Bill Simmons selects:Brandon Rush, Kansas
I was going to pick Dr. James Andrews here but didn't want to be getting hate mail from Blazers fans all summer. Assuming they don't deal this pick -- and that seems eminently possible -- Rush makes the most sense because he'd give them enough depth at the swing spots to dangle Travis Outlaw along with one of their point guards, the rights to Rudy Fernandez and/or gobs of Paul Allen's cash for a legitimate point guard or an elite combo guard like Leandro Barbosa. I am totally, completely, unequivocally sold on Rush -- he plays D, runs the floor, makes 3s and proved himself in big spots. As James Posey just showed with the Celtics, you can win the title with a guy like that. My only hope is that his brothers don't move in with him. If that happens, all bets are off.
By the way, tell me who doesn't make this trade: Outlaw, Channing Frye, the rights to Fernandez, the No. 13 and $3 million for Conley, Brian Cardinal and No. 5. Just curious.
Chad Ford:I think Rush is the guy too. The Blazers have three alpha dogs in LaMarcus Aldridge, Brandon Roy and Greg Oden. What they need is a fit guy.
Rush drove me crazy at KU because I never thought he played up to his potential. But as he moves into the NBA, his willingness to submit to other teammates will help him. He doesn't have All-Star talent and seems like he'd be content playing a role on a good team. He shoots, he defends, he runs the floor. Good pick.
By the way, is Kevin Pritchard the most fun GM in the league? The guy is working on roughly 150 trade proposals as we speak. He has no qualms about calling up a team and saying, "How about Travis Outlaw and Sergio Rodriguez for Dwyane Wade." He won't blink an eye.
And you know what? I know it irritates some of the old school GMs, but Pritchard gets it done. Most trade talks fail. He decided to tackle that problem by tripling the trade call volume. I love it.
Great stuff from these guys! Couldn't agree more on BRush. More good stuff on KP having 150 trade proposals.
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