Certainly not strangers, and perhaps another reason why bringing Thomas to PDX happened.

They were teammates on the Knicks between the 1998 and 2001 – with Camby departing the Knicks for the 2002/’03 season.

In ’98 they lost a finals series to the Spurs – and they went to the playoffs together every season except 2001 in which they went 30 & 52.

For the most part Camby and Thomas split minutes on the Knicks similar to what I expect them to be doing on the Blazers.

I would best characterize this part of Knicks history as the “Sprewell years”.

From the finals run:

http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/NYK/1999.html

Lakers are done. Could the next step be the dismantling and re-invention of the team. Kobe is all of a sudden very old - he does not want to play on anything but a contender. Kobe could also be the Lakers best asset, in short bulls make major trade for kobe - he fits in as elder statesman and respects Rose, Bulls go off to dominate.

Kobe has flirted with Bulls before.

Bulls are  not scared of  major deals.

Rose is fast becoming the leagues best player - one of the  few Kobe might want to play with.

I think the medias perception is  that the Lakers jus re-load with Howard and Paul, but they are cash strapped
and various other factors could block those moves.

The story of the season has quickly become will the Blazers make the playoffs or not.

My hope is that they play all out to make the playoffs, but end up falling short and getting tossed into the lottery.

Realistically a first round playoff exit this year is not more advantageous then the chance to acquire cheap quality talent.

Also note – that the Bulls did get lucky the year they got Rose and it is possible for the Blazers to do the same (although highly unrealistic), adding a #1 guy to a team like the Blazers would be a instant warp back to being a top flight team.

That said barely missing the playoffs and falling into the lottery should net them about a 7-15 pick.

I am not a draft expert (regarding all available prospects)  but after reading this article:

 http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=Ajc4zaQntmd07q4sdcdDlSc5nYcB?slug=aw-fredettenba012811

It occurred to me that being able to draft someone of this caliber could really change the course of the franchise.

Yes he could be the next Reddick or Morrison, but he could also be Curry or a better Devin Harris, which are 2 guys Blazers fans consistently pine for.

That said….missing the playoffs could be a blessing in disguise…it will be interesting to watch Jimmer through  the tourney and see how much his stock rises….if it rises to much then even the Blazers with a #10 pick might not have a chance to grab him.

Its funny everyone focus's on Durant...but the Blazers could have easily had Horford or Noah with Brooks and Gasol.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_2007.html

And by the way...Josh McRoberts may just about be the worst NBA starter right now.

This may have been one of the greatest drafts for roll palyers.

http://www.blogabull.com/2010/7/2/1550111/blogabron-7-2-friday-night-fights#comments

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We just caught with one of the leagues elder statesmen to see how he’s doing after wrapping up his 15th year in the league:

ESPN: Greg you just wrapped up your 15th year in the league. Some have always considered you to be a bust, do you have any regrets or whish things may have gone different?

GREG: No – I mean you cant be a failure if you spend 15 years in the league.

ESPN: Even if it was with seven different teams and you never averaged more points and rebounds in a year than you did in your third year with the Blazers?

GREG: Yeah well; it’s a compliment….being a big man you are always in demand plus it’s been great being to play for all these different teams.

ESPN: What was the greatest accomplishment of your pro career?

GREG: I would have to say the two years I sent playing in my hometown of Indiana for the Pacers.

ESPN: Even though the team never cracked 20 wins and the season after you left Indiana you went on to win a Championship as a backup for the Celtics; wasn’t winning that championship the greatest accomplishment of your career?

GREG: Don’t get me wrong that Championship was a great experience, but there was nothing like going back home.

Riffing off this guys article..... http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/rosenblog/2009/01/from-this-perch-id-say-vinnys-out-the-door.html

I am thinking Vinny should be gone; but the question is who to replace. Do you subject a young Rose to a myriad of bad coaches early in his career. Since they are still paying Skiles and may even end up owing VDN cash if they did let him go; its hard to see them bringing in anyone at this juncture that would be quality. No - it more than likely would be the Del Bickerstaff combo. But - the franchise does have a wild card in Paxson; and he should take a page out of McChales book come down from his office and get a first hand look of what he put together.

The USA Today pre season rankings came out and they have the Bulls at like 26 or something like that, prettty low. Kind of an eye opener on how the team is viewed. The Blazers are at 4 or 5? Whats up with that, totally over rated. I always thought power rankings for pro sports was dumb any way, ecspecially pre-season. Its too bad because the team has a lot of talent; but for some reason something doesnt feel right; I think its this whoe Gordon thing, cant we just get on with it already?

Every great player needs a nickname. Jordan was "His Airness", Shaq "The Diesel",Brian Grant "Rasta Monsta",Bill Walton "Big Red", Rasheed Wallace "Dumb Ass", Clyde Drexler "The Glide", Brandon Roy "The Natural".

On the local sports radio show yesterday they were talking about nicknames for Oden. This one came to me while I was listening.What do you think any chance of catching on? Anyone have anything better?

Greg "G-O" Oden: The Great One

What a role KP has been on. I dont think he has wiffed on one move.

Until now.

Not because Greene went for 40 or the other dude; the power forward from KU who dropped like a dead weight in the draft looks as solid as can be. Not even because in light of the other players successes - Batum's game itself looks shoddy. More than anything - its a gut feeling. We will be looking back one day and will chuckle about Batum as a guy who never was; the same way Bulls fans laugh about Dalibor Bagaric; Heat fans think about Harold Miner, and Knicks fans remember Frederick Weis.

Although completely ridiculous with all the wild trade and draft speculation the thought crossed my mind - trade for Shaq?

I mean consider it for a second. Kerr and Pax are friends. Shaq could be effective in the East with the right coach. The suns love the bulls players.

Trade some sort of combination of Tyrus/Noah/Noce/Thabo/Hughes/Gooden

Draft Rose or Beasley

Rose/Gordon/Deng/Shaq/Thomas or Gooden

Hinrich/Gordon/Deng/Shaq/Beasley