Apr 24, 2013; Independence, OH, USA; New Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Mike Brown smiles during a press conference at Cleveland Clinic Courts. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

The Cleveland Cavaliers have received the #1 pick in this year’s NBA draft lottery, with a 15.6% chance of doing so. This move bumped the Orlando Magic to 2^nd, while the Charlotte Bobcats missed the top 3 entirely due to the surprise advancement of the Washington Wizards, who received the 3^rd pick.

The Cavaliers were represented by Nick Gilbert, son of owner Dan Gilbert. Nick also represented the team when they received the 2011 #1 pick and future Rookie of the Year, Kyrie Irving.

This could turn out nicely for the Blazers, who received the 10^th pick as expected, because Cleveland is likely to draft Kentucky center, Nerlens Noel. With a brand new, highly touted center, the Cavs may cling less tightly to current center, Anderson Varejao. Portland is looking to trade for an established big man and Cleveland is already interested in doing business with them in some capacity. The Blazers may be able to coax them into giving up Wild Thing.

Varejao was an All-Star caliber center this year, averaging 14.1 points and 14.4 rebounds per game, until a blood clot in his lung sidelined him for the latter half of the season. It was reported in late April that the Cavs were interested in Blazer forward, LaMarcus Aldridge, but were unlikely to give up Anderson Varejao in preliminary discussions. While I do not personally condone shopping LaMarcus at this juncture, it is possible that the Cavs would be willing to make a more reasonable offer, given their fortuitous situation. The Blazers are in great need of an established defensive center.

Although Cleveland received the top pick, the real winner of this year’s lottery is the Washington Wizards. Projected to receive the 8^th pick, the Wizards jumped 5 places into the top 3, and are now in position to draft Georgetown small forward, Otto Porter. The Wizards were only a lottery team at all because their 2010 #1 pick, John Wall, missed 33 games this year while recovering from knee surgery. They now have the means to address their biggest need in style, and will likely make an appearance in the 2014 playoffs.

All in all, this worked out fine for Portland. Although they did not move up, the lottery has changed their off-season playing field, if only just a little. I’m rather content, myself, as I count myself among the minority Wizard fans. Congratulations to Cleveland and Washington, condolences to Orlando and Charlotte (seriously, how hard is it to be a Bobcat right now?).

*Toronto’s pick goes to OKC as part of the Harden deal, because it was not in the top 3.

@davidmackaypdx | @ripcityproject | davidmackaypdx@gmail.com

Blazers are on [sic] team that really likes Andy Varejao. Rockets another. Spurs too. But especially Blazers.

This is the first we’ve heard of Rich Cho possibly making a move to bring in frontcourt depth beyond adding a center for training camp. Given the Blazers’ uncertainty at the center position with Jeff Pendergraph out for the season with a torn ACL and return dates for Greg Oden and Joel Przybilla still unclear, the Brazilian-born Varejao is exactly the kind of player Portland should be looking to add. He’s a scrappy, hard-nosed defender who can play both the power forward and center positions, take charges as well as anyone in the league (detractors call him a flopper, but the results are hard to argue with), and score in the paint.

It’s obvious why the Cavaliers are looking to move Varejao: the six-year, $48 million contract he signed in the summer of 2009 is going to greatly inhibit their ability to rebuild for the post-LeBron era. While that contract is more than a bit rich for a sixth man, the need that he would fill for the Blazers makes it a burden worth shouldering, especially since the last year is only partially guaranteed.

As far as trade scenarios, Cleveland would likely be looking for cap relief and possibly a young player or two, although Varejao isn’t exactly the caliber of player they could demand a Nicolas Batum-level prospect for. He is due to make $7.2 million in 2010-11, which means that either one of the Blazers’ two big expiring contracts (Przybilla and Andre Miller) would make a deal work financially. Including Miller in a trade doesn’t make a great deal of sense for either club: the Blazers don’t have a sure-thing replacement at point guard lined up, while the Cavs acquired Ramon Sessions from Minnesota this summer and still have Mo Williams expecting to play big minutes. Przybilla, once healthy, would provide a solid replacement for the Cavaliers in the middle, where they are severely lacking in size following the departures of Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Shaquille O’Neal. He also carries a $7.4 million expiring contract, which would greatly aid the Cavs’ rebuilding efforts.

