Rose, Beasley go #1, 2; Blazers trade for Bayless

Derrick Rose was selected first overall by the Chicago Bulls, allowing him to play in his hometown, Michael Beasley, after much discussion about if he would be selected number two, was by the Miami Heat and O.J. Mayo fleshed out the top three picks with his selection by the Minnesota Timberwolves, as was expected.

The one thing that has surprised me about the draft so far is that the Sonics took Russell Westbrook with the fourth pick. Two problems with this pick: you don’t take a defensive oriented guard before players like Jerryd Bayless, Eric Gordon and D.J. Augustin, who are more offensive guards, and second: he isn’t really a point guard, he is a tweener, a player at 6′3″, that is a shooting guard in a point guards body. In the NBA he could be a lock down defender on point guards, but his offensive intangibles don’t reflect that of a point guard, therefore making him a undersized shooting guard. Sure was a explosive player in college but was probably the third best player on his UCLA squad (behind Love and Collison). I thought the Sonics would go for a power forward, probably at that position in the draft, Kevin Love, despite their past poor selections of big men.

The Blazers made a play at one of the guards that the Sonics past up, Jerryd Bayless, who fell down to the number 11 pick to the Indiana Pacers. They traded Jarrett Jack, Josh McRoberts and the 13th pick, Brandon Rush, for the former Arizona guard. This is a steal in my opinion because one of the positions they needed help at was point guard, considering what they had to give up. This pick allows Brandon Roy to move over to shooting guard, if they decide to use Bayless right away. This acquisition also gives the Blazers a lot of depth at the position as they now have Bayless, Steve Blake, Brandon Roy and even Rudy Fernandez (a shooting guard who can play some point) that they can use. I am amazed, considering that Bayless was seen as a top 6 pick, that the Blazers could give up so little to get such a hot commodity and a talented player. This trade was made after the Blazers took Brandon Rush with the 13th pick, a player that I thought could help them. The reasoning behind trading Rush was that Portland already has Martell Webster, Rudy Fernandez and Travis Outlaw at the shooting guard/small forward position. I think Rush will be a very good NBA player, but Bayless filled a need.

After the Draft ended the Timberwolves and Grizzlies made a trade of their own, sending the third overall pick, O.J. Mayo, to the Grizzlies for the 5th overall pick, Kevin Love. The Timberwolves also sent Marko Jaric, Greg Buckner and Antoine Walker to the Grizzlies for Mike Miller, Brian Cardinal and Jason Coliins to complete the deal. Minnesota needed a big man to go along with Al Jefferson on the front-line and got him in Love. That wasn’t the only prize in the deal for the Wolves as they obtained Miller, who is still young, at 28, and is a very good scorer. By making this trade the Grizzlies intend to play Mayo as a shooting guard, because of his size, at 6′4″, and because the team already has two young point guards in Mike Conley and Kyle Lowry. Memphis didn’t get much in return besides Mayo, but if he turns out to be as good a player as everyone expects, that’s all they will need.

Brook Lopez went tenth overall to the New Jersey Nets, while twin brother Robin Lopez was taken by the Phoenix Suns with the 15th selection. Although Brook has the better offensive game at this point, many in the NBA think that Robin will be the better player. Robin is more of a defensive specialist which could be the reason why, I guess it goes with the saying “defense wins championships.”

This draft has had it all: A surprise pick in Russell Westbrook, a surprise slip in Bayless, more aggressive moves by Blazers GM Kevin Pritchard, and a few more trades thrown in.

Complete Blazers and former Oregon Duck selections-

13th overall selection-Brandon Rush–Traded to Pacers for the rights to Jerryd Bayless

27th overall selection-Darrell Arthur– slipped considerably to this position, but has a lot of talent; traded to the Houston Rockets along with 33rd selection for Nicolas Batum (selected 25th).

33th overall selection-Joey Dorsey– has incredible altheticism, and a great defensive player; traded to Rockets as part of the deal bringing Nicolas Batum to the Blazers.

38th overall selection-Omer Asik– 6′11″ center from Turkey, don’t no much about him but he will spend time overseas after signing 5-year deal with hometown team (may never come over to the NBA).

55th overall selection-Mike Taylor–guard out of Iowa State, traded to Clippers for a conditional second round pick in 2009, as they are, now with the acquisition of Bayless, set at the point guard position

Oregon Duck selections-Malik Hairston–selected 48th overall by the Phoenix Suns. He was then traded to the Spurs along with cash and a future second round pick for Goran Dragic. Hairston could be a solid player for the Spurs, if he makes the team.

Maarty Luenen–selected 54th overall by the Houston Rockets. He could have a tough time making the team with the bundle of forwards that Houston has.