Mike Schmitz - Draft Guru

[HoopsFanAZ]

1. Clingan, Sharpe, Scoot are the hope.
2. Draft and draft eval of Walker, Camara, Rupert, Murray for role players (draft position).
3. I did not like trading 34 as there was value there this year.

(Cronin) Getting a trade done to get both Salaun and Cody Williams? My preference. BUT getting Clingan and Deni, instead? Pretty good.

I'll take it a step further and say that IMO,
Scoot
Sharpe
Deni
Clingan
2025 draft pick

is the "core" for the next 5 years. Now, depending on how Sharpe and Scoot look next year, I could see a world where Schmitz and Cronin capitulate toward a Dylan Harper or Traore, or Edgecombe...but it's impossible to know that currently.
[…].

It’s an arguable prediction … and it’s a lot of what they have done — The Timeline and who fits. Apparently, Ayton was a trade target even prior to the Dame-out. And Grant was a legit option Dame wanted … and a good one for Dame’s time. If that Grant arrived with the Blazers in 2-3 years, he and Deni would be the best Blazers forwards in over a decade … and they will help win too many games early this season. Fortunately for the 2025 lottery, the bench is still pretty weak. And unfortunately, neither one is an all star.

Simons, Sharpe, Deni, 2025 pick, Clingan — No floor general but playmaking from Clingan, Deni and Ant? Maybe?

[zzaj]

1. Clingan, Sharpe, Scoot are the hope.
2. Draft and draft eval of Walker, Camara, Rupert, Murray for role players (draft position).
3. I did not like trading 34 as there was value there this year.

(Cronin) Getting a trade done to get both Salaun and Cody Williams? My preference. BUT getting Clingan and Deni, instead? Pretty good.

I'll take it a step further and say that IMO,
Scoot
Sharpe
Deni
Clingan
2025 draft pick

is the "core" for the next 5 years. Now, depending on how Sharpe and Scoot look next year, I could see a world where Schmitz and Cronin capitulate toward a Dylan Harper or Traore, or Edgecombe...but it's impossible to know that currently.
[…].

It’s an arguable prediction … and it’s a lot of what they have done — The Timeline and who fits. Apparently, Ayton was a trade target even prior to the Dame-out. And Grant was a legit option Dame wanted … and a good one for Dame’s time. If that Grant arrived with the Blazers in 2-3 years, he and Deni would be the best Blazers forwards in over a decade … and they will help win too many games early this season. Fortunately for the 2025 lottery, the bench is still pretty weak. And unfortunately, neither one is an all star.

Simons, Sharpe, Deni, 2025 pick, Clingan — No floor general but playmaking from Clingan, Deni and Ant? Maybe?

One thing that Olshey and Cronin have been TERRIBLE at (like literally worst GMs in history levels of bad) is assembling rosters whose players' abilities complement each other.

I'm hoping that Deni helps in that regard--being able to do a little bit of everything, minus a mid-range game.

[Walton1one]

Yeah, still haven't addressed shooting. They like those long athletic wings who haven't proven they can shoot. Still cannot believe Cronin thinks a backcourt of Scoot\Simons can work in any shape\form.

[JRoy]

They can lose LOTS of games. And will.

[Goldbum]

In retrospect one of the Thompson brothers seems like the right pick IMO.

I liked Black more than both Thompsons during draft time but the way their athleticism has translated to the NBA is pretty enticing. Wasnt convinced either were as elite athletically as they flashed as rookies. Both look like Gerald Wallace level athletes - and I dont use that comparison lightly.

Yeah, I think Scoot is going to be the better player, but...

Ant
Shaedon
Amen
Deni
Ayton

Grant/Clingan/Toumani/Timelord
Looks like an intriguing top 9.
If we somehow get Flagg it's all moot
A fully actualized
Scoot
Shaedon
Deni
Cooper
Clingan
Lineup is so intriguing. If we land Cooper I hope we push for the play-in that season

[BlazersBroncos]

On the topic of the draft - we are playing a PS game against the team that has Ben Saraf - a 6'6 Israeli combo guard who has a ton of similarities to Manu. Across 7 games in FIBA U-18 this past summer he posted 28 / 5 / 5.

I think its going to take a bit of time to get his hype rolling but to me I see a Top-10 talent - even in the loaded 2025 draft.

A trio at guard of Scoot / Sharpe / Saraf is drool worthy. Now, I prefer Cooper / Ace as we need a forward but man if we had a second lotto pick coming out of the draft with one of Cooper / Ace and Saraf would be franchise changing IMO.

I like him quite a bit more than Hugo Gonzalez.

[zzaj]

On the topic of the draft - we are playing a PS game against the team that has Ben Saraf - a 6'6 Israeli combo guard who has a ton of similarities to Manu. Across 7 games in FIBA U-18 this past summer he posted 28 / 5 / 5.

I think its going to take a bit of time to get his hype rolling but to me I see a Top-10 talent - even in the loaded 2025 draft.

