POLL: Your Realistic Pick at #7

[Norm2953]

Those teams with a lot of picks in the teens or 20's might do well in this draft for they will be drafting
the juniors and seniors who will be the Jaime Jacquez types, guys with a higher floor but limited ceiling

Portland sitting at 14, 34, 40 might do really well if they drafted the older players for lets say they drafted
Edey and two of the second round guys they have worked out in groups. Those experienced college
players will be able to contribute right away while the raw player they take at 7 will spend time in the
G league to develop.

[DusterBuster]

Safe to say Knetch is a prime target for Portland as he was their first lottery quality player to come in and do a solo workout.

This is just going to be such a weird draft. I can easily see a guy they don't even bring in potentially being the pick tho with sooo much uncertainty. I could easily see a guy in the Top 4 project not even being willing to work out for Portland, but the dropping into their laps at 7.

[zzaj]

Those teams with a lot of picks in the teens or 20's might do well in this draft for they will be drafting
the juniors and seniors who will be the Jaime Jacquez types, guys with a higher floor but limited ceiling

Portland sitting at 14, 34, 40 might do really well if they drafted the older players for lets say they drafted
Edey and two of the second round guys they have worked out in groups. Those experienced college
players will be able to contribute right away while the raw player they take at 7 will spend time in the
G league to develop.

If I'm not mistaken, the Blazers are going to have to do something about those 2 second rounders otherwise there is going to be a roster crunch. I just don't see a lot of teams willing to help Portland consolidate those picks in this draft, as there is a ton of value in the early second round. I believe they are on the cusp of the tax apron too...although, they have all season to address that issue. With at least 3 players as viable trade targets I wouldn't worry too much about that.

[zzaj]

Safe to say Knetch is a prime target for Portland as he was their first lottery quality player to come in and do a solo workout.

This is just going to be such a weird draft. I can easily see a guy they don't even bring in potentially being the pick tho with sooo much uncertainty. I could easily see a guy in the Top 4 project not even being willing to work out for Portland, but the dropping into their laps at 7.

It may be tea leaves, but it could also be that Portland is doing their due diligence in being willing to part with Simons. It certainly would clear up A LOT of roster heirarchy issues if the Blazers drafted Knecht into the 6th man role that Simons should be playing.

[Walton1one]

Safe to say Knetch is a prime target for Portland as he was their first lottery quality player to come in and do a solo workout.

A target, not necessarily a prime target.....

This draft is a little weird, as you have several foreign prospects in the #7 range who are not even in the states yet: Saluan & Topic.

OR others Risacher, Sarr who likely won't even work out with POR as they are projected top 3. Castle likely does not work out here either, as his camp is pushing the PG narrative (likely to help him get to a team that he prefers, Spurs?).

Then you have Sheppard, Dillingham, who are around that range, but not really a fit for POR given their current roster makeup. Does POR even want them in? Do their camps even agree to have them go?

Who does that leave outside of Knecht? Clingan, he is projected mostly top 5, so there is a possibility he could skip? Buzelis, Holland & Williams, though many mocks now seem to project them Holland\Williams towards back end of lottery.

Supposedly, there is another solo workout tomorrow and we are still 2+ weeks out, so plenty of time for more of them to come in...

[Norm2953]

Those teams with a lot of picks in the teens or 20's might do well in this draft for they will be drafting
the juniors and seniors who will be the Jaime Jacquez types, guys with a higher floor but limited ceiling

Portland sitting at 14, 34, 40 might do really well if they drafted the older players for lets say they drafted
Edey and two of the second round guys they have worked out in groups. Those experienced college
players will be able to contribute right away while the raw player they take at 7 will spend time in the
G league to develop.

If I'm not mistaken, the Blazers are going to have to do something about those 2 second rounders otherwise there is going to be a roster crunch. I just don't see a lot of teams willing to help Portland consolidate those picks in this draft, as there is a ton of value in the early second round. I believe they are on the cusp of the tax apron too...although, they have all season to address that issue. With at least 3 players as viable trade targets I wouldn't worry too much about that.

In my mind Portland is better off in the long run just paying the tax but its not my money.

Brogdon and likely Thybulle are going to be expiring contracts and Simons and Ayton will be heading into their
last years on their contracts. I think they will draft somebody like Ulrich Chomche who is a 7 foot player from
Africa Academy who might be greener than Rayan Rupert was this season, but can perhaps be stashed overseas.
He could be their pick at 34


https://www.slamonline.com/nba-draft/nba-academy-africa-nba-draft/ulrich-chomche/