There's no question Pritchard also is trying to figure out a way to get maximum cap room this...

There's no question Pritchard also is trying to figure out a way to get maximum cap room this summer to use for a free agent or in a trade...but sources say Portland's real target is Bulls point guard Kirk Hinrich.
Enter the Blazers, who will have the cap space to absorb Hinrich's deal and put the Bulls back under the tax threshold.
Hinrich would give the Blazers a seasoned point guard, but one without the sizzle or upside of Rubio.

-Chad Ford

4 months ago snley 26 comments 1 recs |

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From a Chad Ford story about the Blazers being rumored to trade up to 5 for Rubio if available

Apparently, McMillan doesn’t want another rookie on the team and any deal for the 5th pick is likely to mean wasting cap space on Etan Thomas.

We have every right to dream heroic dreams. Those who say that we're in a time when there are no heroes, they just don't know where to look.
Ronald Reagan

by snley on Jun 22, 2009 11:04 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Won't Rubio be a rookie?

The Blazers need Kirk Hinrich so badly. Just make a reasonable offer already.

12/31: Fire Vinny Del Negro.

by NBA Observer on Jun 22, 2009 11:22 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sorry, my comment was a bit misleading

In the story, Ford says the rumor is the Blazers would try to get up to 5 if Rubio is available but, at the same time, talk out of Portland is they’d rather bring in a veteran

Pritchard joked to The Oregonian that McMillan “will probably kill me” if he adds another rookie to the team. McMillan laughed and told The Oregonian, “you will have to put me behind bars” if Pritchard gets another rookie.

We have every right to dream heroic dreams. Those who say that we're in a time when there are no heroes, they just don't know where to look.
Ronald Reagan

by snley on Jun 22, 2009 11:35 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

If all it takes for the Bulls to move up to number 5 is absorbing Etan Thomas's cap space, why not trade Kirk for Etan and other contracts

for the # 5 pick? Then package that 5th pick for Bosh. I imagine Colangelo would love to have that 5th pick and 9th pick in this draft plus a bunch of other stuff we’d be throwing in a Bosh deal (Deng or Salmons, Tyrus, etc.).

"Tact is the art of making a point without making an enemy." --Newton

by fundamentallysound on Jun 22, 2009 11:29 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

even if he wouldn't accept the 5 pick

i’d rather have Harden or Evans than Hinrich. Both are likely better matches with Rose long term in the backcourt and both could play with BG if we were serious about resigning him.

by Basketball Smurf on Jun 22, 2009 11:32 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, I'd love Harden. Evans I'd be slightly less thrilled about (cause of his lack of shooting)

but he still seems to fit the bill of a potential star in the league and definite starter. Plus, Hollinger’s Draft Rater has both in the top 10 and Evans in the top 3.

I’d be thrilled with either of them as backcourt mates of the future with Rose, with or without Gordon.

"Tact is the art of making a point without making an enemy." --Newton

by fundamentallysound on Jun 22, 2009 11:43 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I would LOVE Harden in this lineup...

For instance, if we kept the pick and took Harden we’d be looking at this line-up:

PG: Rose, #26 pick?
SG: Salmons, Harden
SF: Deng, Salmons
PF: Tyrus, TiT, Etan
C: Noah, Miller

I admit this is probably good for no better than 4th or 5th in the East but it’s a good start and should leave us some cap flexibility for 2010 with an attractive “young core” (man that term scares the sh*t out of me now).

One other interesting possibility is the prospect of drafting Earl Clark at no. 5 (or no. 11 if we do that trade w/ NJ) and dangling Tyrus + others for a banger down low. Or keeping Tyrus and hoping it works. For some reason I feel like Clark has potential to be very, very good.

by Rose Colored Goggles on Jun 22, 2009 12:36 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

No thanks to Earl Clark at no. 5.

"Tact is the art of making a point without making an enemy." --Newton

by fundamentallysound on Jun 22, 2009 1:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah

He’d make more sense at number 11 (and even MORE sense if we could somehow get Bosh — Clark is kind of a more skilled Tyrus anyways).

I guess he’s not really a good fit here, I just see Lamar Odom or young Rashard Lewis like potential in him.

by Rose Colored Goggles on Jun 22, 2009 1:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I've been seeing Clark drop and drop and drop in mock drafts

I’ve been trying to figure out why. I guess it is his turnover rate. Apparently he’s among the highest of all this years prospects.

12/31: Fire Vinny Del Negro.

by NBA Observer on Jun 22, 2009 1:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

yep

he averaged as many turnovers last season as assists (3.2 each). That’s a pretty high number, but it can be explained by the fact that he was the team’s primary ball handler in a lot of their half court sets and he’s 6’10". Might not be as much of a problem in the NBA.

But it could be worse what with the better and more complex defenses he’ll see… Just depends on how he’s used.

by Rose Colored Goggles on Jun 22, 2009 1:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

julian wright

sounds like wright but somehow he ended up on byron scott’s bad side. So much that they barely play the guy or give him a chance even when they are stinking it up. Either way, some of these big men who are called upon to be primary ball handlers in college usually don’t seem to pan out so well. The exception would be lamar odom of course but other than that is there any guy over 6 9 other than turkoglu or odom.

Another note, i feel like the lakers and magic are the exception to most generalities that i make when posting general observations of the top of my head and making these kind of statements.

by Sambossanova on Jun 23, 2009 12:39 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

sizzle? really?

by darksmokepuncher on Jun 22, 2009 11:42 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Rubio might have sizzle...

But Hinrich’s got JAZZ HANDS!!!

"You never got me down, Ray. Ya hear me? Never got me down."
-Jake Lamotta

by The Red Menace on Jun 22, 2009 1:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

What would the bulls get?

Outlaw and Rodriguez?

by McCabe on Jun 22, 2009 4:07 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

who cares...

it would be room to re-sign BG at a nice deal. Anything (anyone) else is gravy at that point.

http://awsomepeoplesearch.com/

by NormVanBeer on Jun 22, 2009 4:33 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

If they trade for Rudy, they'll just call him the SG of the future and pocket Kirk's salary

BullsTwo

by Sports2 on Jun 22, 2009 5:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I wish they could trade for Rudy

But I think they are pretty high on him as a player…

" I've looked at these numbers and decided the #1 problem

is that Ben Gordon is selfish..." -your friendly bulls blogger

by Dionysus2.0 on Jun 22, 2009 5:39 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think he’ll remain a Blazer simply because of the international appeal. The Blazers had a ridiculous amount of European broadcasts this year, along with fan interest from Spain. It’s a financial advantage keeping Rudy.

proud hinrichsheeple

by Cablinasian on Jun 22, 2009 10:35 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs