Draft 2009

[BalancedMan]

Here's what the Blazers own for this upcoming year:

Portland 2009 1st Rounder
Portland 2009 2nd Rounder
LAC 2009 2nd Rounder
NYC 2009 2nd Rounder
Denver 2009 2nd Rounder
$3 Million Trade Exception (Could purchase a pick without trading a player)

In the future we also have Chicago 2010 2nd Rounder


The trick is now what do we do with all of these picks. Certainly, we can't keep all the players, and I doubt we draft that many players to stash overseas. More than likely some of those picks will be moved for future picks and considerations.

That being said, having a high 2nd round pick is extremely valuable. For example, European players may not want to be drafted at the end of the 1st round (*Rudy*) where they have a small rookie salary. If they're second round, we can give them a more fair contract, and it is an incentive for them to come over and play.

Looking at this team and what we need (along with where we'll be drafting, in the 20's), what type of player do you think we're looking at.

People mention our biggest weakness at PG and SF, but with those picks being so low, unless we trade up there's not reason to take a player at those positions because they'll be lesser players. I mean, if an Eric Maynor or Chase Buddinger slips, they'll have to be considered. I wouldn't mind Stephen Curry either in some ways, though he'll be gone unless we trade up.

Another thought is that people have been saying we need a solid backup PF...a banger who is ready to do the work. With that in mind, and where we'll be drafting, what do you think about drafting Tyler "Psycho T" Hansbrough from UNC. He doesn't have the best athletic tools, but he's one of the most prolific scorers in ACC history and from what I've heard is as competitive as they come. He might be just the type of player to grab with that lower end pick. It's funny, because if he had come out after any year he would have been drafted at about the same position.

Granted, who will be available depends on who declares, and the mocks I'm looking at have a ton of underclassmen listed. So I'm just curious where you all think we should head for this upcoming draft. Do you have a player you think will be a steal? Another young piece to add to "The Core"? Let me know.

 

[B-Roy]

Personally, I think Portland will be better off either packaging all of the picks and moving up, or packaging the picks along with players for another player. I'm not really keen on picking up another rookie, especially not in a draft as weak as this one.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Dejuan Blair or bust.

Patrick Mills, the 6'0" PG from St. Mary's, is a very pesky player. Keep an eye on this player.

 

[alex42083]

That's a boatload of second-rounders. But I expect KP is keep trading them for future picks if they don't see anyone they like. There's always players in picks 30 and so on that other teams want, and would trade multiple future picks for. But of course, if we keep going at this rate, KP will own the entire second round.
But I'm glad KP has stockpiled these assets. You can never have enough picks, good young players and so on, eventually, it's got to pay off to something big down the road.

 

[SodaPopinski]

Please ... no more youth and potential. Please package the picks and potentially one or two of our current players and bring back a proven NBA player. I'm so sick of bringing in more young kids and pushing out our championship aspirations another one or two years.

We've got five picks. If we come out of the draft with more than two rookies, I'll be upset. Draft picks are like gold right now because teams can add players at the NBA rookie salary scale. Very big in tough economic times.

-Pop

 

[La Bomba]

It will be very unlikely Budinger will be available with Portland's first, same with Blair because his stock has been rising a lot lately. Mayor is definably a possibility. A second round pick you guys may look at is Antonio Anderson, SF from Memphis. This way be a homer pick, but I think he has the makings of a future lock down defender. He is a smart player and a stat stuffer too. Although he plays SF, he is a good rebounder for his size and currently leads Memphis in assists. He will be a late early to mid second, but he could be one of the steals of the draft.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Please ... no more youth and potential. Please package the picks and potentially one or two of our current players and bring back a proven NBA player. I'm so sick of bringing in more young kids and pushing out our championship aspirations another one or two years.

We've got five picks. If we come out of the draft with more than two rookies, I'll be upset. Draft picks are like gold right now because teams can add players at the NBA rookie salary scale. Very big in tough economic times.

-Pop

I don't agree with this. We have our core established. Having young prospects that can develop into contributers in the future is a good thing. We aren't in the era where we had to rely on the rooks. We have the luxury of bringing them along slowly now.

Bring on Dejuan Blair!!

 

[Nikolokolus]

Personally, I think Portland will be better off either packaging all of the picks and moving up, or packaging the picks along with players for another player. I'm not really keen on picking up another rookie, especially not in a draft as weak as this one.

