Draft-day strategy

don’t trade #25 for a #4-5 pick in a ho-hum draft.

Imagine it like this: Pritchard is planning a trip with his staff to Seattle. But rather than just get into the car and drive - as most people would do - he instead plots out the alternate possibilities for flying, sailing, taking the train, bicycling and walking. Then he would start considering whether it would be best to stay in hotels, bed and breakfasts, or a friend’s home. And then he would consider where he would want to eat - restaurants, fast food, at home, etc. So rather than say, ‘I like this first option, so that’s what we’re going to do,’ he’s constantly stepping back and discussing it with his staff - “What combinations get us the best trip possible?”—and the decision isn’t made until the last minute, when all those companies want their business and are willing to reveal the true value they’re willing to give to make the deal work. But in the meantime the airline thinks Pritchard is working with them, the restaurant thinks his staff is eating with them, and the hotel thinks they’re staying with them. And if word were to leak out, you’d swear they were flying, eating out and crashing at the hotel. But in reality, they still exist only as possibilities. And when the deal is finally made, it’s not a knee-jerk reaction, but a methodically calculated plan that has built up over several weeks.

http://www.columbian.com/sports/blazerBanter/#entry3

Regardless of position or supposed “mock draft” status.
And if that player is shorter than 6 foot, ignore BE posters who have a problem with ‘short guards’.. their just jealous. :)

we should still go get bayless

Throwing out 2:1, 3:2, etc. trades below is my wishlist of players in rank order. It would be a cheatsheet of sorts on draft day for the upper half.

• Raef LaFrentz (RLEC) *
  Shane Battier
  Leandro Barbosa
  Mike Conley
• Martell Webster *
• Travis Outlaw *
• Channing Frye *
  OJ Mayo
  Jerryd Bayless
  Russell Westbrook
  Eric Gordon
  DJ Augustin
  Joe Alexander
• Jarrett Jack *
  Danillo Gallinari
  Brook Lopez
  Brandon Rush
  Anthony Randolph
  DeAndre Jordan
• #13 *
  Darrell Arthur
  Donte Greene
  Alexis Ajinca
  Robin Lopez
  ........

So on my list Derrick Rose is the only rookie that I’d be willing to give up RLEC for since it would probably mean taking on a heftier contract (i.e. Brian Cardinal). Further, by this logic I’d do the Barbosa trade (which has since been dismissed), but would much rather use the assets for Hinrich or Tayshaun Prince. Further down the list, I’d give up Jarrett Jack to improve our draft position and get Mayo, Bayless, Westbrook, Gordon, Augustin, or Alexander. If any of the five rookies listed between Jack and #13 fall to us, I’d be satisfied with the pick. However, if we reach for any of the guys below #13, I’m stating that I think we would have been better off trading down/out to get them.

I’ve left out guys like Przybilla who are more valuable to the Blazers than they would be on the trade market. Regardless of what you think of my rankings does the exercise make sense? I’d like to see some other submissions.