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

[JasonStern]

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The NYK pick is probably too high, but IND has 25, 29, and 32. Trading down from 23 and picking up Jaime Jaquez at 32 is something I'd support. 4 year player that should be able to contribute immediately that plays at a position of need.

[zzaj]

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The NYK pick is probably too high, but IND has 25, 29, and 32. Trading down from 23 and picking up Jaime Jaquez at 32 is something I'd support. 4 year player that should be able to contribute immediately that plays at a position of need.

He shoots well from inside the 3pt line, but isn’t very good beyond it—which is basically a MUST if you’re not blowing anybody away athletically or defensively. I’ve only watched him a couple times in UCLA games (once last year and once this year) and I came away pretty unimpressed. My vague impressions are that he seemed to pound the ball and be fairly slow with it. Nothing really there defensively.

Honestly, I don’t really see an NBA skill in that video. Especially given his (probably) best skill is mid-range scoring. I’m not sure that lack of quickness will enable him to get those shots off against bigger, faster, stronger Opps at the NBA level. I could see him going undrafted.

[zzaj]

I have to be honest; if POR ends up getting the first pick and this kid turns into another Oden level bust that will probably end my interest in the nba.

Genuinely curious…why?

Is your NBA interest only in the Blazers having great draft picks?

[Jsun947]

What's your big board like?
With our lotto pick I have
1 Wemby
2 Miller
3Scoot
4 Walker
5-6 Thompson twins
7 Hendricks
8 Trade the pick

Knicks pick
1 trade to CHI
2 GG jackson
3 Khris Murray
4 Lively
5 Clowney
6 Bona
7 Nnaji

2nd Round
1 trade for future seconds
2 Filipowski
3 Gueye
3 Sanogo
4 Ighodaro
5 Tubelis
6 Edey

Curious who you all like. Obviously I put size as our top priority and tried to match traits with needs. Some of these guys will be gone when we pick but that's my order of preference with each selection (if someone I like in the tier ahead is available in the next tier down I would have them at number 1 on that tier).
Getting 3 of these players would really make a difference in the win column in my opinion.
Tboughts?

I really don't like this draft that much outside of the top 6

Lotto Pick
Wemby
Scoot
Miller (I'm strongly leaning forward putting him below the Thompson twins)
Thompson Twins
Walker
Trade The Pick

Knicks Pick
Trade To Chicago to get our own 1st round pick back
Dariq Whitehead


2nd rounder
Tristan Vukcevic (Euro Stash)
Keyontae Johnson (Good three point shooter and a wing)
Trade

[JRoy]

I have to be honest; if POR ends up getting the first pick and this kid turns into another Oden level bust that will probably end my interest in the nba.

Genuinely curious…why?

Is your NBA interest only in the Blazers having great draft picks?

The quality of the game has deteriorated to chuck and duck threes or layups no defense anyway. Won’t take much for me to be done watching this trash product.

[Norm2953]

The workouts and the combine games will sharpen the consensus prospects after Victor is picked. He doesnt have to workout for any teams but get a detailed physical. I'm looking forward to the combine when all these guys official measurements come out

[The Sebastian Express]

The L akers, shockingly, have done us a great favor by making up so much ground where the Clippers and the Warriors will -hopefully- feel the need to play hard against our g-league team to avoid the play-in. They are our last two games and are back-to-backs. One on the road (Clippers), then finale against the WArriors.

[red_power]

So Blazers won't sit Shaedon again because he makes them good enough to occasionally win a game?

[JasonStern]

The NYK pick is probably too high, but IND has 25, 29, and 32. Trading down from 23 and picking up Jaime Jaquez at 32 is something I'd support. 4 year player that should be able to contribute immediately that plays at a position of need.

He shoots well from inside the 3pt line, but isn’t very good beyond it—which is basically a MUST if you’re not blowing anybody away athletically or defensively. I’ve only watched him a couple times in UCLA games (once last year and once this year) and I came away pretty unimpressed. My vague impressions are that he seemed to pound the ball and be fairly slow with it. Nothing really there defensively.

Honestly, I don’t really see an NBA skill in that video. Especially given his (probably) best skill is mid-range scoring. I’m not sure that lack of quickness will enable him to get those shots off against bigger, faster, stronger Opps at the NBA level. I could see him going undrafted.

Getting him after going undrafted, or failing that, buying a late 2nd to pick him up would be ideal. I agree with most of your criticisms and wasn't trying to make him out to be some elite talent. But I can see him having a Tony Snell like career, which is solid value in the 2nd round.

[DeBlazerRiddem]

Speaking of upperclassmen undrafted or in the second round, I am kind of intrigued by Trayce Jackson-Davis and wonder if a player like him could even still make it in the NBA. He's kind of like a poor mans Ben Simmons, super productive at 20 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 blocks a game but just refuses to shoot 3's. At least he's been consistent 65-70% free throw shooter and the pressure he could put on the paint while being a good defensive player might address some of our bench weakness. But then again if you aren't a star then you need to clear the paint for the star player and shooting is just so damn important from role players these days. He doesn't even have to be a particularly good shooter, just willing to take them when the ball comes to him.

