Early look at the draft

[JasonStern]

How come no love for Oregon's Young?

at 6'2", he's very undersized for a two guard and lacks the handles to play the point..

Portland already has that covered

McCollum is 6'3"... in shoes... with platforms.

but honestly, McCollum is a good comparison for Joseph Young. both are defensive liabilities, but could be offensive weapons. ultimately, McCollum is (at this time) a better shot, so he's a better option in an offense with heavy ball movement like Portland, whereas while Young can shoot, he also relies more on his ability to drive on opponents. if the Blazers bought a second round pick, I'd be perfectly fine drafting Young. the fact that most mock drafts have the Pac-12 player of the year going undrafted is confusing. it's not like he didn't put up good numbers against legit teams while being the primary focus of opposing team's defenses.

if anyone is interested, a somewhat rough analysis of expected performance of draft picks by order over a 30 year period:

http://www.82games.com/nbadraftpicks.htm

I hate how those stats are presented. if the Blazers get the 24th pick, they don't have a higher chance of landing a star than the 23rd pick. a better way of presenting it is by summing up subsequent picks and stating "if you drafted perfectly, historically you have this % chance of drafting a star/starter/role player/bench player/scrub/bust".

[DeBlazerRiddem]

Watched Kentucky last night. What a massacre. Anyways Towns wasn't having a great game so Dakari Johnson got a number of minutes and he is a big man in our range. I haven't really been decided about him, but he played well last night. He's a big body, saw him do some good things on defense. Carves out space nicely down low and boxes out decently. Without very many other defensive big men in our range we should be keeping an eye on him. Looked good from the FT line, so a big guy who can rebound, defend, and take up a lot of space without being a liability at the end of games is a decent prospect. Has the skill-set to someday fit into a Robin Lopez type role.

Couple other notes... Booker kind of reminds me of Kevin Martin in terms of play style. Might be a little bigger. Quick catch and shoot player.

Still like Trey Lyles, he looks like a very safe pick. Gonna be a good two way player, looks to do the type of little things that help a team win. He's kind of a tweener, but the good kind, as in he can play both positions not that he is stuck between the positions. Almost looked like a point forward at times. This tournament is probably playing him into the lottery...

I cannot tell the Harrison twins apart lol.

[Ripcity4life]

IF the Blazer did not have CJ i would be ok with Young as a Blazer but for Young to be good in the NBA he will have to improve his PG skills but i think he is a perfect fit for a late 1st to being one of the 1st 5 or so taken in round 2. I see Young as a 1 to 2 yr project player so i hope he gets drafted by a good franchise that can show him some patience. He will need to spend most of his 1st year in the D-league honing his skills then IF he is on a lotto team bring him up for last 10 to 15 games and give him some PT.

As for who the Blazers should draft it's hard to say since the team has it's own Free agents they need to re-sign. Let's assume the major guys stay like RoLo , Wes , AAA and of course LA. This then leaves Wright , Freeland and Gee for players who might need to be replaced. I think out of the next 3 Wright might stay and Maybe Gee but i think Freeland will be allowed to walk as he is too injury prone.

This means i think the positions they will looks for in making a pick are -- PF , C and PG

They could use another big to groom in either of the spots of center and PF and Blake is not getting any younger in why PG is there.

AAA is the wild card as we have no idea when Wes will be back my guess is between End of Dec to All- Star break is the realistic window for his return. I hope the Blazers can convince AAA to not opt out of his player option but with the cap being raising he MIGHT be able to see his salary go from mid 7 million to the Mid 8 million to maybe even low 9 range so we shall see. The truth is Wes getting hurt could be the worst thing for the Blazers cause AAA is showing the rest of the league he is still a 2nd tier SG and starter quality. I guess we will find out what is more important to AAA is it being on a team that can contend for a ring or does he go for the money and a starting spot.

