Telling Quote

[e_blazer]

From Mike Barrett's blog:

Since the selection, I've heard it mentioned that perhaps Smith went higher than many expected, and that perhaps that's somehow an indication that Portland overvalued his services. As Buchanan explained after the draft, "I don't get in to where particular writers have a guy slotted to go. For me it's simply identify the guy you want and go get him."

I don't have any problem with the notion that you go and get the guy you want, but a more experienced GM would have figured out a way to take advantage of the fact that Smith could have been had at a lower spot. It seems to me that the Blazers should have taken the BPA (Faried) and either bought a pick or worked a trade with a team lower than them that would have netted Smith and something else in exchange for Faried.

It will be interesting to see how PA ends up evaluating Buchanan's draft night efforts. My bet is that Chad will not be moved up to the permanent GM spot.

 

[Mediocre Man]

I agree with all of that

 

[3RA1N1AC]

well the rumor was that denver wanted us to not pick faried as part of the trade no?

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

Doesnt every GM say that? "identify the guy you want and go get him". I remember KP saying that many times.
In a perfect world, sure it would have been great to get something more and get Smith later in the draft. But maybe we couldnt find a trade partner within the range they thought Smith would still be available.
Rumors are that we had to promise Denver we wouldnt take Faried so they could. Maybe not true, but ya never know.

 

[e_blazer]

well the rumor was that denver wanted us to not pick faried as part of the trade no?

If that was a part of the deal, the Nuggets would have simply insisted that we switch spots with them.

 

[PapaG]

From Mike Barrett's blog:



I don't have any problem with the notion that you go and get the guy you want, but a more experienced GM would have figured out a way to take advantage of the fact that Smith could have been had at a lower spot. It seems to me that the Blazers should have taken the BPA (Faried) and either bought a pick or worked a trade with a team lower than them that would have netted Smith and something else in exchange for Faried.

It will be interesting to see how PA ends up evaluating Buchanan's draft night efforts. My bet is that Chad will not be moved up to the permanent GM spot.

I had read that part of getting Felton meant that Faried needed to go to Denver as well as Miller.

 

[PapaG]

If that was a part of the deal, the Nuggets would have simply insisted that we switch spots with them.

Why? So Denver could pay slightly more money for Faried than picking him at #22?

 

[e_blazer]

I had read that part of getting Felton meant that Faried needed to go to Denver as well as Miller.

Even if that's true, there were certainly players ranked higher than Smith left on the board.

 

[glazeduck]

If that was a part of the deal, the Nuggets would have simply insisted that we switch spots with them.

Disagree. With the Nuggets picking immediately behind us, they save themselves some money (albeit a very small amount) by ensuring that they could take Faried at 22 instead of swapping and grabbing him at 21.

When looking at the deal in its entirety, it seems the Nuggets had us over a barrel and they knew that. Whether Buchanon being a figurehead played into them leveraging the crap out of our perceived panic is anybody's guess, but Denver did everything right in this deal and got about as much out of Felton as they could have expected to get...

 

[glazeduck]

Even if that's true, there were certainly players ranked higher than Smith left on the board.

How can you possibly say that about OUR board? Read: The Official Draftboard of the Portland TrailBlazers did not necessarily look like nbadraft.net's or draftexpress.com's board.

In no way am I advocating for Smith being a good pick. It was confusing to me too, but we clearly liked him quite a bit. If you want to question the front office decision, go right ahead - but to suggest that you somehow have knowledge of us valuing other players over the guy we ultimately took (except perhaps, for Faried who we were apparently bullied into not drafting) is just silly...

 

[PapaG]

Even if that's true, there were certainly players ranked higher than Smith left on the board.

Portland needed help off the bench and some defense at the guard position. Besides, we don't know what the Blazer board looked like, but I'll assume Smith was at the top of if when the 21st pick went on the clock.

Hopefully, they will address the need for a rebounder in free agency.

