HOWIE

So as I sit here on a Saturday contemplating going outside to mow the lawn I started thinking about where we were last season. We had a pretty good draft, getting a great PF/C, a combo guard, and a decent PG. Pritchard did some pretty cool stuff last year acquiring Aldridge, Roy, and Sergio.

Fast forward to this years draft.

Of the two top possible picks in this years draft a center and a small forward which player is better suited for Portland's style and culture? I think that we have concentrated on which player is better, but we should also visit the question which player makes last years players better? How does this player make our current core players better. This is a puzzle and if you add a piece that doesn't fit you really can't complete the puzzle right?

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YardApe

My point exactly!

darkhelmit54

I really feel strongly that as a fan of Roy, Aldridge and Sergio I really think Oden would probably fit better with the group. I mean Durant wouldn't be horrible but he definetely needs the ball to be effective, minimizing Roy and Sergio's talents, and not adding anything to the defensive end, and with Durant and keeping Zach we'd have four players that really need the ball to be effective at all. But with Oden we'd bolster our defense tremendously, and get another guy who doesn't need the ball especially to be effective, maximizing Sergio and Roy's talents. He'd create a lot of fast break opportunities on breaks for the team, and Giving Sergio and Roy the option to dump off to Aldridge or Oden down low when the draw the defense on them in the mid-range game would be great. Oden and Aldridge down low could really help with Martell getting open looks too. I'll be fine with whatever KP wants, but I really like Roy's leadership already, Sergio and Lamarcus' potential and unselfish attitudes, and I still have hope for Martell, and I think Oden works better for all of their futures.

YardApe

You hit the nail right on the head! We've got a nice core, Oden makes it even better. Durant makes us have to reshuffle the go to parts. That's not a hit on Durant it's a fact on a playmakers need to have the ball.

Ed O

I don't think that fit is much of a factor. When you're picking #1, you take a franchise player if he's there. Fit the rest of your team around HIM.

The Blazers have some nice pieces, that's true, but if Durant or (as IMO) Oden is a superior player, take that player and base other decisions around him... not the other way around.

Ed O.

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"In the end, it all comes down to talent. You can talk all you want about intangibles, I just don't know what that means. Talent makes winners, not intangibles. Can nice guys win? Sure, nice guys can win -- if they're nice guys with a lot of talent. Nice guys with a little talent finish fourth, and nice guys with no talent finish last."

-- Sandy Koufax

YardApe

We have the rookie of the year already and LA arguably healthy could have split that with him. That would seem to me to be a hell of hub to add a great center to. Am I wrong?

Blazer Freak

While I'm an Oden person, I don't get why people say we would need to reshuffle our parts if we drafted him. We'd insert him at SF, and we'd go LA/Zach/Durant/Roy/Jack(New PG)...

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HOWIE

Just using a different factor or point of view here Ed. Both players considered equal, which one is a better fit for the current core? Portland just got the cart in front of the horse after last years draft splash is all.

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Draco

We are a 50 loss team, take the best player available. Worry about fit when your in the playoffs.

B_&_B

I think they'd both fit great with our team. That's why I want both of them.

I dont think Durant being a scorer hurts his chemistry with our current core. Roy would be more than happy to win regardless of his stats. I could see Durant putting up 25 pts & 8 rbs... Roy putting up 15 pts, 8 assts, 8 rbs... Aldridge putting up 24 pts and 12 rbs... Sergio (in a year or so) putting up 15 pts and 11 assts. The other starter and the bench can pick up the rest to make a damn good team.

With Oden, I think Roy would have to score more, but Oden's game should help Roy and everyone else do that. We'd obviously be a better defenisve team with Oden, but a healthy Joel w/ Durant and the rest of the guys wouldnt be a bad defensive squad either.

Who knows!?!?!? We are going to be good regardless of who we pick.

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"People say we are coming, but I almost think it's to the point where we are here," he said. "I think it's no longer coming. We are here now."... Brandon Roy.

Sambonius

Excellent post, and I agree a 100%. Durant is a terrific talent but Oden just fits in so perfectly and would make everyone better around him, Durant not so much. If we take Durant, that means we'll be keeping Zach and I don't think Pritchard is okay with that. If we take Oden, we know that Zach is pretty much a goner.

BlazerCaravan

Some random thoughts:

Neither player puts is closer than the other in filling out our starting lineup. Aldridge is a PF who can back up at center in a pinch, so if we pick Durant, we still need a starting quality center to go along with him (Przy was a good find, but his injuries make him a much better backup than a starter). And, of course, if we draft Oden, we need a SF to go along with him.

Either way, Randolph & Jack would probably have to be traded for the missing piece, whether in the form of a pick or a vet.

So, in this case, you pick a style of play (fast break or defense first) and go. Maybe it comes down to how sold the team is on Nate and his philosophy. His contract will be up right as we're ready to make our run...

Also, if you're Paul Allen, how do you want to make your money? Durant will be exciting, put butts firmly in seats, and give us an exciting style of play once we retool around him. We'll make the playoffs, and likely do well. But we might not have the parades. Paul might have to ask himself if his goal is to earn money through exciting play probably in lieu of rings, or potentially multiple rings in lieu of the Phoenix style of play? Which will earn him the most of what he's looking for (prestige and money)?

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The kids are all right!

Paxil

If Oden and Durant were exactly equal (which you can never compare really), I'd have to say that Oden is a better fit for the type of offense and defense that I believe Nate wants. While Durant is and will be an amazing player, he is more of a centerpiece than the type of balance it appears we are striving for. We have productive scorers right now in Zach and Roy, and while Durant will put up big numbers, it will be interesting to see what type of shooting percentage he does it with. I think the overall balance of the team is better with Oden. Teams can win with 3 stars. In my mind Roy, Zach, Aldridge and Oden can fit that category. Yeah... Zach has his weaknesses, but he is a superstar at productive scoring. Even with a good role-playing defensive SF like Ime at SF I think we'd be pretty successful. So that is my final answer, Oden. I think you'll see Durant on sportscenter more, and he will probably be rookie of the year (if he starts), but I think Oden is better for a our 'team'.

darkhelmit54