Which type of C do you want the Blazers to get?

Camby would be my model for Lanky finesse C.
Ben Wallace would be my model for Defensive specialist.
Pryz is my idea of a classic pivot.
Inside/Outside C would be a modern day Sabonis.

Either
1. Marc Gasol by sign and trade in the event Memphis can’t keep him.
2. Biyombo, should we get up to the 10-15 range in the draft.
3. Beg and bribe Freeland to come over and be groomed for a spot in the PF/C rotation.
4. Vucevic, should we stay put at 21.

I think Aldridge has the ability to go inside or out depending on matchups, post pairing, and game needs. He is the real deal. I’d like to see our defense shored up in the paint and still get put-backs. No stone hands for me. If they can’t catch a pass in the key they are no good in my book. Therefore i want a classic Pivot.

Hayes can do a little of everything but excels on the defensive end. He is under-sized but still a strong rebounder and a very good passer. Fesenko is a big body to throw around which we don’t have plus he’d be dirt cheap.

I’d prefer a good all-around Center but those aren’t readily available to teams like ours. I’d look to the draft to take Vucevic in the 1st round and Greg Smith in the 2nd round. Both can play the PF spot as well so we’ll be sorted at both big positions.

Maybe if they trade Camby for a pick (Biyombo?), that will free up enough cap space to make a bid.

Nené is just the kind of dynamic offensive threat that could push this team over the top. With both LMA and Nené attacking the paint, there’s not a whole lot other teams could do. Packing the paint could work for stretches, but I haven’t seen anybody who can keep Nené out for long, and LMA’s shooting ability thwarts that technique (a 3pt shooting PG would help too).

Otherwise, Gasol would a great option; I think Memphis is going to try to keep him though. That publicity about them having the better Gasol probably boosted their fanbase in Memphis, which needs to happen for them to keep that team. If there’s any way to keep him around, Memphis will do it, maybe at the expense of other key players (Conley, Allen, Mayo).

Turiaf seems like the most economical choice this offseason (could probably be signed for the MLE), and could be a great answer to the backup PF/C conundrum when Oden returns. While I would love to have a new franchise center to get excited about, I think Turiaf is the wisest choice all around.

Still, if they can get Nené…

What value does Greg Oden have in a sign & trade situation? Can we get a center who has been healthy & productive the last few years? Nene? Gortat? Okefor? Hibbert? If you have a chance you have to look hard at it.

I’d welcome free agents like Dalembert/Chandler but neither of those guys will come to Portland. Marc Gasol is a situation I really can’t predict, Memphis is a notoriously cheap franchise, they already have signed Randolph/Conley/Gay, signing Gasol certainly puts them over the cap even though it would be a legal move because of their Bird rights. That leaves you with shorter post players like K-Mart/Chuck Hayes(either of which I would welcome). After those two it gets a little murky, the post above mine by SaveOden has a solid list of them.

Regardless of what type of center any of us wants to play next to Aldridge, one thing we know for sure is we can’t keep playing him against centers. I’d also like to stay away from playing Gerald Wallace extended minutes at the 4 spot unless the match up absolutely demands it.

This team needs game changersm, not a team full of “potentially good” guys, but already good players. Unless the goal is to compete in 2022.