The SF's in the Draft

by Eben Calder on May 31, 2008 8:00 AM PDT Comment 24 comments

While everyone is concentrated on the guards in this draft, it seems that no one is concentrating on the SF's, which, at least as far as the league and the Blazer Brass is concerned, is the other position they feel they can upgrade. At the same time, when you look at all the draft projections, we see only one SF name, Gallinari pop up in the top 10 as high as #8, whereas the others ranked high are projected in the 10 - 16 range, which is well within the Blazers reach at #13. In fact, it looks like that with very little additional cost, the Blazers could get one of the top two or three, if not the top rated SF, whereas at guard, it looks like the top three or four will be off the board in the top 6 or 7 picks - a much more difficult position to get to. Is it not possible that with the cap space coming into play next year, and with Fernandez needing a year to get into the rotation so that Mac can decide whether or not he can be the 3 guard in the 3 guard rotation that he likes, that the Blazers may decide to take the best SF this year, and then deal for a young veteran PG next? And if so, just who does everyone like of the SF's in this years draft?

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Hmmm...

If the Blazers draft a SF then they’d probably have to trade away Webby, Jones or Trout. Wouldn’t they? I mean, am I missing something here? Or do we draft a SF with the idea that we just plant him on the bench or send him to the D league unless one of our other SFs gets injured?

Related questions: Would Trout play exclusively at PF? If so, how do we divide playing time between LMA, Fre, and Trout?

Honestly, I would be happy drafting Joe Alexander or some other talented SF. I’m just wondering what this would do to our rotation. It seems like last year we had a serious logjam at SF. And now we’re suggesting drafting yet another SF? Hmmm.

Nature bats last.

by fisheyes on May 31, 2008 8:23 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

When does Jones decide about his player option?

If the Blazers draft a SF, does Jones see the writing on the wall and become a UFA? Does a draft day trade influence his decision?
I think that he gets to wait and see what Pritchard does, then he’ll choose. I don’t think that he will come back if he thinks that he’ll be traded a few days later. He’d like to choose the team he goes to, not have Portland choose. Am I wrong?

by parkinglotj on May 31, 2008 10:37 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Next year (2009/10)

both Webby and Trout will be in the final year of there contracts.

If either one or both only show incremental increases in the improvement,
would they warrant a big long-term contract? Some team may buy them away.
Would we be left without on option?

by spencerbutte on May 31, 2008 5:41 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Outlaw has another year after next.

It’s true that Webster will be in the final year of his deal, but the Blazers will certainly tender the qualifying offer, so they’ll be able to match anything if they don’t extend him first. Fact is that most teams won’t have more than the mid-level to offer, so it’s unlikely they’ll get pried away unless the Blazers are already planning to let them go. The ball is in the Blazers court.

"These are dreams that we have." --Rudolfo Fernandez

by bfan on Jun 2, 2008 10:18 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't think a lot of people are talking abouth drafting a SF

because the SF”s is this year’s draft wouldn’t be an upgrade over what we already have. Alexander is good, but he is pretty similar to Trout, and Travis has just as much if not more potential.

"My, that is a handsome fella. He must be the offspring of a Greek God!" - Bill Walton calling a Clipper's-Laker's game as Luke Walton checks in.

by JTDuck22 on May 31, 2008 9:52 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

JT

Yes, it would be a logjam – but isn’t that exactly what we’re getting at guard as well if we draft a guard. You certainly don’t have minutes for Roy, Fernandez, Jack, and Blake, let alone Sergio and a Draftee – unless we trade two of them. In the draft, the top six guards, including Westbrook, are increasingly being projected into the top 10. I’m simply noting that all the mock drafts see Portland taking a small forward – not a guard. Granted, we’d have a longjam at SF – just like we will at guard. I found it interesting further that the first draft rumor involved Memphis and an SF. Someone must be talking to someone – or there wouldn’t be this much discussion elsewhere. And, is Webster really as good as Alexander, Greene, or even possibly Arthur at that spot? I keep wondering if the Blazers have slotted their money for a vet PG, not a rookie this year, because they already have one rookie guard coming it – and two in the backcourt could simply be too many for now.