A trio at guard of Scoot / Sharpe / Saraf is drool worthy. Now, I prefer Cooper / Ace as we need a forward but man if we had a second lotto pick coming out of the draft with one of Cooper / Ace and Saraf would be franchise changing IMO.

I like him quite a bit more than Hugo Gonzalez.

Yeah, Saraf is a very good player...he's been on my radar for a while now, too.

[tester551]

Ant
Shaedon
Amen
Deni
Ayton

Nice, but I don't see that ever being a contender level. I see this as a 4-8 seed playoff team at max

Scoot
Shaedon
Deni
Cooper
Clingan
Lineup is so intriguing. If we land Cooper I hope we push for the play-in that season

This has serious potential. Even without Cooper, this is a much better team IMO.

Scoot
Shaedon
TBD -> (Bailey, VJ, Hugo, McNeeley, etc)
Deni
Clingan

[Wizenheimer]

Ant
Shaedon
Amen
Deni
Ayton

Nice, but I don't see that ever being a contender level. I see this as a 4-8 seed playoff team at max

Scoot
Shaedon
Deni
Cooper
Clingan
Lineup is so intriguing. If we land Cooper I hope we push for the play-in that season

This has serious potential. Even without Cooper, this is a much better team IMO.

Scoot
Shaedon
TBD -> (Bailey, VJ, Hugo, McNeeley, etc)
Deni
Clingan

yeah...penciling in Ant and Ayton as starters on any team seriously lowers the ceiling of that team

[m0ng0]

And the sun rises yet again!!

[monopoman]

Fur reelz, the only picks that matter are Shaedon, Scoot and Klingon. Looking back at those drafts I don't see a needle mover that was picked behind those guys. As such, I have a hard time Blaming Schmidt for our troubles.

Well throughout the history of the NBA only a handful of truly great players have been drafted in the 2nd round. You can find quality players in those picks for sure, but if you are talking potential all-star level players those come around very rarely.

[tester551]

And the sun rises yet again!!

Wiz is consistent.... but he's not wrong (at least with Simons and Ayton).

[m0ng0]

And the sun rises yet again!!

Wiz is consistent.... but he's not wrong (at least with Simons and Ayton).

That's an opinion we shall see

[ebott]

Fur reelz, the only picks that matter are Shaedon, Scoot and Klingon. Looking back at those drafts I don't see a needle mover that was picked behind those guys. As such, I have a hard time Blaming Schmidt for our troubles.

Well throughout the history of the NBA only a handful of truly great players have been drafted in the 2nd round. You can find quality players in those picks for sure, but if you are talking potential all-star level players those come around very rarely.

That's why I'm not complaining about how much Chris Murray sucks. The draft can be a crap shoot even near the top. It's crazy unpredictable in the 20s.

Imho, they should get rid of the second round. Just let those kids show out in summer league and try to get that free agent money.

[BlazersBroncos]

My issue w/ Kris was he was a win-now pick. A guy projected to be playable at forward from the get-go that can hit a 3 (Clearly the reality is different here - but this is talking 'as a prospect').

Since we were moving off Dame by the time that draft rolled around using a FRP on a low ceiling 23 year old was silly.

Leonard or GG were clearly better picks for a rebuilding team. Would probably have rather taken Jordan Walsh as well.

[zzaj]

My issue w/ Kris was he was a win-now pick. A guy projected to be playable at forward from the get-go that can hit a 3 (Clearly the reality is different here - but this is talking 'as a prospect').

Since we were moving off Dame by the time that draft rolled around using a FRP on a low ceiling 23 year old was silly.

Leonard or GG were clearly better picks for a rebuilding team. Would probably have rather taken Jordan Walsh as well.

I agree about the Murray pick...I was disappointed with that one.

One thing I'll say--his defense surprised me. He ended up being pretty damn good on defense when you look at the numbers. If he can get his head straight and actually shoot league average from 3, I think he'll be worth the pick as a rotational player.

[Walton1one]

If Murray can't shoot from 3pt, he won't be in the league for long. "Insiders" love to tell us how great he looks in practice, but the reality is, so far, in NBA games and in summer league, his shooting has been atrocious. I don't have a ton of optimism for him as a player. I place him in the same group as Walker\Reath & Banton, I don't care if they are on the team or not.

[Wizenheimer]

Kris Murray shot under 35% on three's in 3 years at Iowa. Further, in his last season there, when he attempted nearly 200 three's, he only shot 33.5%. And that is from the college three point line

compounding the concern is he shot under 70% on FT's and that's not an encouraging sign for long range shooting skills. Shooting 33% on shots from 3-10' is another bad sign

so then, shooting under 27% last season from the NBA three point line is unsurprising. All that's not to say he can't somehow develop into a solid three point shooter. It is to say that his resume offers no encouragement on his shooting skills

[BlazersBroncos]

Ya that college FT% was always a huge red flag w/ Murray. For the 2 years he got PT he was at 64% and 73%. That really doesnt bode well for developing a consistent NBA 3PT shot.

[Walton1one]

But he fits their apparent archetype, 6'7-6'9 forwards who are athletic but cannot shoot.