I guess I'm in the minority, but I think that Felton/Smith is preferable to Miller/Mills/Armon Johnson for next season. Plus, if Felton doesn't work out, he's an expiring contract worth ~$8 million at the deadline.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Faried is not close to being as good as Wallace. For at least another 2-3 years if ever. So i don't get the love affair. We need someone bigger than him to help this team. Wallace is a better backup PF than any rookie this year. He can slide over when Batum enters the game.

As for Smith.......I have no idea. I knew they liked him before the draft. Not sure I like that they stick with their game plan going in and are not flexible. They did that last year too. I guess it is safe...... Only time will tell on Smith

 

[3RA1N1AC]

If that was a part of the deal, the Nuggets would have simply insisted that we switch spots with them.

why bother? it is consecutive picks, this way they get to wear the right hats on stage

 

[e_blazer]

Portland needed help off the bench and some defense at the guard position. Besides, we don't know what the Blazer board looked like, but I'll assume Smith was at the top of if when the 21st pick went on the clock.

Hopefully, they will address the need for a rebounder in free agency.

I guess I'm in the minority, but I think that Felton/Smith is preferable to Miller/Mills/Armon Johnson for next season. Plus, if Felton doesn't work out, he's an expiring contract worth ~$8 million at the deadline.

I agree with you. I just think that there was likely a way to get Smith plus another pick or player.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

Yeh, the whole thing doesn't make sense; the two major draft sites had Smith going 36-38. With Fernandez going out and no reason to keep Barron and either Mills or Armon Johnson going, we have three open roster spots. Drafting Faried is acquiring an asset, why not do it and then buy a late first round or early second round pick for Smith? The only reasonable explanation is that they promised Denver they would do this and I'm not happy that they aren't being truthful about it. I understand when it's OK to tell lies about trade and draft intentions. But this would be lying to the fans just to make themselves look better, I don't think that is right. But the other explanation is that without a guy like KP in there, the rest of them are just little scaredycats, afraid they would somehow lose Smith (wow, wouldn't that have been a big tragedy?).

 

[Rastapopoulos]

I think some GMs just like the bullshit of trading down and switching picks and all that just for the sake of it. Don Nelson clearly did when he took Traylor and traded down for Dirk. But that's taking a hell of a risk unless Dirk is the pick after you. Why not just take Dirk and cut the bullshit? Sam Presti probably could have traded down for Westbrook (who went way higher than everybody had him slated). But he just picked him. There's something to be said for that.

(Count me among those who was disappointed by Smith, by the way. I wanted Mirotic or possibly Darius Morris. It's funny how we're all in love with Faried when NONE of us has seen him play (except maybe against two teams in the NCAA tournament).)

 

[ironcrotch]

IIRC, someone might be able to correct me, I remember noticing that Nolan Smith's workout was the only one that had Paul Allen there. IF that is true, it's pretty plausible that the team has targeted Nolan Smith from way back. Kind of like what happened with Brandon Roy.

 

[glazeduck]

The ONE criticism that I can give of the Smith pick is actually Reggie Jackson.

Unless the Blazers were absolutely CERTAIN that Smith - presumably the guy they wanted - would be snatched up very soon after their pick, I would've liked to see them draft Reggie Jackson, strictly to trade him. Chad Ford was on a podcast w/ Ryan Russilo today saying that as many as 8 teams (we were mentioned as one of them) were trying to trade ahead of OKC for Jackson.

Why not just draft RJ at 21, swap him for the highest bidder (AND keeping him away from OKC) for their late 1st/early 2nd rd. pick and other assets, and still end up with Smith - who it appears they understood was drafted a little high. This seems like a KP type move and would've been shrewd beyond shrewd. Worst case scenario you're stuck with a solid PG prospect that you reportedly like...

Oh well, the milk is spilt, time to move on...

 

[Ed O]

I think some GMs just like the bullshit of trading down and switching picks and all that just for the sake of it. Don Nelson clearly did when he took Traylor and traded down for Dirk. But that's taking a hell of a risk unless Dirk is the pick after you. Why not just take Dirk and cut the bullshit?

Because the Mavericks got Pat Garrity, too.

I agree with e_blazer: it's not just a team's board... it's the perception of the player around the league. The draft is about getting the most value, not getting a specific player, and getting a player later is always preferable to earlier. Especially when other value is kicked in.

