2022 draft/prospects thread

[BlazersBroncos]

CJ getting his revenge by screwing us out of the pick...

Technically, we'll still be able to trade the pick as soon as it becomes the 2025 Memphis pick right? Maybe that pick and keon along with the tpe will be enough to grab Grant?

Its a 2025 MIL FRP, Top-4 protected. Alot can change between now and 2025. If Giannis ever ask out, that team quickly becomes a bubble lotto team, if not worse. And you would think Giannis leaving / requesting out would lead to a full blow asset sale, making the pick all the more valuable.

Dont think the above happens, but the chances are less than zero.

I still have faith we end up with the pick.

OT: With PHX soon to be laden with large contracts, would anyone else trade the lower LP for Cam Johnson? Something like TPE (From RoCo trade) + 10 for Cam Johnson? Fits age timeline w/ Simons and seem poised to breakout if given more touches.

I'm not sure PHX would make that trade. They are in win-now mode & if I were them, I wouldn't want to mess with the chemistry. Cam is great in his role on that team... having said that, I'm not sure he's worth the #10 pick either.

I could see something around Dario as more likely. Dario will make $10M next year versus $6M for Cam. If they trade Cam for the #10 pick (~$4M), they would only be 'saving' $2M in salary. If salary were the key issue, Dario is more likely to be moved.

TPE + #37 <-> Dario + '23 1st
Suns could drop Dario's ($10M contract) for the cost of "trading down" about 10 spots. They also get a cheap prospect to fill in the cracks without loosing any rotational players.
Portland gets to reallocate draft capital. Instead of 4 picks this summer, they get to swap one for the '23 draft.

I like Dario a bit, but I dont think using the TPE (And it would be using the larger TPE, the CJ one, not the RoCo one) on him is good asset allocation. He is a C only, dude didnt have the footpeed before the injury to guard bouncy 4's. And I dont think he is a significant enough upgrade over the cheap Eubanks / Watford combo to be worth burning the larger TPE on. + that pick barring something huge in the injury luck department is guaranteed to be 25-30 (I would even say 27-30). PHX is built for continual success.

So basically its burning the TPE to get a small backup C upgrade and punting a 37ish pick for a 27ish pick next year. I just dont like it.

[Goldbum]

The more I watch Eason the more I see Ron Artest...and the more I wonder how Ron-Ron would look in today's NBA..

[GEE]

Mark Williams from Duke is still the guy I really want, and even more since the tourney. Oscar Tshiebwe from (edit) Kentucky is another guy I'd love to get. If we can end up with those two, and either Jabari Smith or Paolo Banchero, I will be 100% STOKED!

Again... J.Grant is a big HELL NO for me, but I do like the idea of adding Jalen Smith, especially if we can't get 3 quality bigs out of the draft, as shown above.

Can't wait for May 17th, when those crazy ping pong balls get dropped.

[DeBlazerRiddem]

Mark Williams from Duke is still the guy I really want, and even more since the tourney. Oscar Tshiebwe from North Carolina is another guy I'd love to get. If we can end up with those two, and either Jabari Smith or Paolo Banchero, I will be 100% STOKED!

Again... J.Grant is a big HELL NO for me, but I do like the idea of adding Jalen Smith, especially if we can't get 3 quality bigs out of the draft, as shown above.

Can't wait for May 17th, when those crazy ping pong balls get dropped.

Add Kessler and Koloko and there could be some real solid career centers drafted outside the lottery this summer.


Another second rounder I think could be a good target for us is David Roddy, as kind of an undersized ground-bound but strong and tenacious PJ Tucker type player.

[Tim Lehrbach]

Of the Duke guys, I mentioned a couple pages back that Banchero and Moore stood out the most for functional athleticism to me. (Griffin still worries me. If the athleticism is there post-injury, where is it on display? There's discussion of this at the draft board, too. And I agree with the concerns from that thread that his shot may not translate. BlazersBroncos likened him to Nesmith. I'd add Saddiq Bey to the comp -- who has been better as a pro than I expected -- guys getting college looks from three that don't strike me as NBA looks.) That said, yeah, Mark Williams made himself pretty hard to ignore this season. I doubt he has the offensive upside to merit taking over a swing for star talent with a lottery pick, but his level of activity and length are enticing for a solid rotation player later in the first round. I wish we had a third pick to add one of these promising fives. Although soon we may be wishing we even had a second pick...

