Hornets trade 27th pick to Blazers for Cash

[Dime Dropper]

The Portland Trail Blazers have agreed to a deal with the New Orleans Hornets to acquire the 27th pick in Thursday's NBA draft for cash considerations, a Blazers source told ESPN.com.

For the rest: http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/draft2008/news/story?id=3459658



This is what really, really gets under my skin. If the Blazers are just buying picks, why can't we? Why couldn't we have bought the pick? Surely Geoff should be on the phone to pretty much every team inquring about picks. Cash considerations is nothing to give up.

I really don't understand it. Of course their is more to it than we see, but I find it hard to believe we're trying to fully rebuild. It seems to me we're still humming and hawwing over what to do. At this point, it's quite obvious. If picks are being traded for nothing, especially first round picks in a deep draft, you get them.

 

[Big Cuz 15]

this seems to be the kings theme every summer now. nothing new, we'll sit on our hands while the blazers and other active teams are trying to build for the future.

 

[Spike]

Paul Gardner Allen (born January 21, 1953) is an American entrepreneur who co-founded Microsoft with Bill Gates. Allen regularly appears on lists of the richest people in the world. As of September 2007, Forbes ranks him as the eleventh richest American, worth an estimated $16.8 billion.[2]

He is the founder and chairman of Vulcan Inc., which is his private asset management company, and is chairman of Charter Communications. Allen also has a multibillion dollar investment portfolio which includes large stakes in DreamWorks Animation SKG, Digeo, real estate holdings, and more than 40 other technology, media, and content companies.

Allen's got quite a bit of money.

 

[nbrans]

Talk to the Maloofs!

 

[AleksandarN]

Really does the 27 th pick matter. We do not need anymore bench players. Also any pick take up cap space. We need to save the cap room. It is a waste of cap room on a player that may not be in the league in three years. Now if we can get a top 5 pick for cash then I am all for it

 

[Dime Dropper]

Really does the 27 th pick matter. We do not need anymore bench players. Also any pick take up cap space. We need to save the cap room. It is a waste of cap room on a player that may not be in the league in three years. Now if we can get a top 5 pick for cash then I am all for it

Yes it does matter. If you think someone is a very good prospect and can be had that late then you try to acquire the pick. I don't get your logic. If this team really is rebuilding then it needs as many young players as it can get. It is not a waste of cap room. I don't know why people have got it into their heads that if we have cap space a star is automatically going to come here. We have a far, FAR better chance of getting a star through the draft than through FA. Obviously, the stars usually come in the top 3 picks of a draft, but that's another issue that remains ignored by the Kings at this moment.

 

[Bricklayer]

The Blazers have been doing this for years, and they have been rewarded or it -- they are just on the cusp of exploding with a great young team that could be together forever. There have been no half measures there. No we'll get one young guy, oh and keep one old vet, and sign one MLE guy type B.S.. They have gone young with enthusiasm and gusto, and are just loading up.

 

[Jerryaki]

I don't get your logic. If this team really is rebuilding then it needs as many young players as it can get.

but besides cap room, there is another constraint, i.e. # of players. it's not like the kings can go for multiple picks all the time, they will very rapidly run out of roster spots. not saying i agree with the kings' lack of activity in getting multiple picks. but there are issues involved with getting and using those picks, and a greater overall plan needs to be in place (which should actually be the first thing on our list).

 

[AleksandarN]

Yes it does matter. If you think someone is a very good prospect and can be had that late then you try to acquire the pick. I don't get your logic. If this team really is rebuilding then it needs as many young players as it can get. It is not a waste of cap room. I don't know why people have got it into their heads that if we have cap space a star is automatically going to come here. We have a far, FAR better chance of getting a star through the draft than through FA. Obviously, the stars usually come in the top 3 picks of a draft, but that's another issue that remains ignored by the Kings at this moment.

What kind of player do you think we can get with 27th pick. I agree we need to get younger but 27th pick is not going to get us a star player. I like the fact that Petrie got us a second rounder though. Those picks I think are sometimes better then the late first round picks.

 

[Dime Dropper]

What kind of player do you think we can get with 27th pick. I agree we need to get younger but 27th pick is not going to get us a star player. I like the fact that Petrie got us a second rounder though. Those picks I think are sometimes better then the late first round picks.

You never know what you will get anywhere in the draft. And anyway, he doesn't have to be a superstar. He might just be a future role player, but they are important too. Not important for now, but important for the future for when we do have a star. Personally, I'd rather have the 27th pick than 2 second rounders. Although, it is nice to have them.

 

[AleksandarN]

You never know what you will get anywhere in the draft. And anyway, he doesn't have to be a superstar. He might just be a future role player, but they are important too. Not important for now, but important for the future for when we do have a star. Personally, I'd rather have the 27th pick than 2 second rounders. Although, it is nice to have them.

Role players are a dime a dozen. Also 2 nd rounders at least do not have guaranteed contracts so if they suck we can cut them. With late first rounders we are stuck with them for at least 3 years.

 

[Dime Dropper]

Role players are a dime a dozen. Also 2 nd rounders at least do not have guaranteed contracts so if they suck we can cut them. With late first rounders we are stuck with them for at least 3 years.

Maybe it would serve as incentive for Geoff to get rid of some of the un-needed vets, or even better, Artest. I'm sorry, but there's no way you can convince me having multiple picks can be a bad thing. We'll just have to agree to disagree.

