The 2012 NBA Draft Thread 2.0: 6th, 11th, and random 2nds.

[Wizenheimer]

If the Blazers have a target in mind with the #4 pick while getting the #24 pick as well for #6 and #11 I would want to see the Blazers do everything in their power to grab that #10 pick from New Orleans. That would be a very good outcome. Trade up, effectively twice, and get the pick in the 20's that the team has been rumored to want. While I know the need for Okafor is greater than a need for Ariza I'd go for Ariza due to the smaller contract and his ability to play well in the playoffs.

it appears the Hornets' front office have made a point of saying it will take more then just dumping Okafor to get that 10th pick from them. They want some good asset(s) in return

that makes sense because even if they re-sign Gordon to an extension, they'd still be 15 million below the luxury tax level

Not sure if it's enough for NO, but I'd do a Matthews for 10th and Okafor dump

You maintain enough cap flexibility to sign a SG this offseason, are able to draft a PG you need, and pick up a servicable big man. Go after OJ Mayo, or Ray Allen with the left over cap space.

Lillard/ Smith
Mayo/ Williams
Batum/ Q. Miller (24th)
Aldridge/ Hickson
Okafor/ Drummond (4th)

LaMarcus Aldridge 14,000,000
Shawne Williams 3,135,000
Luke Babbitt 1,892,280
Kurt Thomas 1,352,181
Elliot Williams 1,442,880
Nolan Smith 1,365,720
[#6 Pick] 2,554,200
[#11 Pick] 1,772,100
[Victor Claver] 1,045,600
[Joel Freeland] 850,800
Nicolas Batum $5,388,413
J.J. Hickson $3,357,569
Emeka Okafor 13,640,000
[#10 Pick] 1,865,300

53.67 million

with a 58 million cap, that leaves 4.33 million in cap-space....less then an MLE

Now, the Blazers could renounce the rights to JJ Hickson & Victor Claver. And they could use the stretch provision on Williams.....

So, subtract 3,357,569, 1,045,600, & 2/3 of 3,135,000. But add back 2 roster charges of 473K.

That would gain an extra 5.5 million in space (at the cost of Hickson) giving Portland about 9.8 million in space

If this deal had to be done, I'd be more inclined to keep Hickson and leave the Blazers 7 million in cap-space. The thinking being that a veteran C/PF rotation of Aldridge, Okafor , and Hickson would be pretty solid

I don't think the Blazers would need nearly 10 million for a FA signing of a SG considering the UFA class:

Ray Allen
Carlos Delfino
Nick Young
Mickael Pietrus
DeShawn Stevenson
C.J. Miles
Shannon Brown
Josh Howard
Marco Belinelli
James Anderson
Tracy McGrady
Willie Green
Marquis Daniels
Sasha Pavlovic
Michael Redd
Mo Evans

Maybe 8 or 9 million would turn Ray Allen's head. Maybe not The rest of that group is pretty meh.

And of course if the PG taken in the draft doesn't pan out, the Blazers are back in the frying pan, only without any cap-space to solve the issue

I don't really like the idea of adding Okafor at the cost of Matthews (I think people here underestimate the value Matthews brings to the Blazers), but if it was two deals the Blazers worked, I'd be more inclined to favor it:

Trade with NOH: Matthews + Shawne Williams + Rights to Claver for Okafor + 10th

Trade with Cleveland: #6 + #11 + #40 + #41 for #4 + #24 + #33 + #34

if Cle hated the 2nd round swaps, the 34th and 40th picks could be removed I suppose, but why concede that

I don't really like either trade that much but the two of them together look ok. Portland ends up with picks 4 - 10 - 24 - 33 - 34/40 and about 11 million in cap-space. And Okafor is a serviceable big

Of course, the Blazers would have pretty weak 3 point shooting

[lukeyrid13]

I am perfectly fine moving up, in fact I want us to move up but I think we should just do 6 and 11 for #2. That way we ensure we get our top target. Besides we could easily buy a pick in the 20's or trade 40 and 41 for a pick there.

2 and 25 >> 4 and 24

[cucad8]

Of course, the Blazers would have pretty weak 3 point shooting

Obviously, that depends on what SG in free agency we went after. Replacing Felton(31%) with Lillard(39 in college) is an improvment. Batum is a 39% shooter. Again depends on who we sign. He mentioned Mayo, a 37.5% shooter. Matthews 39.3 for their careers. Not a big dip down. Especially factoring in a likely increase in Babbitt's minutes, as a 42% shooter. I don't see where our shooting takes the hit you think it does. Especially to call it pretty weak.

[Wizenheimer]

Of course, the Blazers would have pretty weak 3 point shooting

Obviously, that depends on what SG in free agency we went after. Replacing Felton(31%) with Lillard(39 in college) is an improvment. Batum is a 39% shooter. Again depends on who we sign. He mentioned Mayo, a 37.5% shooter. Matthews 39.3 for their careers. Not a big dip down. Especially factoring in a likely increase in Babbitt's minutes, as a 42% shooter. I don't see where our shooting takes the hit you think it does. Especially to call it pretty weak.

Portland ended up 13th in 3pt%, but at the end of Feb, they were 19th. The key to the increase, was Matthews shooting about 41.5% on 3's while averaging about 6 attempts a game over the last 30 games; and as you mentioned, Babbitt being on fire late in the season. Trading Matthews would change that dynamic

Mayo is RFA, and there's no guarantee Memphis would even let him go or that he'd be interested in Portland. I would tend to disregard Ray Allen as I'd imagine he'll title hunt. The rest of the free agent SG's don't offer a lot. Willie Green is the only one who shot a better 3pt% then Matthews and he generally sucks.

