First, IMO there is better talent in this draft than you think there is....More impact players than you think there is
Second, who do you think POR top 3 players are? and how do you think they match up with OKC (Durant\Westbrook\Harden), MIA (Lebron\Wade\Bosh), LA (Kobe\Bynum\Gasol)? Do you really think that adding Marshall is going to suddenly improve LA\Batum\Matthews' play that they become a best of the NBA trio? Seriously? He is that good?
This team has a MAJOR talent gap right now...Thier best player (LA) is a marginal #1 (optimistic) more likely a #2, thier next best player (Batum) is probably best as a #4-5 core\glue guy and not a #3 (optimistic) or (REALLY optimistic) a #2 guy...Then they got a guy Matthews who they start but on most good teams would be coming off the bench and ONE player with we don't know what, kind of potential (E-Will) b\c he hasn't shown he can stay healthy enough to see what he can bring night in night out....and after that not much else worthy of note. Sound like an NBA championship roster to you?
So you take Marshall at #6 or #11 and he provides what? that #2 or #3 guy? Really? He wasn't even that on his own team...
You really think that POR is going to get that #2 or #3 guy in free agency? You think POR should COUNT on that....COUNT ON THAT as part of thier strategy?
or COUNT on a re-signed Batum (at a lot of $$$$ $10+ mil likely) as a #2 or #3 guy...COUNT ON THAT?
You don't take need in the draft, you go for BPA...history has shown that most teams get thier top players THROUGH the draft not through free agency, I should rephrase that to most teams NOT in LA, NY, CHI or MIA.
They have TWO high picks in a VERY strong draft, they would be best served to swing for the fences (for once) with both picks, go for the BPA with the best chance to develop into a #2 or #3 guy...not a guy who if he developes (Marshall) can be a decent level starter....Even if POR hits on only ONE of those guys with both of thier picks then they will be MUCH better off than if they hit on a guy like Kendall Marshall and he became a starting caliber PG...
Would you rather have that #2 or #3 guy (or #1) next to LA or that solid PG? I mean come on, that should be a no brainer.
Marshall MAY make POR players better, but not SIGNIFICANTLY better to play with the top teams in the NBA, come on now that is just ridiculously optimistic....and yeah they should resign Batum but not count on him to be that #3 guy.
If they do thier job at scouting and go BPA and go for players with big upsides then they should be able to get 1 possibly even 2 of those guys with thier picks...If they can trade one of those picks for an established near all star player then yeah make that deal, though I do not see any of those types of sweet deals on the horizon...
Lamb, Barnes, Rivers, P.Jones, Sullinger at #7
and if they are all gone at #11 then...
Henson, T.Jones, Wroten (maybe T.Mitchell) at #11