What's It Gonna Take To Trade Into The Top 5?

[Yadadimean]

Well? Chances are we're not gonna get the impact pg we need in the 13-16 range. What would it take and what would you be willing to give up to get into the top 5 to get a Bayless, Collison, Gordon, etc?

[Spykes]

Top 5 is gonna be next to impossible to move up into without giving up a core player. Adding Travis along with our pick this year might move us up into the bottom half of the Top 10.

[PDXKnight]

Agreed. It would take a lot to get a top pick this season and it's really not worth what it would cost. The Blazer would have to part with Roy, LA, or Oden which obviously isn't happening.

[Wizenheimer]

I agree with Spykes...there's not much chance portland moves that high without trading LMA..

Portland would have a better shot of winning a top 3 pick in the lottery drawing and the odds of that are awfully small if they're drawing from the 13th position.

Ask yourself...if Portland had the 4th pick this year...would they trade it and filler for a couple of players like Outlaw and Jack?

Portland might be able to move up 3 or 4 spots, not 9 or 10

[Mr Odd]

Top 5 is gonna be next to impossible to move up into without giving up a core player. Adding Travis along with our pick this year might move us up into the bottom half of the Top 10.

Exactly!!

Also im not sure Pritchard would trade
Travis for a pick thats not 5 and above.

[SoHo]

I think a lot depends on which teams end up in which spots. Right now you've got Miami, Minnesota, Seattle, Memphis, and NY as the top five.

Of those five teams only one isn't in rebuilding mode and that's NY. They'd be pretty crazy to trade that pick because let's face it NY is a mess and trading draft picks probably won't fix that even if they also unload some of their garbage.

In the next 5 spots you might find a team willing to trade down out of the top ten to gain a player like Outlaw but that depends (a lot) on what that team needs. Of the teams that will likely be in those next few spots I could see Milwaukee or maybe Charlotte wanting the services of Travis in exchange for a pick swap, but that isn't high enough to get us Bayless or Gordon. A wild card might be the Clippers if they decide that Livingston is going to come back 100%

If we really want to move up it will probably cost us a few moves, say one to get from 13-10 then one to get from 10-8 or 7 and those moves would likely cost at least Travis, Jack, and maybe a couple 2nds.

[Yadadimean]

I think a lot depends on which teams end up in which spots. Right now you've got Miami, Minnesota, Seattle, Memphis, and NY as the top five.

Of those five teams only one isn't in rebuilding mode and that's NY. They'd be pretty crazy to trade that pick because let's face it NY is a mess and trading draft picks probably won't fix that even if they also unload some of their garbage.

In the next 5 spots you might find a team willing to trade down out of the top ten to gain a player like Outlaw but that depends (a lot) on what that team needs. Of the teams that will likely be in those next few spots I could see Milwaukee or maybe Charlotte wanting the services of Travis in exchange for a pick swap, but that isn't high enough to get us Bayless or Gordon. A wild card might be the Clippers if they decide that Livingston is going to come back 100%

If we really want to move up it will probably cost us a few moves, say one to get from 13-10 then one to get from 10-8 or 7 and those moves would likely cost at least Travis, Jack, and maybe a couple 2nds.

Thats pretty much what I was thinking. If there were a chance in hell it would have to be a deal with NY, and yes it would probably take a few trades to make it work. Say NY picks at 5 and Gordon or Mayo is on the board, do you trade Outlaw, Jack, Frye and our pick to make it happen? Of course we would have to take other players back, but I'm just trying to come up with a scenario that would be worth it.

[Wizenheimer]

I think a lot depends on which teams end up in which spots. Right now you've got Miami, Minnesota, Seattle, Memphis, and NY as the top five.

Of those five teams only one isn't in rebuilding mode and that's NY. They'd be pretty crazy to trade that pick because let's face it NY is a mess and trading draft picks probably won't fix that even if they also unload some of their garbage.

