POLL: Realistic Picks at #14???

[HoopsFanAZ]

Topic falls a bit, but gone by 14. Salaun (at 7 or Williams), Cody Williams, and Ware gone by 14.
Moving up from 14 is doable — which was my vote. But if there is no trade … at 14 the Blazers select Johnny Furphy.

[tester551]

I voted for Edey, but Im currently thinking the best move would be to trade down (if possible).

#14 => #18 +'25 Denver

With #18, select Dadiet

[DusterBuster]

I'm in on Ware or Edey with 14 I think. I think I prefer Ware - he feels like he can bring a lot of what people would want out of a guy like Clingan.

I also like Edey as a bit of a zag pick here, but for him to be successful Portland likely has to slow down how they play, which for Scoot may not even be a terrible thing. I could see him and Edey working well for PnR / lobs near the rim.

That said, I think Ware can really fit more of where the NBA is and maybe be a Derek Lively-esque player.

Assuming Portland isn't making moves to go up, I would be happy with seeing them taking any combo of Buzelis/Salaun/Knetch (this is in my order of preference depending who's still on the board) at 7, then either Ware/Edey at 14.

With this draft, I hope they don't trade up. Take as many swings as you can in a draft where almost no team has any idea what to do. Heard an interview with a reporter who does the mock for BR, he said in his 10-15yrs of doing these, this is the most unsure he is of any mock. Literally 1-30 could be any combo of players. While that means the draft might be weaker, it also means there's a chance to get one of the best 2 or 3 player in a lower range. Think the 20213 draft where CJ went 10 and Giannis goes 15. Obviously no one believes there's a Giannis in this draft, but no one believed there was a Giannis quality player in the 2013 draft either... so crap shoot drafts can sometimes be fortune changes, still a game of luck, but something to consider.

https://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_2013.html

This draft really has a lot of comparisons to that one. No real consensus #1 pick, or even Top 3/4 players. Then a lot of bigs at the top who are kinda ... questionable. Like it wouldn't surprise me at all if Clingan is the next Alex Len.

[Walton1one]

I just don't trust Ware at all... I do not trust players with motivation issues, just a huge red flag, I don't care if he says has "seen the light" and that it won't be an issue going forward, 9 times out of 10 it will rear its ugly head in some form.

Same with players who float\dissapear in games, (aka Williams), those players entice you with what they COULD be and end up dissapointing, because you expect them to be something they just are not. Mentality\Drive is such a HUGE aspect of sports and people either have it or they don't, you can have all the skills\athletic tools in the world, but without the DRIVE, you will never reach your ceiling.

Now maybe POR thinks drafting a guy at #7 who flashes some tantalizing plays occasionally between large stretches where they have little\no impact is enough value in this draft, then ok, I guess? But I would rather miss on a guy because of talent\skill deficiency but whose work ethic\motor is never in question. Maybe though Williams is that 10th out of 10, history says "I doubt it", buy hey, I have been wrong before.

What are the negatives of Knecht? Too old (by 2 years?), poor defense when he had a large offensive load and tested well athletically at the combine, fills a HUGE need for POR also BTW.

Salaun? Raw as heck, but whose motor is always running, is very young, prototypical size for a PF and who has started to show flashes of outside shooting?

Buzelis? Prototypical size, good passer\connective player, has good upside as a shooter (HS to Pro is no easy jump @ 3pt line IMO), plays hard, has a good motor

Holland? Athletic freak, consistent motor, good work ethic, impactful on defense, prototypical size (SF). What concerns me about him (and where I think he & Williams are a toss up) is yes, his shot needs work, that can be fixed (with work ethic), but bball IQ issues (plays w\blinders\recognition) concern me, those are not so easily fixable.

[JasonStern]

I just don't trust Ware at all... I do not trust players with motivation issues, just a huge red flag, I don't care if he says has "seen the light" and that it won't be an issue going forward, 9 times out of 10 it will rear its ugly head in some form.

Same with players who float\dissapear in games, (aka Williams), those players entice you with what they COULD be and end up dissapointing, because you expect them to be something they just are not. Mentality\Drive is such a HUGE aspect of sports and people either have it or they don't, you can have all the skills\athletic tools in the world, but without the DRIVE, you will never reach your ceiling.

Now maybe POR thinks drafting a guy at #7 who flashes some tantalizing plays occasionally between large stretches where they have little\no impact is enough value in this draft, then ok, I guess? But I would rather miss on a guy because of talent\skill deficiency but whose work ethic\motor is never in question. Maybe though Williams is that 10th out of 10, history says "I doubt it", buy hey, I have been wrong before.

What are the negatives of Knecht? Too old (by 2 years?), poor defense when he had a large offensive load and tested well athletically at the combine, fills a HUGE need for POR also BTW.

Salaun? Raw as heck, but whose motor is always running, is very young, prototypical size for a PF and who has started to show flashes of outside shooting?

Buzelis? Prototypical size, good passer\connective player, has good upside as a shooter (HS to Pro is no easy jump @ 3pt line IMO), plays hard, has a good motor

Holland? Athletic freak, consistent motor, good work ethic, impactful on defense, prototypical size (SF). What concerns me about him (and where I think he & Williams are a toss up) is yes, his shot needs work, that can be fixed (with work ethic), but bball IQ issues (plays w\blinders\recognition) concern me, those are not so easily fixable.

Buzelis wasn't going to slide to 14. I understand picking Clingan over him. Topić nearly fell to 14, which OKC who is well managed and building a juggernaut, caught him.

14 went to Bub Carrington. From what little footage I have seen, trading the pick was probably the smart move. da Silva or Ware might have been worth a flyer, but really you look at this draft and it's a total crap shoot. Knecht is overrated. Media only cares because he went to the Lakers.

[PDXKnight]

^ I think the 2029 pick is the larger risk, number 14 in this draft was meh from the beginning

[JasonStern]

^ I think the 2029 pick is the larger risk, number 14 in this draft was meh from the beginning

Blazers currently have three picks in that draft, and the pick traded is the middle of the three. Only gripe I have is trading it limits future trades. Olshey school of GM'ing.

[Norm2953]

^ I think the 2029 pick is the larger risk, number 14 in this draft was meh from the beginning

Blazers currently have three picks in that draft, and the pick traded is the middle of the three. Only gripe I have is trading it limits future trades. Olshey school of GM'ing.

I wonder if there are any protections on that 2029 pick going to Washington in case two of the picks were
in the lottery?

[PDXKnight]

^ I think the 2029 pick is the larger risk, number 14 in this draft was meh from the beginning

Blazers currently have three picks in that draft, and the pick traded is the middle of the three. Only gripe I have is trading it limits future trades. Olshey school of GM'ing.

I wonder if there are any protections on that 2029 pick going to Washington in case two of the picks were
in the lottery?

Seems like it's unprotected from what I've read