2023 NBA Draft (tonight's discussion on pg 58)

[DaVoiceMaster]

I was looking at a few different mock drafts. They were all about a month old so none had the Blazers picking in the 6-8 range. However, there are a lot of SF players listed in the top 10. They also showed the Knicks pick around #22. It looks like they also have a pick around #15 from someone else, but apparently that's not the pick we are getting. There are 3 centers predicted to go in the 18-22 range - 2 freshmen from Duke and 1 from Oregon. Even though I root for the Blazers to win, I honestly hope they move up as high as possible in this draft and I hope NY starts losing some games, but makes the playoffs.

[Norm2953]

It will be important to monitor the NCAA tournament and the upcoming workouts to see who emerges
from upcoming class as the #2 big after Victor.

Right now, you'd be hard to find a PF who could help the Blazers and there seem to be a ton of SF's
like Dyson Daniels from last year's draft. Likely they will be picking in the mid to late lottery which
will deliver another wing to the roster.

[Brandon-Clyde]

Part of it will depend on who wins the lottery. Of course if Portland wins we simply take Wembanyama but if Detroit or Charlotte end up with the top pick Portland should inquire about Duren or Williams. Both could be win now for Portland while also not mortgaging the future. Also Toronto might be more reasonable in their asking price for Siakam or OG. Especially if Portland ends up with a pick 2-4.

[Norm2953]

Various mock drafts are mentioning Jarace Walker as possibly Portland's pick. He's a 6-8 PF from Houston
and hopefully will be this year's version of Jeremy Sochan

[Case2012]

Trade the pick (6) along with ant.

I'm not sure who would be a good target with the pick this year though. Maybe we could move Ant and the pick for Butler? Ant and Herro would be a dynamic young back court of the future for Miami and Ant is a Florida native. They're the same age as Bam as well.

Move the NY pick for our pick back and trade Nurkic plus 2 firsts and 3 seconds for Turner.

Trade Shaedon, Nas, Keon and a first and 3 seconds for OG.

Dame/vet minimum
Jimmy/Vet minimum
Grant/vet minimum
OG/Vet minimum
Turner/Vet minimum

I think Dame and Jimmy get us to the wcf alone based on motor/will to win. Retain Grant and trade the picks and prospects needed for OG and Turner.

There's bound to be ring chasers that they can recruit here on vet minimum deals with a starting line up like that.

[DaVoiceMaster]

Trade the pick (6) along with ant.

I'm not sure who would be a good target with the pick this year though. Maybe we could move Ant and the pick for Butler? Ant and Herro would be a dynamic young back court of the future for Miami and Ant is a Florida native. They're the same age as Bam as well.

Move the NY pick for our pick back and trade Nurkic plus 2 firsts and 3 seconds for Turner.

Trade Shaedon, Nas, Keon and a first and 3 seconds for OG.

Dame/vet minimum
Jimmy/Vet minimum
Grant/vet minimum
OG/Vet minimum
Turner/Vet minimum

I think Dame and Jimmy get us to the wcf alone based on motor/will to win. Retain Grant and trade the picks and prospects needed for OG and Turner.

There's bound to be ring chasers that they can recruit here on vet minimum deals with a starting line up like that.

I can't see any of those trades happening. I think more is needed to get Turner and I'm not sure I want a $30M center. Toronto has shown to demand more for OG. I don't see Miami being all that interested in Simons and i think more would be needed to get Butler.

I also think that's a little too much fire power in the starting lineup. Someone is going to pout when they don't get enough shots.

[BlazersBroncos]

Trade the pick (6) along with ant.

I'm not sure who would be a good target with the pick this year though. Maybe we could move Ant and the pick for Butler? Ant and Herro would be a dynamic young back court of the future for Miami and Ant is a Florida native. They're the same age as Bam as well.

Move the NY pick for our pick back and trade Nurkic plus 2 firsts and 3 seconds for Turner.

Trade Shaedon, Nas, Keon and a first and 3 seconds for OG.

Dame/vet minimum
Jimmy/Vet minimum
Grant/vet minimum
OG/Vet minimum
Turner/Vet minimum

I think Dame and Jimmy get us to the wcf alone based on motor/will to win. Retain Grant and trade the picks and prospects needed for OG and Turner.

There's bound to be ring chasers that they can recruit here on vet minimum deals with a starting line up like that.

