The most entertaining and record breaking NBA draft this summer got alot of it's fuel from moves by the Portland Trailblazers. "We have a trade" became the key phrase to wonder what the blazers did next. Coming in to the draft with an early pick at 4 (showing normal draftday woes when they had the best odds to get the number 1 pick but ending up at 4), a late first round pick, and the first second round pick they were going to have a chance to get a couple of players. Evidently a chance to get a couple of new projects wasn't what portland had in mind. The first trade anouncement had many blazermaniacs thinking "Oh no, here we go again!" when they shipped defensive veteran center Theo Ratliff along with young sebastian telfair to boston to get the number 7 pick, Dan Dickau, and Raef LaFrentz. All I could think at the time with the number 4 and 7 and loosing 2 key players was that this is going to be interesting. "We have a trade" the number 4 pick was tradedwith a fan favorite Victor Kryapa to move up to the second pick when there was no clear favorite in the top 7. Alot of fans pushing for Adam Morrison in a "draft the stash" movement had dashed hopes next when the blazers used the second pick for Lamarcus Aldridge. I liked this pick from what was available. Reviews said he still needed some work to get strong enough for the NBA frontcourt, but I liked what he already had and asumed because I liked him Portland wouldn't get him. Morison was no chance to slip to 7 and he didn't. Everyone that looked at Brandon Roy loved his game and many had him going in the top 3. Considered to be the best "NBA ready" player in the draft Roy had a polished and well rounded game. Roy also went before 7 (not that portland has shown intrest in 4 yr coleage maturity in the past) but that left Portland with Foy who was drawing D-Wade comparisons. "We have another trade" Turns out the Wolves wanted Foy all along and Portland wanted Roy as they swapped pickes with Allen forking over some cash to boot. I was seeing Minny taking advantage of someones thick wallet, but who knows all that goes on behind the scene. Wait a minute, I don't know if i'm suposed to be happy or just plain confused. Portland just essentially got their hands on two players that fit exactly what they needed. Both young, talented, and good characters. One of the best big men available (many saying within 4 years will be the best out of this draft) in Aldridge, and a versitile 6ft 6in, mature, NBA ready player who can run in positions 1-3 and who's game will help the blazers out right away! This is good right? But why did they give up so much to get them?? Maybee we'll never know.

Before the night was over, Allen also dropped a pile of dough on the 27th pick from Phoenix. A surprise to still be available this late, a Spanish point gaurd carrying local nicknames like "The Magician" and "Spanish Chocolate" was the prize. Portland's late first round pick went to another bigman named Joel (this one from Europe and a project). Somehow their second round draft pick morphed into 3 future second round draft picks. Even many of the draft announcers were left speachless trying to figure out what Portland was doing and why but at the end of the day it was accepted that even though there seemed to be some waste, Portland walked away from the draft coming out ahead. From later interviews with Blazer management they had two players they wanted and got out of that draft. Lamarcus Aldridge and Brandon Roy. Solid rumors of a team trying to trade up to the 3rd pick to get Aldridge forced the trade with chicago and the loss of Victor whom chicago had shown past interest. Minny wasn't picking Roy for Portland, but from what I gather Portland taking Foy gave them the advantage to get Roy back from them. With Blake's contract running out after this year and his solid play at point we will problably be a point short trying to match offers so the Rodriguez (chocolate) pick makes a lot of sense. Within one day of the draft Portland was getting an "A+" for their draft day performance.