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Okay, I had to wait a bit to see if the Blazers made any more moves involving draft picks, but I feel ready to give my input on the Blazers' draft day.

Let me start out by saying that Kevin Pritchard is a fun GM.  He had five draft picks and kept none of them.  He trades like crazy and always seems to come out better because of it.  Owner Paul Allen has given him permission to spend his money, and Pritchard knows how to do it.

Going into the draft, Portland had one glaring need (PG), one spot of interest that didn't need immediate addressing (SF), and one area that would be nice to add but not necessary (veteran experience).  Check, check, and check.

As I watched the draft I kept watching two things: 1) the Blazers weren't moving into the top 10 like I expected them to in order to get a highly touted PG prospect and 2) Jerryd Bayless kept falling down the draft.  I knew he wouldn't fall all the way to Portland's pick at #13, and was not surprised to see Indiana pick him up at #11.  I was pleased with Brandon Rush going to Portland at 13- he could play SF and thus addressed one area of need.  Later they got a steal in Darrel Arthur, though I didn't know how he would fit in.  They also got some prospects and scrubs with their glut of 2nd round picks.  However, KP pulled his magic again.

Remember, in 2006 KP initiated the turnaround of the franchise by parlaying the #4 pick into the #2 and #6 pick.  Many GMs would have taken Adam Morrison at 4 and called it good.  Not KP.  He turned it into Lamarcus Aldridge and Brandon Roy, the top two performers for Portland last season.  The next year he got lucky and draft Oden, but also simply bought the Phoenix Suns' pick and used it on Rudy Fernandez, who turned into the best international player and the MVP of two major overseas tournaments.  Rudy is now coming over next year, by the way.  KP has a way of both getting players who fit immediatly into coach Nate Mcmillan's scheme, and drafting international prospects to stash overseas as they develop.  He also loves stockpiling future draft picks to use as liquid assets to sweeten trade pots.  And he did it again.

The Blazers traded their #13 selection (Rush), talented but wild combo guard Jarret Jack, and D-leaguer Josh McRoberts to the Pacers for Bayless and Ike Diogu, Arthur and a 2nd round pick for highly rated international prospect in Nicholas Batum.  The final two 2nd rounders were traded for four future second rounders.  i like every trade, especially the Bayless one, which was more clever than most people realize.

During pre-draft workouts the Blazers showed no sniff of interest in Bayless, not bringing him in for a workout or even discussing him as a prospective draft pick.  Instead they spoke glowingly of Russel Westbrook and DJ Augustine, which helped send those men up the draft boards and thus sending Bayless (KP's real target all along) down the draft board into a more acquirable range.  Pritchard said that the entire top ten unfolded exactly how he planned, which means he expected the Pacers to take Bayless at #11.  He also knew the Pacers were trade crazy and thus was able to answer Portland's most glaring need by sending away merely the #13 pick, a guy they were looking to move anyway, and a guy who never played.  They also got a solid vet in Diogu. who will help mentor a young core of forwards on the Blazers.

I also like the Batum trade.  Many have said the Blazers should have kept Athur, but Portland has a full roster already and didn't need to add someone who can come in right away.  Batum was their top international target, and they were able to get him for a 1st rounder they bought from the Hornets and a 2nd rounder who would not have cracked the rotation.  Now Batum can be stashed overseas for a year or two while he and the club develops, and he will be ready to join up just as the club begins to gear up for a title run.

Lastly, I like the fact that KP was able to turn two second rounders into four second rounders.  i don't really know how he does that, but I love it.  Portland was able to get Batum largely because of a previously acquired 2nd rounder.  Every year Portland buys a low 1st rounder from a team looking to increase cap space, and 2nd rounders allow them to move up another spot or two.  This year it took them from #27 to #25 and they got the man they wanted.  And now they are in position to do it again.

All told, Portland addressed every area of need.  Bayless will probably come off the bench for at least half a year while Steven Blake shows him the ropes, but he should be the long term answer at PG.  Batum will help out the SF rotation when he is ready to come over, Diogu will be a veteran who can help the young team along, and the 2nd rounders will almost surely be trade bait in the future.  Pritchard did it again.

Blazers draft grade- A