The general consensus among fans, as far as I'm hearing, is that Portland should ride out this season and bank on a high draft pick to turn the team's fortunes around. But given that our main problem is an almost total lack of bench, is the draft really the best solution? If we get a high pick and draft a great player, i.e. starter quality, then where we would put him? L.A., Batum, and Lillard are all locks in the starting five (the first two through salaries alone), so unless we get a center or a small forward and bump back Hickson or Matthews, what advantage have we gained?

Seems like our only option to get better is through trades, either at the deadline or on draft-day for some good role players. On draft day, assuming we have a high pick, what we can offer is obvious. My worry is what we can offer at the trade deadline, since it's painfully obvious that outside our starting five, we don't really have much of value. Thoughts?