Draft prospects @ 10

[Case2012]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojXhPClIX8I[/youtube]
Intriguing player. Is he worth a second rounder? Excellent handles, great range, pure point skills.

Thoughts? comments?

[lukeyrid13]

I'd take Wolters in the 2nd round for sure. Would not use a 1st on him though

[GreenRiddler]

I doubt we use a 2nd on a pg IMO. i think we'll go the route of a vet backup pg in FA, there is a lot this year. We need more vets not rooks and plus we are strong in that position anyway. I can see us going F or combo F like James Sutherland or Adonis Thomas, the french guy (Jean Vilio?). I doubt we keep all three 2nds though, we will trade 1 or 2.

[GreenRiddler]

i wonder if Zeller won't go before 10 if he proves to be a good shooter in workouts. NOH? I know ppl are calling him this years Greg Monroe, who falls but does well on the right team.

[JD45]

i wonder if Zeller won't go before 0 if he proves to be a good shooter in workouts. NOH? I know ppl are calling him this years Greg Monroe, who falls but does well on the right team.

This draft is incredibly fluid. Zeller could go higher than 10. Len could go #1 or fall to #10. Caldwell-Pope could go at #9 or fall to 20. Gorbert could go at #10 or fall to #20. Carter-Williams could got at #7 or fall to #15.

I actually like this draft in the late lottery better than last year. I don't see any chance the Blazers don't have a chance to draft an interesting prospect at #10. Last year, Leonard and Henson were the only interesting ones left at #11 and they could have easily been gone if not for a couple of reaches by teams earlier in the draft.

[GreenRiddler]

I guess i am kinda intriuged by him. I wonder how much better offensively he would be then Meyers. Meyers has the better body and shooting ability that is seen anyway. But as a freshmen Zeller made Meyers look foolish in the Big ten match-up a couple of times. Obviously Meyers is more likely to be the center we need, but I will be interested to see how he does his first year.

[Norm2953]

Most likely Zeller if he does anything in his workouts for lottery teams, will end
up going between picks 7-10. There is of course talk of a Demarcus Cousins deal
with Cleveland which would mix up the priorities of the lottery teams but I
suspect Portland if they keep their pick will end picking from a group that
includes Len (if they are lucky), Adams, McCollum, Zeller, Pope.

Would Portland pick Len who is coming off of a foot injury?

[jhern87]

The long awaited Rudy Gobert scouting video has finally arrived:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43nbxlfcTl0[/youtube]

Man, defensively he looks like he has great instincts and can get himself in good position for rebounds but he still looks like a clumsy kid. He's definitely a project but I think if he worked on his lower body strength allowing him to be more sturdy he could be a very solid player. He has great hands for a big man too! I just don't know if I can watch Nic and him out there finessing around the court all game tho. Ugh.

Adams, Zeller and Dieng are definitely better suited for the physicality in the league at this point tho.

[jhern87]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojXhPClIX8I[/youtube]
Intriguing player. Is he worth a second rounder? Excellent handles, great range, pure point skills.

Thoughts? comments?

I like Wolters, tough scrappy kid who has a hell of a BB IQ and I think his defensive woes are a little overblown. On a lot of those Clips he played solid D but the guy just hit a great shot. Not sure how that's a weakness.

[Jsun947]

I would be thrilled about picking up Wolters in the 2nd round. He looks like a hell of a prospectI

[GreenRiddler]

G/F James Ennis, F Richard Howell, F Tony Mitchell, G Dexter Strickland, F Adonis Thomas and G BJ Young

Workout today

[JD45]

G/F James Ennis, F Richard Howell, F Tony Mitchell, G Dexter Strickland, F Adonis Thomas and G BJ Young

Workout today

Blazers seem to be looking at several late first round players (ie Tony Mitchell) Makes me think they see a decent chance of picking in that area.

[Case2012]

Hmmm, I wonder if they're looking at second round picks or thinking of packing those for a late first? Surprisingly I've only heard of a few of guys.

One guy I was hoping we looked at was Snaer. Could be a steal in the second.

[James72]

Hmmm, I wonder if they're looking at second round picks or thinking of packing those for a late first? Surprisingly I've only heard of a few of guys.

