NBA Draft Update: Portland Trail Blazers ‘very interested’ in Kemba Walker
Sourced close to the Portland Trail Blazers management have revealed that the franchise is leaning heavily towards signing University of Connecticut’s (U Conn) point guard Kemba Walker. The player, however, is being a touted for
a much higher draft slot than the no. 21 pick that the Trail Blazers currently possess. As such, they are expected to negotiate a trade for a pick in at least the top 7.
Kemba Walker is a point guard who has declared for the NBA Draft after three years of college basketball. The 21 year old stands at 6 ft 1in and has an athletic build. In his last year in college, Kemba averaged an impressive 23.4
points. He also had 4.3 assists and 5.2 rebounds per game. Walker showed considerable potential and led his team to the national championship.
The Trail Blazers have a good roster that gave the Dallas Mavericks some trouble in the playoffs this season. They are especially strong up front with LaMarcus Aldridge and Gerald Wallace, a former NBA All Defensive Team starter,
in their ranks. However, the back court is perhaps not up to scratch. Brandon Roy’s injury troubles mean that he cannot carry as much load anymore and Andre Miller is aging fast.
Now it appears that Portland have decided to replace Miller with the young Kemba Walker, but things might not run as smoothly as they want. Any deal that the Trail Blazers will be looking to do would likely include Miller and their
21st pick. However, it is not easy to find a team that would be willing to give up a top 7 pick. More realistically, the Trail Blazers will be looking at getting into the top 5 as most people have projected Walker as the 5th overall pick
in the June 23 Draft.
Cleveland Cavaliers have two picks in the top 5, and could be interested in a trade for the fourth pick. However they already have Baron Davis playing as point guard and are expected to draft Kyrie Irving, the Duke point guard
who declared for the Draft after just one year in college, as their number one pick. They definitely won’t be interested in a trading for Andre Miller.
Miller has one year left on a considerably low contract worth 7.8 million, and might interest the likes of Utah Jazz. But the Jazz have the third overall pick in the draft and are more likely to want to bring in young talent than
settle for the old guard and a lower pick.
Therefore, the Portland Trail Blazers’ best bet could be a trade with the Toronto Raptors. In that scenario, they will have to trade Andre Miller and their 21st pick for Raptors’ pick and a player, or even just the pick
could give them the services of Kemba Walker.
Tags: