2024 NBA Draft (euro season, college season, scouting, prospects etc)

[Walton1one]

Clingan was a good pick and trade for Avdija was good, just go to the WAS board and read their reactions about that trade, adding a 29’ 1st ( 1 of 3! they have) + a couple of 2nd’s is really minor excess value IMO

Surprised they did not trade back in for Knecht or DaSilva, especially with SAC/PHI/LAL all rumored to have interest in Grant & ORL @ #18 with interest in Simons

Not happy with the insistence by Cronin in the two timelines, pick a damm lane! All this does is hinder younger player development and work against getting a high 25’ pick.

Grant, Thybulle & Williams have NO purpose on this team & Simons directly conflicts with Scoot’s development.

I can live with Simons for another year as a hedge against Scoot not being the heir apparent, although I think having Simons on the team hinders his development, but Williams? Thybulle? they serve no purpose, all they do is take away minutes from younger players who need to develop.

Lastly, Grant, seriously his timeline does not remotely fit the younger players and several playoff teams have showed interest, but no let’s hold onto him. Now maybe Cronin plans to move some of these guys during FA\off season, and if so then ok, but if not? Just short sided thinking IMO.


So far…

Cronin draft = good
Cronin roster building = mixed

[zzaj]

Clingan was a good pick and trade for Avdija was good, just go to the WAS board and read their reactions about that trade, adding a 29’ 1st ( 1 of 3! they have) + a couple of 2nd’s is really minor excess value IMO

Surprised they did not trade back in for Knecht or DaSilva, especially with SAC/PHI/LAL all rumored to have interest in Grant & ORL @ #18 with interest in Simons

Not happy with the insistence by Cronin in the two timelines, pick a damm lane! All this does is hinder younger player development and work against getting a high 25’ pick.

Grant, Thybulle & Williams have NO purpose on this team & Simons directly conflicts with Scoot’s development.

I can live with Simons for another year as a hedge against Scoot not being the heir apparent, although I think having Simons on the team hinders his development, but Williams? Thybulle? they serve no purpose, all they do is take away minutes from younger players who need to develop.

Lastly, Grant, seriously his timeline does not remotely fit the younger players and several playoff teams have showed interest, but no let’s hold onto him. Now maybe Cronin plans to move some of these guys during FA\off season, and if so then ok, but if not? Just short sided thinking IMO.


So far…

Cronin draft = good
Cronin roster building = mixed

Pretty much agreed...although, I don't think we're looking at the final roster for the fall. I think there are a couple of the older players that will no longer be with the team's training camp. Grant in particular I see as someone who will move to a team wanting to contend.

[BlazersBroncos]

Moving Grant later in FA makes some sense.

Mikal is off the table. After PG13 and DDR are signed the value of Grant goes up a noticeable amount IMO.

If PHI misses on PG13 and can’t snag Butler I can see them pivoting to Grant. They can’t afford to punt this season. Ideally we could squeeze 2 meh future FRP from them.

[Pattycakes]

We should relax a little. Expecting the entire roster to overhaul today is a little irrational

[cdubbz]

[mighty_duck]

Dang, that is one ugly looking cap. Sure, it was standardized by the league office for all teams, but still...

[DusterBuster]

Interesting rundown from Jake Fisher on what happened after the Pistons took Holland by surprise...

the Pistons swung big on G League Ignite guard Ron Holland — perhaps the biggest surprise of the entire draft — leaving Charlotte in strong position to engage with both the Blazers and Grizzlies.

The Hornets discussed trading down from that No. 6 slot with both Portland and Memphis, sources said, as Charlotte was on the clock. The Trail Blazers seemed to have been the Hornets’ preferred partner, as a good portion of league executives believed San Antonio was targeting 6-foot-9 forward Tidjane Salaun at No. 8. The French prospect shares an agent with Spurs centerpiece Victor Wembanyama, and Memphis’ No. 9 pick would have been a risk Charlotte didn’t ultimately feel was worth rolling the dice over. So the Hornets got their guy in Salaun, and then Portland got Clingan.

Starts to make sense why the Hornets just didn't bother making a deal since Salaun was their guy in the first place. Also makes sense why the Spurs ultimate traded 9 once Salaun came off the board. With the dominos lining up like they did, there was little incentive for Portland and Charlotte to make a deal when they can just take the guys they want. A bit surprised Charlotte didn't want Clingan though. Seems like a better fit and they need a C, the guy they got is good but hasn't proven to be very healthy.

[BlazersBroncos]

My hope today is that we use Reath to move up w/ MIL in a swap of 33 for Reath + 40. He fits their archetype for a stretch big and we get to secure a higher SRP to take 2 of the bubble FRPs 33 and 34.

33 - Johnny Furphy F - Smooth shooter, high motor who helps alleviate some of our shooting woes if he pans out.
34 - Tyler Kolek PG - Another shooter who is a steady floor general - we dont have much developmental talent at PG and I like him as a hedge for it/when we trade Simons.

