Portland Trail Blazers

I don't think this is possible without both teams agreeing to it. But maybe we could convince Charlotte to take the #10 this year with the right incentives ($3 million cash might work, eh?). Why we'd do it: 1.) Clears cap room for us this year in the amount of the #10 pick cap hold 2.) Frees up our 2014 pick to be used in trades 3.) This draft sucks Thoughts? Would you do it? And why? I don't think this is possible without both teams agreeing to it. But maybe we could convince Charlotte to take the #10 this year with the right incentives ($3 million cash might work, eh?). Why we'd do it: 1.) Clears cap room for us this year in the amount of the #10 pick cap hold 2.) Frees up our 2014 pick to be used in trades 3.) This draft sucks Thoughts? Would you do it? And why? Poll Would you give up the #10 pick this year, no strings attached, if it was possible to do so? Yeah! We don't want it anyway. Maybe. Interesting idea. Heck no! Assets! 18 votes | Results

I created a poll with 11 possible candidates that the Blazers to draft with the 10th pick. Each prospect can be rated on a scale from 1 to 10. A 10 should mean that you are so excited with the prospect that you plan to promote him tirelessly on Blazersedge until draft day. A 1 should mean that if the Blazers draft him you will throw a hissy fit that just might get you banned. Here is the poll. You can also view the results here. I'm really looking forward to seeing what kind of consensus exists among us. Obviously you can explain your choices in the thread below. If I have the time I might put together another one of these for second rounders. I created a poll with 11 possible candidates that the Blazers to draft with the 10th pick. Each prospect can be rated on a scale from 1 to 10. A 10 should mean that you are so excited with the prospect that you plan to promote him tirelessly on Blazersedge until draft day. A 1 should mean that if the Blazers draft him you will throw a hissy fit that just might get you banned. Here is the poll. You can also view the results here. I'm really looking forward to seeing what kind of consensus exists among us. Obviously you can explain your choices in the thread below. If I have the time I might put together another one of these for second rounders.

It looks like the most likely scenario for this offseason is that the blazers will somehow add a veteran center and maybe a rotation player on the wing. I'm not sure there's enough growth in our core group of guys to push us into contender status. I believe the only way to get there is through the draft. I think the Cavs might be willing to give up Tristan Thompson and the #1 & #19 pick for Lamarcus Aldridge. You never get equal value trading star players, but I think this would be a better offer than what the Thunder got for Harden. In this scenario I would add actually draft Ben McLemore @ #1 Zeller @ #10 and maybe Gobert if he's still available at @19. I would then overpay Nikola Pecovic (4yrs 48mil) and hope Minnesota doesn't match or offer a 1 yr deal to a guy like Okafor or Brand. Potential lineup PG - Lillard - best available cheap backup free agent (Maynor, Harris, Collison, or Brooks) SG - McLemore - Mathews SF - Batum - vet wing PF - Thompson - Zellar C - Pecovic - Leonard - Gobert if he comes over If we dont sign Pec then we could move Zellar to the 5 and resign Hickson to play the 4. Not a bad group moving forward and we would likely have a very good chance to pick a franchise player in the loaded 2014 draft. It looks like the most likely scenario for this offseason is that the blazers will somehow add a veteran center and maybe a rotation player on the wing. I'm not sure there's enough growth in our core group of guys to push us into contender status. I believe the only way to get there is through the draft. I think the Cavs might be willing to give up Tristan Thompson and the #1 & #19 pick for Lamarcus Aldridge. You never get equal value trading star players, but I think this would be a better offer than what the Thunder got for Harden. In this scenario I would add actually draft Ben McLemore @ #1 Zeller @ #10 and maybe Gobert if he's still available at @19. I would then overpay Nikola Pecovic (4yrs 48mil) and hope Minnesota doesn't match or offer a 1 yr deal to a guy like Okafor or Brand. Potential lineup PG - Lillard - best available cheap backup free agent (Maynor, Harris, Collison, or Brooks) SG - McLemore - Mathews SF - Batum - vet wing PF - Thompson - Zellar C - Pecovic - Leonard - Gobert if he comes over If we dont sign Pec then we could move Zellar to the 5 and resign Hickson to play the 4. Not a bad group moving forward and we would likely have a very good chance to pick a franchise player in the loaded 2014 draft.

