Draft Oden Oden Aldridge Udocka Roy Jack Tremendous front line. Turn opponents into jump shooting team = First ingredient to winning.
They have alot of chips to work with. I would draft Oden, and do little else this year. Next year, I would push hard to get a veteran leader with Randolph and LaFrentz's contract.
I think they're in a great position for moving Randolph, in that they don't need to get an equal return for him. They can all but dump him and be okay with the nucleus they have left. They most need a capable PG and some reliable post scoring (neither Aldridge nor Oden could be considered that quite yet) if they move him, but they wouldn't be bad at all. They are at worst a 35-win team next year, even if you simply subtract Zach Randolph. Made up scenarios, focusing on teams hard up for size: to Washington for Haywood, Daniels, Stevenson to Denver for Nene Hilario to Minny for Blount and Hassell to NJ for Kidd (?) With the exception of the last, I think it'd be tough to turn down the offer for the opposing GM. You're getting a borderline All Star at the 4 for rubbish. Portland gets help pressing the reset button on the team and can build around the future without a childish tug of war and jealousy. Look at how Francis reacted so badly to Dwight Howard in Orlando. He refused to acknowledge him as the future and willfully tried to keep him from overtaking his status as top dog. You can put plenty of money on Zach Randolph doing the same thing to the Oden-Aldridge tandem. Get him out before there's trouble. Evan
why do you guys keep thinking aldridge can play pf? he CANT aldridge is GONE...draft oden, trade aldridge(his trade value is ALOT higher than zach) for the #3 pick, take conley jr...best pg in draft, plus its odens best friend and makes sense from a basketball point also conley jr/jack/sanchez roy (second round pick)/miles zach oden/magloire the other option is to NOT draft durant #1, but draft oden and TRADE him to seattle for durant(seattle wants oden alot more) and have them include ridnour and i bet seattle is dumb enough to do it then you have probably a even better lineup ridnour/jack roy durant/miles zach aldridge WOW
I agree with the latter. Aldridge in today's up and down NBA that allows zone defense is best as a 5. Portland also has good defensive back-up center signed long term in Przybilla. I am not even sure Oden makes more sense for them than Durant. Seattle on the other hand has a bunch of forwards, actually a pretty good scoring punch overall, but no center and little shot blocking presence. Thus to them I think Oden would be much more desirable than Durant. If I am Portland I trade with Seattle and draft Durant. I would make them take on LaFrentz or (if he doesn't retire) Miles's contract for Wilcox/filler, this years #2 overall (Durant) and next years #1 for this years overall #1 (Oden). Portland starters: -Aldridge -Randolph -Durant -Roy -Jack Bench: -PG: Dickua, Rodriguez -SG/SF: Webster, Outlaw, Udoka (if resigned for cheap), Miles (if he returns) -PF: Wilcox -C: Pryzbilla That is quite a bit of young talent with the ability to go shooting/scoring and athletic/defensive. Roy and Durant could center a devastating attack and they have some good pieces around them. For as much as people complain about Zach he is a very productive 25 year old PF who has been Portland's statistically most valuable player (PER) for the last 2 years and averaged close to 20-10 for the last 4 years. Now if you want Wilcox or Durant to take over the 4 spot you could find takers for Randolph. In sum, if I am Portland I trade down for a modest fleecing of Seattle and take Durant. And if I am Seattle, I am probably willing to give up next years #1 and take on a bad contract in exchange for Wilcox to move up for Oden. Win-win.
Draft Durant, use Randolph and Outlaw/Webster or whatever else is there to get KG. Jack Roy Durant KG Aldridge
1) Draft Greg Oden 2) Trade Randolph to NJ for Richard Jefferson (Nets want a big man desperately) 3) Dump Raef Lafrentz and Darius Miles plus 2nd round picks for anything or nothing at all (Cap relief would be a life saver and deal maker in this trade) 4) Re-sign Travis Outlaw and Jamaal Magloire Lineup PG Jarett Jack - Dan Dicau - Sergio Rodriguez SG Brandon Roy - Martell Webster - Fred Jones SF Richard Jefferson - Travis Outaw PF Lamarcus Aldridge - Jamaal Magloire C Greg Oden - Joel Pryzybilla 12 man young team with a loaded froncourt and depth at every position on the bench. This team looks very scary in a few years. Could be like Utah quick rebuild and shuffle.
I would take Oden, but why do folks keep saying great NBA Centers/bigs only come around once in a lifetime? 83 - Ralph 84 - Hakeem 85 - Ewing 87 - Robinson 92 - Shaq 97 - Duncan 02 - Yao 04 - Dwight 07 - Oden And I keep reading predictions of swaps involving Randolph and R.Lewis? Anyone think that can happen?
What's the story with Darius Miles? He had so much promise, and I think he's still only 25 or 26. Could Adelman do anything with him, and could we extort some draft picks if we did take him? Before anybody gets crazy on this comment/question, I'm not proposing it -- just asking about possible merits.
He might retire, apparently he's done. If he does he gets fully paid and it doesn't count towards the salary cap for Portland.
