OT: New Orleans selling its pick to Portland?

Fencer reregistered · Post #1 » by **Fencer reregistered** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 6:27 am

Per Wiretap

If that's true, add New Orleans to the list of teams (headed by Phoenix) that never will win a championship because ownership is too cheap to pay for a deep bench.

Meanwhile, I'm having a pointless fantasy about Danny buying the pick himself, then bundling two picks to trade up and grab a mid/late round steal ...

SonicYouth34 · Post #2 » by **SonicYouth34** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 6:33 am

Good move for Portland, all the other 29 teams need to make a pact to not make Portland better- they are gonna rule the NBA because of all these trades. We should've bought the pick to trade up, but what can you do.

I don't understand why teams sell late picks, their salaries are almost next to nothing and the teams sacrifice their future.

DJToLarry · Post #3 » by **DJToLarry** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 10:29 am

SonicYouth34 wrote:Good move for Portland, all the other 29 teams need to make a pact to not make Portland better- they are gonna rule the NBA because of all these trades. We should've bought the pick to trade up, but what can you do.

I don't understand why teams sell late picks, their salaries are almost next to nothing and the teams sacrifice their future.

It's quite of big advantage for Portland to have Paul Allen's money to do this every year. Can stock pile a mini-farm system overseas and when they are ready bring them over or use them in trades to acquire better players. Would like to see the NBA limit this somehow. Very nice if you are a Portland fan though.

Jammer · Post #4 » by **Jammer** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 11:20 am

This is an interesting move from mega-Billionaire Paul Allen's team.

Paul Allen is reportedly infatuated with Joe Alexander of West Virginia.

Now that Portland has an additional pick, they can offer Milwaukee:

Milwaukee swaps #8 Pick (Joe Alexander)

to Portland for #13, #27 and $3 Million cash.

Senator Herb Kohl of Milwaukee also gets to pay a #13 pick considerably less over the next 5 seasons than a #8 pick would earn.

Just throwing that out as a potential trade. Milwaukee would certainly consider it.

Zerostatic · Post #5 » by **Zerostatic** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 11:35 am

SonicYouth34 wrote:I don't understand why teams sell late picks, their salaries are almost next to nothing and the teams sacrifice their future.

Because the team's owners can get up to 3 million dollars for a draft pick that has a 75% chance of not even lasting in the NBA. With that money an owner could easily sign a solid NBA vet or a youngster coming off a rookie contract who perhaps was a bad fit with the team that drafted him.

SonicYouth34 · Post #6 » by **SonicYouth34** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 3:04 pm

Zerostatic wrote:
SonicYouth34 wrote:I don't understand why teams sell late picks, their salaries are almost next to nothing and the teams sacrifice their future.
Because the team's owners can get up to 3 million dollars for a draft pick that has a 75% chance of not even lasting in the NBA. With that money an owner could easily sign a solid NBA vet or a youngster coming off a rookie contract who perhaps was a bad fit with the team that drafted him.

Can they even use that money to sign a player? I wasn't completely sure, I just thought that the owners got the money and didn't sign anyone with it

Zerostatic · Post #7 » by **Zerostatic** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 3:19 pm

SonicYouth34 wrote:
Zerostatic wrote:
SonicYouth34 wrote:I don't understand why teams sell late picks, their salaries are almost next to nothing and the teams sacrifice their future.
Because the team's owners can get up to 3 million dollars for a draft pick that has a 75% chance of not even lasting in the NBA. With that money an owner could easily sign a solid NBA vet or a youngster coming off a rookie contract who perhaps was a bad fit with the team that drafted him.

Can they even use that money to sign a player? I wasn't completely sure, I just thought that the owners got the money and didn't sign anyone with it

Of course they could. The owners can do whatever they want with their money (i.e. sign players, upgrade the team's practice facility, buy 10 lambo's, whatever, etc.)

Post #8 » by **sully00** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 3:29 pm

This has more to do with the relative value of draft picks at the end of the 1st round of this draft than some great manuever. I also would say that it is a sign that POR is looking to move their pick, which would only make sense seeing how the value is big men, at the same time what is available offers POR little based on their talent at the position.

The cash certainly doesn't hurt a team like NO who not only gets the 3 mil but also saves the guaranteed money of the contract. It doesn't create cap space but it makes it more likely they can add an MLE free agent and retain there own FA.

armageddon · Post #9 » by **armageddon** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 4:46 pm

Portland will be the best team in the league within 2 years. Nobody's paying attention, but the west is quickly losing their dominance and the top teams are fading creating a giant glut of better than average teams with older players. Portland's roster is sick and they have about 5 drat picks this year plus they add Oden. They will also benefit from Seattle leaving town being the only show in the Northwest.

Boston better win now because Portland has a dynasty brewing.

eris · Post #10 » by **eris** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 5:00 pm

If I'm not mistaken, Portland also has two early 2nd round picks. This would give them 4 picks to play with: 13, 27, 33 and 36. (edit: and also 55 giving them *5* picks)

I can't see them keeping them all, so what might they do? They have a lot of flexibility they could try to trade all four to the Heat for #2 or Timberwolves for #3, trade 13 and 27 to the Knicks for #6 or the Bucks for #8, keep 13 and 27 and sell 33 and 36 for cash, or trade 33 and 36 to the Celtics for 30, then package all three 1st to someone in the lottery that is really rebuilding. They could package picks with players they have under contract, too...so the wheeling and dealing could be very interesting.