by Eben Calder on May 31, 2008 10:20 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Alexander and Greene

may end up better players than Martell (I don’t think they will) but I think they are both too similar to Outlaw and not as good as him for it to make sense drafting them

"My, that is a handsome fella. He must be the offspring of a Greek God!" - Bill Walton calling a Clipper's-Laker's game as Luke Walton checks in.

by JTDuck22 on May 31, 2008 10:26 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

wow... I hope that makes sense

"My, that is a handsome fella. He must be the offspring of a Greek God!" - Bill Walton calling a Clipper's-Laker's game as Luke Walton checks in.

by JTDuck22 on May 31, 2008 10:26 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I've been battling with

weighing the cieling of Joe Alexander vs. Travis Outlaw as well. But what we haven’t mentioned is does drafting a SF at 13 lower the trade value of Outlaw/Webster?

If other teams know that we NEED to get rid of someone at that spot do they offer less know that we have to take a deal eventually anyway?

Or is it possible that we’d trade Frye so we can clear up space at the 4. Personally I don’t like that idea for this year as Frye will be valuable playing some minutes at 5 while Oden learns to be less foul prone. Who knows, Oden may even need to sit out some games here or there when rookie fatigue sets in, or just so we don’t over stress his knee.

by KobeStoppa on May 31, 2008 10:52 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I doubt we will trade frye

just so Outlaw can play 4. Last season we only had three real bigs and rebounding was a problem. With four this year, rebounding should be a strength.

"My, that is a handsome fella. He must be the offspring of a Greek God!" - Bill Walton calling a Clipper's-Laker's game as Luke Walton checks in.

by JTDuck22 on May 31, 2008 11:09 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I like Brandon Rush quite a bit.

He’s long and strong enough to play SF, he’s a terrific defender, very good shooter and a good finisher around the rim.

I’ve been thinking a lot about Josh Howard, Tay Prince, and Danny Granger, guys who are great #2 or #3 options, were obviously good in college but went low in the draft because scouts don’t value swings with their perceived lower ceilings. I like Rush in the same way that I liked those guys when they came out.

by howlingfantods on May 31, 2008 1:08 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

You're first line

Makes me think must also like big butts.

‘Cause I’m long, and I’m strong, and I’m down to get the friction on – Sim Mix-A-Lot

I think I have a man crush on Bobby Flay.

by tominhawaii on May 31, 2008 2:18 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

hi

Your avatar is more disapointing than the day I found out I had crabs. Seriously though, I dont have crabs but I still feel like reaching through my computer into yours just like the chick in the Ring so I can morph your face into something fierce and steal the soul from right out of your body. Oh wait, you are a L*ker fan, you have no soul. CRAP! I am 100% disapointed TiH, if I had a team, and you were on it, I would cut you….

RUDY > MJ

by myemic23 on Jun 1, 2008 12:13 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Awe

You know I’m just playin’, because I keeps it real!

;-p

by tominhawaii on Jun 1, 2008 1:18 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Tom is trying to cause confusion, controversy and conniptions among Bedgers because he's at loose ends.

Tom just needs to be given something constructive to do, like watch GO discipline the rest of the league, so that he stays out of trouble. Tom is ornery but he’s a good boy at heart.

"Besides, AnntheFan will be here any minute to #25 you." T Darkstar

by annthefan on Jun 1, 2008 5:08 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I heard

That Tom dropkicks baby orphans into active Hawaiian volcanoes, and that the babies were going to grow up to be hardcore Blazer fans too.

Then he goes home and tells his dogs that they are bad dogs, when they did nothing wrong, endlessly confusing them and making them sad.

Until summer league, Tom has become the average Laker fan with these activities.

Mortimer

by Mortimer on Jun 1, 2008 5:24 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

This is a classic example of:

When keeping it real, goes wrong

RUDY > MJ

by myemic23 on Jun 2, 2008 12:20 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Man

I wish Chappelle didn’t go crazy. He had the best show ever.

