-Blazer facility workouts. (these meetings become, I believe, more crucial given the questions surrounding Mayo, fair or not).
3. Mayo will go high enough in the draft (and before the Blazers have traded for that high pick) that he will refuse to work out for the Blazers, making any contact with Mayo extremely difficult.
1+2+3 = No Mayo
Why wouldn't Mayo sit down with the Blazers
He has nothing to lose, the Blazers have a history of trading in the draft, and the Blazers would be an almost best case scenario for him. If Mayo did sit down with KP, I think KP would be impressed, Mayo is supposed to be very intelligent and charismatic in person.
Joel Freeland=Stud
When would he have the chance?
This is the same thing that happened to the Blazers last year. Upper, but not Oden/Durant elite, prospects wouldn’t workout or meet with us (perhaps other than a passing hello at pre-draft camp) because we didn’t have an appropriate pick. Let’s just say I would be EXTREMELY surprised if Mayo met with us. And in fact, if he did, I would bet KP did in fact have something in the works to go get him. I just can’t see that meeting happening.
by The Graduate on May 25, 2008 1:48 AM PDT up reply actions
Baby steps...
KP will trade down a few picks by including 2nd rounders, and will trade down even more picks including probably Jack, and then will make a third trade to get Mayo including probably next years first rounder. Kinda like he did a few years ago in getting Roy a bunch of baby steps that add together to make a big improvement.
OT: The Graduate I enjoying reading your posts but always wondered.. Is that your name because you just graduated if so (high school, college, what level?) or is it because you like older women?
by Blazermaniac77 on May 25, 2008 2:35 PM PDT up reply actions
Well, I certainly like older women...
The mascot of my high school was the Cougar… go figure… No actually, while I do like the movie and I have graduated high school, college, etc., it refers to my neverending life as a grad student… and indeed, it will be never-ending. I appreciate your wonderment, I just wish I had a more exciting answer.
You have raised some good points, and if KP can accomplish it through baby steps, more power to him- I am right on board. The Roy situation was a bit different though. It happened all on draft day. Now, certainly KP could do that again, but doing it all on draft day (which is typically the case) would not allow KP to sit down with Mayo beforehand- something KP likes to do. I don’t know Blazermaniac, give me your thoughts.
by The Graduate on May 25, 2008 2:49 PM PDT up reply actions
He would have to meet
with OJ before the draft, which could be tough if Mayo is worried about his draft stock slipping by talking to later lottery teams. Hopefully some one can get Mayo exited about what Portland would have to offer in long term career achievments (ie: Titles) and he’s aware of KP’s history of draft day trades.
by Blazermaniac77 on May 25, 2008 6:21 PM PDT up reply actions
KP already said no to Mayo.
He said the Blazers were not ready to take on a player like Mayo who had questions about his personality.
If somebody hits you with an object you should beat the hell out of them.-Charles Barkley
Where'd you hear that?
Secondly, GM’s love to blow smoke around. Like all the LMA for Rose deals. Or us trading for Jason Kidd at the trade deadline.
KP: You know Mike Rice, Mike Barret you've both been very valuable to us this season. But I'd still trade you both for a couple of 2nd round draft picks.
I think
It was one of the Barrett chat/podcast thingy’s and they asked him about Mayo after the latest scandal. KP didn’t say he would not take OJ but he said he is not ready to take a trouble maker. He said the culture was good enough to absorb a trouble maker but he does not want to deal with it. I’m just paraphrasing of course.
Four
No names given
Before a caller called and asked about Allen Iverson, Wheels asked KP if he thought we were at a place to take in a player who might not have the best reputation. KP said the team wasn’t ready because it was so young and too early after all the previous problems.
Later a caller asked the same question in regards to AI, and KP couldn’t answer. He also couldn’t remark upon Beasley (who the question from Wheels was implying) or Mayo, and never was quoted as saying he wouldn’t draft those guys specifically.
But, you can read between the lines. We ain’t taking in any head cases just yet.
HOWEVER, since KP never said “No Mayo”, and was only referring to guys they KNEW were head cases, he could allow himself to draft someone like Mayo if KP believed Mayo was actually a good kid and his rep was overblown. That’s another argument entirely though, and only KP knows the real answer.
I just wanted to add in some more specifics so we don’t start a Blazers Edge rumor that KP specifically said he would not draft Mayo or Beasley (and since the question was before the lottery and was more pointedly about Beasley, I think we can say he hasn’t even indirectly responded with Mayo in mind).
