Who was the last blazer to play in the "rising Stars" game?

[dunlop212]

Long drought of impact rookies and sophs on this team, or maybe I am forgetting someone.

[Epicurus]

Qua Blazer, Damian Lillard 2014 (and 2013). Last Blazer now on team but then elsewhere, Rodney Hood and Mario Hezonia in 2016.

[d-train]

Collins is an impact defensive player with complementary skills on offense. We traded our 2015 pick for Plumlee who was an impact player, that was traded for a bigger impact player (Nurkic).

The jury is still out on Simons, Trent, and Little. We could have 1 or 2 impact players here, not at the level of Lillard/CJ/Nurkic, but mildly impactful.

The 2014 pick (#24) was part of the trade to get the Lillard pick. The 2016 pick was traded for Afflalo, which was a bad trade.

[monopoman]

I think teams that are constantly high in the lottery get that Rising Stars action a bit more. If Gary was playing as well as he has lately the entire season he would have likely been on a team.

The format does favor teams picking in the top 5 constantly though like The Suns or something.

[dunlop212]

Sometimes it pays off to make a bold move like Dallas did to trade up to get an elite player. Trent, Collins, Little, and Simon's have been pretty mediocre. Portland was able to buy lottery players 20 years ago while staying out of the lottery but that was before the salary cap. They have been relevant lately because of the crazy lucky trade that got them the Lillard pick. The current plan of picking up perceived locker room cancers cheap isn't working.