For now, Trail Blazers will focus on draft before turning attention to Greg Oden's contract

For now, the Trail Blazers’ focus will be on next Thursday’s NBA draft.

The Blazers held their second draft workout Thursday at their  practice facility, with four big men put through the paces.

Interim general manager Chad Buchanan then held court for a swarm of reporters who asked seemingly endless questions about center Greg Oden.

The Blazers are in a period during which they can tender a qualifying offer to Oden that would make him a restricted free agent and give the team the right to match any other franchise’s offer. But Buchanan said  the Blazers would get through next Thursday’s draft before making a decision on Oden.

“Until we get through the draft, we’re not going to focus in on that,” Buchanan said.

What is the Blazers’ focus on the draft? It’s no great secret that the Blazers need help in the post and at point guard. But Buchanan hinted that Portland might prefer to obtain a player who can come in and help right away, which might necessitate a trade as the Blazers probably would not be able find such a player with the Nos. 21 and 51 picks.

“We’re trying to get a guy to come in and help us get to the next level,” Buchanan said. “Our team has been in the first round (of the playoffs), obviously hasn’t made it out of the first round in three years, and we’re trying to find a player, whether it be in the draft or a trade at this point, to help us get there.”

Buchanan said Allen will take a major role in the draft day decisions and said the owner said a “good eye for talent,”

“In previous drafts, he’s picked up a lot of guys he’s liked and have gone on to have success in the NBA,” Buchanan said, adding, “It’s going to be a group decision on what we end up doing in the draft and with Greg.”

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Buchanan was non-committal about the Blazers' team option on point guard Andre Miller. The Blazers hold a $7.8 million option for Miller for next season, but have yet to exercise it.

Buchanan said he has been in touch with Miller and praised the veteran's value to the Blazers, but added that there has been plenty of interest in Miller from other teams.

"Like any other player, if there's a chance to make our team better, we're going to listen," Buchanan said.