The Portland Pick Watch Thread (as of 3/19)

[JGib23]

No- I would much rather have Portlands pick in a deeper draft next year.

I'm pulling for Portland to lose just to ensure that we don't get the pick this year and as it stands today- Portland would keep the pick.

[Liver_Pooty]

I'm a Blazer's fan and was wondering if the Bobcats board would go for a deal where
Portland would simply allow Charlotte to have the 11 or 12 pick in the 13' draft

I'd personally would allow the Bobcats to have the pick if they took Joel Freeland
off of our hands, which would give us another $3 million of cap space in free
agency.

No thanks. Don't want the pick this year.

[SWedd523]

Whoa guys, let's not get ahead of ourselves here. I'm sure something can be worked out.

Ben Gordon's expiring for the unprotected 2013 pick and that Aldridge feller.



I'm sure that can be amenable to both sides

[fatlever]

so we either get the 11th pick in this draft OR we gamble and maybe get the 12th or higher pick in the 2014 draft OR the 12th or higher pick in the 2015 draft or any pick in 2016.

i would definitely accept that deal and take the pick now because there is a good chance we might not see that pick improve much until 2016. and in 2016 there is always the chance that the pick is still around the same or worse.

our chances of getting the pick next season are the same as this season. the protection doesnt get any better until 2016.

2014 maybe have some studs at the top, but is that draft as deep at 12-14 because that is likely where the pick will land, if we even get it next year.

i dont see why portland would do that deal though. certainly they would like to add another young player to build with their core. giving up the pick this year makes it seem like they are concerned

all that said, we have already heard rumblings that the cats would want to move the portland pick if we got it this year because they feel we have enough youngsters (including our 2013 pick) and dont need another player to develop at the same time as developing kemba, MKG, biz, mully, taylor and our 2013 pick.

[MasterIchiro]

Both the DET and POR picks could escalate in value. Right now I'd bet against both teams as I think they will both get worse. DET is 8th worst but one game from 3rd worst. POR is 12th worst and will lose Hickson.

I'd like to keep both picks as their value rises, then sell next year at the deadline for an impact player. This way that addition being late season after we have compiled enough losses won't weaken our draft position in the Wiggins draft.

We can do Gordon expiring + DET 1st + POR 1st for a star player. There needs to be one vet leading Kemba, MKG, Biz, 2013 pick and 2014 pick.

We're going to be loaded after the 2014 draft.

[fatlever]

Both the DET and POR picks could escalate in value. Right now I'd bet against both teams as I think they will both get worse. DET is 8th worst but one game from 3rd worst. POR is 12th worst and will lose Hickson.

portland getting much worse doesnt do us any good, at least not until 2016. the protection remains top 12 protected for 2013, 2014 and 2015. if portland gets much worse, we wont see that pick until 2016 and by 2016 they just might have enough lottery picks to get to the playoffs.

[JGib23]

I'd rather roll the dice that they improve and we get the pick next year.

Even if the pick is lower, I think that it's potentially so much deeper that it will easily offset the lower pick (as long as they don't dramatically improve)

[Snidely FC]

apropos, POR about to tank royally?

Nicolas Batum's bothersome wrist has been an issue for the better part of two months now, yet Portland's rangy swingman has continued to tough it out and play through the pain. Based on his latest comments, though, one has to wonder if that should change.

Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com reported after the Trail Blazers' loss to Memphis last night that Batum indicated that "the pain from 1-10 is a seven, but progresses to an eight or nine throughout the course of a game, limiting his effectiveness."

That doesn't sound good, and with 19 games left we have to wonder how much longer the Blazers can keep putting Batum out there.

Like Golden State last season, the Portland Trail Blazers find themselves in a situation where the more they win this season, the worse it could be for the future of their franchise. Let us explain.

Jason Quick of The Oregonian lays it out very well in his story today.

"With 19 games remaining, the Blazers are in a conflicting tug-of-war with themselves: Engaging in a pseudo playoff chase, or rooting for the long-term betterment of the franchise by falling far enough out of the playoffs that they don’t have to forfeit their 2013 first-round draft pick to Charlotte as part of the 2011 trade that landed them Gerald Wallace.

"The 2013 pick is top-12 protected, which means the Blazers will likely keep the pick if two non-playoff teams finish with better records than Portland (there’s still a less-than-one-percent chance the ping-pong balls could award Portland a pick in the top three)."

If the Blazers manage to win enough to end up with the No. 13 or 14 pick in the 2013 draft, their pick will head to the Bobcats.

“You never play to lose, and you don’t tank games,’’ Blazers GM Neil Olshey told the newspaper on Tuesday. “I mean, we are already playing five rookies. But clearly, you don’t want to be in no-man's land (out of the playoffs and out of top 12), but it’s nothing you can control. We have good players and they are going to win games.’’

As it stands today, Portland (29-34) has the 12th-worst record in the league. But Dallas (30-33) is only one game better, and Utah (33-31) and Milwaukee (32-30) are both 3.5 games better. The Jazz are the team to watch, though, since both Dallas and Milwaukee are finishing the season strong. If Utah continues to slide -- it's losers of seven of its last 10 -- and the Blazers pick up some more wins in the weeks ahead, Portland could end up right where they don't want to be.

