Draft prospects @ 10

[GreenRiddler]

The Blazers can use a player at any position. SG is probably the one position I would least worry about at this point with Matthews, Barton and even Batum. I still believe the Blazers will resign Elliott Williams, as well. Every other position is wide open for backups and perhaps a starting center.

I really hope they don't bother. That money/roster spot could be put to so much better use than on a guy who's body clearly can't withstand the rigors of the NBA. I feel bad for the guy, but this is a business and he's not worth the investment anymore.

It is not like there are better options. He could be a steal. H would be a 1 year deal and would impede on us bringing in anyone.

[GreenRiddler]

If he fell to the Blazers @10 he would be a steal. I certainly think he's a clone of Aldridge and if he is playing very well at the trade deadline the Blazers should trade Aldridge. A player like Aldridge is a 2nd/3rd option on a contender and he's certainly not a franchise player that's going to get a team over the hump as a #1 option.

I couldn't disagree with this more. HE is a good player and could be the BPA come draft time. However He is not going to replace or "Clone Aldridge". H will never have the finishing ability, length on defense, shooting abilty, Pick and pop skills of LMA and most importantly he will never led all big men in scoring.

[GreenRiddler]

I think Adams can be a good backup C like Asik was for Chi for 1 year and then a starter for us in his second. The only reason Asik never got minuets was Noah being in Chi. It would be a pleasant surprise if we chose Adams @10.

[GreenRiddler]

KCP jumped in DX mock. from 19 to 13.

[Marcus50]

Adams has the potential to fill all the holes that we need on this team. Problem is that we need those holes filled now and not with a 19 year old, very raw rookie. If we get 13 from Dallas then we could definitely afford to take a flyer on him. I don't want to draft a guy just to fill a need though when he's so raw that he won't even be doing what he was drafted to do.

No freshman centre is going to fill those holes. A 19 year old big is inevitably a development pick who may contribute in | some areas. They will not be the full answer otherwise they would not be available at 10,.he'd be top 5.

[TBpup]

Liking Adams more and more. Watching his touch with his perimeter shot, I'm more convinced that the thumb injury really hindered him. He already is a nice shot-blocker.

[GreenRiddler]

Adams has the potential to fill all the holes that we need on this team. Problem is that we need those holes filled now and not with a 19 year old, very raw rookie. If we get 13 from Dallas then we could definitely afford to take a flyer on him. I don't want to draft a guy just to fill a need though when he's so raw that he won't even be doing what he was drafted to do.

No freshman centre is going to fill those holes. A 19 year old big is inevitably a development pick who may contribute in | some areas. They will not be the full answer otherwise they would not be available at 10,.he'd be top 5.

Like Drummond..Ohh

[Norm2953]

As I mentioned before, comparing Adams and Drummond is unfair for Drummond
played HS basketball here and was arguably (after Anthony Davis) the second
rated player out of high school. Drummond played a lot of HS and AAU ball while
Adams has no such experiences.

I could understand the picking of Adams if Meyers was traded for we simply can't
carry two developmental bigs. Both players would need time to develop, playing
behind a veteran center.

[Talent Chaser]

Adams has the potential to fill all the holes that we need on this team. Problem is that we need those holes filled now and not with a 19 year old, very raw rookie. If we get 13 from Dallas then we could definitely afford to take a flyer on him. I don't want to draft a guy just to fill a need though when he's so raw that he won't even be doing what he was drafted to do.

No freshman centre is going to fill those holes. A 19 year old big is inevitably a development pick who may contribute in | some areas. They will not be the full answer otherwise they would not be available at 10,.he'd be top 5.

Like Drummond..Ohh

Adams averaged 6 and 5 his freshman year and is not the athletic freak that Drummond is. Adams is much more of a project. The only way I see Portland drafting Adams is if they trade Meyers which would be wasting all progress made with him over the past year.

[Blazinaway]

"Adams averaged 6 and 5 his freshman year and is not the athletic freak that Drummond is"

Really? I just looked at their combine results and they were fairly close, the two biggest differences were the lane agility where Drummond had a big edge, then in the bench Adams did 16 reps vs 10 for Drummond. Their other stats and measurements are frankly very close, IMO I don't think one cay say that Adams is not the athletic "freak" Drummond is, I'd likely give Drummond the edge but IMO it is close.