Amen.

Not only is this draft pretty weak, but taking on a draft pick bites into the team's cap space for the summer. I have a feeling there are going to be some team's interested in shedding high salary veterans and moving into rebuilding mode with cheaper younger talent; this should be a golden opportunity for KP to get some impact players and/or veteran help

Just say no, to more rookies!! (at least for a year or two).

 

[crowTrobot]

LAC 2009 2nd Rounder

that's almost a 1st-rounder

 

[SodaPopinski]

Amen.

Not only is this draft pretty weak, but taking on a draft pick bites into the team's cap space for the summer. I have a feeling there are going to be some team's interested in shedding high salary veterans and moving into rebuilding mode with cheaper younger talent; this should be a golden opportunity for KP to get some impact players and/or veteran help

Just say no, to more rookies!! (at least for a year or two).

I'm amazed that people are in agreement with me on this. I thought I'd get torched for proposing we package some of our picks and bring back a proven NBA player.

-Pop

 

[andalusian]

2006 was considered a weak draft - and we still built the core of our team on it. KP does the opposite of what you expect him - I am willing to bet that if most people think the draft is weak - he is going to get someone he loves in it - and the TE just point to it.

I am really thinking he is targeting the TE+our 1st+money+2nd pick for a high pick from Washington or the Bucks.

When people want to sell - KP loves to buy. When everyone thought he should leverage the Raef contract - he did not.

I am willing to bet he will find an impact player in the draft and the dealing will be pretty epic.

 

[B-Roy]

I don't agree with this. We have our core established. Having young prospects that can develop into contributers in the future is a good thing. We aren't in the era where we had to rely on the rooks. We have the luxury of bringing them along slowly now.

Bring on Dejuan Blair!!

Don't take this as a personal attack, because it's not meant to be, but it feels like you are more in love with the thought of DaJuan Blair than the thought of cheap young prospects.

I doubt a guy like him would even get minutes though. The rotation is tight enough as it is, and I can't see that adding MORE players is going to fix that.

 

[Da_O]

Amen.

Not only is this draft pretty weak, but taking on a draft pick bites into the team's cap space for the summer. I have a feeling there are going to be some team's interested in shedding high salary veterans and moving into rebuilding mode with cheaper younger talent; this should be a golden opportunity for KP to get some impact players and/or veteran help

Just say no, to more rookies!! (at least for a year or two).

Hmm, last time they said that about a draft class we got Brandon Roy and Lamarcus Aldridge.

I like that Blair kid. He reminds me of Adrian Dantley or Charles Barkley. They would both use their low center of gravity and butt-rape you on the boards.

 

[B-Roy]

I am really thinking he is targeting the TE+our 1st+money+2nd pick for a high pick from Washington or the Bucks.

I am 100% sure that Washington and Milwaukee won't give up a lottery pick just to save 10-15 million dollars.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Don't take this as a personal attack, because it's not meant to be, but it feels like you are more in love with the thought of DaJuan Blair than the thought of cheap young prospects.

I doubt a guy like him would even get minutes though. The rotation is tight enough as it is, and I can't see that adding MORE players is going to fix that.

Blair is a serious talent. He'll make an impact from day 1. He has a high basketball IQ and, pound-for-pound, he'll be one of the strongest players in the League as a rookie.

 

[Minstrel]

I'm amazed that people are in agreement with me on this. I thought I'd get torched for proposing we package some of our picks and bring back a proven NBA player.

I'd love for Portland to do that, if it's possible.

I don't agree with your premise that rookies are bad for Portland because "they push the championship-contention window out another few years." Rookies don't make Roy, Aldridge or Oden younger. The Blazers are championship contenders the moment those three players are good enough for the team to beat any other team in a series. Batum, Fernandez and Bayless are slightly behind them in development, but that's okay for the team's secondary players. That's the core, and new rookies don't change the time line for the core.

All that talented rookies do is provide a continuing, cheap supply of players to supplement the core as the years go on.

After all, if a rookie center is chosen in the next draft, that may be the player who is replacing Przybilla in three or four years as the primary backup center. There will always be a need for adding more youth, no matter where the team is, in terms of title contention.

 

[B-Roy]

Blair is a serious talent. He'll make an impact from day 1. He has a high basketball IQ and, pound-for-pound, he'll be one of the strongest players in the League as a rookie.

