The 2012 NBA Draft: 6th & 11th picks, and some random 2nds.

Post #581 » by **Mr Odd** » Mon May 7, 2012 11:25 pm

Cant wait to see what picks the Blazers get!!

Anyone know the exact date its on??
I find more then one answer when I search.
:-?

deanwoof · Post #582 » by **deanwoof** » Mon May 7, 2012 11:44 pm

i think it's 5/20 or 5/30? i forget..

Walton'sBeard! · Post #583 » by **Walton'sBeard!** » Mon May 7, 2012 11:50 pm

DeBlazerRiddem wrote:
fishnc wrote:
DusterBuster wrote:Who is this John Henson kid? I haven't been following the mock drafts very closely over the past week or so and now he's come out of nowhere to be a projected Top 10 pick?

Think of him as Anthony Davis lite. He's less athletic, but not by much. His timing isn't quite as elite, but it's still good. He's slightly taller and has even longer arms. He's older so he has a more developed post game and has the ability to score with both hands. He has a better jumper than Davis, though it's not always reliable. He wasn't able to add muscle or weight as quickly as Davis did during his freshman campaign, but he has come a long way (35 pounds in 2.5 years).

What separates them are their perceived potentials and their age. Henson is 2 years older and doesn't have the hype that Davis has, who has become slightly overrated in my opinion.

EDIT: Forgot to add, Davis gets to the line at a higher rate and shoots a higher percentage while he's there. 70% compared to Henson's poor 50%

Also, Henson hasn't really come out of nowhere. He's been projected as a top 10 pick for the last 2 years.

I don't think Henson is worthy of a top 10 pick. I think he would be good value somewhere 15-20.

He is low risk, but also low upside. He is a PF that does most of his damage near the basket, but lacks the muscle to get there consistently in the NBA (he even had trouble in college). His free throw % means he is significantly limited outside the paint.

His biggest upside is as a help defender, but IMO doesn't project to be a quality starter. He could be a back-up PF to a playoff team, or a starter next to a truly dominant two-way center. He also isn't an incredible rebounder like Blaire or Faried.

If we had made the playoffs this year, Henson would be one of my top realistically available targets. However, where we are picking, we need someone with a higher ceiling. Henson might end up being a safe pick, but going in the lottery would be too high.

I loved Henson back when I thought Portland would be picking in the late teens, which was also about the time he was projected to go in the late teens.

I think he could be a starting quality, Javale McGee type of solid big man. But like you I have a hard time with him going in the top 10.

DusterBuster · Post #584 » by **DusterBuster** » Tue May 8, 2012 3:56 am

Apparently the Blazers are planning on sending Wesley to represent the Blazers at the Lottery. They were going to send LA but the timing of his hip surgery won't allow him to go.

License2Lillard · Post #585 » by **License2Lillard** » Tue May 8, 2012 4:47 am

DusterBuster wrote:Apparently the Blazers are planning on sending Wesley to represent the Blazers at the Lottery. They were going to send LA but the timing of his hip surgery won't allow him to go.

Does that mean we are not looking to include him in trade talks? Or am I reading into it to much?

fishnc · Post #586 » by **fishnc** » Tue May 8, 2012 3:10 pm

Should have sent Babbitt.

How lucky is that guy to even be in the league.

cucad8 · Post #587 » by **cucad8** » Tue May 8, 2012 3:18 pm

Cali_Blazer wrote:
DusterBuster wrote:Apparently the Blazers are planning on sending Wesley to represent the Blazers at the Lottery. They were going to send LA but the timing of his hip surgery won't allow him to go.

Does that mean we are not looking to include him in trade talks? Or am I reading into it to much?

Maybe you are, but I thought the exact same thing. So if so, we both are.

fishnc · Post #588 » by **fishnc** » Tue May 8, 2012 3:34 pm

I just don't see how we can afford to keep Matthews as our starting SG unless we're bringing in an elite PG. He can't efficiently create his own offense or create for others. We are in desperate need of a player who can create off of dribble penetration. If only one of our players has that ability, then they would need to be great at it, a la Deron Williams.

Deron Williams isn't coming here, so we need two players who are at least decent at creating off the dribble. Whether that is some combination of Dragic, Beal, Mayo, etc. I'm not sure, but Matthews isn't a good fit IMO.

I'd much rather use him in a S&T for Mayo, or to move up in the draft with the Nets pick.

Blaze01 · Post #589 » by **Blaze01** » Tue May 8, 2012 4:17 pm

Matthews is not a starting SG on a championship caliber NBA team...and yet here in POR he is a starter and being counted on to be a #3 type scorer....

This team is so lacking in talent compared to the teams in the playoffs it is not even funny....

cucad8 · Post #590 » by **cucad8** » Tue May 8, 2012 4:22 pm

Blaze01 wrote:Matthews is not a starting SG on a championship caliber NBA team...and yet here in POR he is a starter and being counted on to be a #3 type scorer....

This team is so lacking in talent compared to the teams in the playoffs it is not even funny....

Deshawn Stevenson started for dallas last year at SG.
OKC is starting Thabo Sefolosha. SA has started Danny Green for most of the year. The problem isn't Matthews as a role playing starting SG, it's the rest of the talent. But the blanket statements about X is not a starter on a championship team don't work so well.

DusterBuster · Post #591 » by **DusterBuster** » Tue May 8, 2012 5:39 pm

cucad8 wrote:
Blaze01 wrote:Matthews is not a starting SG on a championship caliber NBA team...and yet here in POR he is a starter and being counted on to be a #3 type scorer....

