Blazers Trade Bayless

Jerryd Bayless has been traded to the New Orleans Hornets for a future first round pick.

He will likely be the backup point guard for his former assistant coach and now head coach of the Hornets, Monty Williams.

The Blazers receive a first round pick with a 1-7 protection the coming year and 1-8 the three following years. This means that the Blazers will get the Hornets first round pick unless it is in the top seven or eight picks of the draft.

Blazers Sign Oberto

The Blazers have signed center Fabricio Oberto to a one year contract.

This likely means that Jeff Pendergraph, who is out for the season and has just this year left on his contract, will be released.

2nd Fantasy Draft

Snake, Rotisserie League

PG - Derrick Rose

SG - Brandon Roy

SF - LeBron James

PF - Kevin Love

C - Brook Lopez

G - Brandon Jennings

F - Paul Millsap

UTL - John Salmons

UTL - Roy Hibbert

UTL - Nicolas Batum

BEN - Corey Maggette

BEN - Yao Ming

BEN - Johnny Flynn

Not feeling as good about this team, but I still like my chances.

1st Fantasy Draft For The New Season

It was an auction style draft, with head to head play.

PG - Derrick Rose

SG - Brandon Roy

SF - Lamar Odom

PF - LaMarcus Aldridge

C - Andrew Bogut

G - Darren Collison

F - Kevin Love

UTL - John Wall

UTL - J.J. Hickson

UTL - Anthony Randolph

BEN - Wesley Johnson

BEN - Evan Turner

BEN - Greg Oden

Feeling good about it, weak at SF and maybe at SG if Evan Turner doesn't do well.

Armon Johnson Signed

Point guard Armon Johnson has been given a contract, filling up the 15th and final roster spot.

This does not necessarily mean the Patty Mills won't be on the Blazers. Rudy Fernandez has requested a trade, which could open up a roster spot for Mills.

I really like the potential Johnson has, and am hoping that they trade Fernandez and Bayless for some draft picks. This would create a scenario where Johnson is the backup point guard, but I still don't think he would play too much.

Brandon Roy could play point when Andre Miller is out, with Wesley Matthews at 2, and Batum at 3.

Andre Miller: 4 More Years

Andre Miller stated that he would like to play in the NBA four more years before retiring.

He is currently in the second year of his contract, the Blazers hold a team option for next year.

If they could re-sign him for around $5 million a year I think he would be a great starter as Armon Johnson develops.

Potential Trade for Chris Paul

Chris Paul

Emeka Okafor

Joel Przybilla

Andre Miller

Dante Cunningham

Jerryd Bayless

1st Round Pick

Adding Chris Paul would instantly put the Blazers among the top 5 teams in the league.

I would love to keep Batum, so Bayless and Cunningham may allow them to do so.

The contracts of Przybilla and Miller would be welcomed by the Hornets as they expire after this season.

The only downside is the contract of Okafor. He is owed around $50 million dollars. He is way overpaid, but he would be a good backup power forward, and can play center.

Blazers' New General Manager

Rich Cho is the new GM.

He has been the assistant general manager for the Sonics and Thunder the last 9 years.

I am very pleased with this hiring, I wish they wouldn't have fired Pritchard, but this is the next best thing.

The Thunder have improved at a similar rate to the Blazers, possibly a little bit quicker, so Cho should be able to continue the Blazers' improvement.

Trade Proposal

Rudy Fernandez

Jerryd Bayless

Future 1st Round Pick

Future 2nd Round Pick

The New York Knicks have expressed interest in Rudy Fernandez and with Armon Johnson being similar to Bayless with more potential and a log jam at guard, I think this trade is possible.

The Knicks will compete for the playoffs so, the draft picks would most likely be mid-round picks.

The Knicks have plenty of cap room after not getting Lebron James, so they would not have to send anyone back to the Blazers.

Summer League Impressions

Patty Mills was very impressive in game 1 when he nearly got a triple-double.

After that he was not as impressive to me. He scored more and showed how well he can shoot, but we already knew that. He did not pass the ball as well and did not look like a true point guard.

Armon Johnson was very impressive, I think he has the potential to be a star. He still needs to work on his passing and shooting, but he can score, is athletic, and can play defense.

Luke Babbitt was solid throughout the summer league. He showed his range in the last three games and showed that he is athletic and can drive, but he needs work on the defensive end.

Dante Cunningham and Jeff Pendergraph were solid, not amazing, but the summer league is a place were guards usually do much better than big men.

Ekene Ibekwe is a very athletic big man who's strength is defense. He has a lot of potential, but will take some time to develop. He can shoot free throws and has some offensive moves. I think he will be on a NBA roster this season.

Mike Green will not get an opportunity from the Blazers, but he impressed me in game 3 by being a true point guard. He can run a team and has some scoring ability. I think he would be a good 3rd string point guard, a guy that could step in and would not hurt you if someone got injured.

If I were to pick between Armon Johnson and Patty Mills, I would choose Johnson. He has more potential and more of an all around game. Patty Mills should be on a NBA roster and I think he would excel in a run and gun system such as New York's.

One other player that impressed me was Pooh Jeter. He is a point guard out of University of Portland. Last year he was on the Blazers' summer league team and played very well. This year he averaged 14.4 points on 48.2% shooting and 5.4 assists.