Personally, I beat Portland keeps one of the 2nds and tries to packages the others to move way up.

Gant · Post #11 » by **Gant** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 5:03 pm

Yeah, it's true if Oden doesn't have lingering knee problems.

This is much worse news for the Lakers than Boston. If you're coming from the East you only have to worry about Portland if both you and they make the finals. But in the West you have to play them more and can't avoid them in the playoffs.

In the meantime even if Oden is fine it probably will take Portland a year or two more to gear up to title level. By that time the Celtics might win another banner, and the Lakers might find a big curtain over that new championship window of theirs. (Will it still be a referred to as a "dynasty" for LA if they win ZERO rings?)

MyInsatiableOne · Post #12 » by **MyInsatiableOne** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 5:10 pm

Gant wrote:Yeah, it's true if Oden doesn't have lingering knee problems.

This is much worse news for the Lakers than Boston. If you're coming from the East you only have to worry about Portland if both you and they make the finals. But in the West you have to play them more and can't avoid them in the playoffs.

In the meantime even if Oden is fine it probably will take Portland a year or two more to gear up to title level. By that time the Celtics might win another banner, and the Lakers might find a big curtain over that new championship window of theirs. (Will it still be a referred to as a "dynasty" for LA if they win ZERO rings?)

Of course, because it would all have been different "IF BYNUM WAS HEALTHY!!"

:lol:

Post #13 » by **sully00** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 5:23 pm

Just to point out the obvious, POR has not done all that much with all the wheeling and dealing over the last 3 years. They get Aldridge which was great but it was the 4th pick in the draft becoming the 2nd. The got Brandon Roy as well which has worked out really well for them to this point. Oden fell into their lap. Other than that they have drafted a ton of guys late in the first round and spent a lot of money doing it and have gotten a lot fringe players, back ups and busts.

They have an 80 million dollar pay roll and 3 guys you would want starting for your team. The last thing that roster needs is more young talent, never mind young talent on guaranteed contracts. It is nice that Paul Allen is willing to spread the wealth but they have 15 guys under contract and 13 guaranteed. What value in a deal does the pick have if you just bought it for cash?

armageddon · Post #14 » by **armageddon** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 5:27 pm

Portland is really trying to get 1) a vet, or 2) a higher pick.

They don't want nor do they have room for more than one or two young players. They also have 2 expiring contracts - Raef at 12.7 mil, and Francis at 17 mil.

Bye, bye Lakers.

Post #15 » by **sully00** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 5:47 pm

To me Ben Gordon is the perfect fit for POR would be Ben Gordon. But that is a S&T senario at this point.

I wonder if they are prepping a god father offer to G.S. for Baron Davis.

armageddon · Post #16 » by **armageddon** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 6:31 pm

There 09/10 payroll is 20 mil.

Edit - it's actually about 35 mil with options. But still lots of flexibility. Portland's motto is SPAM - spend Paul Allens money.

Ortho Stice · Post #17 » by **Ortho Stice** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 8:18 pm

People are hyping Portland way too much. No way they'll be as good as the Lakers within the next four years. If Portland ends up being a dynasty it won't be anytime soon, and their roster will look significantly different than it does now. Also, there's a lot that needs to fall in place for the Blazers, whereas the Lakers already have a dominant team that's young and only getting better. Oden has the potential to be special, and if he lives up to his potential, I really can't see him not getting a few rings, but at this point no one knows if he'll end up being better than Bynum.

armageddon · Post #18 » by **armageddon** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 8:32 pm

Come on. Oden played his Freshman year with his left (off) hand and dominated. They may end up with the #3 or #5 pick this year.

Ortho Stice · Post #19 » by **Ortho Stice** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 9:40 pm

The Blazers becoming a dominant team is based on so many contingencies. Sure, they may trade up into the lottery, but they may not. The difference between the two 20 year-old 7 footers is that Oden hasn't proven anything in the league yet, while Bynum has already put up excellent stats, and is more of a sure thing than Oden is at this point. I agree that Oden will probably become good if not great, but I'm just saying there's so many contingencies in the Blazers becoming a dominant team, whereas the Lakers already are dominant, and just like the Blazers, will have a 20 year-old 7 footer coming back, but Bynum has already put up great numbers in the NBA, and still has tons of potential.

Fencer reregistered · Post #20 » by **Fencer reregistered** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 10:11 pm

Frankly, I am skeptical that any team would want 5 picks from Portland in a single trade. But my base case is that Portland thinks it can trade up or trade away to reduce its pick count by about 3, and would still like to have more than 1 pick left because it likes a couple of guys.

The real point of my post, however, wasn't about Portland. It's about New Orleans. If you're a New Orleans fan, this is TERRIBLE news. The only possible interpretation is that ownership wants to control salary and luxury tax costs, so as to leave more money in its own pockets ... all at the expense of trying to build the best possible team.