[Bryan88]

ESPN - Source: Blazers agree to deal with Hornets for 27th pick - NBA

The Portland Trail Blazers have agreed to a deal with the New Orleans Hornets to acquire the 27th pick in Thursday's NBA draft for cash considerations, a Blazers source told ESPN.com.

The deal was agreed to verbally between the two teams on Tuesday night, according to the source. The teams have scheduled a trade call with the league in the morning to make the deal official.

Blazers GM Kevin Pritchard has been very active in the past few drafts acquiring picks. Armed with the financial might of owner Paul Allen, the Blazers acquired the 23rd pick in the draft last year and drafted Rudy Fernandez. They also used cash to acquire Sergio Rodriguez in 2006.

It's unclear who the Blazers are eyeing at No. 27. One possibility is Croatian big man Ante Tomic, whom the Blazers have coveted for years.

Other potential targets are French swingman Nicolas Batum, who has slipped in the draft because of concerns about his heart, and Memphis swingman Chris Douglas-Roberts.

[Lefty Noob]

Wow, this team's pretty loaded as is. If they can land a decent talent, they could be one to watch next year and in the years ahead!

[Bryan88]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

Wow, this team's pretty loaded as is. If they can land a decent talent, they could be one to watch next year and in the years ahead!

Well the word is that they got this pick to ensure that SF Nicholas Batum from France will be available to select. Batum has some heart concerns and it was suppose to drop him out of the first round and the Blazers were going to take him in the second, but other teams were showing interest.

The word is that they will take fellow frenchman Alexis Ajinca with the 13th pick.