Our Assests include: PG: Damian Lillard / - - - SG: Wesley Mathews / Will Barton SF: Nicolas Batum / Victor Claver / Sasha Pavlovic PF: Lamacus / Joel Freeland C: Meyers Leonard / - - - We own the #10 pick in the first round, three picks in the second round: #39 #40 and #45 We own the rights to: Kostas Papanikolaou, Marcelo Nicola, Federico Kammerichs, Doron Sheffer, Nedzad Sinanovic. We also have a 2.5 million room exception Eric Maynor (PG) is a restricted agent with a qualifying offer/cap hold of $5.8 million and if I am not mistaken, we cannot trade him right away if we decide to resign him or extend his qualifying offer. J.J. Hickson (PF) also has a cap of $7.6 million and Sasha (G/F) has a team option of $1.4 million Before we we waive anyone, we have roughly $44.6 million in committed salaries. However, if we waive/release these players we have $39.6 million in committed salaries. Assuming there is a $60 million cap hold we would have $21 million for the off season - this is all according to hoopshype, hoopsworld and Amin Elhassan from the recent insider article he published today of "A Draft Guide to the Blazers" Assuming Damian Lillard and Lamarcus are about as close to untouchable on our team - unless the right trade comes about, we can safely assume they will not be dealt this summer. Batum is a little tricker, as he is widely regarded as part of our core and it's hard to find a starting SF. He is the next least likely player to be trade from our starting 5. After that it is Wesley Mathews, who has an extremely cap friendly contract - It's hard to find starting caliber 3D guys with a reasonable contracts like Wes. We can expect for his name to pop up often this summer I feel like. While he is the vocal leader and a cult hero, we cannot deny that his name will pop up and he may be traded. However after that, most of our players our fair game to be traded unless Neil feels certain in someone's future potential and can help this team quickly. We also have quotes from Neil Olshey alluding to this summer, he states, "Obviously, that is a hole we need to shore up. We’ve got to get our interior defense better" Analysis: Thank you for stating the obvious Neil. If you can't find The Blazers even a stop-gate center, your competence and plan will come into question this summer. "if the best player we can get is somebody we can get via draft, we’re going to draft. If the best player we can get is by moving that pick, using our cap room or other assets that we have to acquire the better player, we are going to accelerate this and get the best team on the floor possible. Analysis: The draft is not the best this year guys as we all know. Unless his plan is to look past the Lamarcus era or he couldn't find a willing trading partner for what he was asking. I feel that we can expect for our pick to be traded. Whether it's to move up in the draft, or to trade for a player/asset, I do not know. Assets, assets, assets "I think this is our first foray into this, seeing just how vulnerable teams are...We saw a little bit of it at the trade deadline ... and this will be the first true cycle where teams are beginning to live with the reality of a progressive tax" Analysis: Teams are weak! Show no weakness N.O! Expect for N.O. to use his feelers! Especially around teams who are over the cap and looking to dump salaries for very little back. Gaining assets in this way, to add to our trade or to later trade this summer or until next season's trade dead line. Perhaps further. We can also expect N.O. to participate in many lopsided 3 teams trades, so I hope. Again, acquiring assets. "We are going to be aggressive to construct a deal to make the team better on draft night," Analysis: Pay attention come draft night guys if you believe N.O. to be a man of his word! This might be the most important night for the summer. It will quickly lead informing fans what N.O. has planned for the summer/future. "If there

We'll build up to next month's NBA draft by profiling prospects that will likely be available when the Blazers make their selection at No. 10, starting with Indiana sophomore Cody Zeller.

Marc Spears of Yahoo! Sports reports on Twitter that former Portland Trail Blazers coach Nate McMillan will not return as an assistant coach for USA Basketball under Duke's Mike Krzyzewski. Nate McMillan told Y! Sports he wont return to Coach K's bench with @usabasketball. "Be good for someone else to experience it," Nate said. Pete Thamel of Sports Illustrated reported earlier this week that Krzyzewski would return as the head coach after previously indicating that he expected to step down from the post. Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski will be returning as the head coach of USA Basketball for the 2016 Olympics, according to a source with direct knowledge of the situation. A formal announcement is expected in the next 48 hours. Krzyzewski led Team USA to gold medals in both the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the 2012 London Olympics. He had maintained for months that he would not return before reversing course in an interview with SI.com on Saturday. ... Changes are expected to Krzyzewski's staff, which included Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim, Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni and former Trail Blazers coach Nate McMillan in London. Boeheim said on Saturday that it's "probable" he'll return to coach with Krzyzewski. Marc Berman of the New York Post reported that D'Antoni is also out as an assistant. Former Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni has told Mike Krzyzewski he will not be rejoining his new Olympic staff, according to a league source. According to the source, D'Antoni, who now coaches the Lakers, turned down the job as he didn't want to make another four-year commitment because of his family. D'Antoni has been with Team USA since the 2006 and won two gold medals, including last August in London with his former Knicks players, Carmelo Anthony and Tyson Chandler. "He wants to stay married,'' the source said. McMillan served as an assistant coach dating back to 2006. Serving 2006-09 and 2010-12 as an assistant coach for USA Basketball's Men's National Teams, former Portland Trail Blazers head coach and former NBA standout Nate McMillan helped resurrect the USA Basketball Men's National Team program. All together, as a member of the USA?National Team program McMillan has aided the U.S. to a remarkable 62-1 record and gold medal finishes at the 2012 London Olympic Games, 2010 FIBA World Championship, 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and 2007 FIBA?Americas Championship. The Blazers fired McMillan in March 2012, replacing him with interim coach Kaleb Canales before hiring current coach Terry Stotts in August 2012. McMillan hasn't coached in the NBA since. So far this offseason, McMillan has interviewed with the Milwaukee Bucks, Detroit Pistons and Atlanta Hawks. Last summer, McMillan interviewed for the Charlotte Bobcats' job that eventually went to Mike Dunlap, who has since been fired. McMillan interviewed with the Orlando Magic and was reportedly a "top choice" but Jacque Vaughn took over for the fired Stan Van Gundy instead. In November, McMillan was linked to a possible assistant coach's job with the Lakers under D'Antoni, following Mike Brown's dismissal, but that did not materialize. He was linked as a possible candidate to replace the fired Avery Johnson with the Brooklyn Nets, but interim coach P.J. Carlesimo coached out the season before getting the ax. McMillan holds a career coaching record of 478-452 (.514) over 12 seasons with the Seattle SuperSonics and the Blazers. McMillan posted a 266-269 (.497) record in seven seasons with the Blazers. Portland advanced to the playoffs in 2009, 2010 and 2011 but was eliminated in the first round in all three seasons. -- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com | Twitter

Quite a few trades have been tossed out there involving us sending out LaMarcus Aldridge, Nicolas Batum, and/or Wesley Matthews and rebuilding around Damian Lillard and other young players. While I was a big proponent of trading Wallace, Camby, Crawford, and Felton for a rebuild, I do not favor the full rebuild strategy. I think we have enough pieces and potential to justify not going for the full rebuild. But, it did get me thinking; what could that look like? (Buckle your seatbelts, draft night rebuilds can get a little crazy. Note: Some of these trades would have to officially take place after free agency begins for salary purposes) Step #1: Aldridge to Detroit for Charlie Villanueva, Andre Drummond, #8, and a 2014 1st rounder Detroit, growing impatient, gets a star to put alongside Greg Monroe, Brandon Knight, and company. That gives them a shot at the playoffs in the weak Eastern Conference. They also maintain some cap room for a wing-player by getting rid of Villanueva's loathsome contract. The Blazers get some good assets from their star. A high potential center and a mid-lotto pick. The Pistons would be expecting a playoff run, but if that doesn't work out, we get a lotto pick in the hyped 2014 class. Step #2: Batum to Cleveland for #19, 2014 1st rounder, and the protected 2015 1st rounder from Memphis The Cavs have a hole at 3 (until LeBron come back of course) and have shown significant interest in Batum. This trade lets them keep the #1 and presuming the pick Noel, gives them a young core starting five of Noel, Thompson, Batum, Waiters, and Irving. According to Nick Gilbert, they have no intention of going back to the lotto anyway. For the Blazers, it gives us more draft assets, key in the rebuild, also giving us more trade and cap flexibility. There are no silver bullets here. The Cavs would be surrendering their pick unprotected with the expectation that they will be making a playoff run with this team. But we take the risk, knowing that at least four of their key players are injury risks. Step #3: Wesley Matthews and #41 to Minnesota for Luke Ridnour, Malcom Lee, and #9 There are a few reasons Minnesota does this. They have a plethora of white backup point guards already. They need to win now to keep Kevin Love in the fold, which the #9 pick doesn't help them do. They have been trying to acquire a wing who can shoot and defend (and Matthews has repeatedly torched them) ever since they filled their quota of power forwards and point guards. Plus, and maybe this is not the case since Kahn is no more, they have an unhealthy fetish for any Portland wing players in the rotation. This is kind of a tangent, but I was intrigued and looked in to it. Pop Quiz: Who was our last contributing wing player, if you don't count combo forwards like Wallace or Outlaw, or combo guards like Bayless or Crawford, that Minnesota did NOT try to acquire? Tangent aside, we continue to stockpile lotto picks, even if they are in a weak draft. Ridnour and Lee are for salary purposes, though it is nice to have a good veteran like Ridnour on a team that will be very young. Plus, as a contributing player on an expiring contract, he could have value closer to the deadline. Step #4: #45 to Dallas for Shawn Marion and #13 Cap clearing move for Dallas. They clear about $10.5 million in cap space with this deal so they can save it for some more futile free agency attempts. We get yet another pick, just by utilizing our cap space. Ditto what I said about Ridnour, except Marion might be unwilling to play that role. We could trade him to a playoff team or buy him out potentially. Step #5: #8, #13, #19, and #40 to Charlotte for #4 and our pick back Charlotte is (still) starved for talent, and since there aren't any clear stars at #4 they are just as well served to move down a few spots and acquire more picks instead. For us with all the picks we would have, there is a limit to how many rookies and second year players you

Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com reports that George Sfairopoulos, agent for Portland Trail Blazers international forward Kostas Papanikolaou, doesn't believe his client is in the organization's plans for the 2013-14 season. "As of now, we don't have any sign that leads us to believe that Kostas will go to Portland," Sfairopoulos told CSNNW.com. "Therefore, we believe that he will not be in the plans of the organization next season and probably will be traded." Earlier this month, Rigas Dardalis of EuroHoops.net offered this report. Blazers followed him closely throughout the season, but at this point it seems that "Pap" in not on the immediate plans of Neil Olshey. Portland (besides starter Nicolas Batum) also has another talented European forward with Spaniard Victor Claver and is no need to "overload" the small forward position. In fact Olshey didn't travel in London, where only Blazers' scout Jason Filipi was present. So there is a strong chance that the Blazers will trade his rights and many teams has shown interest. Spurs and Mavericks are among them, as well as the Knicks who drafted Papanikolaou on No 48 of last year's draft. The Blazers acquired Papanikolaou's rights from the New York Knicks in a July 2012 sign-and-trade involving Raymond Felton. Papanikolaou said in a March interview that he dreams of playing in the NBA and there was some chatter last fall that he might be brought over for the 2013-14 season. I noted back on May 1 that that talk had subsided. Thanks to tyeforshee in the FanShots. -- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com | Twitter

The NBA and Taco Bell have apparently -- and inexplicably -- left Portland Trail Blazers forward Luke Babbitt off something called the "Western Conference Big Box." Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge does appear on one of the box's designs. All told, 42 NBA players are included on the promotional items but Babbitt, widely regarded as the Chalupa King, is not pictured in any of the promotional artwork. What's the point of a nationwide advertising campaign if the league's leading Tex-Mex pitchman isn't involved? "It feels good to give the fans Taco Bell," Babbitt said once, hopefully not for the last time. What is this thing? The NBA and Taco Bell have teamed up to create six different NBA-themed boxes filled with your Taco Bell favorite menu items on the inside, and sporting dozens of your favorite NBA players on the outside. o Six different box designs: three featuring the West Conference and three featuring the East Conference.o 42 NBA players in total are featured on the boxes (seven on each box; six boxes total).o The boxes feature players from all 30 NBA teams. Use the box to create a miniature basketball court: Each box includes a perforated circle so that you can pop your cup (complete with artwork that makes it look like a hoop) in the box, ball up your wrapper, and take your best shot. Go head-to-head with a friend by connecting two boxes to create a full court. Babbitt, 23, is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer after averaging 3.9 points and 2.2 rebounds and finishing as a finalist for the 2013 Sixth Man of the Year Award. -- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com | Twitter

Of all the draft prospects, Archie Goodwin scares me the most. Of course, he's not even in the consideration at #10 but would we use our 2nd Round picks to jump up to grab him? Teams are always looking to get out of the 1st Round. With all of the conversation about trading up, I think it's worth asking the question of trading up in the 2nd. Goodwin has ridiculous upside and is physically a monster for an SG/PG but for my money (or my vote for what to do with PA's money) I would rather give Barton another year and grab some Stash-A-Euros than invest in this kid. Can't shoot the 3. Seems like a headcase. Doesn't add much to the mix. Or am I wrong? Of all the draft prospects, Archie Goodwin scares me the most. Of course, he's not even in the consideration at #10 but would we use our 2nd Round picks to jump up to grab him? Teams are always looking to get out of the 1st Round. With all of the conversation about trading up, I think it's worth asking the question of trading up in the 2nd. Goodwin has ridiculous upside and is physically a monster for an SG/PG but for my money (or my vote for what to do with PA's money) I would rather give Barton another year and grab some Stash-A-Euros than invest in this kid. Can't shoot the 3. Seems like a headcase. Doesn't add much to the mix. Or am I wrong? Poll Where Do Blazer Fans Value Archie Griffin? If he falls, I'll trade some 2nds and kibble for him, hell yeah. If he falls into the 2nd and in my lap, hell yeah. Give me some stash-a-Euro talent, ie... reasons to stay up late and look at grainy footage. 4 votes | Results