Draft prospects @ 10

[lukeyrid13]

I hope we reevaluate the whole trade 10 for a center, I don't want Gortat, Deandre or Mcgee. Everyone else is pretty unlikely.

I'm sort of hoping that Phoenix fully embraces their youth movement and would be content to trade Gotat just for Meyers and a couple of 2nd's

[Shem]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhxAJpYymZk[/youtube]

[TBpup]

I hope we reevaluate the whole trade 10 for a center, I don't want Gortat, Deandre or Mcgee. Everyone else is pretty unlikely.

Agreed. The money/lack of cap flexibility for what they produce does not seem like a good use of cap room. Sure I'd love Howard but outside of that, I don't see any big man that they have a possibility of getting that does anything other than get them to about #6-8 in the playoff picture.

I'd rather draft another big man (Gobert) and let him develop with Leonard and then next year have a pick in the best draft in recent memory.

Shem...Gobert certainly seems like the rim-protector NeO has continuously talked about, but what is with the Titanic orchestra music in the background of that video...

[DusterBuster]

I don't hate a potential Shabazz pick. He can defend and shoot. But I think there are better players out there at that level.

Like I said, between 5-11, it's all totally subjective. You can make an argument for any of those guys being better or worse than the other guys.

I hope we reevaluate the whole trade 10 for a center, I don't want Gortat, Deandre or Mcgee. Everyone else is pretty unlikely.

So then what else is out there? If you don't want those guys, who are you going to get in FA to fill that C spot? And if you don't want anyone if FA, then why are the Blazers keeping Aldridge? If they don't get a veteran C this summer, they're basically conceding again to the fact that this will be another rebuilding year. If that's the case (which I'd be OK with fwiw), then they need to start shopping Aldridge (and Matthews) pronto.

[DusterBuster]

I hope we reevaluate the whole trade 10 for a center, I don't want Gortat, Deandre or Mcgee. Everyone else is pretty unlikely.

Agreed. The money/lack of cap flexibility for what they produce does not seem like a good use of cap room. Sure I'd love Howard but outside of that, I don't see any big man that they have a possibility of getting that does anything other than get them to about #6-8 in the playoff picture.

I'd rather draft another big man (Gobert) and let him develop with Leonard and then next year have a pick in the best draft in recent memory.

Like I said, if the Blazers are going to development route, then it's time to cut bait on the vets in LMA and Wes. waiting for Gobert and/or Leonard to develop is going to take at least 2 or so years in all likelihood. That's far too long if the Blazers want any chance of maximizing their remaining time with Aldridge.

Neil Olshey also will likely needs to start dusting off his resume, as trying to convince his boss to go for the major rebuild route will not go over well.

[GreenRiddler]

I should of rephrased that I don't want those three for the 10th pick. I think we can band-aid slap the center spot as long as we have a better overall team next year with depth and cross our fingers with Meyers.

[TBpup]

So then what else is out there? If you don't want those guys, who are you going to get in FA to fill that C spot? And if you don't want anyone if FA, then why are the Blazers keeping Aldridge? If they don't get a veteran C this summer, they're basically conceding again to the fact that this will be another rebuilding year. If that's the case (which I'd be OK with fwiw), then they need to start shopping Aldridge (and Matthews) pronto.

Agreed....something D69 and I have come to the conclusion with as well. Trade Aldridge for a pick this year and next and really give new coach Tibbetts something to develop.

[Jsun947]

If we end up drafting Olapido or Shabaaz then of go for a vet C. If we get Gobert I'd save the cap space for FA wings which seems like the best return.

If none of those 3 are available I'm not sure wtf I'd do.

[lukeyrid13]

I should of rephrased that I don't want those three for the 10th pick. I think we can band-aid slap the center spot as long as we have a better overall team next year with depth and cross our fingers with Meyers.

If we don't trade for a center who will we sign? Big Al, Pek or Dalembert?

[PTPaQ]

Uh oh, the Muhammad linkage has begun.

This honestly is something to watch for. If you read between the lines during this Chicago Pre-draft camp, you can usually get a pretty good feel for who the team is really targeting. Generally it's the players fault for being a little over-generous with talking about one team. IIRC, this was around the same time Roy started getting linked to Portland and the same with Lillard. It's certainly not a end-all be-all thing, but definitely keep an eye on it.

Yup, thats exactly what I was getting at. Theres never any guarantee but it just seems to be a thing with us following through with these "connections".

As for Gobert, I'm still not "sold" on him but I won't be mad at it, do they do any sorts of scrimmaging at the combine? That's really what I want to see out of him. I'm still more of a Gorgui guy right now.

[lukeyrid13]

If we end up drafting Olapido or Shabaaz then of go for a vet C. If we get Gobert I'd save the cap space for FA wings which seems like the best return.

If none of those 3 are available I'm not sure wtf I'd do.

Yeah I'm not gonna be excited to go out and get a Kentavious Caldwell-Pope jersey or anything. I hope we move up or soemthing if we have to to make sure we get the right guy.