1.) Nate won't play Bayless, why would he play Blair?

2.) Who is he going to force out of the rotation?

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

After all, if a rookie center is chosen in the next draft, that may be the player who is replacing Przybilla in three or four years as the primary backup center. There will always be a need for adding more youth, no matter where the team is, in terms of title contention.

We might have that in the 6'11" 255 lb. Joel Freeland. He's developing rapidly in Spain.

 

[Da_O]

1.) Nate won't play Bayless, why would he play Blair?

2.) Who is he going to force out of the rotation?

Frye

 

[B-Roy]

Frye

Frye isn't in the rotation. Not a healthy one at least.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Hmm, last time they said that about a draft class we got Brandon Roy and Lamarcus Aldridge.

I like that Blair kid. He reminds me of Adrian Dantley or Charles Barkley. They would both use their low center of gravity and butt-rape you on the boards.

Right ... the overall number 6 and 2 picks in that draft, there is a slim chance to none of the Blazers being able to move into the upper end of the draft without giving up some substantial rotation player(s), and anybody outside of that top ten becomes increasingly unlikely to be an impact player in the NBA.

I'm not morally opposed to moving up and taking a flier on a guy like Blair -- assuming that's even possible, and the asking price isn't too steep -- but if I had to choose between adding an established impact player at the wing (or possibly even at point guard) vs. trying to fill out the roster with more rookies I'd rather go with the former than the latter.

 

[Da_O]

Frye isn't in the rotation. Not a healthy one at least.

I know.

 

[Minstrel]

We might have that in the 6'11" 255 lb. Joel Freeland. He's developing rapidly in Spain.

I'm currently hoping he's the answer at backup power forward next year. Either way, Portland will need another decent big man when Przybilla stops being effective.

 

[Da_O]

Right ... the overall number 6 and 2 picks in that draft, there is a slim chance to none of the Blazers being able to move into the upper end of the draft without giving up some substantial rotation player(s), anybody outside of that top ten becomes increasingly unlikely to be an impact player in the NBA.

I'm not morally opposed to moving up and taking a flier on a guy like Blair -- assuming that's even possible, and the asking price isn't too steep -- but if I had to choose between adding an established impact player at the wing (or possibly even at point guard) vs. trying to fill out the roster with more rookies I'd rather go with the former than the latter.

Well considering the unlikeliness that we'll be adding an impact player, I'm fairly certain will be going with the former. We don't have to move up, my point was that there is always 1 or 2 surprises in every draft. This draft class is not as weak as that one.

 

[andalusian]

I am 100% sure that Washington and Milwaukee won't give up a lottery pick just to save 10-15 million dollars.

First of all - it might have to be done in 2 different trades - since the TE can not be combined with a player.

But - given that the Wiz are in real big problem financially (and over the lux-tax) and do not want to break their core of Gilbert/Jamison/Butler - what other option do they have? They need to cut salary - and Portland is in a great position to offer them tons of money relief when all they lose is a small contract and a pick swap. Seems like a very reasonable way to get some of their $150m+ investment last summer on Jamison+Gilbert back...

And the Bucks should be in full-rebuild mode - but since they could not move R-Jeff and want to rebuild around Sessions + CV - they need to shed money fast. Again - what other assets do they have they can move quickly and still have some sort of success as they re-build?

I think you underestimate the power of $10-15m in cold, hard cash in this economy...

 

[Minstrel]

First of all - it might have to be done in 2 different trades - since the TE can not be combined with a player.

It can be, it just can't be combined to match the salary of a single player.

Say Washington drafts Ricky Rubio (plugging in the player I want most, even though he's not likely to be in this draft). Portland could trade some player plus some of their cap space for a Washington dead-weight contract and, in the same deal, include the TE and Rubio (if Rubio's cap hit is $3 million or less), essentially swapping the TE for Rubio.

 

[B-Roy]

First of all - it might have to be done in 2 different trades - since the TE can not be combined with a player.

But - given that the Wiz are in real big problem financially (and over the lux-tax) and do not want to break their core of Gilbert/Jamison/Butler - what other option do they have? They need to cut salary - and Portland is in a great position to offer them tons of money relief when all they lose is a small contract and a pick swap. Seems like a very reasonable way to get some of their $150m+ investment last summer on Jamison+Gilbert back...

