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

[DusterBuster]

Haven't been this nervous for a lottery day in quite some time...

[BlazersBroncos]

Give me Walker and Walsh. I want well rounded guys who play with a passion. If only we could get a center like that.

That duo would be a tremendous draft haul. I tend to think we should flip 23 for our future pick back, but Walsh would be tempting there. By all accounts one of the top-3 risers from the combine.

[The Sebastian Express]

Since it's lottery day I'm going to share some thoughts. Not an argument or advocating for any type of position.

Just thoughts. Everyone else should as well if they feel like it and want.

I hope we get the first pick. I don't think we will, I doubt we will, but it's nice to hope. Nearly every fanbase is deserving of having a chance at Victor, none of us are truly better than any other fanbase. It'd be nice to see him in some spots - like teamed up with a healthy LaMelo. Or him and Jabari Smith Jr years down the road with the insane defensive potential each possess. And the ability to stretch the floor. Putting him with Haliburton would be something. Just a lot of good landing spots for him and the league. And with good fanbases.

I hope it's us, I do. But I'll try not to get too down if it isn't, and I don't think it'll be.

The draft is always such an interesting time of the year. And if we get 2-6? I do get the idea of some to trade Dame and keep the pick, rebuild with a great package. There's hope in the unknown, isn't there? The idea of putting Shaedon and say Scoot together. Or Shaedon and Brandon Miller. Shaedon and one of the Thompson twins. That's a salivating future prospect, I won't lie. Big backcourt. Or big wings. And then tanking for more picks? And filling out with high top end talent? I do get the appeal of that for some of you guys, I really do. I think if Dame wasn't Dame and if 2024/2025 draft years weren't suppose to be so weak (unless I think it's Flagg if he reclassifies? But maybe I have the wrong guy), I'd be open to it. But it's hard, the idea of trading Dame for future picks when the real class to look forward to in the future is the 2026 draft. Maybe if next year was a great class, but it's right now an all time historically weak one from five star prospects and the guys at the top.

It's such a tough position. I do think if we get anything except one we'll trade it. The trade could be good, it could be bad. I worry about trading Shaedon too, if the 'right' package comes along. Worried about how we'll miss out on his development and his insane potential. It'd be hard to swallow. He's the best young player we've had since Dame and CJ. You can see the real potential there.

So I'd be okay if we got 2-6ish and kept it. I don't think Dame would. And I get why he wouldn't. And I do want to keep Dame. But it's such a weird time now.

I'll hope for the number one. But.. it's okay if we don't get it. Another fanbase will be really happy. And there's lots of fanbases that've suffered for a long time.

[zzaj]

If the pick is number 2 we're trading it.

I don't agree that they are trading #2 out of hand--they might, yes...but I don't believe it's a given. Completely depends on a ton of factors, including what a #2/Simons package can fetch them.

[DeBlazerRiddem]

I personally think we are going to keep the pick and not trade Dame, as much as that might irk him.

I don't see a player to go all-in on because the combo of asking price for those semi available (Siakam type) players and contract and upcoming CBA changes is not a good mix. It looks like we would be building ourselves into a corner from which we could not escape and would not be more than a pretender type team but with no future to look forward to.

At the same time, I also don't know if we will get the offers worthy of Lillard. I am sure teams are higher on him than the trade board but the number of top level teams with assets they would likely trade is a very small group and they are unlikely to bid much against each other, and the expectation that Dame will dictate a small list of teams acceptable to him also pushes down the quality of offers.

Of course, in both situations it just takes one team to do the unexpected and open up a door for us, so I expect us to keep our ear to the ground but my reading of the tea leaves is that the options in both directions are somewhat lackluster. If I had to bet on us making the trade I would guess a more minor player like OG that we overpay for with our lottery pick and Nurkic or something.


