By: Dustin Chapman

Transactions

• Selected Brandon Rush 13th overall and traded his rights along with Jarrett Jack and Josh McRoberts to Indiana for Ike Diogu and the rights to Jerryd Bayless.

• Selected Darrell Arthur 27th overall (via New Orleans) and traded his rights to Houston along with the rights to Joey Dorsey (33rd overall) for the rights to Nicolas Batum (25th overall).

• Selected Omar Asik 33rd overall and traded his rights to Chicago for three future second round draft picks.

• Selected Mike Taylor 55th overall and traded his rights to the Los Angeles Clippers for a 2009 second round draft pick.

What can you say? Kevin Pritchard did it again. Somehow, someway, the basketball Gods looked down on the Portland Trail Blazers once again, as they were able to turn the 13th overall pick into Jerryd Bayless. Portland now finally has their point guard, and he’s mighty talented. Combine his upside with the likes of Brandon Roy, LaMarcus Aldridge, the returning Greg Oden, and a case of excellent role players, you’ve got yourself a tough team right away. Without Oden, this team won 41 games this past season. Now, they are adding Oden and Bayless to the mix at the same time. Truly remarkable.

In addition, they come away with the high upside of Nicolas Batum.

Kevin Pritchard is not human.

Grade: A