I can't see any of those trades happening. I think more is needed to get Turner and I'm not sure I want a $30M center. Toronto has shown to demand more for OG. I don't see Miami being all that interested in Simons and i think more would be needed to get Butler.

I also think that's a little too much fire power in the starting lineup. Someone is going to pout when they don't get enough shots.

Also think Jimmy is a forward at this point in his career. I think it would take Simons, Sharpe and #8 to get Butler.

IND IMO didnt just resign Turner to move him for a pick in the 20's, a future pick and a big downgrade at C w/ a long deal in Nurkic.

Wonder if CHA could see Simons as a nice partner to Ball, especially if they get Wemby. Would love to swap Ant and Nurkic for Hayward and Mark Williams.

G - Damian Lillard / ???
G - Matisse Thybulle / Shadeon Sharpe
F - Gordon Hayward / Cam Reddish
F - Jerami Grant / Nas Little
C - Mark Williams / Drew Eubanks

+ BPA w/ both FRP

[Norm2953]

Unlikely Charlotte would be willing to take on the long term deals of Ant and Nurkic since
Hayward would be an expiring contract next season.

It does appear it will be mostly SF's and SG's sitting there at six. Last year was the year to add
a big with Duren, Williams and Kessler all sitting there in the mid first round.

[BlazersBroncos]

Unlikely Charlotte would be willing to take on the long term deals of Ant and Nurkic since
Hayward would be an expiring contract next season.

It does appear it will be mostly SF's and SG's sitting there at six. Last year was the year to add
a big with Duren, Williams and Kessler all sitting there in the mid first round.

Man, I would probably think about trading a pick in the 8-10 range for Kessler. Dude is everything we need at C.

[DeBlazerRiddem]

I'm having trouble getting too stoked about this draft. I think top 3 its pretty obvious to just keep and develop Wemby/Scoot/Miller.


Outside of that, the Thompson twins will likely go kind of high but I am skeptical if they are right for us. Same with Smith and George.

Walker looks like a physical beast, he has really quick feet and combined with his motor and handles should be able to put pressure on the paint and rim while being a good defender. His shot is broken however, but he's probably my #4 pick right now, still underwhelmed by it.

Gradey Dick and Brice Sensabaugh look to be good off-ball shooters with decent size, which our team could always use. Both are limited defensively, don't draw fouls and are not good at moving the ball. Grady is less turnover prone but is a pretty abysmal rebounder. I would probably lean Gradey for #5 on my board but I feel like typically you can find that type of player later in the draft.

I dunno, maybe other people are seeing more potential gems in our range but the mid/late lottery feels weak to me compared to other years.

[Case2012]

I would absolutely send Simons, Sharpe and our pick if it ends up in the 7-10 range for Butler and Miami's pick.

I could see Draymond leaving the Bay after all the drama last off season. Dame's been vocal about wanting him in Portland... Maybe we can sign him to the full mle for 3 years?

Get our pick back from Chicago for Ny pick and trade Nurkic plus a pick to OKC for a tpe.

Tpe plus 2 firsts (one of Portlands and the Miami pick) and 2-4 seconds for Turner.

Sign vet minimum ring chasers. Love, Barton, Crowder, Plumlee, Harrell, Drummond, Warren, Rose etc.

Pick up the options on Thybulle and Reddish.

Re-sign Grant... :/

Dame/Corey Joseph
Butler/Thybulle/Barton
Grant/Crowder
Draymond/Warren
Turner/Love/Eubanks

For the record I don't see Jody paying that bill but I think they're realistic moves that make us a contender. The motor/will to win of Dame, Jimmy and Draymond easily get us to the second round at minimum. Add really good 3rd and 4th options in Grant and Turner with win now vets that have a lot of play off experience and I think we can get a title. It really just depends on if ownership is willing to go all in around Dame and pay a massive luxury tax.

Flame away.

[The Sebastian Express]

I would in no way trade Simons, Sharpe and a lotto pick - even 7-10 - for Jimmy Butler. Two of the three, sure. But not all three. That's too much.

[Norm2953]

Unlikely Charlotte would be willing to take on the long term deals of Ant and Nurkic since
Hayward would be an expiring contract next season.

It does appear it will be mostly SF's and SG's sitting there at six. Last year was the year to add
a big with Duren, Williams and Kessler all sitting there in the mid first round.