Trust the scouts. Get a guy who can both grow with us but also be used as trade bait, similar to Sharpe. Continuing biding our time and not overreacting or trying to force the issue on a subpar deal. I personally say if we think we have a real gem at #23 that is better than sending it to Chicago, but then I am wary about making a move to open up our future picks and then kind of sunk cost fallacy using them on the wrong deal just because we have set our selves up to use them. I would rather do a slight overpay once we have the right deal on the table then free up our picks and then standing around holding our nuts hoping it made a difference and maybe amounting to nothing.

[DusterBuster]

Since it's lottery day I'm going to share some thoughts. Not an argument or advocating for any type of position.

Just thoughts. Everyone else should as well if they feel like it and want.

I hope we get the first pick. I don't think we will, I doubt we will, but it's nice to hope. Nearly every fanbase is deserving of having a chance at Victor, none of us are truly better than any other fanbase. It'd be nice to see him in some spots - like teamed up with a healthy LaMelo. Or him and Jabari Smith Jr years down the road with the insane defensive potential each possess. And the ability to stretch the floor. Putting him with Haliburton would be something. Just a lot of good landing spots for him and the league. And with good fanbases.

I hope it's us, I do. But I'll try not to get too down if it isn't, and I don't think it'll be.

The draft is always such an interesting time of the year. And if we get 2-6? I do get the idea of some to trade Dame and keep the pick, rebuild with a great package. There's hope in the unknown, isn't there? The idea of putting Shaedon and say Scoot together. Or Shaedon and Brandon Miller. Shaedon and one of the Thompson twins. That's a salivating future prospect, I won't lie. Big backcourt. Or big wings. And then tanking for more picks? And filling out with high top end talent? I do get the appeal of that for some of you guys, I really do. I think if Dame wasn't Dame and if 2024/2025 draft years weren't suppose to be so weak (unless I think it's Flagg if he reclassifies? But maybe I have the wrong guy), I'd be open to it. But it's hard, the idea of trading Dame for future picks when the real class to look forward to in the future is the 2026 draft. Maybe if next year was a great class, but it's right now an all time historically weak one from five star prospects and the guys at the top.

It's such a tough position. I do think if we get anything except one we'll trade it. The trade could be good, it could be bad. I worry about trading Shaedon too, if the 'right' package comes along. Worried about how we'll miss out on his development and his insane potential. It'd be hard to swallow. He's the best young player we've had since Dame and CJ. You can see the real potential there.

So I'd be okay if we got 2-6ish and kept it. I don't think Dame would. And I get why he wouldn't. And I do want to keep Dame. But it's such a weird time now.

I'll hope for the number one. But.. it's okay if we don't get it. Another fanbase will be really happy. And there's lots of fanbases that've suffered for a long time.

Same boat. Definitely goes without saying I think that we all want #1 this year. I'm happy the team got to a position to have at least a semi-realistic chance at it. We all know how the lottery works, even with worst odds you're guaranteed nothing, so to have a chance is all I asked and it's what I got.

I also don't expect the Blazers get it either. Hoping, but it will be a success if the Blazers do anything but move back substantially. Definitely trying to keep my expectations in check so that if lottery gods don't look on Portland favorably today, it's not a huge letdown.

It's good to keep in mind too, for all the hype, nothing is guaranteed in the NBA. The Blazers have won a generational "once in a lifetime bigman" lottery for the #1 pick before and we all know how that turned out. Not saying I think Wemby will be injury prone, but so much more goes into winning a title than just getting a generational talent.

Regardless of the outcome, this feels like a lottery day where it will take time to process after the fact, whatever happens. But once the dust settles, the path forward will be much clearer for the Blazers + Dame's future imo.

[Case2012]

There’s a 40% chance we pick in the top 4 but a 25% chance we pick 7th…? I have no idea how the odds are calculated but I’m fully expecting 7th especially since Roy was number 7. The irony would be devastating.

[The Sebastian Express]

Falling back would be difficult to chew, yeah, but. We did pretty blatantly tank. So.. you know, from a karma perspective - I'd get it.

[soobias]

somehow i feel we'll get # 2 pick

[zzaj]

There’s a 40% chance we pick in the top 4 but a 25% chance we pick 7th…? I have no idea how the odds are calculated but I’m fully expecting 7th especially since Roy was number 7. The irony would be devastating.