Mortimer
I overheard KP at a deli
And I am positive Kevin Pritchard said No Mayo.
Four
by tominhawaii on May 25, 2008 4:45 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
No,
I was refering to when KP was asked about the Mayo scandle, and if at some point the Blazers would be able to take a chance on a guy like OJ who might have some character issues, but was still a great talent. KP responded by saying that when he worked for the Spurs they could take a chance on anyone they wanted, regardless of character, because the personalities on the team were so strong and positive it would overcome any negativity from the players they brought in. He then went on to say that he didn’t think the Blazers were at that point yet, but might be once they got a little older.
I think that’s just about as close to a no on Mayo as you can get, but I wouldn’t be suprised if Pritchard ended up drafting him anyway.
If somebody hits you with an object you should beat the hell out of them.-Charles Barkley
What I took out of him saying that
I thought about Mayo immediately after hearing him on Wheels shows last Tuesday. My thought was that after he drafts Mayo he could use it as some sort of proof that Mayo isn’t a character issue guy. KP could say that he wouldn’t bring in that type of guy and if he thought Mayo was that type of guy he wouldn’t have drafted him.
by Blazermaniac77 on May 26, 2008 12:54 AM PDT up reply actions
because he would be crazy to say
“yeah we can bring in bad guys now.” not with this teams history.
by Blazermaniac77 on May 26, 2008 12:55 AM PDT up reply actions
I don't see why everyone thinks we need to try to draft/trade for a PG
We already have a bunch of people who can play the PG position, including our best player. We do need a 2nd high-quality guard who can play together with Roy, but luckily we already have a very promising prospect in Europe who can come over next year and fill that role.
I voted for the trade for future picks/non-PG player. Future picks would give us storable, tradable assets that would give us maximum flexibility in 2009, which is when I think we will use our capspace to help acquire the final piece of our championship puzzle. (exactly what the final piece should be will depend partly on how our players perform after the addition of Oden and Rudy)
I vote
None.
Juan Dixon Owes Me $5 Dollars.
by Outlaw is Rejector on May 25, 2008 1:25 AM PDT reply actions
hmmmm...
because you have listed all of those above options, then none of them will come true. KP is that smooth and tricky.
Trade for Battier...then Calderon one week later
I really think that developing players is done. Battier with the pick and two players.
Calderon will take Outlaw and Blake. Stinks, but Portland can’t get him for scrubs. (Some in Toronto think that my combination is scrubs.)
If we try to get Calderon with the draft pick - my understanding is that Portland can’t even talk to Calderon until a week or so AFTER the draft. With the #13 pick, we’d be drafting for Toronto, with no guarentee that Calderon would even get here. That’s no way to run a draft.
Second round
These players will be at the end of the bench, waiting for their opportunities.
Hudson,Shan Foster and a Euro.
Sorry I didn’t include players for Battier. Webster, McBob, #13 and Jack
Oden/Pryzbilla
LMA/Frye/LaFrentz
Battier/Jones/Foster
Roy/Fernandez
Calderon/Surgio/Hudson
calderon trade bait
hard to believe KP would trade Travis and Steve Blake for Calderone. Firsty, KP is a big Steve Blake fan who did not approve the trade that sent then Blakey to the tundra of American soil two seasons ago, then immediately found a way to bring him back into the foldas the PTB GM. There is no way KP is going to do that to Blake again even tho I can already hear the “Hey, its a business” drone. No way; KP does believe in Steve and he’s going to give Blake the chance to run the PG for the PTB with all the pieces in place.
Secondly, Travis Outlaw …. how do I say this… aint going anywhere. Travis has become the leader of the teams second unit and has continued to blossom like a rose. Besides he is a super fan favorite and KP must continue to ride the wave that has carried the fans back into supporting the franchise.
Lastly, I do think Calderon is obtainable, but must involve getting rid of SOUR GRAPES Jarrett Jack and either draft picks or the teams current jobbers, just assuming any of these deals could be made to work without sacrificing the two aforementioned.
If you dont talk to your cats about catnip, who will?
Blake has ALREADY conceded that he might be gone
It’s agreed almost by all that Blake is not the long-term starter. He would be a fantastic back up, but is not the answer at the point. I like Blake a lot, but trading a player that is not in the long term plans as a starter is just a piece to the puzzle. A back up can be found. Game changing starters are hard to come by.