[BlazersBroncos]

I think TJD is a NBA player. There are bench bigs that don’t shoot. Clarke for example.

I would use the ATL pick on him if available. He has some serious juice. Look at his block numbers.

[zzaj]

The NYK pick is probably too high, but IND has 25, 29, and 32. Trading down from 23 and picking up Jaime Jaquez at 32 is something I'd support. 4 year player that should be able to contribute immediately that plays at a position of need.

He shoots well from inside the 3pt line, but isn’t very good beyond it—which is basically a MUST if you’re not blowing anybody away athletically or defensively. I’ve only watched him a couple times in UCLA games (once last year and once this year) and I came away pretty unimpressed. My vague impressions are that he seemed to pound the ball and be fairly slow with it. Nothing really there defensively.

Honestly, I don’t really see an NBA skill in that video. Especially given his (probably) best skill is mid-range scoring. I’m not sure that lack of quickness will enable him to get those shots off against bigger, faster, stronger Opps at the NBA level. I could see him going undrafted.

Getting him after going undrafted, or failing that, buying a late 2nd to pick him up would be ideal. I agree with most of your criticisms and wasn't trying to make him out to be some elite talent. But I can see him having a Tony Snell like career, which is solid value in the 2nd round.

Oh totally…I think you’re right getting him in the 2nd or as a tryout would be ideal. And I realize you’re not calling him a world beater…mostly my response was to Givony’s analysis.

And who knows…I’m usually wrong about these things

[zzaj]

TJD is interesting…he certainly has defensive instincts for the ball. and is crafty going left and right. Soooooo many of his shots are in the paint or alleys. Makes me wonder if he’s thriving as a 23+ off of Indiana’s great passing system. Certainly, most of those paint shots just ain’t gonna happen in the NBA. I realize it’s old man yelling at clouds, but I also don’t understand why kids now have to flex on literally every shot they make…

[JasonStern]

Speaking of upperclassmen undrafted or in the second round, I am kind of intrigued by Trayce Jackson-Davis and wonder if a player like him could even still make it in the NBA. He's kind of like a poor mans Ben Simmons, super productive at 20 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 blocks a game but just refuses to shoot 3's. At least he's been consistent 65-70% free throw shooter and the pressure he could put on the paint while being a good defensive player might address some of our bench weakness. But then again if you aren't a star then you need to clear the paint for the star player and shooting is just so damn important from role players these days. He doesn't even have to be a particularly good shooter, just willing to take them when the ball comes to him.

Yeah! That's the archetype late in this year's draft. Upperclassmen that have low ceilings but high floors. At least if we're keeping Dame. Cost effective players that can sub in for 12 minutes a game. Vital because Dame is maxed, Cronin overpaid Nurkic, and he's probably going to overpay Grant.

Now, if we're trading Dame. Different story. Take a flyer on a player like Leonard Miller, Jalen Hood-Schifino, Jarace Walker, etc. with the Knicks pick.

I don't really have a player preference at this point. Not before the draft combine. And when I do, it will just be looking at numbers and saying "this guy's number is better than this guy's!"

[Goldbum]

How do you all feel about Bobi Klintman (Wake Forest) at #43? Jumbo wing with all the upside. Sort of this year's Dieng. Very intriguing guy, great write up on the Athletic...

[HoopsFanAZ]

How many, here, think the Knicks pick will be used by Portland to draft someone for themselves?

That happening means not using future 1sts for a BIG deal. While I understand that some here don’t want a big chunk of future draftees traded away, this is not a Covington or Nance Jr. scenario. And being on the trade Dame wagon for me is ONLY as a Plan C if others don’t pan out.

So, again, what’s the rationale for actually drafting with the Knicks pick? Just wondering.

[Goldbum]

I don't know if I see any a player projected at around the Knicks pick that has more value than a future first does. I believe that pick loses a ton of value once the selection is made, so trading it for our CHI 1st back (or even a future first) seems like the best allocation of resources(unless someone we really like falls: maybe GG Jackson for example).

[Norm2953]

I really do like the Simons +23 to Orlando for 7,12 that has been discussed on the TB. Real chance Portland ends up with role players but at least with 5,7 and 12, it jumps starts the rebuild, whether Dame/Grant are here or want out

[BlazersBroncos]

I really do like the Simons +23 to Orlando for 7,12 that has been discussed on the TB. Real chance Portland ends up with role players but at least with 5,7 and 12, it jumps starts the rebuild, whether Dame/Grant are here or want out

Ya, love that. I think it’s pretty favorable for PDX if we’re not taking on any $$$. IMO taking the Isaac contract makes it more fair for ORL. ( I would do it with JI, Harris or Fultz as salary ballast).

[Norm2953]

Likely Portland have to take some salary but hopefully it would be a role player. Enough of signing more G league guys to finish the season.

I just hate seeing another big sitting behind the bench in street clothes for we've all seen too many of these guys since bone spur Bill.