Latest from DX

[Fez Hammersticks]

-Plenty of NBA teams are trying to figure out the motivation behind Portland packaging the #24 pick with the #56 pick and a 2010 second rounder to Dallas just for the sake of moving up two spots to 22. Who are they targeting?

The likely answer to that is, why wouldn’t they? Portland has too many draft picks as it is and not enough roster spots. All they did was acquire a slightly more valuable asset, one they can now use to try and move up even higher.

It’s widely accepted that Portland would love to get their hands on Ty Lawson if they can. The problem is that Indiana seems very high on him at 13, and Philadelphia is also extremely interested at 17.

Link

 

[MAS RipCity]

Lawson makes NO SENSE at all!
We don't play uptempo enough to allow him to flourish.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

I think Lawson is a smokescreen.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Lawson makes NO SENSE at all!
We don't play uptempo enough to allow him to flourish.

We had him in for a last minute workout, that's why other teams think we are interested. We may actually be interested. Of course, your point may still apply.

 

[Ed O]

I think Lawson is a smokescreen.

I think that everything with KP is a smokescreen.

Hopefully it's not like the trade deadline where it was all just smoke.

Ed O.

 

[RoyToy]

Lawson makes NO SENSE at all!
We don't play uptempo enough to allow him to flourish.

The Blazers don't necessarily have to play uptempo like the Suns. Nate preached that he wanted the team to run more and more and more as the season went on last year, but Steve Blake just isn't very good at pushing the ball.

Pushing the ball is one of the things Lawson excels at. He can get ahead of the defense much quicker than Blake could ever dream of and those extra 2-3 seconds make all the difference in the world.

I bought the Lawson interest yesterday and still do.

 

[Sinobas]

Well, we didn't play up tempo, primarily because Blake and Roy like a methodical half court game. It's hard to play up tempo and fast break when your ball handlers like to walk it up.

Nate tried to get them to run more...it just wasn't the strong suit of our players.

 

[Idog1976]

I think that everything with KP is a smokescreen.

Hopefully it's not like the trade deadline where it was all just smoke.

Ed O.

Amen to that!

 

[MAS RipCity]

-Sacramento has reportedly offered Detroit the #23 and #31 picks in exchange for the #15. The Kings may target DeJuan Blair at 15 if he’s available, while the Pistons like Toney Douglas and possibly DaJuan Summers.

Damn, we should move up to #15....22 and 33..get it done KP!

 

[julius]

I think that everything with KP is a smokescreen.

Hopefully it's not like the trade deadline where it was all just smoke.

Ed O.

Well, remember..where there is smoke, there is fire. Unless, of course, that fire was put out and it's actually just steam from the water used to put the fire out. But I guess in that case it is actually considered more steam at that point, than it is considered smoke. So never mind.

 

[hasoos]

Well, remember..where there is smoke, there is fire. Unless, of course, that fire was put out and it's actually just steam from the water used to put the fire out. But I guess in that case it is actually considered more steam at that point, than it is considered smoke. So never mind.

Yep but the question is, is there even any smoke? Maybe there are several people they are comfortable with at a certain pick, and they just figure one of them are there. Then based upon what they get, they work with it. It is just a continuation of taking the best player available.

 

[number 10]

update

-Sacramento has reportedly offered Detroit the #23 and #31 picks in exchange for the #15. The Kings may target DeJuan Blair at 15 if he’s available, while the Pistons like Toney Douglas and possibly DaJuan Summers.

I wonder if the #22 and the #33 would be a better offer?

 

[Idog1976]

update

I wonder if the #22 and the #33 would be a better offer?

Now that's intriguing. Can someone alleviate my concerns about his knees (Blair)?

 

[craigehlo]

Now that's intriguing. Can someone alleviate my concerns about his knees (Blair)?

He had 2 ACL surgeries in high school apparently. Nothing since.

I'm more worried about his lack of height. Reminds me of watching Ike Diagu. Great college player but got blocked way too much in the NBA.

 

[Crimson the Cat]

Well, we didn't play up tempo, primarily because Blake and Roy like a methodical half court game. It's hard to play up tempo and fast break when your ball handlers like to walk it up.

Nate tried to get them to run more...it just wasn't the strong suit of our players.

That's exactly what I saw too. If Nate has a PG that's adept at an uptempo pace and makes good decisions, he'll allow the team to run more.

 

[number 10]

He had 2 ACL surgeries in high school apparently. Nothing since.

I'm more worried about his lack of height. Reminds me of watching Ike Diagu. Great college player but got blocked way too much in the NBA.

Basic Statistics Per 40 Pace Adjusted
Diogu's last season at ASU: 10.3 rebounds
Blair: 18.0

He might get his shot blocked a lot, but he's a phenomenal rebounder and a class above Diogu.

 

[Boob-No-More]

He had 2 ACL surgeries in high school apparently. Nothing since.

I'm more worried about his lack of height. Reminds me of watching Ike Diagu. Great college player but got blocked way too much in the NBA.

You don't play basketball with the top of your head. Blair has extremely long arms. His wing span is 7'2" - nearly 3" more than Blake Griffins (6'11.25"). His standing reach is 8'10.5" - and inch and a half greater than Griffin's (8'9").

We're talking about a guy who would be our back-up power forward. Blair would be very well suited to that role. He's an elite rebounder and has excellent low post moves. He uses his enormous backside to create space and knock his defender off balance. I think he'll be a much better pro than Diogu. For comparison, Diogu averaged 9.5, 9.2 and 10.3 rebounds per pace adjust 40 minutes in his three years at ASU. Blair averaged 14.2 as a freshman and 18.0 as a sophomore. That's the difference between a decent rebounder and a great one. As an additional data point, Paul Millsap's pace adjusted REB/40 in his three years at Louisiana Tech were 14.1. 13.0 and 15.5. Blair's rebounding numbers in college were better than Millsap's, and he played in a MUCH tougher conference.

BNM