Who We're Looking At

I’m not saying that Pryzbilla or Frye are traded soon. I just think that this gives the Blazers another great high post threat and a possible replacement for Joel or Frye. Later in the season, Joel or Frye could then be trade bait to use with LaFrentz at the trading deadline.

If Koufos goes back to school, I believe that he’d be a much higher pick next year. He really came on at the end of the season.
http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Kosta-Koufos-1070/

up a week ago that should Westbrook falling to the Blazers at 13. This week they had a “revised” mock draft which doesn’t show westbrook in the first round at all. That just has to be a dumb mistake, right?

I know he’s not the short term answer to our problems, but he could be perfect in a couple years. That sounds like a long time, but it might be worth it. I love what Detroit did by drafting Rodney Stucky (15th pick) and Jason Maxiell (26th pick). I’m sure there were a lot of Pistons fans who wanted to trade those picks who are now really glad they have them.

However, conventional usage has slipped so badly, that even I probably would have not even noticed, had you not pointed it out to me. Still, a preposition at the end of a sentence is something up with we should not put.

I like the idea of not drafting another point guard, unless Pritchard moves up in the draft to get a point guard who needs far less development. Best player available, regardless of position, should be our choice, if we keep the pick at all.

I suppose trading would be an option, but then are we then helping our rivals in this way, by letting them get good young talent? But, we might also be better off without having to find room for #13. One solution that addresses all these problems is to simply let time expire and forfeit our pick this year. It is not the best solution, but it is a solution.

The “height” numbers you use are not the conventional one’s used by the NBA. It appears you took the stats straight from the Orlando camp data. Those heights are all without their shoes on. When comparing them to current NBA player’s listed heights, add 1 1/4 inches.

Sizing up the draft, lots of the players are measuring up smaller than listed pre Orlando. Rose at 6’1 1/2”. Beasly at 6’7”. I mean how big and strong did Joey Dorsey look last year, he measures in at 6’6”?

Joe Alexander is one of the exceptions, coming in bigger. But with that said. We have #25,and after 5 eyars he is just starting to blossom. They are very similar players. Sorry, the Joe A’ pick will not happen.

This years draft looks like a nice time to trade out of the first round for a veteren. Take the flyers with your second round picks

KP has something up his sleeve, my feeling is it will be a trade with a team moving into the rebuild mode. Someone like Dallas or Detroit.

One guy I was surprised not to see on your list – Chris Douglas-Roberts. Doesn’t he fit in the category you described? Based on mock draft boards, he’s around at 13.

Courtney Lee is another one. However he’s listed anywhere from low middle 1st to middle 2nd round. Meaning he might be a stretch at 13.

I can’t understand the lack of interest in Roy Hibert. Are 7-2” centers growing on trees these days? From all accounts, he has a terrific skill set and has a great attitude, but some draft boards have him ranked as low as 24. From what I read, the only thing that’s bugging people are his hands…...or lack there of. If that is such a big deal then Joel should be playing in the CBA with frying pan hands that he’s got.

Disclaimer as well…I am an alumni of a certain Jayhawk school. I questioned Rush as a freshman. It seemed like college was just a stepping stone for him even though he was not NBA material. After three years of Kansas ball and a championship, it would appear his mind is in the right place. He is a TEAM player, defensively minded, and knows a little (at least on a college level) about what it takes to win the big games. I think Mario Chalmers would be good too, but he will probably not be the best player when the Blazers pick.

One thing to point out is our initial pick may either be for another team altogether (assuming we trade the pick) or it may be an insurance policy for a future trade…

My thinking is that Joe Alexander is an example of what Travis Outlaw would’ve looked like if he had a couple years of college under his belt. Athletically, they are similar players (with Outlaw having an edge because his points came against NBA players) but if we are expecting Outlaw to be dealt later in the season, then it seems like Alexander would be a nice insurance policy. He could probably succeed in small doses initially (a la Julian Wright) and if nothing else, he would be a good change of pace after Webster and James Jones (if Jones is re-signed).

Brandon Rush, in my opinion, could be one of the potential steals of the draft (along with Roy Hibbert, although there are definite questions about what type of system Hibbert would need to be successful – let’s just say we do not want him going to Utah). He’s big, he can score when necessary, but there are questions about his work ethic and he’s often disappeared when his team needed him most. At one time, he was amongst the best and most versatile players in college basketball, but what happened? Best case scenario, he falls into our laps and feels slighted, so he works himself into a Rudy Gay type player… Worst case scenario, he’s Josh McRoberts.