[Case2012]

Mathurin is still at the top of my board if Smith, Chet and Murray are off the board where we pick. I have him over Ivey, Griffin and Paolo.

Here’s a nice scouting video of Chet. The skill is there but the body worries me, he actually reminds me of Giannis on the fast break before his body developed but with way better shooting. If he can bulk up and maintain his dexterity and ball handling he could live up to the hype, but that’s a big if. It’s rare you can both, usually you have to trade one for the other so we’ll see.

Watch on YouTube

[BlazersBroncos]

Mathurin is still at the top of my board if Smith, Chet and Murray are off the board where we pick. I have him over Ivey, Griffin and Paolo.

Here’s a nice scouting video of Chet. The skill is there but the body worries me, he actually reminds me of Giannis on the fast break before his body developed but with way better shooting. If he can bulk up and maintain his dexterity and ball handling he could live up to the hype, but that’s a big if. It’s rare you can both, usually you have to trade one for the other so we’ll see.

Watch on YouTube

I think Chet's body type is most closely comparable to Durant. I dont think he fills out like Giannis.

He is still my #1, but Jabari is close and Paolo has risen alot for me. I think they are the clear cut cream of the crop in this draft. Fingers crossed we snag 1.

Also, not much chatter on the super late SRP from MEM. There are some nice stash level guys in this draft who have fallen out of favor due to poor production after some hype:

Yannick Nzosa F/C - Hyped as a Top-10 talent when really young, hasnt developed or filled out but still brings alot of bounce and athleticism and could be a late bloomer.

Roko Prkacin F - Another guy touted as a potential late lotto pick who fell off due to poor production. Opposite of Nzosa in he has alot of NBA skills but not a good athlete. Could be a decent scoring big off the bench IMO.

Ariel Hukporti C - Probably not mobile enough for the NBA but pretty fundamentally sound, probably a Willy H level player at best.

Khalifa Diop C - Tons of raw athletic talent but pretty poor fundamentals, I like him alot here as a draft/stash guy and think he could be a defensive bit player w/ mobility to make it in NBA.

Only looking at draft / stash guys this late but there are some decent options.

[Tim Lehrbach]

I just don't buy Chet's handle. Paolo has risen for me, too. But I'm becoming wary of basically everybody in the top 10 for one reason or another. Starting to think trading out really is the best course. I do like the depth of potential solid rotation players later in this draft, though. Maybe a trade down could net a decent cast of forwards? I dunno. That'll be my next stupid offseason thread at the trade board, I figure.

Good late second roundup, BB. Have been giving thought to the POR 2nd but not so much the MEM one. There'll be some intriguing overseas talents or unheralded college guys left on the board, for sure.

[HoopsFanAZ]

1. Step by step. Blazers get it done. #6
2. Play-in: Go Spurs!
3. Holmgren? Banchero? Smith? Murray? Yes. I'm not thinking of an all star even though that high up is where they should be.
4. Hurry up and wait. A bit of unpleasantness with the hope of a better team. A reasonable chance.
5. I didn't like seeing Nance, RoCo, or Powell traded. CJ? Yes. But getting Josh Hart, a high pick in the draft, and [hopefully] a late lottery pick from the Pels? That would be worth it.

I do like Holmgren. I'm absolutely fine with any of the four forwards -- Holmgren / Banchero / Smith / Murray

[BlazersBroncos]

When thinking of Chet's frame I think the best comparisons are Durant and AK47.

I think he wont be as good as Durant on O, but better than him on D.
I think he wont be as good as AK47 on D, but (much) better than him on O.

Chet is a freak. He might not be an alpha scorer, but as a 2/3 option on offense and a swiss army knife defender he is going to flourish. We have the scorers that wouldnt pressure him to force his offense, just let him get open 3's, putbacks, score on cutting, etc. and he will be fine. He just isnt an ISO guy like KD who can get a bucket when needed, and thats fine IMO.