Man, I would probably think about trading a pick in the 8-10 range for Kessler. Dude is everything we need at C.

I might as well but he's having a fine season for the Jazz and dealing with Danny Ainge, would almost certainly
have to overpay to get him.

[BlazersBroncos]

Unlikely Charlotte would be willing to take on the long term deals of Ant and Nurkic since
Hayward would be an expiring contract next season.

It does appear it will be mostly SF's and SG's sitting there at six. Last year was the year to add
a big with Duren, Williams and Kessler all sitting there in the mid first round.

Man, I would probably think about trading a pick in the 8-10 range for Kessler. Dude is everything we need at C.

I might as well but he's having a fine season for the Jazz and dealing with Danny Ainge, would almost certainly
have to overpay to get him.

If I am Danny, I dont trade Kessler for anything outside the Top-2 picks. But I love rim protectors with high offensive efficiency who play within their skillset.

[Case2012]

I would in no way trade Simons, Sharpe and a lotto pick - even 7-10 - for Jimmy Butler. Two of the three, sure. But not all three. That's too much.

I agree it's an over pay but I don't think we can land him with 2 of the 3. It's obviously high risk high reward.

[Norm2953]

I think Portland might take a flyer on Zach Edey who is 7-4 290, who was the only unanimous AA with the Knicks pick. Most scouts seem to think he cant play in space but Id draft as many big people with both FRP and their SRP for they certainly dont need more guards

[BlazersBroncos]

I think Portland might take a flyer on Zach Edey who is 7-4 290, who was the only unanimous AA with the Knicks pick. Most scouts seem to think he cant play in space but Id draft as many big people with both FRP and their SRP for they certainly dont need more guards

I think Edey has some really unique potential but I couldnt take him over Hendricks, Lively or Clowney - all of which are projected around that NYK FRP. (I think Hendricks ends up late lott FWIW, really like him - near 2BPG, NBA athlete, NBA size, can hit a 3).

Lively w/ the NYK FRP is really interesting. His block % is outlandish. Might be the closest thing to Kessler in the draft, but not near as aware on either end of the court. Then again, he is putting up better numbers as a Fresh than Walker.

[Norm2953]

Interesting everyone talked about Jabari Smith and Banchero prior to last years draft. Guys like
Kessler and Mark Williams did all the dirty work for their teams. Who are the guys who are
doing the dirty work of playing defense, rebounding and blocking out for the teams that win?
I would be looking for the guys who will be the Jeremy Sochan for next year's team for that's
what they need for next season.

[DusterBuster]

Would love for the Blazers to trade the pick, but realistically, they’ll probably just make the pick wherever they land.

[DusterBuster]

I would absolutely send Simons, Sharpe and our pick if it ends up in the 7-10 range for Butler and Miami's pick.

I could see Draymond leaving the Bay after all the drama last off season. Dame's been vocal about wanting him in Portland... Maybe we can sign him to the full mle for 3 years?

Get our pick back from Chicago for Ny pick and trade Nurkic plus a pick to OKC for a tpe.

Tpe plus 2 firsts (one of Portlands and the Miami pick) and 2-4 seconds for Turner.

Sign vet minimum ring chasers. Love, Barton, Crowder, Plumlee, Harrell, Drummond, Warren, Rose etc.

Pick up the options on Thybulle and Reddish.

Re-sign Grant... :/

Dame/Corey Joseph
Butler/Thybulle/Barton
Grant/Crowder
Draymond/Warren
Turner/Love/Eubanks

For the record I don't see Jody paying that bill but I think they're realistic moves that make us a contender. The motor/will to win of Dame, Jimmy and Draymond easily get us to the second round at minimum. Add really good 3rd and 4th options in Grant and Turner with win now vets that have a lot of play off experience and I think we can get a title. It really just depends on if ownership is willing to go all in around Dame and pay a massive luxury tax.

Flame away.

This would be a fun off-season. I have no idea how that team would really work together, but it would be interesting.

Can’t imagine the Pacers do the Turner deal tho. Also agree that I don’t think Jody would foot the crazy bill for how expensive that team would be.

It will be interesting to see what happens with Butler, he’s someone I could see asking out and that team is in desperate need of a reboot.

Don’t see OKC being interested in the Nurkic deal tho either.