And the Bucks should be in full-rebuild mode - but since they could not move R-Jeff and want to rebuild around Sessions + CV - they need to shed money fast. Again - what other assets do they have they can move quickly and still have some sort of success as they re-build?

I think you underestimate the power of $10-15m in cold, hard cash in this economy...

For Washington, trade Caron....obviously. Lots of teams are going after him, if they want to dump him, they can.

As for the Bucks, move Bogut. If they are rebuilding, they should start with young prospects, hence, picks.

The thing about draft picks is that they are cheap cheap talent. When has a high lotto pick ever changed hands without at least a good talent coming back on the other end? Don't cite "economic times", I believe that as much as I believe that MIXUM is an optimist. Regardless of how crappy a team's economic situation is, a good young cheap talent should be the LAST to move. If no one wants to take their stars, then they will say "Shit" but move right along. That's only my opinion of course.

BTW, wouldn't they lose more revenue from angry fans that are pissed off at the organization for trading away a top notch (or top 3 in WAS case) prospect?

 

[STOMP]

I don't agree with your premise that rookies are bad for Portland because "they push the championship-contention window out another few years." Rookies don't make Roy, Aldridge or Oden younger. The Blazers are championship contenders the moment those three players are good enough for the team to beat any other team in a series. Batum, Fernandez and Bayless are slightly behind them in development, but that's okay for the team's secondary players. That's the core, and new rookies don't change the time line for the core.

All that talented rookies do is provide a continuing, cheap supply of players to supplement the core as the years go on.

plus these cheap rookies might be filling several holes on the bench if a consolidation sort of trade goes through. Maybe they make a lopsided financial trade and have to release Travis and/or Blake to pull off the deal? I like the idea of KP having a lot of options. I'm sure his staff will explore them all.

STOMP

 

[Tortimer]

1.) Nate won't play Bayless, why would he play Blair?

2.) Who is he going to force out of the rotation?

This is a little different the Bayless because we don't have anybody at the backup PFD right now that is any good. I don't know to much about Blair and he seems a little short but looks like a great rebounder. I think if we got a high basketball IQ banger PF in the draft he would get minutes from Frye and some of Outlaw's minutes. If we trade Outlaw I would think a backup banger/rebounder/defensive PF is what we need in FA or the draft. I will have to watch Blair and see how he looks. I would think with our 1st and all those 2nd round picks we would be able to move up to get Blair unless he is in the top 10 picks and even then the way teams might be hurting this summer we possible could trade up even higher then 11.

 

[andalusian]

For Washington, trade Caron....obviously. Lots of teams are going after him, if they want to dump him, they can.

Of course - but that will be a silly move since they think they can contend with Caron+Jamison+Arenas - so it does not apply with that premise.

As for the Bucks, move Bogut. If they are rebuilding, they should start with young prospects, hence, picks.

First - they have to find someone that can absorb his big contract for expiring, second - this just sets them back. What they would want to do is build on the Sessions+CV+Bogut - they are all young and have potential - but they are stuck with R-Jeff/Redd. Again - if they just want to blow the whole thing over - maybe - but if they are not injured - they can actually go somewhere in the eastern conference as Sessions/CV/Bogut gain experience - so the cheapest and easiest way to do it - would be to get rid of the pick/small bad contract.

The thing about draft picks is that they are cheap cheap talent. When has a high lotto pick ever changed hands without at least a good talent coming back on the other end?

2006 - Boston sending the #7 pick for Bassy and 2 questionable big men were traded for money (The Blazers paid an extra year of salary on Raef).

2004 - PHX sending the #6 pick to Chicago.

Don't cite "economic times", I believe that as much as I believe that MIXUM is an optimist. Regardless of how crappy a team's economic situation is, a good young cheap talent should be the LAST to move. If no one wants to take their stars, then they will say "Shit" but move right along. That's only my opinion of course.

BTW, wouldn't they lose more revenue from angry fans that are pissed off at the organization for trading away a top notch (or top 3 in WAS case) prospect?

First - I will cite economic times because when your owner loses tons of money in the market it is a big incentive - hiding your head in the sand and pretending it did not happen does not change the fact that it did - all it does is fills your ears with sand...

As for angry fans - the fans will be there if the team wins. If they believe that a healthy team with their big 3 + the center that was wounded this year is contending (and it seems that they do given the money they gave them and the public statements they made) - and it seems reasonable to expect that they do not think they will have a problem selling tickets.