I do not see Outlaw as a starter ever with this current team. He may be a fantastic bench player, but he will not be the first or second option in the starting unit. That is why he was such a good player this year, he was relied upon to be the scorer with the second unit. But if I think that he is never going to be a starter, I’m not married to him.
I may be wrong, but with three main players, the other two MUST be complementary players. The starters must be great in one area or two. They must be a deep shooter, a stopper on D or be a great assists guy.
Battier and Calderon fit the bill.
One final note. I don’t think that KP will hesitate on a trade because a player is popular. He wants to make the team better. I loved Petrovic and was sad to see him go, but Buck was just the player we needed. I know it wasn’t KP, but that move made Portland better and I think that these moves make the TEAM better.
I also realize that that I am not privy to the information that KP has available to him. He may think that Portland already has those players on the roster, just as you said. But with my limited access to information (this works trade machine wise), I just think that these moves are do-able and fair.
I respectfully disagree
Blake is better then he’s given credit for. It seems premature to say Blake isnt going to fit in with Brandon, Oden, Lamarcus, and Fernandez when next season rolls in. When Blake played the point in Denver, and had two scorers as easy assist options, he deftly distributed the leather. This year was just one more season of trudgery for Blake to mire thru. There is little evidence to suggest the PTB can land the proverbial savior at PG via trade, and even if they did, the chemistry has to work. There’s no guarantee any else brought in could do a better job (minus the obvious Chris Paul reference.)
Speaking for myself as a PTB diehard, I know what bad chemistry and trades for trades sake in search of the NBA grail will do to a team.
As for Travis, well, I cant argue that KP wouldnt pull the strings on a deal including Travis IF it was for the right guy… but frankly as names get tossed around, the less likely I see Travis being traded. Besides he’s a great human being and that always works well.
Much appreciated is your Drazen Petrovic reference. As a hoops fan, I loved Drazen’s game. That guy could shoot the lights out, and despite his awkwardness adapting to the NBA Drazen always gave 100% effort. If I am not mistaken Drazen scored 100 points in a Euro game once. I’ll have to double check that one.
If you dont talk to your cats about catnip, who will?
Good point
KP will trade a popular player to make the team better, no question. And if Blake is the one that needs to be cast off to do it, he’ll pull the trigger.
But I’m also of the opinion that Blake will probably be with us for a while. He’s a very solid PG, really improved his shooting this year as well. I want a better starting PG, but I think we can get by with Blake if needed. He’s a heady player who will very rarely make costly mistakes. I really think we would have lost many more games this year had it not been for Blake.
KP: You know Mike Rice, Mike Barret you've both been very valuable to us this season. But I'd still trade you both for a couple of 2nd round draft picks.
making the team better
yea but no trade guarantees success… and marginal players may or may not adapt to new circumstances. I’d be shocked if KP traded Blake…. and I’ll have to think about what emotion would capsulize my emotion about Travis getting traded…. no no no aint gonna happen…. calm blue ocean… calm blue ocean
If you dont talk to your cats about catnip, who will?
I must say...
Blake has proven to be a very good - if not - great 3 pt shooter. That is one of my stated needs on the team. But Toronto is not going to take junk back in a trade. Blake would solve their two starters at PG problem. He’d be a great back up for them (Ford would without question start) and they get the SF that they covet. Another reason that I included him is there are almost no minutes for him if Portland goes after another PG.
If KP thinks that Blake is the starter, I’m all for it. But where does the shake up come from if it isn’t the PG position? Is KP looking at an even bigger fish at SF. Is that where the long talked about experience that KP said is coming from?
The experience is not coming from Rudy and Oden, even though they will have a LARGE impact on the team next year.
Just so you know...
Drazen Petrovic was not traded for Buck Williams (that trade happened two years earlier). Petrovic was traded to the Nets in a three-way that landed Portland a first round draft pick.
by The Graduate on May 26, 2008 8:04 AM PDT up reply actions
good call
Didnt Buck arrive in the Sam Bowie trade? What a coup that was.
If you dont talk to your cats about catnip, who will?
Yep...