One guy I was hoping we looked at was Snaer. Could be a steal in the second.

I know this draft is not as highly touted as previous ones, however, remember last year when MIA traded their late first to avoid a guaranteed contract? If someone is falling like PJ3 did (#28), then that is a great opportunity. Teams in the late 20's typically have very little cap and want to avoid guaranteed contracts.

[DeBlazerRiddem]

I think this draft looks fine in terms of late 1st/early second round players. No weaker than usual.

[DeBlazerRiddem]

What do people think of my mock? Besides being disappointed by drafting Gobert lol.

1. Noel – Cavaliers get best player despite injury, like with Irving, who can learn from Varejao.
2. Burke – Magic take a team leader to go with Afflalo/Harris/Vucevic and learn from Nelson.
3. Porter – Wizards add a good SF adding more length, defense and shooting around Wall.
4. McLemore – Bobcats get a young scorer and good pair with MKG on wing
5. Oladipo – Suns get best wing left
6. Len – Pelicans get a center to pair with Davis
7. Zeller – Kings get an athletic big to pair with Cousins
8. McCollum – Pistons get a shooter to pair with Knight.
9. Caldwell-Pope – Wolves take a shot at a young SG who can put the ball in the basket.
10. Gobert – Blazers get a shot blocker and rebounder who can PnR with Lillard
11. Shabazz – Philly picks up a wing player who can be a scorer for them
12. Bennett – OKC gets a forward who can help initiate offense
13. Carter-Williams – Mavericks get a young guard with good potential.
14. Schroeder – Jazz get a PG who could be a huge steal.
15. Karasev – Bucks get a high IQ wing to space the floor
16. Crabbe – Celtics get a great shooter to pair with Rondo
17. Antetokoumpo – Hawks take the SF with very high potential
18. Adams – Hawes get a center with legit size and high defensive potential
19. Bullock – Cavs go for a safety, get a 3&D SF which is all they need with Irving/Waiters.
20. Franklin – Bulls get a good jack-of-all-trades SG.
21. Saric– Jazz get a SF with high potential and stash him
22. Dieng – Nets get a backup center with good defense.
23. Mitchell – Pacers get a PF.
24. Plumlee – Knicks get a backup center.
25. Olynyk – Clippers get a center with some offensive skills and who can hit his FT’s
26. Withey – Wolves get a mature center who can rebound and block some shots.
27. Carmichael – Nuggets get a PF who can rebound and contribute to offense
28. Goodwin – Spurs pick up a guy who has a young guy with a lot of skills for Pop to work with.
29. Muscala – Thunder get a big with very good size and length
30. Snell – Phoenix gets a SF who is a good shooter

[James72]

I think this draft looks fine in terms of late 1st/early second round players. No weaker than usual.

Yeah, you're right. I kind of contradicted myself because i have always said that this draft is deemed weak only because of the lack of superstar potential.

[James72]

Yeah, i dont think we will grab Gobert at #10. Also, i dont think Bennet will fall to #12, Oly, or Saric at #21. But besides that, seems pretty good.

[DeBlazerRiddem]

Yeah, i dont think we will grab Gobert at #10.

Assuming the draft goes as I said up to #9 and the Blazers don't trade the pick, who would you pick?

Gobert has his weaknesses, but his offensive strength is the PnR (Lillard's strength too) and he brings shotblocking and rebounding the Blazers lack. He did get backed down EASILY by significantly smaller players, so he won't ever anchor a defense.

Also, i dont think Bennet will fall to #12, Oly, or Saric at #21. But besides that, seems pretty good.

All 3 of them I am not a huge fan of, so that probably played a part.

-Bennett has a unique skillset, but that isn't always a good think for combo forwards and not many teams in the top 10 need a PF. It's a risk I don't see them taking with the option I gave them available.

-I question if Olynyk's offensive game will translate because he doesn't have much else to fall back on.

-Saric I am skeptical about, it's a bit harder for me to read, but he shoots 37% and only 50% from the FT line. DE has him going at 24, so I don't know if he really fell at 21.

[James72]

To be honest, Bennet, Shabazz, trade down if possible, even Saric. But like you, thats my own belief.