Yeah, I'm with you...I'm feeling #7 is going to happen too. Then again, I've never won anything in my life...so certainly don't trust my word on that.

[zzaj]

somehow i feel we'll get # 2 pick

That would be a great "problem" to have!

[elias808]

Nothing but good vibes today! Let’s see that #1 pick!

[GEE]

Just minutes away...

#1

[zzaj]

ROY!!!

Am I seeing things or did I see him walking in?!

[Norm2953]

Since it's lottery day I'm going to share some thoughts. Not an argument or advocating for any type of position.

Just thoughts. Everyone else should as well if they feel like it and want.

I hope we get the first pick. I don't think we will, I doubt we will, but it's nice to hope. Nearly every fanbase is deserving of having a chance at Victor, none of us are truly better than any other fanbase. It'd be nice to see him in some spots - like teamed up with a healthy LaMelo. Or him and Jabari Smith Jr years down the road with the insane defensive potential each possess. And the ability to stretch the floor. Putting him with Haliburton would be something. Just a lot of good landing spots for him and the league. And with good fanbases.

I hope it's us, I do. But I'll try not to get too down if it isn't, and I don't think it'll be.

The draft is always such an interesting time of the year. And if we get 2-6? I do get the idea of some to trade Dame and keep the pick, rebuild with a great package. There's hope in the unknown, isn't there? The idea of putting Shaedon and say Scoot together. Or Shaedon and Brandon Miller. Shaedon and one of the Thompson twins. That's a salivating future prospect, I won't lie. Big backcourt. Or big wings. And then tanking for more picks? And filling out with high top end talent? I do get the appeal of that for some of you guys, I really do. I think if Dame wasn't Dame and if 2024/2025 draft years weren't suppose to be so weak (unless I think it's Flagg if he reclassifies? But maybe I have the wrong guy), I'd be open to it. But it's hard, the idea of trading Dame for future picks when the real class to look forward to in the future is the 2026 draft. Maybe if next year was a great class, but it's right now an all time historically weak one from five star prospects and the guys at the top.

It's such a tough position. I do think if we get anything except one we'll trade it. The trade could be good, it could be bad. I worry about trading Shaedon too, if the 'right' package comes along. Worried about how we'll miss out on his development and his insane potential. It'd be hard to swallow. He's the best young player we've had since Dame and CJ. You can see the real potential there.

So I'd be okay if we got 2-6ish and kept it. I don't think Dame would. And I get why he wouldn't. And I do want to keep Dame. But it's such a weird time now.

I'll hope for the number one. But.. it's okay if we don't get it. Another fanbase will be really happy. And there's lots of fanbases that've suffered for a long time.

Same boat. Definitely goes without saying I think that we all want #1 this year. I'm happy the team got to a position to have at least a semi-realistic chance at it. We all know how the lottery works, even with worst odds you're guaranteed nothing, so to have a chance is all I asked and it's what I got.

I also don't expect the Blazers get it either. Hoping, but it will be a success if the Blazers do anything but move back substantially. Definitely trying to keep my expectations in check so that if lottery gods don't look on Portland favorably today, it's not a huge letdown.

It's good to keep in mind too, for all the hype, nothing is guaranteed in the NBA. The Blazers have won a generational "once in a lifetime bigman" lottery for the #1 pick before and we all know how that turned out. Not saying I think Wemby will be injury prone, but so much more goes into winning a title than just getting a generational talent.

Regardless of the outcome, this feels like a lottery day where it will take time to process after the fact, whatever happens. But once the dust settles, the path forward will be much clearer for the Blazers + Dame's future imo.

The 2024 draft is supposed to be weak but the two foreign bigs headed to the Pac12 makes me wonder how weak the 2024 draft will be.

[elias808]

Woooo! Moving up!

[Brandon-Clyde]

Top four guaranteed

[DusterBuster]

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Sergi is the blazers assistant GM.
Take it for what you will

[zzaj]

Top 4, baby!!

[Moonbeam]

Top 4!