In the next 5 spots you might find a team willing to trade down out of the top ten to gain a player like Outlaw but that depends (a lot) on what that team needs. Of the teams that will likely be in those next few spots I could see Milwaukee or maybe Charlotte wanting the services of Travis in exchange for a pick swap, but that isn't high enough to get us Bayless or Gordon. A wild card might be the Clippers if they decide that Livingston is going to come back 100%

If we really want to move up it will probably cost us a few moves, say one to get from 13-10 then one to get from 10-8 or 7 and those moves would likely cost at least Travis, Jack, and maybe a couple 2nds.

all of that is likely close except for one other possibility that you didn't mention:

If portland is willing to abandon their cap space plan, I think they might be able to jump up rather high. They'll have Lafrentz's 12.8 million expiring contract. If they were willing to take on a player with an albatross contract, then they could have some significant leverage.

Say NY is in the 5th or 6th position and portland is 13. Portland offers the 13th pick, Lafrentz, green, and the rights to kaponen/freeland for Curry, Mardy Collins and the 5th or 6th pick. Would either team do it? Maybe portland would if KP had identified another roy-level player sure to be available. Would the Knicks?...maybe if they decided saving 25 million over 2 years was worth it.

Or if the Clippers were in 7th or 8th. Would they take Lafrentz, green and the 13th pick for Mobley, Powel and the 8th. Again, maybe on both counts. As a matter of fact, I think Sterling will always be interested in expiring contracts.

Portland has some options this summer. Whether they use any or not remains to be seen.

[Wizenheimer]

I think a lot depends on which teams end up in which spots. Right now you've got Miami, Minnesota, Seattle, Memphis, and NY as the top five.

Of those five teams only one isn't in rebuilding mode and that's NY. They'd be pretty crazy to trade that pick because let's face it NY is a mess and trading draft picks probably won't fix that even if they also unload some of their garbage.

In the next 5 spots you might find a team willing to trade down out of the top ten to gain a player like Outlaw but that depends (a lot) on what that team needs. Of the teams that will likely be in those next few spots I could see Milwaukee or maybe Charlotte wanting the services of Travis in exchange for a pick swap, but that isn't high enough to get us Bayless or Gordon. A wild card might be the Clippers if they decide that Livingston is going to come back 100%

If we really want to move up it will probably cost us a few moves, say one to get from 13-10 then one to get from 10-8 or 7 and those moves would likely cost at least Travis, Jack, and maybe a couple 2nds.

Do you really think that Bayless will be drafted in the top 6 or 7? I'm not sure about that.

If portland can somehow manage to secure the 8th spot, I think there may be a chance that bayless can drop that far. If he doesn't, that would likely mean that a couple of others have dropped down, like Mayo or Donte Green. If portland has a chance to take either one of those guys they have to pull the trigger. I think Green may be a special player.

[Yadadimean]

-= original quote snipped =-



all of that is likely close except for one other possibility that you didn't mention:

If portland is willing to abandon their cap space plan, I think they might be able to jump up rather high. They'll have Lafrentz's 12.8 million expiring contract. If they were willing to take on a player with an albatross contract, then they could have some significant leverage.

Say NY is in the 5th or 6th position and portland is 13. Portland offers the 13th pick, Lafrentz, green, and the rights to kaponen/freeland for Curry, Mardy Collins and the 5th or 6th pick. Would either team do it? Maybe portland would if KP had identified another roy-level player sure to be available. Would the Knicks?...maybe if they decided saving 25 million over 2 years was worth it.

Or if the Clippers were in 7th or 8th. Would they take Lafrentz, green and the 13th pick for Mobley, Powel and the 8th. Again, maybe on both counts. As a matter of fact, I think Sterling will always be interested in expiring contracts.

Portland has some options this summer. Whether they use any or not remains to be seen.

excellent point. I hadn't thought of that. If that were the scenario, would you be willing to abandon the cap space plan? I dont think the capspace plan would even be all that important if we were able to land a top rookie in this draft unless there is already something in the works on some type of wink and nod arrangement for Chris Paul which is highly doubtful.

[AKBlazerFan]

IS it greedy to say that i am hoping we will just win the lottery??? Screw trading to get there.

[Telfaire]

Could be we'll trade Jack to move up from 13 to 10, if Pritchard would be really sold on Gallinari...the kid is ranked 11th in NBAdraft.net, and that's with some freshmen ahead of him who might not declare...

[Yadadimean]

IS it greedy to say that i am hoping we will just win the lottery??? Screw trading to get there.