Buck for Sam Bowie and a first round draft pick. A coup indeed.
by The Graduate on May 26, 2008 11:47 PM PDT up reply actions
OT- Drazen tidbit
” Such greatness was not surprising to those who saw Petrovic play in his native country of Croatia where he once scored 114 points in a game on 40 of 60 shooting or starred in leading the Yugoslavian Olympic team to a silver medal in the 1988 Olympics. “
If you dont talk to your cats about catnip, who will?
I HATE BAD POLLS...
..................... this is one.
t
"You don't live by the jumpshot, you die by the jumpshot." ---Charles Barkley, 2/7/08
Hey Timbo!
I haven’t seen you around in a while! Of course, of anyone out there, I am by far the most guilty party in making bad polls. What this one has though is a lot of specific options with one general one that almost everyone agrees with. That’s why “something no one has thought of is running away with it.
One of Two Official Blazer's Edge Poets Laureate for the 2008-2009 Season
"Scholars have long known that fishing eventually turns men into philosophers. Unfortunately, it is almost impossible to buy decent tackle on a philosopher's salary." - Patrick McManus
Ah Timbo
you are the king of killing dialogue without adding anything to it.
He's Coming! Oden Slayer of Giants
I luvs me timbo
He’ll come back and “Pants” me.
But I luvs ‘im, anyway.
"Always Willing, Ever Able" - rivbike.com
"If you don't want to get banged. Don't go in there" - Van Gundy
How about this one?
Timbo is a crankypants but we like having him around anyway. Most of the time.
O Yes
O Yes
:0
"We comin along." Travis Outlaw
I know what KP is gonna do
He’s so good at tricking everyone, that he’s not even gonna use the pick. He’s just going to wait until he feels like using it.
Four
Yeah...
I can see him saying, “Nah… 13th is too easy. I will just use up my five minute allotment. Let the Warriors pick. And yeah sure, let the Suns pick.” I think are 13th pick will turn into the 23rd rather quickly, and he will still blow them all away.
by The Graduate on May 25, 2008 2:52 PM PDT up reply actions
Trade 13 and a couple of 2nd rounders...
for a future 1st rounder. Then wave $6 million in front of Phoenix and use their pick to draft a Euro prospect.
Maybe Paul Allen should buy a European team to use as a farm club…is that legal?
PTB Liberation Day - 2/10/04
That is as good an idea as any others I've read on this site
Just be done with it. Dump the 13 and be done with it. Let Joe Alex play for the Warriors. Nellie likes the kind of players that Al Davis would like if they played football. Joe Alex is kind of the Marinovich of hoops.
Keep the Blazers intact just the way they are. Let Wafer go and cut McBob to make room for Rudy and one 2d round draftee (a bruiser). Take a couple months off and then let the championship run begin.
Winning is everything.
Baby Steps.. KP making multiple moves to shape the roster:
Readinng Blazermaniac77s post about Baby Steps is right on.
KP is great at multiple dealings for the best outcome available.
Here is who I see as moveable this off-season:
Channing Frye: Outlaw’s ability to play PF as well as SF makes Frye’s spot in the rotation expendable. Also, many fans think we need a bruiser to add in to our post options with Oden, LMA and Pryz long term.
Jarrett Jack: Deemed not good enough for this team by so many, it would be hard to see him still in Blazer gear next year. Roy can play point, Blake is a semi-veteran point and Sergio is still a promising young prospect (just not as exciting as he once was)
Picks #13, 33, 36 & 55: Our first pick and our three second rounders are leverage.
Frye + JJack + a bundle of picks, open another roster spot by letting Von Wafer walk and it will look more to me that we are taking shape.
1.) Trade up with these chips to either #7 LA Clippers or #8 Milwaukie Bucks to acquire rookie guards Russell Westbrook or Eric Gordon.
2.) Allow Raef’s contract to expire here and don’t use it to trade. I think Portland will be an enticing place to play for the older crop of players who will go from stars to roleplayers and want to be somewhere to win. We should be able to attract “our choice” of veteran help.
3.) If KP can continue to buy picks, trade for futures and stash talent in Euro, DO IT. That is a great way to fill the voids once we are good. Plus it will us bloggers busy in the offseasons talking about how good all our Euro prospects are going to be.
This is a process, but these baby steps will continue to shape how this Blazer team will be for 8+ year run of glory. Veteran presence will be nice, but not needed just yet. We have Pryz and Blake (and Nate) who act as our vets, and there will be one or more added to our crew of youngsters.
by Portland Dynasty on May 29, 2008 2:17 PM PDT reply actions
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