Reasonable Draft day targets
Everyone, including me, would love to get Ricky Rubio but I doubt that will be feasible and even if it were, it wouldn't be worth the price. I want to discuss two players that I think will be available where we are drafting, or by making a move up into the late teens. KP has always made his mark on draft day and I don't think this year will be any different. This year we don't have a lottery pick to dangle but we do have assets that KP has collected. These assets include the second pick of the second round, cap space, a trade exception, and as always PA's money can buy a 1st round pick.
The two players that have not been discussed that much that intrigue me the most are Jeff Teague and Wayne Ellington.
Jeff Teague is projected to go in the late teens so we would probably have to make a move to get him. He has proven himself at the top level of competition in college. Draftexpress describes him as a "better shooting Monta Ellis" and compares him to Aaron Brooks. Isn't that exactly what we need? He would make a great back court mate to Roy and/or Rudy. I could even see him on the court with Bayless and place a lot of pressure on opposing defenses with their penetrating abilities.
Wayne Ellington does not necessarily fit into the PG role that we need to upgrade. However, if he is available at #24, it would be hard to pass. I think he maybe the best shooter in the draft (Curry could be debated as a better shooter). I watched him in several games last season and also in the NCAA tournament and this kid can flat out shoot the ball. Shooting is always tempting. Especially, when the shooter does not have other limitations like say, a Kyle Korver. Not only can he shoot, but as with Teague, I think he would make a perfect back court tandem with Roy when Roy would handle the ball more as the PG.
I would argue that we could possible get both of these players in the draft. Here's how. KP has always been able to find a cheap owner that doesn't want to pay a first round pick's guaranteed contract. Team's that our hurting for money and may be options this year are Utah at 20, NO at 21, or OKC at 25. First, we send the #55 pick, $3 million in cash, and the rights to Koppenen to NO for the #21. Trade the #21 and #32 to get up to the 15-18 range to select Teague. Most mock drafts have Ellington projected to be available at #24, where we are picking. This would net us Teague and Ellington.
If KP's draft day could result in us only giving up Koppenen and picks to move up and somehow come away with Teague and Ellington, I would be stoked. Our rotation would look like this:
PG: Blake/Bayless/Teague
SG: Roy/Rudy/Ellington
SF: Batum/Webster/Outlaw
PF: LMA/Free Agent McDyess or Bass???/Freeland
C: Oden/Przybilla
Possible Lineups Based on Opponents/Game Situation
Spreading the floor for Brandon to create: Roy, Rudy, Ellington, Webster, Aldridge.
Defensive Pressure: Teague, Bayless, Batum, Aldridge, Oden.
Physical toughness/Rebounding: Bayless, Roy, Webster, Oden, Przybilla
Speed: Teague, Bayless, Rudy, Outlaw, Aldridge.
This rotation provides great options and versatility. I just realized I didn't put Blake in any of the lineup examples! Oh well, I think he is going to be needed another year to see if Bayless and/or Teague would be the long term solution at PG. If not Blake, than maybe a move is made in July to solidy the starting PG position and be the stopgap until Bayless and/or Teague are ready. Also, these moves give us even more assets that we can use come July and the free agent/trade season begins. After all, I don't forsee us going into the season with Batum, Webster, and Outlaw all on this roster. Also, I am assuming we trade Sergio at some point. We shall see. This should be an exciting summer and a very important one.
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26 comments
Comments
REASONABLE?!
WHAT IS THIS NONSENSE?!
We want Rubio! We Want Rubio!
But seriously,
I haven’t heard much about those two guys. Is it worth it to make those moves just to have these picks on our bench? I’m asking honestly. Also, you put Outlaw furthest down on the depth chart, so do you think he’ll be moved? I haven’t read every fanpost and all the ideas for offseason moves, but still, yours is the only one where we keep our entire playing rotation. It seems so….normal…so….similar. I think the reason I usually consolidate the roster when I imagine trade scenarios is that I really want a great 8 man playoff rotation. Depth matters less in the playoffs when you can ride your star players most of the game because of the amount of time between games.