This team is so lacking in talent compared to the teams in the playoffs it is not even funny....

Deshawn Stevenson started for dallas last year at SG.
OKC is starting Thabo Sefolosha. SA has started Danny Green for most of the year. The problem isn't Matthews as a role playing starting SG, it's the rest of the talent. But the blanket statements about X is not a starter on a championship team don't work so well.

Bingo. Great post cucad.

JustBlaze52 · Post #592 » by **JustBlaze52** » Tue May 8, 2012 9:31 pm

cucad8 wrote:
Blaze01 wrote:Matthews is not a starting SG on a championship caliber NBA team...and yet here in POR he is a starter and being counted on to be a #3 type scorer....

This team is so lacking in talent compared to the teams in the playoffs it is not even funny....

Deshawn Stevenson started for dallas last year at SG.
OKC is starting Thabo Sefolosha. SA has started Danny Green for most of the year. The problem isn't Matthews as a role playing starting SG, it's the rest of the talent. But the blanket statements about X is not a starter on a championship team don't work so well.

Real talk.

I'm not worried about Matthews. I think he had an off year and is going to do better next year. He fights to get better, that's why he wants to play summer league. The guy cares. I like having him around, whether he starts or is a 6th man.

Blaze01 · Post #593 » by **Blaze01** » Tue May 8, 2012 9:56 pm

Let me rephrase.....

POR is not going to win an NBA title with him as one of your 3 best players...seriously guys get real...

cucad8 · Post #594 » by **cucad8** » Tue May 8, 2012 10:14 pm

Blaze01 wrote:Let me rephrase.....

POR is not going to win an NBA title with him as one of your 3 best players...seriously guys get real...

Yep, he's a role player. I don't think anyone envisions us as a title contender with Matthews being 3rd best on the team. Thus the lengthy topics on the site about how we could add more talent this offseason.

DusterBuster · Post #595 » by **DusterBuster** » Tue May 8, 2012 10:25 pm

Blaze01 wrote:Let me rephrase.....

POR is not going to win an NBA title with him as one of your 3 best players...seriously guys get real...

Who is disagreeing with you on that?

Blaze01 · Post #596 » by **Blaze01** » Tue May 8, 2012 11:59 pm

Well where are you going to get the other 2 guys to go with LA then? Divine intervention?

Particularly players that are playmakers (either for themselves or others and hopeully both)

You are not going to get an elite playmaker via free agency...that is unless you are still clinging to the D-Will pipedream...

Maybe you could take a risk on a guy like Eric Gordon or OJ Mayo and hope that they can provide that....Gordon , if he can stay healthy (that is his big question mark) offers a legit #2\#3 guy...OJ Mayo is much more risky, probably cheaper to acquire and offers another "let's hope he developes something he hasn't shown yet" option along with Batum, increasing your odds I guess...

I like Batum but at $10-11 mil? He is a very nice 4th or 5th starter type but if you are counting on him (and paying him to be) to be you #2/#3 guy you are setting yourself for epic failure....Mayo you might be able to get for $8-9mil...I doubt MEM matches with the huge contracts they are currently tied up with (Gay, Gasol & Randolph)...

After that?...All mid tier guys...4th or 5th starter\bench players...Nice to fill out a roster, but for a team that is so BADLY lacking in talent as POR is...hardly a recipe for substantial success....

How about via trade? Well let's see the only names bandied about that are actually REALISTIC are mid tier players like Gortat, Lowry, who else? Or the opposite names like John Wall, Rajon Rondo, or Carmelo Anthony pipedreams...You know, trades that ARE NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN

So that leaves the draft, and currently you have a front office\scouting staff that is among one of THE WORST in the NBA...

So yeah, back to my original question, where is POR going to get 2 more playmakers to go with LA? Preferably you know, guys who can actually score...not Sergio "but he is such a great passer" clones...

Best bet is to hope...yeah hope that POR gets a new GM BEFORE the draft...and then hope...that he has the autonomy or the balls to pick the players HE wants and not who Allen or Bert Kolde want "Look Nolan Smith, Coach K just loves him"....

Cause otherwise, this franchise is SCREWED....

lackeyde3 · Post #597 » by **lackeyde3** » Wed May 9, 2012 5:36 pm

someones a little teste with the blazers FO these days... cant really say i blame him, but for me im going to wait til they finish their GM and COACHING positions FIRST before i make judgements on PLAYERS

Blaze01 · Post #598 » by **Blaze01** » Wed May 9, 2012 7:32 pm

lol...I am

35+ years as a fan and season ticket holder and I can't recall a time where I was less enthused about this team and had as little regard\faith in POR owenership\mgmt than I do now....

They need to rebuild...It sucks that it didn't work out with Roy\Oden\LA...but bad luck happens sometimes...I just think POR mgmt needs to recognize this...Thier strategy WORKED last time...they just had bad luck...

Don't make a bigger mistake and try to patch this roster up with the hopes of being mediocre if EVERYTHING pans out the way you think it will (and it rarely does)....

Rebuild, through the draft, just like you did last time...You have LA...at 28 in his prime and if you draft right, pick the right free agents you can have him anchor a young and up and coming team again...and either trade him for other young assets down the road if those players develop slower than anticipated....or if they develop quickly then you are ready to go....

fishnc · Post #599 » by **fishnc** » Wed May 9, 2012 7:37 pm

Aldridge is only 26

Blaze01 · Post #600 » by **Blaze01** » Wed May 9, 2012 11:52 pm

Better for POR drafting young players and rebuilding around him then....