A Draft for the Ages
posted: 6/28/2006 at 10:24 PM
Have you ever seen a crazier draft in your life?
If there were any questions in your mind about whether or not the Trail Blazers are serious about changing things, serious about agressively pursuing becoming better, or more committed to making things happen their way, I hope last night answered those. Undoubtedly, the future is bright, and just got a whole lot brighter.
The broadcasting team met yesterday afternoon, before the draft, with president Steve Patterson. He told us what a dream scenario would be, what they were working on, and where they saw this draft going. I'm not sure any of us actually saw
all the dominos falling Portland's way. It's not that we weren't confident, but it almost didn't even sound realistic. We expected a lot, but I don't think ever really thought all of this would happen exactly like this.
To give credit where credit is most certainly due, you have to start with owner Paul Allen. He joined our radio show last night on two different occasions, and each time sounded enthusiastic, engaged, and very positive. He was sold on what could happen, and then supplied the means and vision to make it work.
Give a lot of credit to Patterson and player personnel director Kevin Pritchard, who maybe now can finally get a little sleep. I asked Kevin after the draft party ended last night if he was going straight to bed. He told me, "heck no, I've got to go back to the office right now and put together a summer league team." What a summer league team it'll be.
The biggest thing to come out of the draft, in my mind, was the fact that rather than waiting to see where the draft would take them, and then reacting to what other teams did, the Trail Blazers boldly powered their way to a winning day. The scouting team was unified in what it wanted and grabbed the wheel early in the day. I honestly don't think it can be overstated what a huge and historic day this was for the franchise. I would think even the most pessimistic fans will find it hard to complain after this.
LaMarcus Aldridge, the player the team has wanted since the beginning, is now a Blazer. Brandon Roy, who could have gone as high as number two, and has been called the most complete and NBA-ready player available, is now a Blazer. Both of them called into our radio show and sounded almost giddy that things turned out so well for them. Martell Webster, who has known Roy for nine years, even got on the radio and helped us interview his old friend from Seattle.
The players sacrificed on draft day included Sebastian Telfair, Theo Ratliff, and Viktor Khryapa. The Blazers also spent some serious resources to make all of this happen. Telfair and Ratliff were sent to Boston, in exchange for the 7th pick, Raef LaFrentz (maybe the most underrated addition of the day), and Dan Dickau. Khryapa was sent to Chicago, to ensure that Aldridge became a Blazer. And, Minnesota was paid to swap picks with Portland so that Roy would be on his way to Portland. The team wasn't done there. They paid for Phoenix's 27th pick, and ended up taking Spanish point guard Sergio Rodriguez, who no one expected to fall so far. With the final pick of the first round the Blazers added British star Joel Freeland, who's young, talented, and full of potential. Maybe the best part of all of these players? They are terrific young men and all are thrilled to be coming to Portland.
A summer league team consisting of Roy, Aldridge, Webster, Rodriguez, and Freeland, are you kidding me? I can't wait to watch them. We'll be heading to Vegas next week, and I'll be giving you daily reports, interviews, and photos. Aldridge and Roy will be in Portland on Friday, and will be introduced to the city.
Lastly, thanks to Outback Steakhouse in Tualatin, and all the people who made this draft party such a success. I expected it to be big, but nothing like it actually was. Mike Rice and Antonio Harvey did a great job hosting the show with me, and Brian Wheeler broke about five stories from the practice facility, plus got exclusive interviews with Patterson, Allen, and Nate McMillan, who couldn't wipe the smile off his face at the post-draft press conference. I think that's a sign of things to come.
Check out some of the great interviews by downloading the podcast (free from iTunes), or clicking on each audio file below:
LaMarcus AldridgeBrandon RoyBarrett, Rice, and Antonio talk about LaMarcus AldridgeOwner Paul Allen before the draftMartell Webster talks about the draft.Steve Blake with the guys from Courtside about the trades and the draft.Coach Nate McMillan in regards to the how the draft went down.Trail Blazesr President/Acting GM Steve Patterson on the draftOwner Paul Allen's reactions and analysis of the draftThe guys from Courtside Monday night recap the draft
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i do think that we go 3 or 4 good players in the draft more then any blazer fan would have expecetd but i think that it came with too much sacrifice, many peoples belief is that aldridge would have been availbe at 4, so now we are paying him more money and we lost vicktor and with miles on the verge of being traded for almost certiain unequal value that leaves with a big gap at 3 with just travis outlaw i think that martell should stick to the 2 gaurd, i understand movind sebastian but i dont like it he really started playing well at the end of the season and most young players have tehre sophmore slump and i think he should have gotten the chance to prve himself next year as he will do in the 2 games the blazers play bosten next season, as far as ratliff i am a little dissapointed because i dont mind him going but i thouhgt the whole idea was that he had too big ofa contract so we takea guy who earns more money and more years? and we just lost the heart and soul of our defense with khyrapa and ratliff gone, and for dickous concern i hope he is released he had a horrible showing when he played for us a while back. i am happy about getting roy but i was more excited about having foye for that split second as he has superstar potential to bea mix between dwayne wade and giblert arenas, but i also thought that he could have contributed just as much as branden roy this year
I like the moves that the Blazers made during this draft, and it shows the dedication that this team is taking in preparing for a powerhouse squad in the future. Our first two picks, Roy and Aldridge, are definete keepers and could make a quality impact in the next two years. We also got some very young prospects who could potentially be big time players in this league under the right circumstances and I don't mind waiting for them to prepare; talking about Rodriguez and Freeland. Yeah, it will be sad with such a high draft pick like Telfair out of the picture, but he will have a better career for a team like Boston. The other huge bonus in this draft is that the Blazers aquired Lafrenz. He will be much needed insurence if Pryz decided to sign elsewhere (which I hope doesn't happen). Next season could be another rough one, but who knows, maybe the Blazers are not done yet trading wise.
