Rumor: Blazers want Curry

No, not Eddy. Sorry, Knicks fans. I mean Stephen Curry. Here's what Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer has to say:

The way I hear it, the Blazers (currently picking 24th) are nosing around to trade up and have Stephen Curry in their sights. Enough teams are willing to deal down that this is a real possibility. And it would be great for Curry in this regard:

A long-time NBA scout told me months ago that the ideal situation for Curry is to play point guard on a team with a shooting guard who can also handle the ball. That would allow Curry to spot up some, and maximize the impact of his shooting.

The Blazers have just such a player in Brandon Roy. Strikes me as a great match of a player and a system.


The Knicks, picking at number 8, have eyes for Curry. The sentiment is returned by Curry. He wrote "I see New York at 8, who's really high on my list of teams that I'd love to go to." on his account with NBA.com.

Rick Bonnell wrote "Curry's first audition will be with the hometown Charlotte Bobcats, but his first choice – he said this a half-dozen times Thursday – is to be a New York Knick." in this article filled with reasons why Curry and New York seem to be a perfect match.

The Knicks won't trade picks with Portland. It seems like they are dead set on taking Stephen Curry. Portland can't offer any great point guards. Jerryd Bayless and Steve Blake are who they have to offer. Blake had a pretty good season (11 ppg, 5 apg) but is he really any better than Chris Duhon? And Bayless has talent, but got minimal burn in his rookie year.

I guess if this is the time to take a chance on someone, it's now. The Knicks won't go far in 2009-2010. They can grab the 8th seed at best and lose to the top seed in the playoffs. So taking a chance on Bayless wouldn't be the worst thing. But when you put that chance and risk next to drafting Steph Curry, it's pretty obvious which one Donnie Walsh would accept.

Here's a thought though. The Knicks need an athletic shooting guard to run the floor and make big plays. He may be a bit too similar to Wilson Chandler, but Rudy Fernandez is enticing. New York could get him, and select a point guard at #24, say Darren Collison of UCLA.

I wouldn't be upset if Portland traded up and undercut the Knicks, C-Blocking them from getting Curry. I'm a Ty Lawson man myself. But it'll be interesting to see how New York protects itself in this situation.


--Speaking of Mr. Curry, Eddy Curry's workouts are continuing. He told me that he is working on "speed and explosiveness", which is right up Mike D'Antoni's alley. A few weeks ago, he said that he would be in the gym, dropping weight, and improving to make an impact next season. Donnie Walsh showed up to one of his workouts and was "impressed".

The Knicks need a center. If Curry can improve a lot, and I mean 'A LOT', he could make a big positive difference for New York. I'm holding out hope that he could bounce back, but it'll be tough.


--Max Caster