NBA Draft 2011: Who the Portland Trail Blazers Should Target

With so much uncertainty in the front office, the Portland Trail Blazers are actively looking toward the NBA Draft without a general manager.

Last week, Coach Nate McMillan expressed his desire for the franchise to acquire a player in his prime, rather than another rookie.

In an interview with the Portland Tribune, McMillan said, "Last year we had three draft picks. I'd like to see us add some guys in their prime to the roster. We have young; we have old. Let’s see if we can get some guys in their prime."

Interim General Manager, Chad Buchanan, has publicly agreed with McMillian, although he believes Portland can find a player who could help right away in this year's draft.

The Blazers have three main areas of need: a point guard who will take over when Andre Miller's contract runs out next season; a backup power forward who could eat some of LaMarcus Aldridge's garbage minutes; and a center, depending on what happens with Greg Oden.

To acquire one or more players who could help fill these voids,the Blazers have three options:
1. Do as Buchanan suggests and hope to acquire a player with the 21st pick who could help,
2. Trade up to acquire a player who would have an immediate impact on Portland's roster, or
3. Use the draft pick as leverage to acquire a player in his prime.

Option 1: 

The players who will most likely be available at the 21st pick will be players like Bismack Biyombo, Kenneth Faried, Shelvin Mack, Trey Thompkins, Justin Harper, Nolan Smith and Nikola Vucevic.

If the Blazers wait to make a move until their name is called, I think they would probably go after a power forward. Faried has a similar rebounding prowess that the Blazers coveted two summers ago when they tried to sign Paul Millsap from the Jazz. Although Faried is very raw offensively, his defense and rebounding skills would immediately make Portland a better team.

Vucevic is also an intriguing player. The center from USC was one the big winners from this year's official early workouts. He still has a lot of room to grow and could learn a lot from the aging Marcus Camby. He would also provide insurance in case the injury bug hits Oden again.

Although a point guard is a need, a player who would be ready to take the reins next season probably won't be in this year's draft.

Option 2:

As their recent draft history suggests, moving up in the draft is always a viable option. Recent news out of Portland suggests that the Blazers are once again looking to move up. 

Although Buchanan was noncommittal to this report, it is believed that Portland is eyeing Kemba Walker. To be in a position to draft Walker, Portland would probably have to trade up into the top 10. 

Trading up that high would mean that the Blazers would have to part ways with a younger asset or their current point guard, Miller.

While parting ways with Miller and/or one of their role players would hurt them in the short term, it is obvious that neither of Portland's current point guard backups, Patty Mills and Armon Johnson, is the answer for the future.

Option 3:

McMillan wants to win right now. Portland has nine players on their current roster who are 25 or younger. As McMillan suggested earlier, you need the right balance of young legs, savvy vets, and players in the prime of their career.

Brandon Roy's unfortunate knee issues and $13 million a year contract have put Portland in a bind. A buyout of his contract remains unlikely, and Portland is currently sitting at about $15 million over the cap.

Acquiring a proven player through a trade may be difficult, but Portland does own a $2.3 million trade exception that they received when they traded Jarryd Bayless.

The likelihood of a trade probably depends on whether or not Portland would be willing to part ways with a player like Nicolas Batum.

The Portland Trailblazers are a talented young team. Aldridge is blossoming into a star, Roy appears intent on playing until his knees have completely deteriorated, Oden's camp is saying he's finally ready for a full season, and Gerald Wallace will be accustomed to playing with his new teammates.

The 2011-2012 season could be a great one for the Trail Blazers.