"You never play to lose . . . " The NBA, where lying happens.

[Diop]

Damn it!!

I need Batum for my fantasy team. Tough it out frenchy!!

[fatlever]

kobe is out indefinitely with a sprained ankle. perhaps that is the crack the blazers need to make one last run for the playoffs this year.

[JT2006]

kobe is out indefinitely with a sprained ankle. perhaps that is the crack the blazers need to make one last run for the playoffs this year.

or at least not being 12 or worse, I want the lakers in the playoffs

[Liver_Pooty]

kobe is out indefinitely with a sprained ankle. perhaps that is the crack the blazers need to make one last run for the playoffs this year.

He will be back in a week or so. That man will do anything it takes to at least get the Lakers in the playoffs.

[Norm2953]

so we either get the 11th pick in this draft OR we gamble and maybe get the 12th or higher pick in the 2014 draft OR the 12th or higher pick in the 2015 draft or any pick in 2016.

i would definitely accept that deal and take the pick now because there is a good chance we might not see that pick improve much until 2016. and in 2016 there is always the chance that the pick is still around the same or worse.

our chances of getting the pick next season are the same as this season. the protection doesnt get any better until 2016.

2014 maybe have some studs at the top, but is that draft as deep at 12-14 because that is likely where the pick will land, if we even get it next year.

i dont see why portland would do that deal though. certainly they would like to add another young player to build with their core. giving up the pick this year makes it seem like they are concerned

all that said, we have already heard rumblings that the cats would want to move the portland pick if we got it this year because they feel we have enough youngsters (including our 2013 pick) and dont need another player to develop at the same time as developing kemba, MKG, biz, mully, taylor and our 2013 pick.

I think it would be a win/win deal for both teams for Portland might be worse next season if they left JJ
Hickson go and dumping Freeland would give Portland a total of $16 Million in cap space in savings on Freeland's
contract and not having to pay a first round pick. Rich Cho from his season in Portland has some familiarity
with Freeland and having an additional bargaining chip now instead of possibly 2016 is not a bad move.

The 2014 draft has some elite talent but the bigs in that draft are no better than this year (lots of project bigs).

[Eoghan]

I do not want Joel Freeland. At all. Ever. We've already got one half-assing Englishman (sorta) on the roster.

[JT2006]

I do not want Joel Freeland. At all. Ever. We've already got one half-assing Englishman (sorta) on the roster.

he would likely be waived in that trade scenario

[Elden Payton]

I'm a Blazer's fan and was wondering if the Bobcats board would go for a deal where
Portland would simply allow Charlotte to have the 11 or 12 pick in the 13' draft

I'd personally would allow the Bobcats to have the pick if they took Joel Freeland
off of our hands, which would give us another $3 million of cap space in free
agency.

so we either get the 11th pick in this draft OR we gamble and maybe get the 12th or higher pick in the 2014 draft OR the 12th or higher pick in the 2015 draft or any pick in 2016.

i would definitely accept that deal and take the pick now because there is a good chance we might not see that pick improve much until 2016. and in 2016 there is always the chance that the pick is still around the same or worse.

our chances of getting the pick next season are the same as this season. the protection doesnt get any better until 2016.

2014 maybe have some studs at the top, but is that draft as deep at 12-14 because that is likely where the pick will land, if we even get it next year.

i dont see why portland would do that deal though. certainly they would like to add another young player to build with their core. giving up the pick this year makes it seem like they are concerned

all that said, we have already heard rumblings that the cats would want to move the portland pick if we got it this year because they feel we have enough youngsters (including our 2013 pick) and dont need another player to develop at the same time as developing kemba, MKG, biz, mully, taylor and our 2013 pick.

I'll have to chime in here and say that I agree with fats and in fact would take a deal that sees us get the pick at ten or eleven this year to "help them out"

The question arises as to why Portland would do it but we have to remember that teams are selling on the draft this year and not buying, I think going forward Olshey would prefer to not have pick restrictions (trades) in place, cap space and also not have the 2016 unrestricted first potential in the back of his mind.

This deal is a win, win situation and improves both teams prospects long term.

This is the equivalent of giving up a potential late (or early) first for a guaranteed top ten pick.

[TheKingofSting]

Dallas currently has Portland a half game out of us getting the pick.

Here is a look at the upcoming schedules:

Mavericks

Thunder
@ Hawks
Nets
Celtics
Jazz
Clippers
Pacers
Bulls
@ Lakers

Blazers

Pistons
@ 76ers
@ Bucks
@ Bulls
@ Hawks
@ Thunder
Nets
Jazz
@ Warriors
@ Jazz

[TheKingofSting]

Portland is back a half game to the good, this is going to be close.

[Elden Payton]

Unless PDX pulls of an epic tank job from here on out we should be right, Dallas has a hard run.

Chances we trade the pick for someone like Thomas Robinson? I would do it in a heartbeat.

[Elden Payton]

Unless PDX pulls of an epic tank job from here on out we should be right, Dallas has a hard run.

Chances we trade the pick for someone like Thomas Robinson? I would do it in a heartbeat.