Draft Buzz: Steph Curry at #2?

[Fez Hammersticks]

As impossible as it sounds, there are rumors that Stephen Curry could go as high as 2 overall with teams such as Portland targeting him in a possible trade. The Thunder are also apparently very high on Curry and will consider taking him with their 3rd pick.

Also...

The Portland Trailblazers would like to dump Travis Outlaw ($4 million next year) and their pick and clear some additional space to make a run at Hedo Turkoglu.

The Blazers have 12 guys under contract next season and loads of talent, and somehow their cap is at just $50 million. So they are in position to make some moves, and have an owner (Paul Allen) and GM (Kevin Prichard) who are eager to improve.

The league's salary cap is expected to be close or less than the $58 million it was in 2008-09. (Imagine, had Darius Miles stayed gone, they would have an additional 9 million to play with.)

Portland's cap looks great right now, but next year they'll have to resign Brandon Roy and LeMarcus Aldridge, so if they want a free agent it better be this summer.

After his playoff heroics, it's unlikely the Magic will be able to afford to resign Turkoglu. While many teams with cap space are looking forward to the 2010 free agent class, Portland's situation forces them to go after a free agent now.

There's also the possibility that a team such as Olympiacos or Panathinaikos jumps into the mix and makes a huge offer to him to come overseas to finish out his career. Hedo has a game that would extremely well in Europe with his ability to make plays for himself or others.

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[Minstrel]

As impossible as it sounds, there are rumors that Stephen Curry could go as high as 2 overall with teams such as Portland targeting him in a possible trade. The Thunder are also apparently very high on Curry and will consider taking him with their 3rd pick.

I'm excited by the idea that Portland could get the #2 pick, horrified by the implication that they might use that pick on Curry. He might be a good player, a Ben Gordon type, but passing over Rubio for Curry would be incredibly surprising to me.

Of course, Portland showing this level of interest in a player (if they really are) would suggest to me that they're not really interested in him, but engaging in misdirection.

 

[oldmangrouch]

I'm excited by the idea that Portland could get the #2 pick, horrified by the implication that they might use that pick on Curry. He might be a good player, a Ben Gordon type, but passing over Rubio for Curry would be incredibly surprising to me.

Of course, Portland showing this level of interest in a player (if they really are) would suggest to me that they're not really interested in him, but engaging in misdirection.

I hope you're right. Dear lord....I would rather draft Harden and see if he and Roy could coexisit. Curry is waaay too big a risk for a deal like that.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I'm excited by the idea that Portland could get the #2 pick, horrified by the implication that they might use that pick on Curry. He might be a good player, a Ben Gordon type, but passing over Rubio for Curry would be incredibly surprising to me.

Of course, Portland showing this level of interest in a player (if they really are) would suggest to me that they're not really interested in him, but engaging in misdirection.

Tipping their hand this blatantly this early is not KP's MO at all, I agree that this smells more like a smokescreen than anything else, either that or we're moving up to select a player for somebody else without the resources or wherewithal to do it themselves, because we have a deal in principle with some team for a certain veteran point guard or small forward just so long as we are able to deal a high lottery guy along with some other pieces.

 

[Sinobas]

Who would we trade to move up to #2. I sorta doubt KP would be willing to part with anyone that could fetch the #2.

 

[Idog1976]

Tipping their hand this blatantly this early is not KP's MO at all, I agree that this smells more like a smokescreen than anything else, either that or we're moving up to select a player for somebody else without the resources or wherewithal to do it themselves, because we have a deal in principle with some team for a certain veteran point guard or small forward just so long as we are able to deal a high lottery guy along with some other pieces.

Couldn't agree more. KP never shows what he is doing other then to the 1 person out of 10,000 he is making a real deal with. God I love draft time especially with KP at the helm!

 

[THE HCP]

Fuck this draft! Weakest in 10+ years! Let's bring in a high-quality vet!

 

[Nikolokolus]

Fuck this draft! Weakest in 10+ years! Let's bring in a high-quality vet!

Haven't you heard? At least ten of these guys are future HOFers

 

[THE HCP]

I'm not jokin'. Every year I know SOMEBODY has to be the 1st pick, but Griffin doesn't really impress me.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Curry has upside. He's either going to be a Mike Bibby/Steve Kerr hybrid and perennial all-star or he could end up like Shawn Respert.

A lot of these guys, outside Curry, Rubio, and Griffin, would go a lot lower in a stronger draft. Holiday, for example, would be lucky to be a mid-1st rounder in 2007.

 

[PapaG]

As impossible as it sounds, there are rumors that Stephen Curry could go as high as 2 overall with teams such as Portland targeting him in a possible trade.