;-p

by tominhawaii on Jun 2, 2008 4:41 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Rush is maybe a 2 but I like him here

He is a good outside shooter and very athletic while fundamentally sound and a great (not just good) defender. He can defend any perimeter player and so can play the 2 or the 3. He would not play much this year while we sort out who stays but the next year he should be ready to contribute to the rotation (assuming either Webster or Outlaw are traded). Brandon is a very good fast-break player and might support a white team approach at times.

I actually think both Rush and Arthur may be available to us at 13. I would be happy with either as Arthur (13.1/6.3 22.9 min) was as good last year in the Big 12 as LaMarcus was his sophomore year in the Big 12 (13.4/7.8 33.7 min). Arthur has a similar build and speed to LaMarcus but is a couple inches shorter. In the Big 12 and NCAA tournament this year Arthur finally stepped up with consistency and dominated players such as DeAndre Jordan, Conner Atchley, Joey Dorsey and Tyler Hansbrough.

Aldridge said. "We feel like we can beat any team. We feel like we can beat the Spurs, Suns, Lakers, Mavericks, whoever any night right now, and we'll still be here when those teams get old and their guys retire. We're going to be here for a long time."

by lee3022 on May 31, 2008 7:47 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not impressed with Arthur.

I saw a lot of KU games here in Colorado, and I am not impressed with Arthur. Unlike LMA, he has absolutely no game away from the basket. He’s doesn’t play well away from the ball (setting picks/rebounding) and shied away in the biggest moments of the biggest games. I doubt Arthur is a diamond in the rough. Leon Powe may be his ceiling.

"These are dreams that we have." --Rudolfo Fernandez

by bfan on Jun 2, 2008 10:29 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's what I say too

That’s my gut feeling, he is this years good college player who falls deep into the 1st round because of a percieved lack of ‘upside’. Roy fell to #7 partially because of that as well. Those guys who are solid at everything but not GREAT at one thing (or don’t have raw athleticism that clearly needs more refining) almost always get underrated, and you’d think by now teams would get that those guys can always come in and help ANY team out.

I dunno if we’d need to use the #13 pick on him, but we’d probably be able to get him (should we want him) in the late 1st round, 20 and up. Paul Allen can always buy one of those, and package one of our 2nd round picks along with it.

Now I can’t say I am a Brandon Rush expert, but he intrigues me for the reasons stated above. For those who know him better than I—what are his weaknesses? Is it so-so athleticism? Tweenerosity? Just, I dunno, “mehh”?

I’m not sure what are the holes in his game are, and his reputation and value coming into the draft reminds me of Howard and Granger a lot.

Mortimer

by Mortimer on May 31, 2008 10:37 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Brandon Rush is going to be a very solid pro...

if not better. He just seems to be legit. Rush has been on the radar since High School and he decided against the draft. His career at Kansas has been great and he is such a solid shooter and defender with much better than average athleticism. Good size at 6-7, he’s like Shane Battier or Jerk-off Bowens on the Spurs. Except this dude can DUNK!

by Portland Dynasty on Jun 2, 2008 6:50 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

SF? Hummmm.... I wonder who???

No I’m not wondering which one.

I have posted my choice: Batman!

by spencerbutte on May 31, 2008 5:14 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Need a True SF..fast,athletic,defender.

there’s a bunch of sf’s in this draft and I would take a hard look at a Joe Alexander this guys a freak of nature incredible hops, I would shy away from long term projects, we need a guy that could come off the bench a put em some work,I like Travis and Martell but I think Martell’s more of sg and Travis is a borderline pf ,and often have trouble in perimeter defense, and adding a true sf would be great to pair with Broy. I dont know bout Batum or Gallinaro,I also like Brandon Rush..glad I’m not the gm cuz there’s going to be some tough decisions on draft day but this is going to be a long summer

by playamademex on Jun 1, 2008 5:54 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs