Hey everyone, thanks for checking back in after a few weeks of not updating any content. Things have been busy 'round the ol' fan studio.
Anyway, I took the time to go through ESPN.com's Lottery Wizard 100 times, and the results are as follows:
95x #13 Pick
3x #2 Pick
2x #14 Pick.
Since the Blazers have less than a 1% chance of winning the lottery, this really isn't that bad. If they are so lucky that they get in the top three, there are a number of different players that are a decent fit in the Blazers lineup. If they stay at 13, or fall to 14, they should trade the pick. There will still be solid players left at that spot, and with an expiring contract and a young player included, the Blazers should be able to acquire some decent value. Jose Calderon maybe? That would be a phenomenal fit. I can't take credit for that one, that all goes to Jason Quick.
If the Blazers do wind up with a top 3 pick and Derrick Rose and Michael Beasley are gone, they really need to trade the pick. It is not worth taking the chance on a guy other than those two players, who appear to be superstar type franchise guys. Jerryd Bayless maybe, but he isn't a top 3 guy. Some experts think Italian SF Danillo Gallinari may fall to 13, but you never know. Maybe the best thing they can do is draft another Euro who has to stay overseas and develop....only if they can't deal the pick.
As far as the other players in the top 15 that might be worth it? There really aren't any that fit the Blazers. They NEED a point guard or a small forward...here who is left.
PG - Russell Westbrook - UCLA
I love his defense, but he turns it over too much....oh wait....that's because he is 20 years old. Thats not what they need.
SF - Donte Green - Syracuse
Another raw kid...a freshman, who was unspectacular in the Big East.
Thats really it...in my eyes. So unless the extremely unlikely scenario occurs where Beasley or Rose are there when the Blazers are on the clock...the pick must be traded. Just for fun though...can you imagine the starting lineup of one of these 2 scenarios?
1 - PG - Blake SG - Roy SF - Beasley PF - Aldridge C - Oden
2 - PG - Rose SG - Roy SF - Webster/Outlaw PF - Aldridge C - Oden
Add Przybilla, the best backup center in the game...possibly Channing Frye, who is winning over the hearts of Nate and Pritch.... that equates to a pretty fun team to watch!!
