| Just One Minute On Ordering That Oden Blazers Jersey? Authored by Dennis Silva II - May 22, 2007 - 10:11 pm
Basketball phenoms Greg Oden or Kevin Durant would have been a huge boost to the Memphis Grizzlies or Boston Celtics, both of which had the best percentage chances to land the No.1 pick in Tuesday’s NBA Draft Lottery.
But how quickly would either player greatly affect the Portland TrailBlazers, who actually did win the lottery?
The Blazers find themselves in a unique position. They have what every other NBA club wants – the No.1 pick and the opportunity to select the face of a franchise.
But Portland, who is coming off a 32-50 season, has oogles and oogles of young talent. It’s deep and versatile, athletic and sturdy.
Three rookies played significant minutes last year – LaMarcus Aldridge, Sergio Rodriguez and 2007 Rookie of the Year Brandon Roy – and the team was still able to compete night in and night out, allowing energy and raw talent to make up for lack of experience.
What the Blazers need is not Oden’s defense and knack for rebounding, nor Durant’s long-range bombs and killer first step.
What they need is experience. Veteran leadership. A few players who can mentor the youth, help hone skills and bring the Blazers to the next level – the playoffs.
They have the youth. The pieces are in place.
Most NBA teams who win the lottery are of the 25-wins-or-fewer variety, where a jump to 32-33 wins the next season is considered a nice improvement.
But Portland can afford to look further ahead. Now, 43 or more wins in 2007-08 is not out of the question.
Oden would give Portland what it already has in Zach Randolph and Aldridge. Randolph is a 20/10 talent (he averaged 23.6 points and 10.1 rebounds last season), and Aldridge is an athletic power forward who can score and block shots (five boards and 1.16 blocks per game in 22 minutes per).
Durant would offer a healthy dose of perimeter firepower, shooting from deep, nailing fallaway jumpers, or using his length and height to post smaller wings.
The only thing is the Blazers already have such offense from their perimeter. Roy will become one of the better all-around talents in the game, able to penetrate and knock down jumpers at will, and 2005 first-round pick Martell Webster is a dead-eye scorer who has yet to approach his 21st birthday.
In short, Oden or Durant would not fill Blazers needs. They’re strictly wants. And, despite what many might feel or think, the draft is a chance to fulfill needs; to fill pieces that are missing. Not to get a player whose skills would not be a considerable upgrade from what you already have.
So what should Portland do? Easy. Talk deal.
Memphis and Boston would love the pick. Neither team won more than 24 games, and both are desperate to find a franchise player who can lift their respective clubs back to relevance.
And they both have assets Portland could use.
The Grizzlies could dangle Pau Gasol and their No. 4 pick, who is a smooth, agile frontcourt player who can shoot or score with his back to the basket.
The versatile, 7’0” Gasol would bring relief for Randolph, who would get more open looks. Gasol, 27, is also a great passer, which would help for slashers like Jarrett Jack and Roy.
The Celtics would likely be willing to offer Paul Pierce and their No. 5. Pierce would give the Blazers a wing player who can shoot and drive with aggression, earning countless trips to the free-throw line.
It would work out well either way for Portland. But Oden and Durant won’t immediately help until three years from now. Pierce and Gasol would make the Blazers competitive now.
A starting lineup of Randolph (center), Gasol (forward), Webster (forward), Roy (guard) and Jack (guard) could pose problems in the West, particularly when you consider a bench of Aldridge, Darius Miles, Fred Jones and Rodriguez.
Already, they’d be better than the Lakers and Nuggets, not including what free-agent additions the team would make.
It surely would be an unpopular choice. Everybody is intrigued by potential and the thought of what could be.
But, for Portland’s sake, it might be wiser to think of what should be. |