Even John Nash wasn't dumb enough to take the guy he wanted (Webster) at #3.

Ed O.

 

[PapaG]

Because the Mavericks got Pat Garrity, too.

I agree with e_blazer: it's not just a team's board... it's the perception of the player around the league. The draft is about getting the most value, not getting a specific player, and getting a player later is always preferable to earlier. Especially when other value is kicked in.

Even John Nash wasn't dumb enough to take the guy he wanted (Webster) at #3.

Ed O.

I think there is a big difference between a high-to-mid lottery pick and picks from the late-teens and down in terms of value.

Portland drafted for a need. I'm willing to give Nolan Smith a chance, unlike others here.

Character guy, solid defensively, can create his own shot, went 20/5/5 at Duke while playing out of position last year...

Next year is going to be a blast in terms of this board. The meltdowns after Felton has a bad game will be worth everything.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

The meltdowns after Felton has a bad game will be worth everything.

Yes, I think you will enjoy that.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Bob Whitsitt would never have ran a draft like Nate McMillan did last night. (I mean Chad Buchanan).

Amateur hour for sure.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Bob Whitsitt would never have ran a draft like Nate McMillan did last night. (I mean Chad Buchanan).

Amateur hour for sure.

Yeah he went with a 6'6" power forward with a lottery pick. How did Gary Trent work out?

 

[Ed O]

Next year is going to be a blast in terms of this board. The meltdowns after Felton has a bad game will be worth everything.

It seems to me that people who were anti-Miller are much more prone to meltdowns than people who aren't big fans of Felton.

I guess we'll wait and see.

Ed O.

 

[Minstrel]

Next year is going to be a blast in terms of this board. The meltdowns after Felton has a bad game will be worth everything.

Something has to replace the tantrums you threw about Miller, right?

 

[Ed O]

Yeah he went with a 6'6" power forward with a lottery pick. How did Gary Trent work out?

That is a PERFECT example.

Whitsitt drafted Respert at #8 and then traded him for Trent (#11) and a first round pick.

He could have just taken Trent at #8, but he wisely got additional value.

Excellent point.

Ed O.

 

[Pinwheel1]

That is a PERFECT example.

Whitsitt drafted Respert at #8 and then traded him for Trent (#11) and a first round pick.

He could have just taken Trent at #8, but he wisely got additional value.

Excellent point.

Ed O.

What was the value?

 

[oldmangrouch]

Faried is not close to being as good as Wallace. For at least another 2-3 years if ever. So i don't get the love affair. We need someone bigger than him to help this team. Wallace is a better backup PF than any rookie this year. He can slide over when Batum enters the game.

As for Smith.......I have no idea. I knew they liked him before the draft. Not sure I like that they stick with their game plan going in and are not flexible. They did that last year too. I guess it is safe...... Only time will tell on Smith

Of course Faried isn't comparable to LMA or Wallace - he still would have given the Blazers a cheap and servicable reserve at a position the team needs depth. As many people have noted, he is an elite rebounder, and that is a skill that usually translates well from college to the NBA.

What does Smith bring to the party? He wasn't even a full time PG in college, so what are the odds of him becoming one in the NBA?

On the plus side, they say he is a "good character guy."

 

[Ed O]

What was the value?

A first rounder. As I typed in my post.

Ed O.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Of course Faried isn't comparable to LMA or Wallace - he still would have given the Blazers a cheap and servicable reserve at a position the team needs depth. As many people have noted, he is an elite rebounder, and that is a skill that usually translates well from college to the NBA.

What does Smith bring to the party? He wasn't even a full time PG in college, so what are the odds of him becoming one in the NBA?

On the plus side, they say he is a "good character guy."

Well Brady wasn't a full time QB at Michigan either. Some college teams have too much depth. But I will say I know as much about Smith as all of you do. Which is not much. Same with Faried. However the arguement seems to be that the guys is not a PG. Well our scouts think differently. And they have actually seen him play.

We are not over crowded at PG. IMO It is a much bigger need than the BU PF spot. The center spot is another position of need. Then the PF spot.