Ick-Snay on the Edo Turkoglu-Hay: Who Should Portland Go After?

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In ESPN's John Hollinger's words, "you'd be hard-pressed to find a more effective reserve big man on the market."

At point guard, the options are slim.

Andre Miller doesn't fit in with the Blazers as they need a traditional point guard.

Jason Kidd will return to the Mavericks.

Raymond Felton is restricted and the Bobcats look to keep him.

Mike Bibby will stay with the Hawks.

The only real option the Blazers have is to go after Milwaukee point guard Ramon Sessions, but the Bucks can match any offer the Blazers give him.

They also will have more cap space to do it now that they have the contracts of Charlie Villanueva and Richard Jefferson off their belts.

The best option Portland has at adding a bona fide starting point guard to their team would be through a trade.

Here are some scenarios.

Danny Ainge can deny it all he wants, but I am pretty certain that the Celtics are looking to trade Rajon Rondo. Portland could be a buyer as Rondo still has a rookie salary.

Portland could use some of the trade exception money from the Ike Diogu/Michael Ruffin trade to exchange for Rondo.

Boston is looking to be proactive in the free agency. With Stephon Marbury's salary coming off the books for them this summer, the Celtics would have roughly $300K to spend.

If they could trade Rondo for cash, I am sure Ainge would pull the trigger.

Another guard the Blazers could trade for is Chicago's Kirk Hinrich.

He did not have as productive of a season as he's used to, but do you think any former starter would play behind Derrick Rose?

In order to clear up some roster space, Portland could deal Steve Blake and Travis Outlaw to the Bulls for Hinrich. This deal would do two things for the Blazers.

One, it would help to clear the log jam at the small forward position, allowing Portland to go after a small forward in the free agency.

Two, it would give Portland an upgrade at starting point guard. Hinrich can shoot, pass, and defend pretty well. He would help the starting lineup well.

The trade would also help Chicago rid themselves of a disgruntled former starter, and give them a point guard who isn't opposed to playing backup and with a smaller salary.

The Milwaukee Bucks have stated that they wish to trade point guard Luke Ridnour.

Portland could be a buyer.

Ridnour played high school ball in Blaine, Washington, right on the border between the US and Canada. He played his college ball at the University of Oregon.

He's a Northwest guy, so I don't see why he would be opposed to playing in Portland as the only other Northwest team, the Seattle Supersonics, whom he was drafted by and played for five seasons with, and moved to Oklahoma City.

Portland could trade Steve Blake and Travis Outlaw to the Bucks for Luke Ridnour and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute. Mbah a Moute's contract could be payed off with trade exception money, and thus the Blazers would have one less small forward and an upgrade at the point.

These possible trade scenarios sum up what Portland could do this offseason to nab a point guard.

Of course, I am not a GM, nor will I likely be one.

There are probably some options that I do not know of.

One thing is certain.

Portland is in a better situation because Turkoglu did not sign with them. Portland can now use their money more wisely, and they could nab two free agents instead of one.

The possibilities are unlimited.

I know that I am about as impatient as a small child on Christmas morning, and I am sure some of you Trail Blazers' faithful are as well.

Let's hope Kevin Pritchard can work his magic this offseason.

The players and fans deserve some more good times.

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