POB's new team

[tornado]

I have just read a lot of speculation that Portland, at the #4 spot, now has dropped low enough (they had the highest odds of getting the #1 pick but that did not happen), that they fully expect LaMarcus Aldridge to be gone by then. They desperately need a big man, as they were absolutely eaten alive all season by any team with a 7-footer.
They might pursue one of two scenarios,
-either trade to get higher in the draft, but they don't have much to give.
-or poss. trade down and still get Patrick O'Bryant. If they can't be sure of getting him by trading down, they might even use their #4 overall selection for POB!!
They would also love Morrison, a regional fan favorite, but they will also likely not get him by#4.

Atlanta, Golden State, Boston, and Houston are also very interested in Patrick. Trades between now and the draft might even put other teams in the mix for Patrick.

[Da Coach]

A couple of SF Bay articles with mentions of Patrick O'Bryant and the possibility he might go to the Golden State Warriors

http://www.insidebayarea.com/sports/ci_3858912 (letter from a fan)

http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/...s/14650375.htm (5th paragraph)

[tornado]

...
Atlanta, Golden State, Boston, and Houston are also very interested in Patrick. Trades between now and the draft might even put other teams in the mix for Patrick.

Houston was interested in POB, and now maybe they wish that they had drafted Patrick.

Yao Ming went down Saturday night with a very serious knee injury and is likely out for the rest of this season.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/sports/2006-12/26/content_767577.htm

Yao has a depressed tibial plateau fracture, and this is the type of injury that players may never come back from, and even if they do, it often takes a year.
This is the same kind of injury Drake's Klayton Korver sustained almost two years ago, and he is just now getting back in full form.

Houston will use Shane Battier as center, although they would have preferred to use Battier as SF or PF.
Too bad, also, for Patrick, as this would have been a perfect opportunity for huge playing time had he gone to the Rockets.

[Chico]

I have seen 2 Golden State games since I've been here in Mesa. Their first 2 centers are no threats at all. POB just has to sit there and watch. If he can't play ahead of these 2 guys, I don't think Houston could use him right now.

[corilon]

Chico,

That is not neccessarily true. Don Nelson is notorious for refusing to play young <read rookie> players regardless of their skill. He even managed to keep Dirk Nowitski down for the first half to three quarters of his rookie season. And Dallas was bad enough to be in the lottery in those days.

Just my opinion but I think Don Nelson is perhaps the worst thing that could have happened to POB and his ability to get playing time in his first year in the league.