Per Eggers: Blazers looking to move up in draft, take point guard

[RR7]

http://portlandtribune.com/sports/story.php?story_id=130706967830991500

The Trail Blazers, who own the 21st pick, are looking to move up in the June 24 draft.

According to a league source, Portland would like to get into the top seven to be in position to take Connecticut point guard Kemba Walker. That might mean packaging veteran point guard Andre Miller and the No. 21 pick for another team’s player along with a top-seven pick

 

[illmatic99]

I like Kemba.

But if we give up Dre in the process of landing Walker, I hope we have a contingency plan to get a vet PG.

 

[MickZagger]

Hmmmmm. I like Kemba as a score first guard. But, I think Irving and Knight are much better team first point guards.

 

[illmatic99]

Buchanan yesterday said:

I think it's a daily discussion going on still in regards to Andre. We are not blind to what Andre has done for us the last few years, what he's meant for this team, we recognize his value. At the same time we have to evaluate all of our options and that's kind of the process we are going through right now. Andre Miller -- we would not have made the playoffs the last few years without Andre Miller and we are very, very aware of that. We consider that, that's taken into consideration in all of the discussions about Andre and his future.

 

[Nikolokolus]

And I'd like a flying car ...

 

[RoyToy]

I like Kemba in that he can create his own shot and that is something this team would need if Miller was gone.

He's pretty similar to Aaron Brooks

 

[RR7]

I'd just wonder, I guess, why we'd move Bayless, and then draft a smaller...Bayless?

 

[RoyToy]

Bayless in April:

22.5pts/5.6asts/48.4 FG%/41.2 3PT%

One of the many reasons why I'm not sad at all Cho was fired.

 

[THE HCP]

^Beat me to it! Bayless is a quicker and stronger version of Walker. I loved him, but this kid isn't worth Dre and the #21!!!

 

[Mediocre Man]

LOL at Andre and 21 for a top 7 pick. Although, Miller's contract could be somewhat valuable depending on what the new CBA looks like

As for Walker, he reminds me a Damon part 2

 

[RR7]

Not that I was entirely sold on Bayless as our starter. I'm just not sold on the type in general. Unless we make bigger changes. You look at our team, unless it's off of turnovers and fast breaks, Wallace needs someone creating opportunities for him. Matthews needs someone creating opportunities for him. Aldridge could go with a simple post up, but getting lobs from Miller/Rudy has been huge. Etc. If one of Wallace or Matthews could create for themselves, I'd be more ok with the idea. But having no offense from our C spot, and 2 other guys that need to be set up, I don't like the thought of surrounding that sort of offense with a shoot first PG. But maybe, really, the bigger issue is having a 2.3 rotation with 3 guy sin Wallace, Matthews and Batum who aren't all that great off the dribble. Wallace being the best of the bunch.

 

[RoyToy]

The thing basically everyone loved about Bayless is that he was fearless. Not afraid of anything.

Fuckin' Choad...

 

[Mediocre Man]

Bayless in April:

22.5pts/5.6asts/48.4 FG%/41.2 3PT%

One of the many reasons why I'm not sad at all Cho was fired.

I am with you also. Trading Bayless was always dumb IMO. But I should say.....in before people point out he played on a losing team

 

[MickZagger]

Walker is much more dynamic than Bayless.

Walker carried his team on his back to win the title.

 

[MickZagger]

I am with you also. Trading Bayless was always dumb IMO. But I should say.....in before people point out he played on a losing team

....behind a below average starter in Calderon.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

An obvious smokescreen for Brandon Knight. I do like Walker though.

Bayless is a streaky shooter with blinders on. He put up hollow stats on a horrible team. He's a spark off a decent teams bench. One thing that I couldn't stand about Jerryd was he'd get to the rim and throw something up hoping he'd get fouled. He's basically a clone of Jarrett Jack.

 

[RR7]

An obvious smokescreen for Brandon Knight. I do like Walker though.

Bayless is a streaky shooter with blinders on. He put up hollow stats on a horrible team. He's a spark off a decent teams bench. One thing that I couldn't stand about Jerryd was he'd get to the rim and throw something up hoping he'd get fouled. He's basically a clone of Jarrett Jack.

I agree with your criticisms of Bayless, and was fine with the trade then and now. I just think Walker is just as streaky, and at least in college, was a much worse 3 point shooter than Bayless was.

 

[MickZagger]

So quickly people forget about how dynamic Walker is. The guy put an average UCONN team on his back to win the Big East tournament (some might argue is just as tough as the big tourney) and the NCAA tourney.

[video=youtube;wCIJ06uC-jQ]

 

[illmatic99]

Kemba has much better PG skills compared to Bayless. And his leadership is underrated.

 

[Rhal]

Knight or no trading up for a guard imo

 

[The_Lillard_King]

I am with you also. Trading Bayless was always dumb IMO. But I should say.....in before people point out he played on a losing team

Trading Bayless was dumb (under Cho's watch) . . . but the ownership is shit for firing Cho?

Cho is dumb, PA (and all of front office) are idiot, Nate sucks, Roy sucks. Is there a Blazer you like?

 

[THE HCP]

Another angle on the whole Bayless thing.... I know for a fact that he HAD to go. Bad chemistry with everybody!!

 

[3RA1N1AC]

Another angle on the whole Bayless thing.... I know for a fact that he HAD to go. Bad chemistry with everybody!!

I have never heard that...hcp with the scoop?

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

I'd guess that he had an ego problem. He thought he was a lot better than he actually is.

 

[Tince]

Trading Bayless was dumb (under Cho's watch) . . . but the ownership is shit for firing Cho?

Cho is dumb, PA (and all of front office) are idiot, Nate sucks, Roy sucks. Is there a Blazer you like?

Too good!

 

[craigehlo]

Kemba has much better PG skills compared to Bayless. And his leadership is underrated.

Exactly my thoughts. He's a winner that can immediately take a leadership role on this team with the void that Roy leaves. He has a handle that Bayless could only dream about as well.

His performances in the NCAA tourney reminded me of watching CP3 at Wake Forest. His skill will translate really well into the NBA.

 

[MickZagger]

I'd guess that he had an ego problem. He thought he was a lot better than he actually is.

That was always obvious to me. Dude, thought he was all that and a bag of chips.

 

[BlazerBeliever]

There was no doubt Bayless thought he was better than a lot of guys on the team. I am surprised by all the comments giving Bayless praise. He was not good here and he just kept driving the ball and getting swatted. It turns out we got Gerald Wallace for him so I am not at all hurt by that.

 

[illmatic99]

That was always obvious to me. Dude, thought he was all that and a bag of chips.

Not always a bad thing. I wish Nic and Oden had that sort of arrogance and confidence in their games. Hell, LA just found it this year, and look at his transformation.

 

[RR7]

True or not, it's a lot funner to speculate than to just write everything off, IMO. Why I always loved the draft. It's like the weeks leading up to Christmas. So much hope, excitement and potential. Always have. of course, last season's draft, it was like someone taking a shit in my stocking.

Top 7.

1. Irving.
2. Minnesota? Looking at their roster, it's so much youth and potential, that adding more youth just adds to a log jam at any position. Best bet, IMO, would be trading back a spot for Kanter. 2 and 20 for 3 and 12 with Utah. Let Utah take Williams. But, Williams is BPA, so slot him
3. Utah-PG? Knight, I would think.
4. Cleveland. Likely want to try to pair Irving and Williams, or Irving and Kanter. I dunno who they go here. But can't see a move with what we have that makes sense for them. Knowing they were happy with paying Baron to take on what they thought would be the 8th pick, and also rumored to take on Rip for the 8th. So shedding salary with Miller....not a priority.
5. Toronto. Just a shit team. Sorry. I dunno what you build around, who you focus on, what you look at. I hope they go Valenucias(sp?) and sit on himf or 3 years. Would be fitting. They can stand to lose salary,w ith Calderon and Bargs, but don't seem like a candidate to move a player and their pick to save cash.
6. Washington. In good salary shape. Bad deal in Rashard Lewis, but moved Arenas for him, asving some coin, and will be under cap anyways.
7. Sacramento. Have a ton of salary space, but no real needs, IMO, here in the draft. Seem to make potentially the most sense, but tough to gauge.
PG?(Udrih)/Evans/Casspi/Cousins/Dalembert(maybe) with Thompson. They also will have a lot of cap space. Only real bad deal would be garcia, IMO. But with so much cap space, doesn't seem like a great idea to shed Garcia to move down 14 spots. And for Portland, there's always the potential that Toronto just grabs Walker at 5, and so no deal.

I like the thought, just for the excitement of the draft, but not sure where it comes from. Washington is rumored to want to move up, so doubt the 6 is in play. If we somehow hopped into the 3 way(4) with Cleveland, Detroit, and Minnesota, maybe our best bet? If Detroit wanted extra pieces to get a deal done, the deal sending Rip to Cleveland, 4 and 8 to Minnesota, and 2 to Cleveland, we could, I suppose, take Villanueva, and send Minnesota Batum and detroit Miller. Seems like the price gets high, Batum and Miller for CV and Walker. And doesn't seem like a move Allen would be excited about. Who knows.