As far as Lilliard, we don't even know if the Blazers are interested or if he'll be available when Portland would want to choose him

and IMO, if Babbitt plays enough minutes to make a big difference in team shooting, the Blazers will be losing a lot of games...sorry

so, I'm not assuming that the Blazers will just be able to plug in a FA or rookie and replace arguably their best 3 pt shooter who happened to take 24% of the teams shots

Of course, you could turn that around and point to the fact Crawford and Felton combined to take 463 of 1383 3pointers the Blazers took (33.4% of the total) and only shot about 30% on those. So, while the Blazers might be weaker at the top end of their perimeter shooting, maybe they could get stronger in the middle and not lose ground overall

[Blazinaway]

Sac may not want Drummond?

Probasketballdraft ‏@Probballdraft
Indications are that Sacramento wants to add a player at 5, who is a winner & mature. Locker room concerns seem factor into Kings decision.

[Goldbum]

I think Okafor would really help this team. I don't think they give up #10 to dump him with Wes comming back. They could just amnesty him if they wanted.

[LOOSH]

Meyers Leonard is starting to intrigue me at 11

[DeBlazerRiddem]

Meyers Leonard is starting to intrigue me at 11

Agreed, especially if we take Beal or Lillard with our first pick.

[Norm2953]

All one needs to know about Sacramento is the thought of Cousins and Drummond
on the same team would drive most coaches nuts. Its much more likely they settle
on Barnes at 5 (if Cleveland passes on him at 4) who should be a good pro. If they
were smart, they'd let Drummond be Portland's problem.

[Blazer50]

All one needs to know about Sacramento is the thought of Cousins and Drummond
on the same team would drive most coaches nuts. Its much more likely they settle
on Barnes at 5 (if Cleveland passes on him at 4) who should be a good pro. If they
were smart, they'd let Drummond be Portland's problem.

100% agreement. It's a great time of year - with all the trades & picks up for grabs. But it is exhausting getting behind the pick of the day - Remember when we thought Jeremy Lamb was the guy - great length - next Reggie Miller! Bouya!

It is nice though that the new regime is willing to tell our new CSNNW correspondence who all the favorites are and candidly share their plans with the league.

Really, justifying all the 4/24 = 6/11 = NOH +10 is fun, and I will keep reading, but I keep coming back to Norm's point and all the dis information that is probably what we are reading. MGK, Harrison Barnes and others are probably still a good prospects and the 6 / 11 will most likely get players who I will convince myself are the absolute best combination of talent the Blazer could have gotten.

That's being a fan - though I will say I never bought into the Smith for Faried draft?

[sabi]

my gut feeling on the cavs trade is that it was offered to us and we are trying to bring in the top prospects for a workout to see if there's someone they really like at 4. So far we have MKG scheduled but haven't had any luck with beal.

I doubt any past rumors have had much to them since oshley just arrived to portland and will now start working on the draft.

[DusterBuster]

my gut feeling on the cavs trade is that it was offered to us and we are trying to bring in the top prospects for a workout to see if there's someone they really like at 4. So far we have MKG scheduled but haven't had any luck with beal.

I doubt any past rumors have had much to them since oshley just arrived to portland and will now start working on the draft.

I think you're right about the POR/CLE rumor likely being leaked to get some other prospects in for workouts.

That said, I think Oshley had more of a head start with working on the draft than you're giving him credit for. He said he was going to be talking to all the other 39 teams about what deals might be out there right after his press conference. So I wouldn't say that he is just now starting to work on the draft.

[GreenRiddler]

John Henson had a nice workout with the kings today. He put aside any comparision I heard of him and Brendan Wirght, much more skilled. I wouldn't mind him if we missed out on Drummond @6 and Sully is off at 11 I would take him and Lillard. Camby was pretty thin to, we would end the draft with a roster of:

Lillard/Smith
Wes/Williams
Nic/S.Williams/Babbitt
LMA/JJ
Pryz/Henson/Thomas


Plus plenty of cap room. Good big man rotation with room for more at the 5.

[GreenRiddler]

Just took a second look at Henson's measurements, he and AD are ridiculously similar build wise it's kind of creepy...not saying anything just putting it out there AD is obviously leaps and bounds the better pick.

[ALL HAIL]

I understand the logic in keeping both lotto picks but if POR considered trading the picks:

#6, #11, W. Matthews, and N. Smith

for

#2, K. Walker, T. Thomas, and G. Henderson

[Chanse503]

I understand the logic in keeping both lotto picks but if POR considered trading the picks:

#6, #11, W. Matthews, and N. Smith

for

#2, K. Walker, T. Thomas, and G. Henderson

Sign me up!

[LOOSH]

Meyers Leonard is starting to intrigue me at 11

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BW-b_AoRSSA&feature=g-u-u[/youtube]

[The Sebastian Express]

He has good timing on defense but that hook is ugly, low and is going to get blocked/disrupted at the NBA level unless he changes it.

[Chanse503]

The best part of combine season is having an chance to really look at these prospects!
Leonard at 11 would be fine by me pending who we pick at 6!?
This time of year is a absolute blast for us Trailblazer's fans.
I just would love to have a philosophy in place with a potential coach.

[LOOSH]

Agree, I like at the very least though that his jumper is already coming along and he goes hard to the rim. The thing that really jumps out at me is just how bouncy he is at that size. I watched one of his games early this year and was pretty blown away by his athleticism, couldn't believe how little buzz he had, not shocked at all his stock is blowing up now. Have also been pretty impressed listening to his interviews at the combine. You can tell he's an emotional kid, but his heart is the right place and he gets what he needs to work on, and appears to be willing to do so.

This guy making these breakdown videos is killing it, by the way.