I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but unless Portland trades Jamal Crawford for LBJ, they're not going to the Finals next year.
There is no magical trade that fixes all of your problems overnight (unless you're LA) but you can definitely put yourself in a position to be closer.
Let me clarify another thing too. Hibbert could ball in college. He was arguably the best big in America and he had a versatile game as well as the awareness that you need from a keystone big. Drummond? He's a hyper athletic Ryan Hollins - and rarely is that kind of stupid fixable. People who say "he's not that bad" have yet to see him airball hook shots against no-name directional schools from bumfuck, nowhere while being guarded by people half his size. He's not even a good rebounder. But Drummond's biggest fault is that he is timid. He shies away from contact like he's not the biggest man on the court. That is HARD to fix. LMA still doesn't like to bang and he's been in the league for 5+ years.
Drummond is a physical guarantee - but if he were to surpass Hansborough, that'd shock me.
Certainly no, i don't expect to be past the first round for at least 2 seasons no matter what move we make.
With the Hibbert stuff i admit, didn't watch his college game. I'm just giving some stats to put it in perspective. As for all that criticism i hear you. But look at L.M.A. Look at a picture of him from draft day and a picture of him now. It's a night and day difference. Dude's a mcbeefy supreme
power forward now where he was much more timid when he wasn't getting a ton of touches and early in his career. A similar argument could be made for Drummond and how little he was used in college. Certainly he needs to work on his shot, but i see him get deep post position as well.
I think if he went to the wizards or some messed up situation i could totally seeing him be the next Javale mcfail but Portland is a much different culture. Everyone really wants to wash the failure of last season out of there mouths from last season.. If L.A wasn't rehabbing i think he'd be in the gym. Wesley will play summer league and Batum knows he needs to step up. Drummond coming in and wussing out in games won't be tolerated.
It's a gamble I'm way happier to take than MKG and D.J. at the end of the day. It's also possible we take Lenoard and Beal or whoever falls to #6.
Also I'm a bit disappointed Chad didn't get the GM job. When you swing Gerald Wallace for a #6 pick you should really be rewarded. Dude has been a pro throughout and I'd flip my lid if he takes that vacant Clippers job.