[Goldbum]

I'm wanting Bazz more and more... Think he and Lillard could be a modern Terry/Clyde. Can we trade Barton or Claver along with 2 seconds to get Adams? Early indications are teams want out of mid 1st round picks.

[Jsun947]

I don't see the point in trading Aldridge unless we are getting a good enough prospect back. Power Forward in the league is super weak right now. You don't trade Aldridge for cap space and a pick that might be between 1-20 next year.

I can't even think of a trade i'd pull the trigger on involving Aldridge.

Let's say Cleveland wants to take Matthews and Aldridge for cap space, Olapido, and next years first. That pick next year is more likely to be in the 16+ range than top 10

[GreenRiddler]

Uh oh, the Muhammad linkage has begun.

This honestly is something to watch for. If you read between the lines during this Chicago Pre-draft camp, you can usually get a pretty good feel for who the team is really targeting. Generally it's the players fault for being a little over-generous with talking about one team. IIRC, this was around the same time Roy started getting linked to Portland and the same with Lillard. It's certainly not a end-all be-all thing, but definitely keep an eye on it.

Yup, thats exactly what I was getting at. Theres never any guarantee but it just seems to be a thing with us following through with these "connections".

As for Gobert, I'm still not "sold" on him but I won't be mad at it, do they do any sorts of scrimmaging at the combine? That's really what I want to see out of him. I'm still more of a Gorgui guy right now.

Could be a smokesceen.

[GreenRiddler]

I don't see the point in trading Aldridge unless we are getting a good enough prospect back. Power Forward in the league is super weak right now. You don't trade Aldridge for cap space and a pick that might be between 1-20 next year.

I can't even think of a trade i'd pull the trigger on involving Aldridge.

Let's say Cleveland wants to take Matthews and Aldridge for cap space, Olapido, and next years first. That pick next year is more likely to be in the 16+ range than top 10

Also LMA is pretty tempered in the win now mentality, saying it could be 2 seasons before we see the Playoffs.

[TBpup]

Let's say Cleveland wants to take Matthews and Aldridge for cap space, Olapido, and next years first. That pick next year is more likely to be in the 16+ range than top 10

Jsun...very true but the collateral fall out is that Portland could easily have a top-5 pick to go along with that. So imagine something like;

Leonard/Gobert/O'Neal
T. Thomspon/O'Neal
Batum/Claver
Oladipo/Barton/Williams
Lillard/Oladipo/veteran backup

That is a lot of young talent to go with a ton of cap room next summer when the FA's are much better. Add to that a likely top-5 and mid 1st round pick in the deepest draft in recent memory.

[DusterBuster]

I should of rephrased that I don't want those three for the 10th pick. I think we can band-aid slap the center spot as long as we have a better overall team next year with depth and cross our fingers with Meyers.

You still didn't answer my question. Who else are you going to get? Who else might be available for that #10 pick who's going to be better than those 3 guys?

Agreed....something D69 and I have come to the conclusion with as well. Trade Aldridge for a pick this year and next and really give new coach Tibbetts something to develop.

You and you're tin-foil Tibbetts theory.

Kidding aside, while I clearly don't think Tibbetts has anything whatsoever to do with a potential Aldridge trade, I'm not against the idea of moving him and doing a more earnest rebuild. Then again, our opinions of going for a full rebuild don't mean dick, as it's the guy writing the checks who is the only opinion that matters. He has made it abundantly clear he doesn't want to be worse next year than they were this year. Trading Aldridge for a pick is in total contrast to what Paul Allen wants. At the very least, it's going to be a tough sell for Olshey since he already promised Paul Allen the team would be more competitive next year. At the very worst, it will cost him his job like it did Rich Cho.

Question for everyone here, lets say hypothetically the Cavs get the #1 overall pick. Who here would trade Aldridge for that #1 overall pick and nothing else? I think this year is one year you could do that considering even Noel isn't a "can't miss/franchise changing" prospect, particularly if Cleveland wins it since they're pretty enamored with Aldridge and want to pair him with Irving.

Personally, I'd do that. And for Olshey, that might be the only move he could sell to Paul Allen. While I don't expect Noel to be anywhere near Aldridge's talent level for quite some time (and maybe never), he fills a hole at C and the Blazers still have Hickson they can resign to play his natural PF spot and they can bring in O'Neal on a vet min deal. If they could come out of this draft with Shabazz and Noel.....

Lillard/Maynor
Matthews/Shabazz
Batum/Claver
Hickson/Leonard
Noel/O'Neal

That arguably could be as good as any roster the Blazers could end up with by keeping Aldridge and trying to either trade the #10 pick for a C or just picking #10 and treading water with low level FA's.

I don't think Olshey can convince Paul Allen that trading Aldridge for Oladipo and the amazingly overrated Tristian Thomas is going to get any traction.

[TBpup]

You and you're tin-foil Tibbetts theory.

Lol...of course it is a big reach but that is what makes this time of year so much fun. Lots of rumors, speculation and conjecture.

[Shem]

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[Shem]

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