The Beginning
With the third pick in the 2005 NBA draft the Portland TrailBlazers selected Chris Paul. The Blazers took Paul even though they had drafted Sebastian Telfair in 2004. They were that confident. Later in the draft the Utah Jazz traded up with Charlotte to draft Raymond Felton with the fifth pick. Little did people know that this was the beginning of a new Portland team.
 
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The 2005 NBA draft
Here's the Full 2005 NBA draft (1st round)
1. Milwaukee Bucks: Andrew Bogut
2. Atlanta Hawks: Marvin Williams
3. Portland TrailBlazers: Chris Paul
4. New Orleans Hornets: Deron Williams
5. Utah Jazz (from Charlotte): Raymond Felton
6. Charlotte Bobcats (from Utah): Charlie Villanueva
7. Toronto Raptors: Martell Webster
8. New York Knicks: Channing Frye
9. Golden State Warriors: Ike Diogu
10. Los Angles Lakers: Andrew Bynum
11. Orlando Magic: Fran Vázquez
12. Los Angles Clippers: Yaroslav Korolev
13. Charlotte Bobcats (from Cleveland and Phoenix): Sean May
14. Minnesota Timberwolves: Rashad McCants
15. New Jersey Nets: Antoine Wright
16. Toronto Raptors (from Philadelphia, Denver, and New Jersey): Joey Graham
17. Indiana Pacers: Danny Granger
18. Boston Celtics: Gerald Green
19. Memphis Grizzlies: Hakim Warrick
20. Denver Nuggets (from Washington and Orlando): Julius Hodge
21. Phoenix Suns (from Chicago to New York): Nate Robinson
22. Denver Nuggets (to Portland): Fransisco Garcia
23. Sacramento Kings: Jerret Jack
24. Houston Rockets: Luther Head
25. Seattle SuperSonics: Johan Petro
26. Detroit Pistons: Jason Maxwell
27. Portland TrailBlazers (from Dallas and Utah to Denver): Linas Kleiza
28. San Antonio Spurs: Ian Mahimi
29. Miami Heat: Wayne Simien
30. New York Knicks (From Phoenix and San Antonio): David Lee


 
Do the Blazers still trade for Aldridge the following year?

More importantly, will butterflies prevent Dirk making that and-1 shot over Manu in Game 7 of the 2006 WCSF?
 
2006 NBA season
The Portland TrailBlazers were very impressed with Chris Paul's rookie season. Paul averaged 16.1 PPG and 7.8 APG. Paul also managed to win the rookie of the year award, becoming the first Blazer since Sidney Wicks to win the award. The Blazers also improved upon their previous record of 27-55 with a record of 31-51. The New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets managed a 30-52 record with rookie Deron Williams.

2006 NBA Standings
West:
1. San Antonio Spurs 61-19
2. Pheonix Suns 54-28
3. Denver Nuggets 44-38
4. Dallas Mavericks 60-22
5. Memphis Grizzlies 49-33
6. Los Angles Clippers 47-35
7. Los Angles Lakers 45-37
8. Sacramento Kings 43-39
9. Utah Jazz 41-41
10. Seattle SuperSonics 35-47
11. Houston Rockets 34-48
12. Golden State Warriors 34-48
13. Minnesota TimberWolves 33-49
14. Portland TrailBlazers 31-51
15. New Orleans/Oklahoma City 30-52
(Nothing much changes in the east. The Raptors do worse and the Bobcats do better, you'll see in the lottery)
 
So, it looks like the Blazers will still probably end up with Aldridge and Roy. However, with Paul, they shouldn't be getting Oden the next year, and maybe they end up with Roy Hibbert in 2008.
 
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