gogreen

After watching last nights' first few SL games i notced quite a few late round picks. Soooo, knowing that we got some picks for trading our two remaining this year for future picks. It looks like we might have high draft picks again next year. NY 2009, LA Clippers 2009, Denver 2009 plus ours.

Considering we are 15 deep now. Next year we will have FIVE draft picks !!

PorterIn2004

It sounds like (though it's not totally clear) that you consider this to be some kind of problem. Given that Pritchard seems able to continually trade "current" draft picks for "future" draft picks, it seems great to me -- he'll have a way to move those around in trades pretty endlessly, continuing to tinker with the roster via the draft in at least small ways. He's got lots of ways to make moves, and that seems a fine thing to me, as I can't think of a single move he's made I'd like back.

gogreen

Yes, It is a good problem to have. I like the fact the KP can keep adding assets. I'm just wondering what he will eventually do next year. Considering next year we are supposed to add a FA.

I'm betting on a trade deadline deal with Raefs' contract. Normally teams want picks and cap relief.

RedHot&Rolling

KP might have to dump them for nothing and let the cake "bake" as another option.

Keep in mind we have at least 4-5 future near or absolute All-Star level players on the team now (Oden, Roy, Aldridge, Fernandez, and Bayless). We've also got a few great options for b/u's to these guys for the long haul (Outlaw, Webster, Blake, Frye, Przybilla) if we decide to keep them all.

At some point we'll need to stop tweeking and just let it cool.
(I hope its after some kind of 3 for 1 involving Joel, Webster, and Sergio)

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dpc

Am I the only one here that really wants to keep Pryz? I just think it would work so well and be so awesome that backing up our Oden who is a shotblocker and rebounder and scorer... with a big man who is a shot blocker and rebounder. No easy buckets when either of those two are in. And with Oden getting in foul trouble possibly, it's not that bad to have Przy backing him up.

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Sambonius

No, I agree completely.

#10

Me too, there was such a huge difference defensively when Pryz was playing vs when he wasn't. Obviously he hurts us offensively (though I remember him playing the pick and roll , not pop, pretty well under Cheeks) so his +/- isn't great, but the four other players on the second unit can all score so it shouldn't be a problem.

As for the 2nd round picks, give Pritchard another five years and he'll have every second round pick in the draft.

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ThatBlazerGuy

For the next draft, I think we end up trading out of the 1st round(IMO, we deal our 1st at the deadline in a bigger deal), and use only one of our 2nd rounders. I think with Raef expiring, we could afford to draft a 3rd string C. I like Henk Noreal NETHERLANDS & Chris Johnson LSU.

Bob Whitsitt

I agree whole heartedly. He's a hard working player who is fairly solid and sets a good veteran example for the youngsters. He doesn't make a lot of mistakes and he definately stuffs up the middle enough for teams to have to adapt. I was a big pusher of resigning him a couple years ago and I really think we should keep him around. Frankly, with the foul trouble and possible injury trouble Oden will undoubtedly be in, he'll be seeing almost as many minutes as Oden will for most of the year. I could see him being content being the backup to the behemoth that is Greg.

moldorf

if you assume that portland will struggle a bit next season, especially early but be in the playoff hunt, then the Blazer's first round pick should be in the 17-20 range. The NY and LA 2nd round picks could likely be in the mid-late 30's of the 2nd round, while Denevr and Portland's pick should be mid to late 40's. That's a pretty good assortment of picks for a guy like KP to make something happen.

I'd also not anticipate that Lafrentz will be traded unless it's a 'too good to be true' deal. Portland will have substantially more leverage trading cap-space then an expiring contract. Remember, if a team that trades a player to portland for cap space and a pick for instance, they not only get immediate salary and cap relief, but a TPE as well. Beats an expiring contract easily.

And in order to create that cap-space a couple of players (at least) like Sergio and Diogu could be allowed to become UFA and portland renounces their rights to them.

In other words, there would be some open roster spots. So I don't think it's a coincidence that KP has developed 5 draft picks in the draft immediately preceding his much talked about cap-space summer. It's pretty easy to read between the lines and deduce KP will be real busy next draft...and what else is new!

Balian

Oh boy ...the dog days of summer. What you're gonna do?

Lets discuss 2009 2nd round picks.

gogreen

LOL, actually I think I like the draft we KP more than watching our last few seasons.