One idea I’ve been playing around with is #13 + 2 second rounders for the Orlando Magic’s pick at #22 & Fran Vasquez. I know that talent wise, they’ve been hoping for a long time to bring Vasquez over, but they might be tired of waiting (a Luis Scola-esque situation). It’s low risk for us (if he comes, that’s a bonus, if not we’re hardly sacrificing our future) and the Magic could move up and take a shooter (Alexander, Rush, Budinger, etc). With the #22 pick, we’d be looking at whomever fell from our original draft spot (Budinger, Batum, etc) or similar players (Chris Douglas-Roberts), but we could expand our search to include Ty Lawson (the fastest PG in the draft), Mario Chalmers, or an International pick (Serge Ibaka or Alexis Ajinca)...

with an anagram generator. I was looking for an obvious sign…

It definitely warns us off Brandon Rush : No Brand Rush (Or shun Brand); No darn shrub; and o.t. Darn bus horn.

I’m worried about Joe Alexander’s future : Real ax end Joe. But he is also a Real Jade Oxen – valuable and strong???

The only thing that turned up about Nicolas Batum was NCAA Botulism. That’s scary even though I don’t quite understand how it relates to him.

DJ Augustin didn’t translate to anything except : Sad jug unit which I’m at a loss to interpret.

Now Donte Green is a puzzle. Don’t Greene (does the final e count?) and Get Ron Eden (has he declared for the draft???) and Rodent Gene are pretty negative, but Red Gent One sounds like him in a Blazer uni

I couldn’t log into my favorite anagram generator and the one I was using was limited to 15 characters so Russell Westbrook was analyzed without the final l of his first name. The anagrams warn of two dangers: Russ elbow stroke which I interpreted as perhaps his shooting form isn’t good, or perhaps an elbow injury is in the future. Also in the future if we draft him: Webster Look USSR – which I interpret to mean that Martell leaves the Blazers to play somewhere in the former Soviet Union.

I hope this analysis will help everyone in their decision making.

was Batman. And it’s a good one.
“If he turns out to have stellar workouts he could go above us because his physical tools should dazzle. “

I’m hoping the stellar workout is with us. What he needs is polish and continued good coaching. That would be available in Europe for another year by salting him away with the 13th.

Batman almost came out last year. This is what was said then:
“Batum displayed a plethora of skills that will compliment his physical features nicely at the next level. Defensively, he has the potential to be an absolute force in the NBA. In both the practices and the game, Nicolas Batum used his length well to contest shots and create steals, and nearly every player he faced struggled to score at one time or another.”

I think last year’s workouts definitely helped make the decision between Oden & Durant, though I think it was the lunches and other off-court time that was probably most important.

But as for the later picks? I looked back into the Oregonian and found these tidbits, all from a Joe Freeman article from June 26.

The workout that seemed to generate the most excitement was sandwiched between Oden’s and Durant’s individual workouts last week and involved four guards: Ohio State’s Daequan Cook, Lithuania’s Renaldas Seibutis, Syracuse’s Demetris Nichols and Jackson State’s Trey Johnson.

The Blazers have invited more point guards to workouts than any other position, which could mean they will focus on the position Thursday. Ramon Sessions, a 6-3, 190-pound junior from Nevada, sparked interest at the NBA predraft camp in Orlando, Fla., and did not disappoint during a private workout with the Blazers . Taurean Green, who averaged 13.3 points and 3.7 rebounds for Florida last season, also drew strong reviews from the Blazers during a workout with Oregon’s Aaron Brooks.

Perhaps the most off-the-wall potential target for the Blazers is Brent Petway, a 6-5, 208-pound forward from Michigan. He was the only prospect invited for a second workout and impressed Blazers scouts with exceptional energy and athleticism, including a 42-inch vertical leap.

I remember Petway from Summer League and fall camp – does anyone know if he played anywhere this season? (I know not in the NBA). I’m wondering if some of these guys who were the last cut from fall camp might not be worth looking at again with another year’s experience … maybe for summer league at least?

My prediction for Kevin Pritchard’s draft board for the #13 pick (* means I don’t think they will be available at #13):
1. Derrick Rose
2. Michael Beasley
3. Jerryd Bayless
4. OJ Mayo
5. DJ Augustin
6. Eric Gordon
7. Danilo Gallinari
8. Joe Alexander
9. Kevin Love
10. Brandon Rush
11. Anthony Randolph
12. Russell Westbrook
13. Darrell Arthur
14. Nicolas Batum
15. DeAndre Jordan
16. Brook Lopez **

In other words, I think Alexander, Rush, Arthur, and Batum will be available, and KP would pick Alexander.

You know, looking at this makes me think they will trade the pick (either for future considerations, or packaging to get a PG), unless they really feel like they need another SF. I think they do but I’m in a very small minority here.

but it covered the ground….Harry Belafonte