So this is a rumor of a rumor?

LOL

I also heard there are rumors that Greg Oden will be traded for Kwame Brown!

 

[PapaG]

Curry has upside. He's either going to be a Mike Bibby/Steve Kerr hybrid and perennial all-star or he could end up like Shawn Respert.

A lot of these guys, outside Curry, Rubio, and Griffin, would go a lot lower in a stronger draft. Holiday, for example, would be lucky to be a mid-1st rounder in 2007.

Neither has been/was an All-Star, and neither play(ed) defense. Not worth a #2 pick.

 

[Crimson the Cat]

Memphis will play it safe. I doubt they take Curry at #2. In fact, if Curry is our target, it makes the most sense that we get him at #5. Washington's got an abundance of big men that can play center for them cheaper and as well, so it seems, as Brendan Haywood. Haywood only played in 6 games last year. With Jamison, Blatche, Songalia, McGee and Thomas, their frontcourt is just fine.

Moving either Blake or Outlaw and Sergio plus our #24, would get it done IMO. If they waived either Blake or Outlaw, they'd basically remove over $6M from their salaries, which would save them $12M in salary and luxury tax. My guess is they'd part with Outlaw.

This is just a no brainer for both teams. Washington saves a ton, gets what will become a crowd favorite in with Sergio, who would play well off Arenas and be a solid back up. Plus, the #24 pick would give them a cheaper young player than #5.


We'd still have between $3.5M to $6.5M in spending money, more if we made other various moves.

 

[alex42083]

Well, if New Jersey wants that No. 2 pick, then we might as well trade that and get Devin Harris if they're THAT interested. I'd rather have Harris over Rubio or anyone in this draft.

 

[Cake]

Fuck this draft! Weakest in 10+ years! Let's bring in a high-quality vet!

Like people said about 2006 when we got Roy and Aldridge?

 

[Masbee]

I'm excited by the idea that Portland could get the #2 pick, horrified by the implication that they might use that pick on Curry. He might be a good player, a Ben Gordon type....

And so - if the Blazers badly want a Ben Gordon "type" player - and since they have cap space - and since Ben Gordon is an unrestricted free agent -

it surely would seem the Blazers could satisfy their desire by signing the REAL Ben Gordon.

He is a pretty damn good version of the Ben Gordon "type". And a proven, sure thing version too. Not potential.

Then the Blazers could use the assets that would be needed to obtain the #2 on filling other needs.

 

[Crimson the Cat]

And so - if the Blazers badly want a Ben Gordon "type" player - and since they have cap space - and since Ben Gordon is an unrestricted free agent -

it surely would seem the Blazers could satisfy their desire by signing the REAL Ben Gordon.

He is a pretty damn good version of the Ben Gordon "type". And a proven, sure thing version too. Not potential.

Then the Blazers could use the assets that would be needed to obtain the #2 on filling other needs.

How do you think gordon would fit on this this? Offensively i kinda like the idea. Its defensively where im weary.

 

[LittleAlex]

Fuck this draft! Weakest in 10+ years! Let's bring in a high-quality vet!

This please.

I have no idea why Portland would trade up in this collection of shit called a draft class.

 

[LittleAlex]

So this is a rumor of a rumor?

LOL

I also heard there are rumors that Greg Oden will be traded for Kwame Brown!

If he were a Grizzly, I think this rumor would get some traction.

 

[Minstrel]

And so - if the Blazers badly want a Ben Gordon "type" player - and since they have cap space - and since Ben Gordon is an unrestricted free agent -

it surely would seem the Blazers could satisfy their desire by signing the REAL Ben Gordon.

He is a pretty damn good version of the Ben Gordon "type". And a proven, sure thing version too. Not potential.

I agree. If they want that type of player, it would be better to simply sign the current version. I'm not advocating for either Gordon or Curry. I was just allowing for the idea that Curry might be a good player, but he's not the one I'd want at #2.

 

[number 10]

Did Stephen Curry's mother start these rumors? And even she would probably take Rubio over Steph...

 

[Ed O]

Curry at #2 seems a pretty significant stretch to me. Portland, in particular, would have to be super-attached to a prospect to move up to get the first pick in the post-Griffin draft, and it would amaze me if Portland was (a) that interested, and (b) that transparent about it.

Ed O.

 

[STOMP]

Curry has upside. He's either going to be a Mike Bibby/Steve Kerr hybrid and perennial all-star or he could end up like Shawn Respert.

Curry is going to have his career derailed by stomach cancer??? bold call

STOMP