Posted 07/10/2012 1:17 PM

Step One Sign and Trade Batum to Minnesota
Blazers Receive Darko Milicic, Derrick Williams and a Protected  1^st Round Pick (13-20)
Minnesota Receives Nicolas Batum
Why Portland would accept? 1^st round pick and D. Williams are the two biggest pieces in this deal for Portland Williams would get a chance to replace Batum and if he is not going to be the long term option then he has trade value as he could probably command a low first round pick.  The trade is not perfect but accepting Milicic instead of Webster guarantees us the inclusion of the first round pick.
Why Minnesota would accept? Batum they really want him and they need better wing play. In addition to getting Batum Portland taking Williams and Milicic allows the team to cut Webster and Miller opening up enough space to sign Roy while leaving enough room to go after a third free agent. It also allows them to save their amnesty option for Wesley Johnson if he does not improve this season.

Step Two Trade Wesley Matthews to Cleveland
Blazers Receive Luke Walton and a Protected 1^st Round Pick (8-20)
Cleveland Receive Wesley Matthews
Why Portland would accept? A lot of this trade has to do with the approximate $20.6 million Matthews is scheduled to make over the next three seasons. The other major component is netting a potential lottery pick. Portland opens up lots of playing time for Elliot Williams and Will Barton in this deal and gets a likely high pick in exchange.
Why Cleveland would accept? Matthews is an experienced and hardworking SG who is willing to defend, start or come off the bench. He would be an excellent mentor for Dion Waiters without standing in his way. Matthews can hold down the starting spot until Waiters is ready and challenge him every day in practice. Giving up a potential lottery pick is a hard pill to swallow but the Blazers taking on the ugly contract of Luke Walton makes it easier.

Step Three Trade Lamarcus Aldridge to Charlotte
This is the most controversial move of them all but it is one Portland should consider in order to rebuild. LA can be traded to numerous teams for young talent such as Thomas Robinson, Demarcus Cousins, Derrick Favors etc so this trade is not the only one out there.

Portland Receives Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, DeSagana Diop, an un-protected first round pick (2013), a top 5 protected pick (2014), and the return of the Blazers pick owed from the Gerald Wallace deal.
Charlotte Receives Lamarcus Aldridge and a second round pick in 2013 if Portland receives a top 5 pick.
Why Portland would accept? Multiple first round picks and long term cap flexibility. Portland gets a potential long term starter at SF in Michael Kidd-Gilchrist they also receive three additional first round picks. Trading a star like LA is never easily but getting a long term starter and what is essentially 3 lottery picks makes it easier.
Why Charlotte would accept? Lamarcus Aldridge he is an all-star caliber player who will help improve the team immediately. He is also the type of player who is good enough that Charlotte could market to recruit additional free agents something they could not do before the trade. Giving up an unprotected pick is always scary especially when you consider the team is likely to be in the lottery next year but owning Detroit’s pick from the Ben Gordon trade makes this easier. Thanks to that same trade Charlotte is essentially only missing one draft either in 2013 or 2014 that is pretty easy to accept for a guaranteed all-star talent.

Step Four Trade Luke Babbitt to New Orleans
Portland Receives 2013 Second round pick 31-40
New Orleans Receives Luke Babbitt
Why Portland would accept? With Williams and Kidd-Gilchrist in town Babbitt would be buried on the bench moving him for a high second round pick seems like the best move available.
Why New Orleans would accept? They need depth Babbitt can shoot and they would only be giving up a second round pick for a former first round talent.

Step Five Sign Joel Freeland
With no real front court presence on this team bringing over the big Englishman it is important. Portland needs to see what they have in Freeland and Leonard so getting him suited up on a team where he can see a lot of playing time is important.

Step Five Play the Rookies
After trading most of the veteran presence on the team it is important to see what the young players can give you. Playing Damian Lillard, Nolan Smith, Elliot Williams, Will Barton, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Derrick Williams, and Meyers Leonard is important to see what this team actually has.

Step Six Trade Deadline trade Kurt Thomas, Nolan Smith, the rights to Victor Claver and Derrick Williams for picks.
Portland Receives a mid first round pick (14-20) for Williams, a low first round pick (24-30) for the combination of Claver and Smith and a second for Thomas.
Why Portland would accept? Thomas has no long term value on a rebuilding team so getting something for him would be important. I do not see Nolan improving much this season so Portland would be wise to move him before his value completely disappears. Claver is not the long term option for Portland at SF so getting value for him is important. Williams is only being dealt because he can land a nice draft pick and to help Portland tank in the second half.

2013 NBA Draft
Portland has their pick likely to be high lottery
Target Shabazz Muhammad
This kid is an elite scorer if he develops like many believe we are looking at the next James Harden if not the next Kobe Bryant he is the type of talent that can change the course of a franchise.

Charlotte’s unprotected pick also likely to be lottery
Target Nelrens Noel
This pick could vary but I believe it will be around the top five making a Noel a potential target. Noel is not the next Anthony Davis but he is still an elite talent. His defense is incredible but his weight will be an issue in the NBA if he can add 10 pound this year in college and then a few more before the draft it would go a long way to making him NBA ready. Right now look for an upside of Bismark Biyombo, Serge Ibaka or a young Marcus Camby then cross your fingers and hope the flat top can become the next Garnett or Davis.

Cleveland’s likely low lottery pick
Target Tony Mitchell
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist will be a star in this league I believe but Portland would be smart to get a back up just in case his aggressive style lands him on the injured list. Tony Mitchell is a SF/PF who is an elite defender and a great rebounder. He is likely more a PF in the NBA but he is certainly capable of playing either spot. Think Keyon Martin.

Mid-round pick from D. Williams trade
Target Aaron Craft
Craft was the best on ball defender in college basketball last year and provided he makes the expected fully recovery from ankle surgery that should be the case this year as well. He is not a great offensive player but he is a great defender and a good passer and would be the perfect complement to the offensive minded Lillard. Think Kirk Hinrich.

Minnesota mid-round pick Veteran Trade Fodder
Low first from Smith and Claver deal Veteran Trade Fodder

Three second round picks own, Babbitt deal, Thomas deal Trade for low first round pick
Target Dario Saric
With Mitchell projecting more as a PF finding a back up for Kidd-Gilchrist remains a concern. Saric is probably Europe’s best young prospect so while he is likely a few years away from the NBA he is certainly worth stashing and will likely increase in value as he improves overseas.  He is a long term keeper/ trade fodder. 

2013 Trailblazers Depth Chart
PG Damian Lillard, Aaron Craft
SG Shabazz Muhammad, Elliot Williams, Will Barton
SF Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Tony Mitchell, Will Barton
PF Nelrens Noel, Tony Mitchell, Joel Freeland
C Meyers Leonard, Joel Freeland

On the surface it looks like we will need front court help and that is very much a possibility.  Portland will have a lot of cap space so going after someone like Serge Ibaka, Josh Smith, Al Jefferson, Paul Milsap, or Nikola Pekovic on that list only Ibaka is restricted. Plus we can always add depth through the draft with the two unused picks or trade them for a veteran not on the list.

This team is full of elite defenders we will just need to get some offense from the 3, 4 and 5 position. I am not sure exactly what we will get from the team but the prospects are intriguing and such a young team is bound to improve each year and until they do keep adding a high lottery pick until something changes.  I see that team being a contender in 3 seasons then again there is no guarantee any of that happens but there certainly is nice potential in rebuilding.