Can Danny?

First and foremost, this team needs to be sold and needs a complete management trade. It's been some time since the NBA has had a franchise turn off its fan base as much as Portland has. Even Atlanta, who never had the greatest fans anyway, seems more in tune with their out-of-touch decision makers. This is perhaps the first and biggest chance that needs to happen. While winning is usually a cure-all, this team isn't winning soon and right now I'm not sure if Portland fans would even care if the Blazers started winning again under the Steve Patterson regime.

As for the players, off-the-court issues are almost more important for them as well. The supposed cleaning up of the Blazers image never happened. John Nash simply traded talented headcases for less-talented headcases. The Blazers need a complete roster rehaul, both for talent and attitude reasons. So where do they start? Or rather, where don't they?

The Core: Martell Webster

Webster is a good young talent and his trade value probably isn't high enough right now to get equal value. One of the better moves the Blazers could make would be to match up Webster with Gerald Green but I don't support our dealing Gerald so that deal should never happen.

The Needs: Everything

Cap Space: They have none.

So where do they go from here?

Trade Darius Miles, Theo Ratliff, #30 for Mo Taylor, Malik Rose, #20: I'm not sure if they could get the pick swap but the first move that much be made is dumping Darius Miles. This deal gives the Blazers a solid backup player (albeit overpaid) in Malik Rose while Mo Taylor is an expiring contract. While the initial response might be, "Why would Portland care about expiring deals?", the days of their 100 million dollar payoll are over. This coming season they are at $60 million and without Ratliff's deal, they''ll actually have 30 million in cap space after next season.

Zach Randolph for Richard Jefferson: My biggest fear is a Raef, Green, #7 for Telfair and Randolph deal but I think a swap like this is more likely. Richard is supposedly on the outs in New Jersey, and Zach would give them the big man they've been lacking since K-Mart left town. A Krstic/Zach frontcourt could be very nice for the Nets. Meanwhile, Jefferson is a likable personality who can do a little bit of everything alongside Webster.

Sebastian Telfair for #7 pick: The Blazers could fight to get Ryan Gomes as well but I think they are better off cutting ties with Bassy. Besides, what are the odds that he doesn't make like his cousin Stephon and force a deal out of town?

Draft With the #4 pick, the Blazers grab the big man that falls, be it Bargnani or Aldridge. I'd stay away from Tyrus Thomas who a) comes off as a diva in the making in interviews and b) wants to play small forward. If neither of those guys are available, I'd try to trade down. With the #7 pick (acquired in the Telfair deal), I'd take Shelden Williams. I simply don't believe that Atlanta promised to take him at #5. If Shelden is gone, I'd go with the best player/person available, which is Randy Foye. Marcus Williams might be the better pure PG but his checkered past makes him someone the Blazers simply can't draft. The #20 pick (if they get it in the NY deal) could be Saer Sene or Jordan Farmar. If they can't get that pick then #30 and #31 should be the best players available.

Free Agency I wouldn't waste any money on this free agent class. Maybe sign a big man to a one year deal.

Possible 2006/7 Lineup: Skinner, Taylor, Jefferson, Webster, Blake with Shelden, Bargnani, Outlaw, Dixon, Jack, Malik Rose, Khrypa and whoever they get at #30 and #31
Cheap young talent, another top draft pick in 2007, and, for the first time, cap space at the end of the season.

Can they get there from here? It all depends on Martell Webster and their picks this season. If those young players can impress the Portland fans on and off the court, the Blazers could be back to contending. If they fail on the court, the Blazers have a very good chance of becoming the new Golden State Warriors: a ton of young talent and no results to show for it.