Crystal Ballin' takes a team-by-team look at what should, could, and probably will happen in the June 26th NBA Draft.Brandon Roy and his All Star self really transformed this team fast didn't he? Portland was the NBA's biggest surprise early, and despite slowing down, you best believe that everyone is going to be picking them as the "breakout" for 2008-09. So let's get it out of the way -- they're going to be good. No using them to breakout. It's cheating. Especially if Kevin Pritchard does what he normally does and dominates this draft.
Picks: #13, #33, #36, #55
Needs: Point guard. I know they have Roy and Jarrett Jack and Sergio Rodriguez and Steve Blake ... and there's a reason they have so many point guards on the roster. They need a legit true bal to put them over the top.
Best case scenario: D.J. Augustin drops past the point guard needy Pacers, Kings and Clippers. Not likely to happen.
More likely scenario: Pritchard trades up and grabs Augustin or stands pat and picks up a very tradable commodity that could fit into their plans as well (Chris Douglas-Roberts?), then promptly fleeces Steve Kerr for Steve Nash.
Please don't take: Alexis Ajinca seems filled with upside, but I don't want this Portland team to think "future". I want them with a pass-first point guard, Greg Oden back in the mix and contending now.
Trade possibilities: Guaranteed? Pritchard routinely deals on draft day (see: Tyrus Thomas and the hijacking of Roy via Kevin McHale) and with four picks, two of which are relatively early in the second round, it seems like almost a lock that he tries to make some sort of jump to acquire another legitimate point guard. There's also the possibility that he takes those picks, combines them with 13, and tries to make a leap into the top 10.
