Post by Chicago Bulls on Jun 27, 2008 6:17:43 GMT -5
Blazers Lineup Looks Set For Future
The trail followed by the Blazers this year is now looking remarkably similar to a trail blazed by their real-life counterparts from Portland. With the 13th pick in the 2008 NBA Draft the Blazers selected Brandon Rush from Kansas. But it wasn't long before Rush, Jarrett Jack and Josh McRoberts were headed to Indiana in a trade-up for 11th pick Jerryd Bayless and forward, Ike Diogu.
Could it be that real-life Blazers GM, Kevin Pritchard, wasn't confident enough in his own decisions and felt the need to study the wise rebuilding of the 'GM-sensation' from Rim Rockers? ;D Bayless was taken at 11, just like in real-life, and eventually made his way to Portland!
Either way, it looks like the lineup of the real-life Blazers and your very own Portlanders is going to be very similar! the only difference being at small forward where last season's rookie phenom, Al Thornton, starts at small forward instead of Travis Outlaw.
"It's weird, because the only problem we face now is whether to start Rajon (Rondo) or Jerryd (Bayless) at the one." remarked Blazers GM, Gareth Gobbelcoque. "You're looking at two guys at both ends of the spectrum. Rajon was Player of the Game in Game 6, you look at his stats and the guys who function around him in real life and I know he'll be strong at the point for us - and can only improve. But then you've got this combo-guard, he can shoot the 3 and his vertical means he can compete at the two-spot as well." said Gobbelcoque in reference to Bayless. "It might be a case of a rookie being sixth man of the year, the same as Ben Gordon in 2005!"
"I suppose [our team] is still a work-in-progress," the Blazers GM divulged, "We'll look at which of our guys has lived up to their potential in a few seasons time. Hopefully we can make a splash in free agency, pick-up some major help with all our cap-room, and then use our Bird Rights - if we need them - to re-sign our core."
One thing is for sure, with the Blazers lineup of Greg Oden - Lamarcus Aldridge - Al Thornton - Brandon Roy - Rajon Rondo or Jerryd Bayless having only room to improve, it wont be long before Portland breaks-out of the West's dungeon and into the playoffs. And with a predicted $40,000,000 of cap room next season, followed by a league-record $65,000,000 of cap room the following year, who knows what big-name free agents could be attracted to the Pacific North West!