Not greedy but even if we dont win another game this year its highly unlikely. Hell, we only had a 5% chance last draft and we won 32 games. Lightning is probably not gonna strike twice

[Wizenheimer]

-= original quote snipped =-



excellent point. I hadn't thought of that. If that were the scenario, would you be willing to abandon the cap space plan? I dont think the capspace plan would even be all that important if we were able to land a top rookie in this draft unless there is already something in the works on some type of wink and nod arrangement for Chris Paul which is highly doubtful.

I'm probably the wrong guy to ask as I'd kind of like to see it abandoned right now...I don't think real highly of it. But I'm guessing that KP and Tom Penn may have a trick up their sleeves I haven't thought of.

But I'd be all for the Blazers making some major moves this summer, especially on draft day.


And also look at using their MLE. Eduardo Najera is an unrestricted free agent and his hustle and energy would be great off the blazer bench IMO. Maybe Kurt Thomas would sign a contract with only one year guaranteed. Bosjton Nacbbar is UFA. So is Diop.

[farzi]

#12/13 + jack + frye for #3-5 and a semi bad contract might work, but I wouldn't hold my breath.

The only way I see it happenening is if we Pritch-slap someone with our second round picks

[Spykes]

#12/13 + jack + frye + Raef for #3-5 and a REALLY bad contract might work, but I wouldn't hold my breath.

The only way I see it happenening is if we Pritch-slap someone with our second round picks

Fixed. We'd have to take on an absolutely atrocious contract while trading Raef's expiring contract, some young players and our pick to even have a shot at the Top 5. In other words, it ain't happenin'.

Honestly, I don't think this is a draft that we need to get into the Top 5 of to get some high caliber talent. I think we can find some good players in the bottom half of the Top 10 and even near the end of the lottery itself.

I also think this could be a good year to try and trade out of the draft for a proven player considering all the assets we have.

[SoHo]

Do you really think that Bayless will be drafted in the top 6 or 7? I'm not sure about that.

He's certainly projected to go very high right now by most mocks/scout reports I've seen. The other thing is that he has the ability to be more of a PG than either Eric Gordon or OJ Mayo. Then you look at the team needs in the top of the draft. The clips certainly seem like a team that would take him that high (Livingston is coming off major surgery and Cassel is done after this year).

all of that is likely close except for one other possibility that you didn't mention:

That's true KP could certainly use that contract to move up in the draft I just question whether he would really do that for a few draft spots. Sending out LaFrentz could certainly get us into the conversation with NY, the clips, Memphis, or perhaps Chicago.

Of course as I said earlier there is a lot still to happen and any move depends a TON on who is selecting where. No doubt though KP will do what he does every year, identify his player and then go get him. If Bayless or Gordon happen to be our man KP will do his best to make it happen.

[SoHo]

I also think this could be a good year to try and trade out of the draft for a proven player considering all the assets we have.

I'm totally with you here Spykes. This is a pretty deep draft and teams will be looking to get in right around our pick. A low lotto pick and Raef's expiring deal could probably net us a really nice player. I just wonder who will be available come that time.

Getting a more established PG who knows how to run an NBA team might really propel this team next year. That said it doesn't have to be someone who is too old to fit our team, just someone who isn't coming right out of college. Devin Harris, Kirk Hinrich, Ben Gordon, maybe Monta Ellis or even TJ Ford, all these guys might be available for various reasons and using our assets we have a pretty good shot in my mind.

[Yadadimean]

seeing how Memphis is set on cutting payroll, would they consider Raef, Frye, our 1st and any combination of our Euros not named Fernandez and maybe a 2nd or two for Cardinal, Milicic and their 1st? Im not sure how high a regard they hold Milicic in, but it seems like the consensus is that he has been a total bust. Seems like they might have to at least think about it because they get two expirings (one of them being a young pf prospect that they could probably use), stay in lottery pick range and get the rights to some Euros who probably wont ever play for us, but could end up being decent NBA players down the line. I dont know, maybe Im being totally unrealistic but it seems to me that they would at least think about it and propose a counter offer.

[Telfaire]

Memphis is also set on drafting Beasley...if we they wont make it into the top 2 again, I think they'll go for Jordan. If he's also unavailable, then moving down while getting rid of Cardinal might work.