[Shem]

Domantas Sabonis announced he is staying at Gonzaga for his sophomore season. There goes any hope the Blazers land him in the draft, especially if he declares next season where the Blazers won't have their draft pick (unless we suck next season).

[B0naf1d3]

I really like Grant from Notre Dame. He's going to be gone by our pick but, a big point guard who can guard the 2 seems like a good fit next to Dame and CJ. He's a senior and could contribute sooner rather then later.
I could see the Spurs going after a guy like Young.

[JasonStern]

not saying he's my pick, but just for fun, my way too early guess of who the Blazers will pick is Delon Wright. he fits the mold of recent players and picks brought in - likely knows Olshey from his time working with Dorell, four year player with recent NCAA tournament success, could potentially fill the third string point guard role if Frazier isn't retained, etc. unfortunately, his main knock is outside shooting, and you see how little playing time Stotts gives wings that are not at least serviceable shooters.

[DeBlazerRiddem]

not saying he's my pick, but just for fun, my way too early guess of who the Blazers will pick is Delon Wright. he fits the mold of recent players and picks brought in - likely knows Olshey from his time working with Dorell, four year player with recent NCAA tournament success, could potentially fill the third string point guard role if Frazier isn't retained, etc. unfortunately, his main knock is outside shooting, and you see how little playing time Stotts gives wings that are not at least serviceable shooters.

He made a significant improvement in his 3 poitn shooting this last year.

2013/2014: 12/54 (22.2%)
2014/2015: 26/73 (35.6%)

That sort of improvement is very promising for his NBA prospects. He isn't a pure point, but he is someone I think could fit with a variety of Blazer line-ups (but most naturally with McCollum)

[JasonStern]

not saying he's my pick, but just for fun, my way too early guess of who the Blazers will pick is Delon Wright. he fits the mold of recent players and picks brought in - likely knows Olshey from his time working with Dorell, four year player with recent NCAA tournament success, could potentially fill the third string point guard role if Frazier isn't retained, etc. unfortunately, his main knock is outside shooting, and you see how little playing time Stotts gives wings that are not at least serviceable shooters.

He made a significant improvement in his 3 poitn shooting this last year.

2013/2014: 12/54 (22.2%)
2014/2015: 26/73 (35.6%)

That sort of improvement is very promising for his NBA prospects. He isn't a pure point, but he is someone I think could fit with a variety of Blazer line-ups (but most naturally with McCollum)

Wright and McCollum would be an interesting pairing, as Wright has the height to guard opposing teams' shooting guards and enough ball handling skills to play the point.

I still haven't done enough armchair scouting to fall in love with a player yet, which is great. the season isn't over and I'm excited for the playoffs instead of the draft!

[oldfishermen]

This draft appears to have enough depth that the Blazers should get some help. I am not sure who Olshey should draft with our #1 pick? I believe it will be more of which player drops to us.

This draft also appears to be a good time to buy the highest pick available for $3 million, or less. Take the best player available with the highest pick, and then draft a high potential raw project with the lower of the two picks.

George Lucas would be my pick for long term project player. He has some very good natural moves combined with amazing physical tools. He lacks experience and it does not look like he has ever been coached how to play BB. He is so raw, he probably would not play anything but garbage minutes his first two NBA seasons. He needs a lot of work just to learn the basics of BB. Heck he needs time to learn to speak English. If Lucas is coachable, he could develop into a very good PG and three position defensive specialist.

[Norm2953]

I'd be perfectly happy if we sat our starters for the rest of the regular season. That would give
us the best chance at an upset in the first round of the playoffs and also give us the best pick
in this draft (24).

[Wizenheimer]

I'd be perfectly happy if we sat our starters for the rest of the regular season. That would give
us the best chance at an upset in the first round of the playoffs and also give us the best pick
in this draft (24).

if you assume Cleveland finishes with a better record, it would actually be the 23rd pick for Portland.