Additionally, it’s very possible that the Cavs would waive Przybilla following the trade, freeing him up to re-sign with Portland after 30 days, just as Ilgauskas returned to Cleveland after being dealt to Washington at the 2010 trade deadline for Antawn Jamison. Either way, while Przybilla has been a rock-solid rebounder and shot-blocker for the Blazers, a center rotation of Marcus Camby and Varejao is vastly preferable to the Blazers’ current plan, which involves playing LaMarcus Aldridge for significant minutes at the center position, where he has proven not to be anywhere near as effective as he is at power forward. Once Oden returns to the court, Varejao can slide ably over to power forward to become a full-time backup for Aldridge.

As the beginning of the regular season approaches, the Blazers’ pursuit of Varejao will likely either gain steam or die off as yet another unfounded trade rumor. But Przybilla and possibly Rudy Fernandez (if the Cavs demand something more than pure cap relief) for a versatile, tough defender like Varejao is a deal that absolutely makes sense for the Blazers.

Email me | Twitter: @ripcityproject | @shighkin

(Is America’s Best Dance Crew still cool? Or should I have gone with the So You Think You Can Dance reference? Stop judging..)

It can’t be denied, this is quite the two-game stretch at the Rose Garden. From the Lakers to the Cavs. You go from the best in the West to the best in the East. From superstar 1a to superstar 1b. From one puppet to the other. That Laker win was fun and all, but it is back to business for the Blazers tonight with another nationally televised contest against King James and the Pips. Or the Cavaliers, whatever you want to call them. Cleveland’s come in having lost 2 of their last 3, including a just dropping one to a Melo-less Denver team. They still present a major-league challenge: LeBron James. I don’t need to put his stats up here, but let’s say he’s averaging 30/9/9 against Portland over the past couple years. Just reading that you already know you’re praying for Martell Webster. Not only that but they pride themselves on their defense (the only thing Mike Brown knows anything about) obviously the Blazers are going to be challenged on both ends of the court.

A win is very do-able for the home team. In Cleveland, the Blazers could have pulled it out had the offense not stagnated and Brandon Roy been rendered inefficient (23 pts, 9/25 shots, ew). Portland has to handle Cleveland’s frontline, something they struggled with a month go WITH Joel Pryzbilla in the lineup. Varejao and Shaq went bananas and shifted the tide of that game. If Portland can’t handle those guys, the challenge of LeBron becomes that much tougher. I’m interested to see how a more comfortable Blazer team fares off against one of the league’s best. There isn’t a curse/rivalry element like when LA comes to town.

Keys to the game

Contain Cleveland’s bigs: As long as Joel/Oden are out, I’m probably going to sound like a broken record when it comes to opposing teams frontlines. I’m not going to apologize for it either. I will say LaMarcus really impressed me with his D on Bynum the other night. But we just don’t have anyone with the size to bang with the Diesel. Shaq/Varejao pose a problem. The game in Cleveland proved that these two can really hurt us. As a matter of fact, the Cavs are 11-3 when Sideshow Bob scores in double figures.

Execute offensively: if you remember the game in Cleveland, you’ll remember how in the 2nd have Portland’s offense came to an absolute standstill. Too much standing around, too many isolations, too many shots late in the shot clock. Portland won’t win if that happens again. Cleveland excels in the halfcourt defensively. Portland can’t get suckered in, they have to be in attack mode.

Brandon Roy must be efficient: he’s got to find ways to get to the line and get good shots. If he’s throwing up a Monta Ellis/T-Mac special (points equal or close to FGAs) it’s going to get ugly.

Supporting cast has to show up: staring at Martell Webster and Andre Miller. Roy is going to be targeted and Aldridge struggles with Ilgauskas and Varejao. They will need some big time help.

I feel as if this is a winnable game but it’s an uphill battle. Still want to see where this team is at.