Blazers Moving Up ---- Just Not That Far?

[ABM]

http://www.portlandtribune.com/sports/story.php?story_id=127490606158276100

In the four weeks left before the draft, that could change. Yahoo.com reports that Portland is trying to move up to the No. 3 or 4 selection, meaning a trade with either New Jersey or Minnesota.

“I wouldn’t say 3 or 4 is where we’re looking to go,” Portland General Manager Kevin Pritchard says.

But don’t put it past the Blazers. They’ve made such deals in the past. In 2006, Portland moved up via trades to No. 2 to select LaMarcus Aldridge and to No. 6 to nab Brandon Roy in the draft.

During the past four years, the Blazers have made 14 deals at or just before draft night.

“We’re looking at trying to move up with our first pick,” says Mike Born, Portland’s director of NBA scouting. “We’re trying to have an early second-round pick, maybe even have another late second-round pick.

“If we find a guy we like, we’ll try to put ourselves in position to get him.”................................

 

[Nikolokolus]

This seems a little more likely, the whole notion of moving up to 3 or 4 was pretty startling when I saw A-Woj suggest it last week, but even if they only move up to 15 or so there are going to be a lot of pretty good prospects, it will mostly come down to who they have in their sights I would guess. If I had to guess I'd wager Rudy will be very available and probably Martell too, I wonder what those two guys can get them?

 

[STOMP]

If I had to guess I'd wager Rudy will be very available and probably Martell too

sure, why not?

I wonder what those two guys can get them?

I'd wager not much... hope I'm wrong

STOMP

 

[Nikolokolus]

sure, why not?

I'd wager not much... hope I'm wrong

STOMP

I'm sure they'll try to dup ... er ... entice some teams with the inclusion of some sweet, sweet cash.

 

[Chuck Taylor]

Is it just me, or is this more "info" that the blazers staff gives than usual? I always wonder what web KP is spinning....do your thing, KP.

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

“If we find a guy we like, we’ll try to put ourselves in position to get him.”................................

LOVE IT!

 

[RR7]

I still think we had interest in 3 or 4 to grab Bosh. When he came out with his list of teams, it ended our interest in getting up that high.

 

[e_blazer]

Sounds to me like KP's aiming at 1 or 2.

 

[hasoos]

If I as KP, and I was wanting to show Vulcan the value I bring to the team, I would be looking to try to pull off a pretty sweet deal in order to make them realize what they have.

 

[oldmangrouch]

If I as KP, and I was wanting to show Vulcan the value I bring to the team, I would be looking to try to pull off a pretty sweet deal in order to make them realize what they have.

He could start by not drafting Euros who don't want to be here.

 

[STOMP]

He could start by not drafting Euros who don't want to be here.

Koponen definitely seems like he wants to be here. Freeland and Victor have made it known that they'd rather wait on starting their NBA careers until after their rookie pay scale restrictions expire as they can make far more $$$ overseas while actually developing with PT. I'm very interested in seeing if Joel starts his NBA career next season taking Juwan's spot

STOMP

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

Born gets a little more specific when he says: “We’re probably looking at players who might be drafted between No. 10 and 50.” So it seems they might want to move as high as #10. Guys slated in that area by Draft Express are Greg Monroe, Patrick Patterson, Ed Davis, Donatas Montejunis and Daniel Orton, all power forwards except Orton (a center).

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Sounds to me like KP's aiming at 1 or 2.

That was my thought when he said “I wouldn’t say 3 or 4 is where we’re looking to go". Like "Quit thinking small."

 

[BrianFromWA]

That was my thought when he said “I wouldn’t say 3 or 4 is where we’re looking to go". Like "Quit thinking small."

 

[Nikolokolus]

Koponen definitely seems like he wants to be here. Freeland and Victor have made it known that they'd rather wait on starting their NBA careers until after their rookie pay scale restrictions expire as they can make far more $$$ overseas while actually developing with PT. I'm very interested in seeing if Joel starts his NBA career next season taking Juwan's spot

STOMP

I think Joel has one more year until his rookie scale restrictions expire (I could easily be wrong about that)? In any case it seems far more likely they try to bring him over the year after when Camby will likely be gone, Greg may or may not figure into their plans and even LMA's future with the team could be up in the air.

 

[Minstrel]

That was my thought when he said “I wouldn’t say 3 or 4 is where we’re looking to go". Like "Quit thinking small."

Exactly. Add Wall to this team and we're good to go. Of course, I want to hold onto Roy, Oden and Batum. Ideally, Aldridge too. So, we'll see what develops.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

I like the idea of moving well up in the first, or, having two high picks in the second round. Usually between the 20th and 40th pick players are pretty close together in talent. And, with a roster so full, we don't have to have guaranteed contracts to worry about.

 

[Pinwheel1]

This seems a little more likely, the whole notion of moving up to 3 or 4 was pretty startling when I saw A-Woj suggest it last week, but even if they only move up to 15 or so there are going to be a lot of pretty good prospects, it will mostly come down to who they have in their sights I would guess. If I had to guess I'd wager Rudy will be very available and probably Martell too, I wonder what those two guys can get them?

Is that even possible if one team isn't under the salary cap? If so why would they waste their available cap space on Martel or Rudy when there are bigger fish. (Lebron)

Edit: Unless we take back a player I guess.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Is that even possible if one team isn't under the salary cap? If so why would they waste their available cap space on Martel or Rudy when there are bigger fish. (Lebron)

Edit: Unless we take back a player I guess.

exactly this.

Not necessarily a great player and maybe even a particularly poor contract if it got us a higher pick. Off-hand I'd guess if you packaged Rudy and the 22nd with cash considerations you might be able to get up to the 18th pick or so (assuming the trade partner was eager for cash and not a draft pick) and if you combined Martell with Rudy and the 22nd pick you could maybe even get up to around 13th-ish as long as you took back a mid-level player that the team was eager to shed (maybe a team like New Orleans with their 11th pick for instance, who are looking to sell the team and would probably like to be rid of Posey's full mid-level contract and possibly even the guaranteed money due a late lottery selection)

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

exactly this.

Not necessarily a great player and maybe even a particularly poor contract if it got us a higher pick. Off-hand I'd guess if you packaged Rudy and the 22nd with cash considerations you might be able to get up to the 18th pick or so (assuming the trade partner was eager for cash and not a draft pick) and if you combined Martell with Rudy and the 22nd pick you could maybe even get up to around 13th-ish as long as you took back a mid-level player that the team was eager to shed (maybe a team like New Orleans with their 11th pick for instance, who are looking to sell the team and would probably like to be rid of Posey's full mid-level contract and possibly even the guaranteed money due a late lottery selection)

Our pick + Rudy + Martel = #13 pick???

Surly, you are on bad bad drugs.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Our pick + Rudy + Martel = #13 pick???

Surly, you are on bad bad drugs.

Surly you aren't reading very well. I said we'd have to take back a bad contract in that situation and we'd probably have to send cash.

 

[ABM]

Surly you aren't reading very well.

Yes, I've always known him to be a tad bit surly.

 

[BrianFromWA]

he reads just fine...and don't call him Surly.

 

[Nikolokolus]

he reads just fine...and don't call him Surly.

Hey don't question me, I know "Surly"

 

[BrianFromWA]

I should have put this in the post above

 

[Nikolokolus]

I should have put this in the post above

I got the reference

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

Surly you aren't reading very well. I said we'd have to take back a bad contract in that situation and we'd probably have to send cash.

My mistake.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

Yes, I've always known him to be a tad bit surly.

OK, OK, as I get older my speling gets worse.