A draft day for the ages indeed Mike! I love the combo of getting two guys ready to contribute right away (LaMarcus and Roy) and then another two with loads of potential (Sergio and Freeland). With the imminent trade of Miles, I really think that Pryzbilla will strongly consider resigning with us after such an aggressive showing by Blazer management in this draft. I do not mind losing Telfair at all but will miss Viktor. But we did the right thing to insure the addition of Aldridge. Speaking of LaMarcus, as I watched his workout video on Blazers.com I could not help but think of Rasheed Wallace with the kid's similar release point and beautiful turn around jump shot in the post. Great day for Blazer fans.
I hate to see Telfair go I think he is going to have a bright future in the NBA. I also hate to see Kryapa go. He has improved so much. Chicago is going to be better with him on the court. But I also think that both picks were worth the sacrifice. I am kinda of confused about the whole #4 for #2 thing, but ohh well. I just think that if we could have kept Kryapa that would have been a good thing. It doesn't matter what happened though, becasue I will always be a Blazer fan. No matter what. Now I just hope they stay in Portland, so we can see theis draft picks play for years to come.
Even though I signed the fan letter urging the Blazers to pick Adam Morrison, I will take Aldridge and Roy over Morrison any day. I'm glad to see Telfair go (either him or Jarret Jack had to), but why deal Viktor? Were the Blazers convinced Charlotte was going to take Aldridge at #3? I would have let Chicago take Tyrus Thomas at #2, (who they wanted) and take my chances at #4. If Charlotte picked Aldridge at #3, fine, take Morrison at #4. You would either get your guy (Aldridge) and keep Viktor (especially if they can move Darius Miles) or get Morrison (who a lot of the fans wanted) and have Viktor on the bench for a defensive sub (and still get rid of Darius Miles).
Hey Mike great show last night. I was there in the front row (the one who won the Webster signed bball if you remember) and I thought you guys did a great job. It was almost as if we were part of the war room with all of the inside information we kept getting from Wheels. Outback was awesome (how can you beat a free steak, chicken, cheese cake, and Champagne) and I just want to say thank you to the broadcasters for doing such a good job and to the organization for drafting some great young talent and providing a great party! Paul Allen is the greatest owner in professional sports and I hope he continues to own the Blazers for many years to come!
P.S. You baby is very well behaved! He looks a lot like you, congrats!
i am an spaniard who has been following the entire draft from spain. i must say that the blazers got a nice exchange with sergio rodriguez.i've been following him for few years and with his 19 years he's going foward to play with the spanish national team in the next world cup in japan. he's quick intelligent and has a perfect vision of the game. he can assume responsabilities since he has played in the spanish playoffs assuming in the important moments of the series. he's a showtime player and brings the basketball we all like to see.
Wow, this is exciting, I've become a Blazer fan again. Hopefully the JailBlazer era is over and the team can become good role models for the youth of Portland, and also make the playoffs with all this talent. It is great to see Roy join this team, he is a class act!
Good Draft!!!! Roy and Aldridge are Real keepers. Roys 120% activity and good defence have been needed in the gaurd posistion since Clyde left. Aldridge may put a fire under Zebo and return him to his former self, if not we will have another choise to make next year. We now have a good guard and center/forward base and need to look at the 3 posistion, Darius does need to be traded , but how to get a good value out of him is the Big question. We do have a young Bo Outlaw and maybe Webster that can play and do good there. A trade of Darius for almost any desent small forward would be a positive move for team chemistry We are still 2 years away from a serious play-off team but I think this gives the coach a better group to work with. Now please!! Mr Allen either get your Heart back into the team or work something out with Terry Porter and his group to keep this team in Portland.
I wrote in yesterday and my comment didn't get posted, but it was along the lines of i KNOW the blazers can turn things around. Yesterday in the NBA Draft they did just what i knew they could if not more. I was not a Morrison fan from the beginning, But Roy and Aldridge are the perfect new additions to my favorite team. I think they both are young, which as we know is the theme of our blazers, but I think they both share a positive attitude and a love for the game which is just what we need. i cannot WAIT for this season. I think the rest of the NBA is going to be shocked at how much better we will be already. Great show by the way Mike! and amazing blag as always. Thank you!
I just wanted to give my congrats on an incredible draft. Probobly one of the best I've seen. I'm not a Portland fan but I've been following the Blazers in the past year since you drafted Georgia Tech's favorite player Jarrett Jack. Here's what you pulled off: You got the best player in the draft in Brandon Roy (Adam Morrison will be a massive bust), you got one of the two best big men in Aldridge and you off loaded a very overrated point guard who wasnt going to bring anything to the team with Jack and Steve Blake taking over his job anyways. It looks like this upcomming year officially begins the Jarrett Jack era. I hope you enjoy watching him as much as we did on the Flats.
hey Mike, I noticed that all the comments posted are positives for the Blazers. That is probably why mine didn't.
Isn't it a shame that you your blog is just another offshoot of the Blazers, and that you cannot post anything that might be contrary.
I hope someday that you can get away from the Blazers and belong to an organization that will allow you to be honest and say what you really feel. It must be terrible to have the talent you have, and let someone else pull your strings.
That is why I never listen to courtside, or the fifth quarter, it is not honest.
I predict in about 5 years that we will look at this draft as a disaster. Aldridge reminds me of Rasheed Wallace.
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