"It’s a good ol’ fashioned Rip City beat down!"
by Magnum on May 16, 2009 1:13 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
I was focusing
on draft day for this post. If we make these moves on draft day I would want to make a deal to consolidate our rotation like you suggest. I am not sure what that move is, but I would guess it would involve Outlaw. I wouldn’t mind dealing Outlaw and Blake for Hinrich. That would consolidate two playes into an upgrade at the PG until Bayless and/or Teague are ready.
by utblazer on May 16, 2009 1:35 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Keeping pick #32...
use Sergio to move up to the late teens and keep that #32 pick. I want Portland to draft PF Victor Claver out of spain. This guy is a long combo-forward, 6’9"or 6’10", and is likely the best international forward in this draft, this would be a great depth pick as he can play both the SF and PF roles. Plus I think Sergio + #24 is a tempting enough for a lot of teams, or even throw in #56, but trying to keep #32 would be a HUGE token to keep for Portland and thier draft masterminds.
by Portland Dynasty on May 17, 2009 9:24 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
dejuan blair!
have you seen this guy in college!? Exactly what we need. tough inside presence to back up lamarcus and take some pressure off joel. joel is a great enforcer who can mold blair into another enforcer. blair reminds me of carl landry in houston. i think its possibly he could be available at 24 as well!
by JamesHollywoodRobinson on May 16, 2009 1:16 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Draft Dejuan Blair.
If necessary, move up to get him.
That is all.
Q: Is Greg favoring his knee?
Frye: He favors dunking on your head, that's what he favors.
by KP Corleone on May 16, 2009 2:09 PM PDT up reply actions 4 recs
two years ago, NOBODY on this site would have backed the idea of Blair...
because back then nobody wanted a “tweener” like him, a rebounding stout power-forward who is not taller than 6’9", but now, after some other similar players have proven to be gamers, Blair almost looks like the best “lock” of this draft… at least to me. There are so many point guards, and hardly any rebounders… Blair is gonna go higher than most mock drafts are gonna put him at now…
by Portland Dynasty on May 17, 2009 9:32 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Dejuan Blair = Tractor Trayler
Yellow Mamba FTW!
by northwestj on May 17, 2009 1:09 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
He would be a great option too
I would not be opposed to getting Teague and then using the #24 of Blair. I am hoping we can sign Bass in the offseason.
by utblazer on May 16, 2009 1:36 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Good idea
I think we could get Josh Heytvelt in the second round and not have to pay him as much money as we would Dejuan Blair. Heytvelt isnt as strong of a rebounder but has a good shot and can finish around the rim. He is bigger thatn Blair also so you wouldnt have to get a undersized PF. I like the point guard idea too but didnt really see much of Teague to say if he is the guy or not. I like Eric Maynor who could be around the same time as Teague. He is an older point guard who is more polished and mature. I think he would fit pretty well. He only problem is his speed but i think that wouldnt really matter much if we run the half court offense. We do have a much faster guard in Bayless
by quezadaz on May 16, 2009 2:54 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
What about Darren Collison?
He reminds me of Arron Brooks. He’s a better defender and just as fast, maybe faster.
Roy is the best player in the world with the exception of Incarcerated Mike from Queensbridge .
by Nick Van Excellent on May 16, 2009 3:51 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Like him too
i think Draftexpress also said about Collison that he couldnt be a starter in this league but does have good defense. I also like somehow trading back into round 1 and taking a good wing defender in Terrence Williams from Louisville. He is a Washington native and is maybe the best defender in the Draft this year. We definetly have the picks and trade options to move back into the first round and take him or maybe make a trade with whoever does draft him
by quezadaz on May 16, 2009 4:06 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Experienced Point Guards have been pretty solid picks... Collison.
I think that experienced point guards have a pretty good chance at being a solid pick, and Darren Collison has lost his “lottery” appeal because he has stayed in college until his senior year and his game has been totally picked apart, but he is a good player and has great experience playing at UCLA. He is fast, a good ball-handler, a decent defender, long, can penetrate and pass, and is, well, experienced.
by Portland Dynasty on May 17, 2009 9:39 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Moving up in the draft for a decent role player would be a great option, but we could always hold onto the #24. A lot of people have discounted Tyler Hansborough, I know he’s not explosive and undersized, but Effort >talent, and his work ethic would fit right into our team. I would be happy to have an over-achieving yet undersized backup PF.
