Trading for #3 pick – why Minnesota may trade with Portland? (part 1)

Monday, June 23, 2008 - D69 — Rumors are reporting Portland is one of several teams trying to move up to #3. Most teams are rumored to be offering their draft pick and a veteran. I think if Portland was going to trade with Minnesota it will be mainly based on Portland willing to take on more debt:
- Financial savings for Minnesota (rumors swirling of $20+ million loss over the next few years of decrease of fans and advertising)
- Getting young veteran players to build around Randy Foye, Corey Brewer & Al Jefferson

#13 (Kosta Koufos / Robin Lopez), Raef LaFrenz, Martell Webster and Jarrett Jack to Minnesota
#3 (OJ Mayo), Antoine Walker, Marko Jaric, Greg Buckner to Portland

Minnesota lineup:
Randy Foye, Corey Brewer, Martell Webster, Al Jefferson, (Kosta Koufos / Robin Lopez)
Bench: Sebastian Telfair, Jarrett Jack

Salary breakdown
.’08-’09…….’09-’10…….’10-’11
$12.72M…………………………………….Raef LaFrenz
$03.77M…..$05.03M…………………..Martell Webster
$02.00M…..$02.90M…………………..Jarrett Jack
———…….———
$17.99M…..$07.93M………………….$25.92M

.’08-’09…….’09-’10…….’10-‘11
$09.32M…..$10.09M……$10.87M…..Antoine Walker (’09-’10 team option)
$06.58M…..$07.10M……$07.63M…..Marko Jaric
$03.76M…..$04.02M……$04.28M…..Greg Buckner
———…….———……——–
$19.66M…..$21.21M……$22.78M…..$63.650M

With a team option of Walker’s contract in ’09-’10, the Blazers could just buy-out the ’08-’09 season or try to trade Walker by Feb trade deadline. Also, with Miles contract no longer counting against the salary cap. Even with Jaric and Buckner’s contracts in ’09-’10, the Blazers will still have about $10M-$12M in salary cap space in ’09 to sign a very talented free agent.