 

[16to93]

For those of you thinking something like this would not help us because 27th pick usually = bench player, you might be incorrect.

I think that the 12th pick (our pick) + the 27th pick (if we had acquired it) would = top 10 pick.

Especially if we packaged someone like beno, salmons, or garcia, depending on who we would want to pick.

 

[NoBonus]

Maybe Paul Allen is giving them free spaceship rides on the SpaceShipOne.

 

[1kingzfan]

I think that before you come down on Geoff for not buying the Hornets' 27th pick, and maybe he did try, you have to stop and ask why each team did what they did.

The Hornets, after all their exhaustive research on potential picks at that low 1st round slot, have made a statement that they can do better in free agency than with #27. They are probably one decent piece away from competing to get into the NBA Finals, and they believe that getting some low-priced experienced help is the way to go. To give up the pick for just money, it shows how little they thought of the talent likely available at #27.

The Blazers, like many of you here, believe otherwise for their team, and want to continue a youth movement and roll the dice on an unproven #27 pick sticking and contributing. Portland was not a contending team, like the Kings last season, so they have less to risk with tossing a little cash out to get another young body.

Although the Kings and Blazers are roughly in the same boat, with Portland having more youth and probably having more potential at this juncture, it is still a toss-up to me as to which way to go with a #27.

 

[diggining]

At least we're not selling our pick...

 

['89 Kings Fan]

I would be shocked if Portland did make a move for high draft pick or big name. They have the most tradeable assets in the league. 5 draft picks this year, plus Fernandez, Freeland and Koponen. Hopefully we can be a trading partner because at this point we just need talent.

 

[Peja]

Olympiakos offered Peja 14 million dollars worth 2 year contract,but he refused that,saying that he wants to play for the Hornets till the end of his contract.He said that he would like to come and live in Greece after he's done with basketball though.That's his statement from some Greece radio,I am too lazy to translate entire text,but pretty interesting.

 

[Big Cuz 15]

blazers are stocking up on talent. you noticed they've picked international players and stashed em overseas to be seasoned. rudy fernandez, the englishman and petteri kopponen are the recent ones. even if tehy lose a player or two if they leave, tehy have players to come in and no drop off.

 

[Dime Dropper]

blazers are stocking up on talent. you noticed they've picked international players and stashed em overseas to be seasoned. rudy fernandez, the englishman and petteri kopponen are the recent ones. even if tehy lose a player or two if they leave, tehy have players to come in and no drop off.

Exactly. If Fernandez decides to come over just as the Blazers are really starting to inflict some damage, he's going to be another huge weapon for them. He's a very, very good player. Kind of typical Euro swing man, sort of like Navarro but more athletic. Fernandez is a very good athlete and I'd imagine he'd be a great spark guy off the bench. Can really put points up in a hurry and brings solid D.

Not sure about Koponen and the English dude, never seen them play.
Either way, what Portland are doing is great to watch. Seeing as I have no geographical preferences in the US, I have to admit Portland would be a team I'd like to succeed, just because they've done such a great job at rebuilding.

 

[NewMonkey]

What kind of player do you think we can get with 27th pick. I agree we need to get younger but 27th pick is not going to get us a star player. I like the fact that Petrie got us a second rounder though. Those picks I think are sometimes better then the late first round picks.

Kevin Martin was the 26th pick. Gerald Wallace was the 25th pick. Just sayin'.

 

[AleksandarN]

Kevin Martin was the 26th pick. Gerald Wallace was the 25th pick. Just sayin'.

yeah that happens every year

 

[Big Cuz 15]

Exactly. If Fernandez decides to come over just as the Blazers are really starting to inflict some damage, he's going to be another huge weapon for them. He's a very, very good player. Kind of typical Euro swing man, sort of like Navarro but more athletic. Fernandez is a very good athlete and I'd imagine he'd be a great spark guy off the bench. Can really put points up in a hurry and brings solid D.

Not sure about Koponen and the English dude, never seen them play.
Either way, what Portland are doing is great to watch. Seeing as I have no geographical preferences in the US, I have to admit Portland would be a team I'd like to succeed, just because they've done such a great job at rebuilding.

the way they're going at it, they'll have so much frigging weapons its disgusting. will there be any position they're weak at?? they could package players and pull off a kevin garnett blockbuster type trade in a few years and STILL have talent on board to contend. i've been pining for petrie to draft foreign players in the 2nd round just to have them farmed by other teams. washington got a future first from memphis for 2nd round pick navarro.

 

[AyeCarly]

It's a little premature to be praising Portland on their rebuild strategy. They haven't even won one championship let alone made the playoffs. Are you kidding me?

Orlando had Shaq(#1 draft pick), Penny(#3 draft pick), Dennis Scott(4th pick), Nick Anderson(11th pick) and Brian Williams(10th pick) + 3 future 1st round picks from Golden State (via Webber trade) and how many championships did they amass? None.

They made it to the finals and got swept by a team with a Center in his 12th year (Olajuwon). And they only made it that far, cause Jordan got bored and decided to try baseball.

When the Blazers win a championship, then I'll buy into this strategy being the end all strategy for rebuilding.

 

[Sac.1989]

You never know what you will get anywhere in the draft. And anyway, he doesn't have to be a superstar. He might just be a future role player, but they are important too. Not important for now, but important for the future for when we do have a star. Personally, I'd rather have the 27th pick than 2 second rounders. Although, it is nice to have them.

Kevin martin was selected 26th so theres deffinetely talent there