[JasonStern]

I think Adams can be a good backup C like Asik was for Chi for 1 year and then a starter for us in his second. The only reason Asik never got minuets was Noah being in Chi. It would be a pleasant surprise if we chose Adams @10.

a 19 year old Steven Adams' skills do not translate to those of a 24 year old Ömer Aşık.

Adams has the potential to fill all the holes that we need on this team. Problem is that we need those holes filled now and not with a 19 year old, very raw rookie. If we get 13 from Dallas then we could definitely afford to take a flyer on him. I don't want to draft a guy just to fill a need though when he's so raw that he won't even be doing what he was drafted to do.

No freshman centre is going to fill those holes. A 19 year old big is inevitably a development pick who may contribute in | some areas. They will not be the full answer otherwise they would not be available at 10,.he'd be top 5.

Like Drummond..Ohh

look at the pre-draft measurements:

http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/andre-drummond-5772/
http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Steven-Adams-6301/

not hating on adams. loved him when he was projected to go around pick 20, but it would appear that people are significantly overrating adams' potential.

we simply can't carry two developmental bigs.

as long as the starting center position gets shored up in free agency, why not? the team has 15 roster spots, only 12 can be active, and the team owns their d-league affiliate (idaho stampede)...

[Downtown]

So would it be wrong to look for a guy at the lower end of the first round, or top of the second round and go for him instead of attempting to carry two lotto picks that are projects at the same position?

If Portland can land either Mike Muscala or Jeff Whithey later on then signing a veteran free agent center for a couple year rental does make some sense. It would basically be buying some time while Leonard and one of those other guys comes along, or doesn't. Either way it could be cheap insurance.

Another option is DO take one of the big men at #10, and make a hard push for a free agent scorer like Chase Budinger instead of drafting Pope or McCollum.

Just more options in an ocean of options for the Blazers front office to decide on.

[Goldbum]

^^^^^^ I love Whithey.

[hookena]

whithey's weakside help is certainly a needed skill set but probably only a one trick pony as the senior only weighed in at 222lbs. at the combine. 6 pounds lighter than Noel claimed to have weighed while playing last season.

[DeBlazerRiddem]

whithey's weakside help is certainly a needed skill set but probably only a one trick pony as the senior only weighed in at 222lbs. at the combine. 6 pounds lighter than Noel claimed to have weighed while playing last season.

I'm not sure how much it means, but among projected 1st round bigs, Withey is 3rd in defensive rebounds per minute behind Noel and Plumlee. Not so good at offensive rebounds, but if he can clean up defensive boards and block some shots, that is worth a late 1st pick.

[lukeyrid13]

Withey isn't perfect but that's why he is slotted to go in the 20's. I think it'd be a great move to trade say 39 and 40 for a pick in the 20's to get Withey.

[Talent Chaser]

"Adams averaged 6 and 5 his freshman year and is not the athletic freak that Drummond is"

Really? I just looked at their combine results and they were fairly close, the two biggest differences were the lane agility where Drummond had a big edge, then in the bench Adams did 16 reps vs 10 for Drummond. Their other stats and measurements are frankly very close, IMO I don't think one cay say that Adams is not the athletic "freak" Drummond is, I'd likely give Drummond the edge but IMO it is close.

Combine's don't always tell the truth, Drummond translates his athleticism on to the court better than Adams, you would know that if you watched either of them while in college. Adams is such a reach for the late lottery, he was hardly a standout at Pitt and people have fallen in love with him due to the combine and watching him shoot uncontested mid-range jumpers over chairs on 2 minute YouTube clips. Portland needs immediate help if they want to keep Aldridge around and Adams is the opposite of that. The organization seems committed to Meyers and drafting Adams would kill any confidence he might have built throughout the season. It's easy to say that you could assign Adams to the D-League but that is a slippery slope. He's too raw and is a completely different player than Drummond, just like CJ is a completely different player than Lillard.

[DusterBuster]

Take this for what it is, but Scott Howard-Cooper of NBA.com is reporting that multiple GM's are convinced the Blazers will pick Pope @ 10:

Several teams are convinced this is the Portland call in the attempt to add depth as one of the final steps to a playoff push. Caldwell-Pope is an offensive threat who has spent two seasons in a system that created a lot of shooting opportunities for him.

[lukeyrid13]

KCP is my least favorite prospect in the top 15.

[Case2012]

McCullum, Len, and Zeller are mine in that order. Second Tier guys for me are Franklin, KCP, and Shabazz.

The guys in the top ten are going to be busts.