With prospects at every position we really don't need a draft pick. Though, I wouldn't be against trading up for a talent like Favors, Cousins, Sanders or Aldrich.
Don't we have a 2nd round pick from Chicago? I know we traded our 2010 2nd Round pick to the Mavs to move up 2 spots in the 1st round last draft, but I think the Bulls still owe us a 2nd rounder. And maybe Paul Allen will buy a low 1st round pick again. But I don't know if we have room to stash any more young talent. I think KP will either trade away our 1st rounder (perhaps in some sort of package) or choose a foreign player and stash him just like with Clavere.
Why would we bring Claver over when we already ave Webster, Batum & Cunningham at SF? To see how nicely he gathers splinters in his fanny?
I heard last night that Koponen is doing VERY well overseas. I wonder if he might become our PG of the future?
From whom? He's certainly getting more minutes now (with "Canadian Solar" Bologna) but he doesn't seem to be playing traditional PG, as his assists are low even for Euro teams. His defense and three point shooting seem to be strengths. I certainly see him as a Blake replacement, but can he get out of his Italian contract?
Yes, the team will eventually need one. Miller & Blake won't be it. I believe I heard Tone mention it on last night's 5th Quarter.
I've been hearing "point guard of the future" for something like 6 years in a row, maybe at some point we stop drafting "PGF" and we just trade or sign for him ... But before we draft yet another point guard, I'd like to see a roster that doesn't already have 4 (5 if you count Brandon) point guards. If you want my honest opinion though, I think this team already has a potential point forward of the future in Nic; he played this role for his French National team with Parker out and he did it well.
the 9th place team in the west will probably draft ahead of 4 east teams with worse records. making the playoffs could cost us 5 draft spots. tank!! : )
If there is a C or PF/C we covet why not use some combo of Outlaw/Blake/Rudy/Webster/Blake our pick to move up to perhaps a 6-12 draft position - who might do it?
I was just bringing it up. I'm actually not to worried about it. I'm happy with what we got, it just has to stay healthy.
It's really quite a difficult thing to determine who should be drafted (if anyone) considering who stacked this team is with potential. Really the only area that I think we could really use is a shot-blocking lengthy center. But those players are usually either real high in the draft, or super long-shots. I really think this team, once healthy, needs to be thinned. Blake and Outlaw need to go. I like both of them, but keeping them around will just keep our roster ever reaching a nice 8-9 man rotation. I believe that Blake is worse than Miller and Bayless. Outlaw if healthy might still be our best bu PF, but not by much with DC and JP improving. And considering that Batum can play the 4 also, I just think that Outlaw will just result in congestion. The big issue is Oden. If he is looking healthy and able to fully return, I think the Blazers have all the pieces they need to be a contender. Just a more healthy season all around and this team is stacked. A starting unit of Miller, Roy, Batum, LMA and Oden is both extremely potent on Offense and Defense. With JB, Rudy, Webster, DC and Joel bench, that is a very good bunch of backups. Even this team would likely benefit from tightening the rotation by dropping either Web or Rudy. I just don't see where more youth is needed.
If some of this current youth could be consolidated or swapped out for some proven vets (not even stars necessarily) then I think there will always be room for some more youth -- you've got to keep your pipeline loaded with some talent or you end up facing the prospect of another REALLY painful rebuilding process like we endured after the circa 2000 team started to implode.