wizmentor

By my reckoning, we have the 16th worst record in the league:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/standi...e&seasontype=2

and will probably finish with that.
I don't see Westbrook or Mayo, let alone Bayless falling that far.

However, nbadraft.net has us picking 13th, which I don't quite get.
Philly has a worse record that we do, yet they are slated to pick
after us.

???

edit: OK, I get it. Philly is actually slated to make the
playoffs in the East, so maybe we'll pick 13th after all !!

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"Bayless is going to be that guy where, you know, Nate goes 'Oh you put in your second unit to give your starters a rest? Well, watch this.' And he's going to throw in Bayless and he's going to point to that second unit point guard and he's going to say 'Eat Him Alive', and Jarryd probably will."

---Dave Deckard of BlazersEdge

Shaq: Hey Thorpe, I'm getting sized for a thumb ring
SportsNation David Thorpe: I guess your wife is back in your life. Congrats.

MAS RipCity

Tyrus Thomas owes his paycheck to the ncaa tourney

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PDX Fan Since '90

MAS RipCity

WESTBROOOOOOOK! He's my #1 target..lock down D and just a beast in the mid-range game. Think Monta Ellis + Defense..YIKES!

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PDX Fan Since '90

wizmentor

Do you think he'll be available at 13, or do you think we should
trade up for him?

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"Bayless is going to be that guy where, you know, Nate goes 'Oh you put in your second unit to give your starters a rest? Well, watch this.' And he's going to throw in Bayless and he's going to point to that second unit point guard and he's going to say 'Eat Him Alive', and Jarryd probably will."

---Dave Deckard of BlazersEdge

Shaq: Hey Thorpe, I'm getting sized for a thumb ring
SportsNation David Thorpe: I guess your wife is back in your life. Congrats.

MrJayremmie

^ he will be available around 12, imo.

I think KP will first be trying everything in his power to trade up, i think Rose and Bayless are his primary targets. Then if he can't i still think he will try and trade for Harris or Conley. If not, i'm thinkin' Westbrook (who i love and i know lotso f others also, love his defense, athleticism, potential, shot, fast break ability) and probably Mayo, who i don't see on this team, because i really don't think there will be enough shots for Roy, Mayo, Aldridge, Oden, Outlaw, Webster and so on... I think we will draft someone closer to a PG. Bayless, if he wants, can be a top PG in this league, imo. He can do whatever he wants, i think Bayless and Westbrook are the most special players.

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Jerryd Bayless

nikolokolus

From what I've seen, Westbrook has the most "hustle" athleticism of any of the guard prospects -- he plays like he has something to prove (which probably stems from the fact that he wasn't one of those highly touted AAU prospects, but had a huge growth spurt his Junior and Senior years of high school), Bayless is very fluid and polished, but seems like he has trouble creating his own shot against quicker and peskier defenders at times, Mayo looked extremely ordinary matched 1-on-1 with Westbrook, but will likely be a very good scorer. Then there's Rose who is the best of the bunch in terms of explosiveness and polish, but is likely out of our ability to pick up.

Russell Westbrook having a good tourney will be different from Tyrus Thomas in that it would demonstrate his ability to play consistently at a high level, while Thomas leapt well above his regular season performance showing "potential."

Who knows what KP is going to do, but the more I think about Westbrook, he may not be the best stand-alone prospect, but taken in the context of playing alongside Roy, he brings a lot of complimentary skills (great defense against quick PG's, good passer, excellent ability to finish at the rim). He sort of reminds me of Jarret Jack, only a (supposedly) better man-to-man defender, and better hops.

He'd still be a project, as he's pretty raw at the point and he needs to improve his ball handling some.

MAS RipCity

we may have to move up 1-2 spots, but nothing that a little cash and 2nd rounders wont be able to accomplish.

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PDX Fan Since '90

Minstrel

I think OJ Mayo is the best bang for the buck. He's the best combination of big talent and likelihood to drop to the lower lottery. Attitude or not (and I think talk of it is exaggerated), Mayo has superstar potential. He also has a great outside shot right out of the box, which would be a HUGE asset for Portland. Since he's expected to go in the 9-12 range, he wouldn't require a big trade up. A very minor move could net us a low cost high upside gamble.

I'd prefer that to spending a lot of talent to move up into top 5 or 6 (let alone the top 3 for Rose)...for players are who arguably only slightly more likely to pan out.

__________________
You'll never live like common people
You'll never do what common people do
You'll never fail like common people
You'll never watch your life slide out of view
And dance and drink and screw
Because there's nothing else to do.

2k

If James Harden comes out the 08 draft will be that much deeper. There is a lot of guard talent. I could see one of those guys falling our way.

MrJayremmie

Both played last night.

Westbrook played 43 minutes, in UCLA's OT win vs. Stanford, he played REALLY good defense. Also had 19 points and 3 rebounds.

Bayless played 30 minutes, solid defense, their team blew out OSU, so i'm guessing he didn't have to play much of the second half. He only shot 4-10, but had 20 points, 4 assists, and 3 rebounds.

These 2 PGs are somethin' special, imo. Both played awesome, again. Any preferences between the two for you guys?

Overall...

Bayless - 20.3 PPG, 4.3 APG, 2.8 RPG, 3.2 TO, 47%FG, 35.8 MPG.
Westbrook - 12.6 PPG, 4.4 APG, 3.6 RPG, 2.6 TO, 49%FG, 33.4 MPG.

Head to Head matchups (I like this because they both go against each others defense) -

Game 1 - UCLA Won, 82-60.
Bayless - 13 Points, 4 Assists, 1 Rebound, 2TO, 4-9, 38 Minutes.
Westbrook - 21 Points, 3 Assists, 1 Rebound, 1TO, 10-13, 33 Minutes.

Game 2 - UCLA Won, 68-66.
Bayless - 15 Points, 4 Assists, 2 Rebounds, 3 TO, 6-12, 40 Minutes.
Westbrook - 10 Points, 1 Assist, 6 Rebounds, 1TO, 4-11, 38 Minutes.

I like both, but if Westbrook is available at our spot, i'd rather snatch him then have to give up a lot to move up to around #5.

What do ya'll think?

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Jerryd Bayless

nikolokolus

Mayo's A/T ratio for the season is pretty awful for the season, and Westbrook is raw as hell ... if someone put a gun to my head and said "choose" I guess I'd probably take westbrook just because of his defense and ability to play off ball.

I think neither are going to be instant impact players in the NBA and will probably require at least a couple of years to work their way into a starting rotation.

MrJayremmie

I'm guessin' you meant Bayless? and yea, it surprised me how many times he Turns it over. But in the NBA, the leading turnover players are like Nash, Kidd, Bryant and so on. The players who try and create.

I'm in love with Westbrook's defense. his quickness, athleticism, and defense might be what we need to handle Paul in the future. I'm sure that Bayless could also. He plays good defense and is very quick as well.

Bayless is more advanced at this point. And is probably a better PG at this point, but IDK who will be better inthe future.

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Jerryd Bayless

BlazerFan22