Assuming we are going for a HOU type 'bounce back' season, I think the rest of the roster may stand pat after this draft (Not my direction preference, but I have a feeling thats the goal). That being said, I pray that we have the balls to put Simons as a super-6th man role finally. If that is the case the roster going into 24/25 would be -

G - Scoot Henderson (20) / Anfernee Simons (25) / Tyler Kolek (23)
G - Shadeon Sharpe (21) / Anfernee Simons (25) / Dalano Banton (25)
F - Deni Avdija (24) / Matisse Thybulle (27) / Kris Murray (24) / Rayan Rupert (20)
F - Jerami Grant (30) / Toumari Camara (24) / Jabari Walker JR (22)
C - DeAndre Ayton (26) / Robert Williams III (27) / Donovan Clingan (20)

2-Way - Johnny Furphy (20)

Thats a play-in team IMO and still quite young.

Now, I am still hoping that Grant may be on the outs - think a team will pay a decent price once the market for big wings is diluted w/ PG13 and DDR signing (+ Deni off market, + Mikal off market, etc). But I am not optimistic. I think Ant is absolutley not being traded w/ us moving Brogdan. The Deni trade also alleviated our cap issues. I think there is a super high chance we run the above roster into next season.

Now - my preferred direction would be Grant (+ Walker?) for Rui + Vincent + 2029 FRP + 2031 Swap. Or something w/ DAL. IMO we need to cash Grant while there is such parity and IMO many teams will be looking for a player of his archetype - despite his big contract.

[Norm2953]

It'll be interesting to see how this team develops for Donovan and Deni will be long term pieces
to work with Scoot and Sharpe.

I'd agree with the notion of Simons no longer on the market and I could see Portland wanting a big,
defensive minded guard to develop. Unknown if that guy is Rayan but picking a developmental SG
might be the pick at 40 to replace Thybulle when he leaves after next season. Murray

I think Portland's pick at 34 will yield a useful player. After Jerami and Deni, Portland has the versatile
Camara, Walker and Murray. Right now, we don't know if either Murray or Rayan are going to develop
into a solid NBA player but I could see Portland opting to pick one of the European forwards whom
they can stash overseas

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/page/NBADraft24-40285453/nba-draft-2024-international-players-need-know-alex-sarr-zaccharie-risacher

Real chance Portland will essentially "redshirt" both SRP from this draft

[DusterBuster]

If anyone wants an idea of who the Blazers might start targeting in the future, I would recommend just checking out Mike Schmitz's twitter account. Hasn't used it since he got the Blazers gig, but plenty of prospects on there who are quickly becoming Blazers...

[DusterBuster]

Keep an eye on this name for upcoming drafts...

Read on Twitter

[zzaj]

My ideal at #34 would be McCullar to replace Simons/Thybulle and play 6th man.

Barring that I'd go Tyler Smith for his C&S ability on the perimeter.

Flip is mentally weak, slow, and afraid of contact. There's a reason he's fallen out of Top-10 consideration.

[Norm2953]

Id go with Tyler Smith. Another in a long line of 6-10 perimeter guys that each draft seens to have

[zzaj]

Keep an eye on this name for upcoming drafts...

Read on Twitter

He redshirted last year, right? I remember being pretty underwhelmed by his freshman season at Arizona, but he was coming off the bench in very limited minutes.

[DusterBuster]

Keep an eye on this name for upcoming drafts...

Read on Twitter

He redshirted last year, right? I remember being pretty underwhelmed by his freshman season at Arizona, but he was coming off the bench in very limited minutes.

I don't think talent evaluators take college stats that heavily. It certainly is a factor in decisionmaking if a guy is intriguing but doesn't have a good college year, but I also don't think it's a dealbreaker for scouts either if they really like a guys measurements and still believe in their skillset.

[Village Idiot]

With our second rounders I like Ighodaro and Bona as guys we can develop in the G-league or in Europe. If either learn how to shoot they can become very useful NBA players given their physical traits, athleticism and motors. Ighodaro has really high BBIQ and sets fantastic screens. He has a really strong passing game for a big.

[Jsun947]

I'm really hoping for Smith & Chomche in the 2nd round

[BlazersBroncos]

I am an idiot but I had a Top-10 grade on Smith so if we get him here, as well as getting Deni who I see as a bubble AS caliber guy and Clingan who I had like 4 on my board this has to be the first A+ draft I think I have ever graded.

Not that any of that matters lol

[Jsun947]

I'm really hoping for Smith & Chomche in the 2nd round

****, and there goes Smith to the bucks. Ajay Mitchell, Furphy, Wells, Larsson, Klingtman are interesting too.

As of right now our roster is maxed out so someone is gonna have to go if we keep picks and plan to sign them.

[BlazersBroncos]

welp....

Furhpy it is hopefully. But not near the talent Smith was.

God dam look how smooth that shot is for Tyler. Ugh.

Would understand taking Djurisic here with the roster crunch. Had him as a FR talent.

I think Furhpy is a much better talent and long term gamble than Kris or even Walker so I would take him and figure the roster crunch out at a later date. Great motor, really solid shot, has alot of body development to work on.