| Got You Where I Want You Authored by Billy Ray - June 28, 2005 - 12:36 pm
This is pure speculation that should not be taken as truth. You've been warned.
With the Blazers supposedly in intense conversations with the Utah Jazz involving a swap of the third and sixth picks, the potential trade could also alter Charlotte's hope to acquire Marvin Williams.
It's been rumored for a while that Charlotte Bobcats were interested in trading the fifth and thirteenth picks to Atlanta for the second overall pick to acquire Williams. But the main stipulation to that deal was that Deron Williams would be available at the fifth spot or possibly Chris Paul in order to address Atlanta's point guard situation. With Portland supposedly tying up Deron Williams' services to send him to Utah, and New Orleans hoping to draft a point guard which most likely would be Pau, the top point guards would be off the board within two picks.
Damn you John Nash.
So what does Charlotte do? Atlanta might no longer be interested in dealing for Charlotte's picks since the coveted point guard of their choosing will not be available. The Hawks could decide that it would be safer to stick with Marvin Williams.
Or, Atlanta could take the point guard that they covet with the second pick which would cause either Andrew Bogut or Marvin Williams to fall to Portland.
While it's hard telling what Portland would do with either player, Portland almost assuredly would not pass on either. If Marvin Williams was the player that falls to Portland, Charlotte then would have to try to convince Portland to trade Williams--which would not be cheap. It's thought that Portland would rather keep Williams rather than trade him.
Where does that leave Charlotte? Charlotte's targets appear to be either Marvin Williams or Paul. If both were potentially off the board by number five it could potentially motivate Charlotte into giving up more to Portland.
This all comes full circle with the potential trade with the Utah Jazz. While reports say that Portland is prepared to make the trade today, there is still a lot of time between now and Portland's pick. If Charlotte is willing to up ante to Portland's liking, even if it is only to secure Paul, Portland will have had a successful draft.
Stay tuned, things might just start getting interesting. |
