FanPost

What would it take for the Blazers to get Rose?

It seems every GM holding an NBA lotto pick is talking about dealing it. Apparently, there isn't a lot of love for this year's batch of fine young cannibals available for needy teams. Even Pat Riley and John Paxson are saying they'll listen to offers.

What's going on here? Are the GMs thinking they need veterans instead of rookies? Are the top picks really not as good as they've been hyped? (Well, that one is a no-brainer anyway.)  Or have team owners over-extended themselves in real estate and autos and need to trim costs by not adding any first-round picks to their rosters?

Whatever the reason, there is opportunity amid the chaos for the Blazers.  I'm proposing KP trade for the #1 pick and draft Derrick Rose, for the following reasons:

  • If so many lottery GMs are trying to deal their picks, the value of those picks on the market is low. That means we won't have to give up nearly as much to get the #1 pick as we would if demand were high for high picks this year.
  • We have too many players under contract for next season and need to trim the roster.
  • We have good, young, inexpensive players that other teams want.
  • Our team is already young, so adding another young talent like Rose will only delay the opening of our championship window a little more while he matures. If he's as good as projected, he'll be worth the wait. Our window isn't projected to open for a couple more years anyway.
  • Steve Blake runs the team well, so Rose can take time to learn how to play PG before eventually taking over the starting job.

The only caveat is what it will take to pry the #1 pick from Chicago. We don't want to give up Oden, Roy, or Aldridge, and it's unlikely KP would trade Rudy if he agrees to sign with us. That makes things tough, but most of us are probably fine with that. I'm willing to deal anyone else to get Rose: Przybilla, Outlaw, Webster, Blake, Frye, and yes, even Von Wafer.

Within those parameters, is there any way to do this deal?

Please note: I'm not asking whether we should do this deal. I just want to know whether it could be done without including our Big Four.

Gentlemen, start your ESPN trade machines!