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22 points from fernandez in the gold medal match with a star studded USA team, Portland is going to be sick!!!

I don't see a lot of passing in that video.

I hate that we had to wait until the 9th of July until this could be announced, but now that it has we Blazer fans should start to get excited for the upcoming season. It was a little sad to get rid of such a quality person like Jarrett Jack, but I think he'll do well in Indiana and Bayless definitely is an upgrade at the point. We should also be appreciative of the way that Kevin Pritchard acknowledged the hard work by Jack the past three seasons. Quality character starts at the top.



Get ready Blazers fans. This next season is going to be the tip of the sword!





"The Portland Trail Blazers acquired the draft rights to guard Jerryd Bayless (11th overall pick), and forward Ike Diogu from Indiana in exchange for Jarrett Jack, Josh McRoberts, the draft rights to Brandon Rush (13th overall pick) and cash considerations, it was announced today by general manager Kevin Pritchard.



Bayless, 19, posted averages of 19.7 points (third in Pac-10), 2.7 rebounds and 4.0 assists while shooting 83.9% from the free throw line and 40.7% from 3-point range in his lone collegiate season at the University of Arizona. The 6-3, 200-pound guard earned Second Team All-Pac-10 and All-Freshman Team honors, was an Associated Press All-American Honorable Mention and was a finalist for the Wooden Award."

6:14: Our first draft-night deal: Jerryd Bayless and Ike Diogu for Brandon Rush, Josh McRoberts and Jarrett Jack. (Look, I can't blaspheme Larry Legend -- it's just not in me -- so we'll have to rely on this e-mail that came 15 minutes later from Jay in Indy: "A lifelong Pacers fan, I just watched Larry Bird give away a miracle pick at 11 for Brandon Rush and a bag of peanuts. Was there ever a moment in your life when you lost complete and utter hope of your favorite team doing anything with a shred of competence? Is there some place I can go to get help?") Damn the Blazers. Damn them to hell. They are working the rest of the league like a speedbag. Meanwhile, Katz scores an interview with a rattled Rush, who forgot to take off his Blazers hat and has a "Man, this sucks, I was excited to play video games with Greg Oden" look on his face. Weirdest moment of the night that didn't involve a Lopez brother.

5:46: Portland lucks into Brandon Rush at No. 13. Unbelievable. Perfect role player for the Blazers. They're like the anti-Hornets -- now that they know how to spend Paul Allen's money, they're unstoppable. Within about two more years, they'll be acting like one of those obnoxious Monopoly competitors who has more money and property than everyone else, giggles every time you land on their hotels and says things like, "Here's $200, will you roll the dice for me?" You can't blame them, but at the same time, you want to punch them in the face. That's where we're headed.