So Who is #1?

Portland has a chance to finally bring their franchise out of this dark gutter it has been in.

In the late 90s they had some stacked teams, but remember that those teams could never compete for a title because they were just too stacked. Here is now a chance for the Trailblazers to really bring themselves away from this whole Jailblazer thing, and give their fans some actual winning basketball.

Two names are potential for that #1 pick: Greg Oden and Kevin Durant.

Who should Portland pick though?

If they pick Greg Oden then it means they must trade Zach Randolph. What can they get for Zach Randolph? The guy is 6'9" and a monster, he dropped in about 24 and 10 a night last season. He's getting better too, but he does have some personal problems and has had off the court issues.

If the Blazers go with Durrant, then they keep Randolph. They add this 6'10" genetic freak who will play small forward and can do so many different things with the ball. That means their front line is now, LaMarcus Aldridge (6-11), Zach Randolph (6-9) and Kevin Durant (6-11), talk about intimidating and plenty of size. Throw in Rookie of the Year Brandon Roy at the 2-spot and a young and talented Jarret Jack at the point, and you have a great starting lineup.

Drafting Oden and ditching Randolph now means you have a weakness at the SF position, unless Travis Outlaw or Ime Udoka can really get the job done for an up and coming ball club.

The draft is nine days away and Blazers GM Kevin Pritchard says he still doesn't honestly know who to take at #1, and to tell you the truth, I can't blame him.

Though I am going to look at it this way. The Jailblazers and the problems Portland has had in the past with image and of course winning on the side, and he fact that a dominant big man is so coveted in this league, you realize that one guy is the true choice.

I'm not saying Kevin Durant isn't a great player in the making, and isn't a good person or model citizen, but he is not Greg Oden. Greg Oden has this whole special vibe about him, he feels like Tim Duncan with more personality and flare, but he doesn't seem Hollywood. He isn't trying to be anything else but a great basketball player at this point. You draft Oden, you ditch Randolph and bring in a small forward to get the job done and you kill two birds with one stone.

1. Jailblazing is now done for.

2. Dominant big man of the future who WILL help your team instantly win basketball games.

After writing all of that, I'm going to get the name Kevin Durant out of my head, that way I won't flip flop.

So Portland your on the clock and please just remember the name Sam Bowie.