I think Chet's shot will translate really well too. He has that super wrist-flicky shot like KD with a high release point and a quick release overall especially for a 7 footer. Paolo and Murray worry me more, with Smith having the best shot of the group (His base reminds me so much of Rashard Lewis with that wide stance)

But, ya, a versatile defender that can switch, protect the rim and generally raise the entire floor of a teams defense is exactly what we need. I think Chet could post Rookie numbers similar to AK47's All-Star year - 16ppg / 8rpg / 3apg / 2spg / 3bpg w/ ~ 45 / 35 / 80 shooting splits (Maybe not 2spg, but otherwise similar)

[Goldbum]

If we make the Grant trade, isn't Eason a better fit next to Gerami than say Murray? If Jabari,Chet,Paolo, Griffen and Ivey are gone maybe we could pick up a couple future picks moving from say 6 to 11ish to take Eason...

[Norm2953]

Unless Portland goes with Eubanks as the backup center, Portland really needs to add a big to
the roster for Grant is a combo forward who can't play center. Remember Nurk misses a lot of
games and I'd hate to play a lot of games with Eubanks as your only center.

In my mind, the perfect Portland draft would be Murray and one of the centers (Duren, Williams)
for its a major gamble to hope to draft one in the second round.

[BlazersBroncos]

Unless Portland goes with Eubanks as the backup center, Portland really needs to add a big to
the roster for Grant is a combo forward who can't play center. Remember Nurk misses a lot of
games and I'd hate to play a lot of games with Eubanks as your only center.

In my mind, the perfect Portland draft would be Murray and one of the centers (Duren, Williams)
for its a major gamble to hope to draft one in the second round.

I am sorta OK with Eubanks as the backup center. I love his energy, sets good screens, good rebounder, knows his role, will be cheap. I think you only take a C if he is BPA, and I generally only see that scenario happening if Duren falls to the 2nd LP.

Eubanks and Watford provide really differing backup skills at C, I think we can give them the 20mpg behind Nurk.

[Norm2953]

The things is though, Nurk misses a lot of games and it gets old seeing the Blazers go with guys like
Eubanks, Watford or Reggie Perry play significant minutes against the other teams bigs. Those 6-8 235
lb guys are a dime a dozen.

[BlazersBroncos]

Evan's brother Isaiah declared today. Dont have a beat on his projected draft position he has alot to like IMO.

[DaVoiceMaster]

Are y'all thinking the Blazers will keep the #6 pick? Will they keep either lotto picks?

[Case2012]

If Murray isn't there at 6, I would consider it but Mathurin would be hard to pass on. I don't think there's any star level players available for the 6th pick this year sadly. It's a shame too because the last 5 years has seen so many stars moved while Neil had his hands up his ass... 2017 specifically was extremely frustrating.

[monopoman]

The more I watch Eason the more I see Ron Artest...and the more I wonder how Ron-Ron would look in today's NBA..

I think a Ron Artest could be of great value to many teams in the NBA, he was one of the most effective defenders in the NBA for a time. If you tell me this kid is the next Ron Artest but he might not be as crazy as Ron was that would make him even better. Ron was another guy that was his own worst enemy he let his emotions dictate his actions many times and that helped create events like Malice in the Palace.

[BlazersBroncos]

The more I watch Eason the more I see Ron Artest...and the more I wonder how Ron-Ron would look in today's NBA..

I think a Ron Artest could be of great value to many teams in the NBA, he was one of the most effective defenders in the NBA for a time. If you tell me this kid is the next Ron Artest but he might not be as crazy as Ron was that would make him even better. Ron was another guy that was his own worst enemy he let his emotions dictate his actions many times and that helped create events like Malice in the Palace.

I think a less cray Artest is worth a pick in the 3-5 range. Thats a hell of a player.

[BlazersBroncos]

If stick to #6 and Chet, Jabari, Paolo and Keegan are off the board would anyone consiter:

#6 for Deni Avdija, #10

I am still really high on Deni, like him more than anyone in this draft outside the above and still just 21.

Then move 11 for Grant, draft Duren 10.

G - Damian Lillard / Anfernee Simons
G - Anfernee Simons / Josh Hart
F - Deni Avdija / Nas Little
F - Jerami Grant / Justice Winslow
C - Jusuf Nurkic / Jalen Duren