by hobbyshop_hero on May 16, 2009 4:45 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Ruffin works really hard
TALENT > EFFORT
sadly
by GreatOden'sRaven on May 18, 2009 11:59 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
i like Hansborough but
I think that we can get somebody just as good as Tyler in Josh Heytvelt and he should be around in the 2nd round and we could take him with a mid 2nd rounder
by quezadaz on May 16, 2009 4:53 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Sure
It’s a weak draft, and I’m not sure he’ll slip out of the 1st round. Dejuan Blair and Hansborough are the only NBA-ready players, and capable of backup PF duties. someone said Tyler needs to learn how to position himself better, but he’ll be an impact on attitude if nothing else. Other than that, everyone else is a project player (including Rubio), and we’re short on minutes as it is.
by hobbyshop_hero on May 16, 2009 5:20 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
i dont think thats true
i think Hytvelt can play right away as the backup PF. He is taller than the others and would probably be around with one of our other picks. Maybe the 38th pick which in most mock drafts still have him.
by quezadaz on May 16, 2009 5:28 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
why are we talking about drafting a backup PF when we need a PG?
i agree that blair and hansbrough would be value picks at #24, but why are we talking about drafting a backup PF when this is a talented PG class and WE NEED A PG! Rubio will be long gone and its not worth trading up high enough to get him. Any of these guys would be a major upgrade for us:
Stephen Curry
Tywon Lawson
Darren Collison
Eric Maynor
Brandon Jennings
We might need to move up to the top 15, but one of these guys will be available for sure.
by rip_city_swagger on May 16, 2009 11:34 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
we are talking about backup power forwards because we dont have time to wait for a future star point guard to develop...
…we need to win now! If we move up to get jennings, lawson, etc. that guy will demand minutes even when he isnt ready to contribute for a playoff team. thats the dilema we have with bayless right now! lets also not forget we have kopponen overseas developing as we speak. the point guard situation needs to be solved through trade. I’m not buying bibby, miller or kidd as the right fit for us. I say we package outlaw, blake and our 2nd rounders and make a run at hinrich.
my ideal scenario is that we either stick with blake or find an upgrade for the next 2 years. maybe they get us a title by then, maybe not. after 2 years bayless is ready to start and we bring kopponen over to back him up.
by JamesHollywoodRobinson on May 17, 2009 12:00 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
A couple of other things to not forget
Portland drafted Webster instead of CP3 in part because Nash had drafted Telfair the year before.
Lesson: don’t pass on a talented PG in 2009 “just because” Bayless was chosen last year
(Back in the day, Portland drafted Terry Porter when they already had Darnell Valentine and Steve Colter. Sometimes the best player available in the draft will displace “fair/good” options already on the roster.)
Now, I’m not predicting that any of the PGs in this year’s draft will be as good as CP3 or Porter. But if KP thinks the “right” guy is out there, he shouldn’t make the same mistake as his predecessor at GM did
by two4larue on May 17, 2009 3:18 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
But there isn't
any amazing pg even remotely near our pick. Bayless is better then anyone we wouldn’t have to trade away our life for. Now if we’re trading I’d rather go for Conley jr. ,Sessions or as a last resort the exceptionally over priced captain Kirk as a defensive mentor to Bayless. If we could get a top 5 pick and could reasonably get Rubio or Jennings then I would say don’t pass on that but realistically (As the OP named the post) a backup PF or sleeper SF should be our targets.
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by Idog1976 on May 17, 2009 5:50 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I disagree with this thinking
we need to win now!
I’m happy with the progress of the current team and franchise. The PTB had a terrific year and exceeded expectations. The team is going to be better next year. Only one NBA team gets to win it all each season. No matter what trade-now-for-this-guy-or-that move is desired, the PTB are not going to be Championship level ready next year. The team has a few more lumps and bruises to acquire before they are tough enough to make a legitimate challenge for the crown.
The team is on the right course. Patience is a virtue for a reason. It pays off. Trust in KP.
I AM A PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS SUPPORTER.
by bow4meow on May 17, 2009 7:44 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
you missed the point
i also agree the team is on the right course which is why we shouldnt be looking to draft another high lottery pick who demands big minutes
by JamesHollywoodRobinson on May 17, 2009 10:59 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
In order
players I would like to draft at #24.. Moving up isnt a good idea in my opinion.
Nick Calathes
Darren Collison
Jrue Holiday (if he falls)
Eric Maynor (if he falls)
Patrick Mills
Rodrique Beaubois
DeJuan Blair (if somehow he falls)
We should focus on the backup PF with the 2nd rounders
Heytvelt
Gibson
Pendergraph
etc..
by GreatOden'sRaven on May 18, 2009 12:06 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

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