30 Warriors
29 Hawks
28 Spurs
27 Griz
26 Clips
25 Rockets
24 Cavs
23 Blazers
22 Mavs

And in the off chance that Portland loses the remaining games and Dallas wins their remaining games (both within the realm of possibility since Aldridge won't play tonight, although the Mavs have nothing to gain by playing their aging starters), The Blazers would have the 22nd pick if they won the 'coin toss'. That and 3 million might get them to #20 or lower if they had targeted some specific player

[Norm2953]

Cleveland finishes with Boston, Detroit and Washington. Portland has tonight's game with
the Jazz (W) and OKC and Dallas. Assuming Portland sits most of their key players for the
games on the road, they'll finish at 52-30. Likely the Cavs will win 2/3 of their remaining
games, so yes we'll get pick 23.

It'd be interesting to see after the workouts, if Portland would target any one player but
the injury to Wes and AAA being a FA suggests a big SG might be wanted if the team
felt that player was better than Crabbe. I'd like the team to target someone like Sam
Dekker who might bring a Gordon Hayward type of element to the team for we might
see Nicolas playing a lot of SG next year if AAA leaves. It might cost us CJ to get in
position to get the player we want.

[Downtown]

When I look at some of the various mock drafts one thing that I notice is that there seems to be more power forwards and point guards projected in the low to high twenties than small forwards and shooting guards. I don't believe Portland is looking for insurance for Aldridge leaving, and I don't think they will be looking at point guard or centre either, so it looks like it could be slim pickings at the wing positions.

It may be smart for Olshey to fly overseas and do some scouting on international players at those spots. Can someone answer if they draft a foreign player to stash away for a year or more does it free up cap room if they don't sign him or does it count anyways as far as free agency?

[zzaj]

Count me squarely in the George Lucas camp. He has a rare physical profile and a unique skill set. Everybody else in the end of the 1st looks pretty meh to me. GL is the only one with rare potential, which makes me think he'll move up in the draft past where Portland can draft him.

[Norm2953]

CJ might end up being a very nice trade chip if the team knows AAA is opting in and is confident of their chances
at signing Wes. I would like to get up into the late lottery or mid first round to get a really solid prospect
out of this draft.

[Blazinaway]

CJ might end up being a very nice trade chip if the team knows AAA is opting in and is confident of their chances
at signing Wes. I would like to get up into the late lottery or mid first round to get a really solid prospect
out of this draft.

if he opts in I'd rather trade AA than CJ

[tester551]

CJ might end up being a very nice trade chip if the team knows AAA is opting in and is confident of their chances
at signing Wes. I would like to get up into the late lottery or mid first round to get a really solid prospect
out of this draft.

if he opts in I'd rather trade AA than CJ

+ 1.
Without a second thought.

[Norm2953]

One more loss and we clinch the #23 pick in the draft

[HoopsFanAZ]

If Lopez/Aldridge/Batum/Matthews/Lillard are starters next season … and Kaman and Blake go for another year … and Afflalo is a 6th man/backup SG … and McCollum is developing …
… then the greatest weakest (and/or area for improvement) is backup SF or SF/PF.

At 23 (or 24), best player available rules the day … however, it's an area of need moving forward. I like Crabbe but he's a backup SG/SF at this point. Wright is short term and a free agent.

How about a SF with a motor and length … who plays D and likes it. Whose offense has a long way to go, but he's a worker.
And so, while this guy is built as a SF at this point, his wingspan and motor should help.

U of A's Rondae Hollis Jefferson.
http://www.nbadraft.net/players/rondae-hollis-jefferson
http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Rondae-Hollis-Jefferson-6466/

[Norm2953]

CJ might end up being a very nice trade chip if the team knows AAA is opting in and is confident of their chances
at signing Wes. I would like to get up into the late lottery or mid first round to get a really solid prospect
out of this draft.

if he opts in I'd rather trade AA than CJ

CJ's trade value will likely never be higher than this coming off season. AAA likely won't have much trade
value for he'll be an UFA if he opts in. CJ like guys like Monta Ellis are undersized SG's.