So saith the Blazer Prophet...
BlazerTalk now has a guest blogger! Welcome Blazer Prophet and thank you for your help. Hopefully the prophet will speak often! Here goes:
Greetings Blazer fans.
Well, we’ve learned a few things about this draft. There are virtually no players in it that a GM can point to and predict they will be an all-star. This doesn’t mean there won’t be some all-stars from this draft- only that they may come from any draft position in either the first or second round.
All the big men (Thomas, Aldridge, Bergnani, Patrick, Sene) have multiple flaws and in the battle of the SF’s in Portland yesterday (Morrison, Gay & Roy), all proved they are marginal NBA players at best. As to guards, what guards. One of the top, JJ Redick, has been arrested and faces back surgery as well.
Mock drafts are all over the place in both rounds. What we do know is that this draft, from the first to last pick, is a pure gamble for each & every pick. So let’s answer two questions.
First, what’s a GM to do? This is a classic case of trading down if you’re at the top and/or drafting for need with the idea you’re not drafting an all-star. You’re plugging holes at best. GM’s who may think they’re hitting a home run best rethink themselves into singles (or fielder’s choice).
Second, what do the Blazer’s do? I think first we have to recognize that unless we can offer Joel more money that the mid-level exception, he’s gone to da Bulls. Period. That means we have to move not less than one of the ‘big three’ contracts (Theo, Zach or Darius). To accomplish that, we need to dangle the #4 pick and add a good young player (Telfair, Outlaw…). In fact, I would say any player aside from Webster is fair game in a trade. Clearly, moving down in the draft won’t hurt us.
Lastly, who do we draft? If we keep #4, the players I like best (not in order) are Aldridge, Gay & O’Bryant. But none of them are players we have to have and there are plenty of other players very close to their talent level in the last third of the first round.
Greetings Blazer fans.
Well, we’ve learned a few things about this draft. There are virtually no players in it that a GM can point to and predict they will be an all-star. This doesn’t mean there won’t be some all-stars from this draft- only that they may come from any draft position in either the first or second round.
All the big men (Thomas, Aldridge, Bergnani, Patrick, Sene) have multiple flaws and in the battle of the SF’s in Portland yesterday (Morrison, Gay & Roy), all proved they are marginal NBA players at best. As to guards, what guards. One of the top, JJ Redick, has been arrested and faces back surgery as well.
Mock drafts are all over the place in both rounds. What we do know is that this draft, from the first to last pick, is a pure gamble for each & every pick. So let’s answer two questions.
First, what’s a GM to do? This is a classic case of trading down if you’re at the top and/or drafting for need with the idea you’re not drafting an all-star. You’re plugging holes at best. GM’s who may think they’re hitting a home run best rethink themselves into singles (or fielder’s choice).
Second, what do the Blazer’s do? I think first we have to recognize that unless we can offer Joel more money that the mid-level exception, he’s gone to da Bulls. Period. That means we have to move not less than one of the ‘big three’ contracts (Theo, Zach or Darius). To accomplish that, we need to dangle the #4 pick and add a good young player (Telfair, Outlaw…). In fact, I would say any player aside from Webster is fair game in a trade. Clearly, moving down in the draft won’t hurt us.
Lastly, who do we draft? If we keep #4, the players I like best (not in order) are Aldridge, Gay & O’Bryant. But none of them are players we have to have and there are plenty of other players very close to their talent level in the last third of the first round.
posted by KJM at 8:20 AM
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