Draft Results: Damian Lillard, Meyers Leonard, Will Barton.

[JasonStern]

Maybe they wanted the cash to throw into future trades, but it confuses me tbh that we just didn't exchange it for a future second.

according to olshey, the blazers are in asset acquisition mode. that's what makes trading a pick for neither players nor cap space/a contract dump so questionable to me.

I would have preferred we take Drummond at 6 and try to trade up for Lillard at 8.

or, presuming the blazers picked lillard at 6, trade up to 8 to get drummond. it's not like terrence ross would have been picked by another team before 11...

I'm okay ending up with lillard, but even if he was our lone target at 6, I would have liked to see portland take barnes once he slipped and then trade down.

I'd have been inclined to take Drummond, but none of us have the resources an NBA front office has, and you assume there's a reason he fell that far

he fell that far because he had the same red flags that bynum (10th pick 2005) and amare (9th pick 2002) had.

I understand the blazers not wanting to take on a project, but barnes is fairly nba ready in that case.

I get the feeling that for some reason draft picks in the first half of the first round just weren't tradeable. It seems like Toronoto (for example) was saying "you want Drummond? Great! We'll take your 11th and... both seconds, cash, and a future first. Something ridiculously expensive for a player that is so high risk.

unless he pans out, then the offer looks like "perkins, amir johnson, von wafer, and $3 million for bynum".

not that I have any faith portland can develop such a raw player after reading about the oden alcoholism/lack of mentor problems...

KP would have probably traded up to get Thomas Robinson at 4 and drafted Marshall at 11.

the fact that robinson went one pick before us still stings this morning...

My guess is that if we bring back 1 or 2 of the Euros we wouldn't need that pick.

then package it with cash and shawne williams contract to a team under the cap. sacramento would have jumped at the chance for that as they could have then flipped the pick again for even more cash. (jimmy fallon commercial voice) who doesn't want free money?

as far as his level of competition, there's really no way to determine if that is a significant factor or not. There is this though: Stephen Curry is from a smaller school. And in those categories I listed above, Lilliard apparently beat Curry across the board, in some cases by significant margins.

how did luke babbitt, also from a small school, fair?

if portland retains Batum, Barnes would be redundant as he's not a ball-handler.

that if brings up a good point - what if a team offers batum a ridiculous contract due to a lack of good free agent options? and why couldn't portland trade either barnes or batum at a later date?

Mayo is abundant on this team

I hope you meant "redundant".

Im happy except Leonard. I would take Zeller over him.

I'm the opposite. leonard has a higher ceiling than zeller, so I'm happy portland took that chance.

[lucky strike]

One thing that I think is kind of silly is people saying Portland should have traded up or so and so team would have surely traded for whatever.

No one knows what teams were asking for or would be willing to accept....to fault the blazers for not trading up in the lottery with a couple 2nd rounders, a scrub or cash or something is just unrealistic.

Seems like trades were really hard to come by due to the realitve lack of them

Sure I absolutely would have loved for them to trade to 8 to take Drummond but I'm not going to fault them by assuming that it was a really easy thing to do.

[JasonStern]

I'll also add, in the most cliche' way possible:

lillard + leonard >>>>>>> walker + biyombo

keep that in mind people who didn't think the blazers at least did decent with their two picks.

[GreenRiddler]

I actually like Barton more than Lamb both 6'5" tall Lamb has and inch longer wingspan both skinny as a rail, similar 3pt% Barton better FG% much better rebounder gets to the line much better, higher passing %, chip on his Shoulder per Jason quick twitter: Damon Stoudamire Memphis coaching staff "Definitely will come in there with a chip on his shoulder cause I know he's pissed about being a 2nd round pick.'' gonna bring that energy high motor Lamb seems to lack.

[GreenRiddler]

I'll also add, in the most cliche' way possible:

lillard + leonard >>>>>>> walker + biyombo

keep that in mind people who didn't think the blazers at least did decent with their two picks.

I don't know yet cause BB could be special i really like him but I think it's no competition who I would choose/is the better player Lillard>>>>>>Walker IMO.

[DeBlazerRiddem]

SG:
Draft: I think Barton was a great pick, I had him going at the very top of the second round. Seems like an overachiever, which is always a good thing.

Free Agency: I am kind of stuck on what to do about free agency. I think a secondary ball-handler and scorer like Mayo would be a good thing (he would not be redundant with Matthews, he might be if Williams or Barton develop well)

C:
Draft: I am pretty happy with the Leonard pick - I didn't see many better options at that point. Leonard seems like a high class character with all the physical tools he needs. I like that he has a high post jumper, and can hit free throws at > 70%, he should be a decent fit with Aldridge especially if he can focus on defense and defensive rebounds. I think Henson might hurt to have passed on, he certainly could be the better player (Camby like) but he wasn't a great fit. Lamb also could have a good career, but he wouldn't have had it here.

Free Agency: Leonard is not ready to start in the NBA, and even in a few years he might be better off the bench as an Asik type center with a jumpshot. I think our biggest need going into the free agency is a starting center - I actually think either Hawes or Kaman would be a good mix with what we have. Asik would be fine too. But we do need a guy who can start from day 1 while Leonard develops.

PG
Draft: Lillard - well apparently this was the guy the Blazers wanted. I guess at this point I have to trust them, even if I didn't agree with him going into the draft. I hope they prove me wrong, I like being proven wrong.

Free Agency: We are going to need a back-up PG. I want a veteran who can distribute and run a team. Lillard will undoubtedly experience some hiccups as he adjusts to the NBA, and an experienced helmsman would help him learn past his mistakes. We might already have trouble getting enough playmaking.

[GreenRiddler]

SG:
Draft: I think Barton was a great pick, I had him going at the very top of the second round. Seems like an overachiever, which is always a good thing.

Free Agency: I am kind of stuck on what to do about free agency. I think a secondary ball-handler and scorer like Mayo would be a good thing (he would not be redundant with Matthews, he might be if Williams or Barton develop well)

C:
Draft: I am pretty happy with the Leonard pick - I didn't see many better options at that point. Leonard seems like a high class character with all the physical tools he needs. I like that he has a high post jumper, and can hit free throws at > 70%, he should be a decent fit with Aldridge especially if he can focus on defense and defensive rebounds. I think Henson might hurt to have passed on, he certainly could be the better player (Camby like) but he wasn't a great fit. Lamb also could have a good career, but he wouldn't have had it here.

Free Agency: Leonard is not ready to start in the NBA, and even in a few years he might be better off the bench as an Asik type center with a jumpshot. I think our biggest need going into the free agency is a starting center - I actually think either Hawes or Kaman would be a good mix with what we have. Asik would be fine too. But we do need a guy who can start from day 1 while Leonard develops.

PG
Draft: Lillard - well apparently this was the guy the Blazers wanted. I guess at this point I have to trust them, even if I didn't agree with him going into the draft. I hope they prove me wrong, I like being proven wrong.

Free Agency: We are going to need a back-up PG. I want a veteran who can distribute and run a team. Lillard will undoubtedly experience some hiccups as he adjusts to the NBA, and an experienced helmsman would help him learn past his mistakes. We might already have trouble getting enough playmaking.

Lillard is a play-maker I think more so than Marshall he can breakdown defenses, something that in today's NBA you have to be able to do,FWIW Curry wasn't a good passer in college but avg 5+ ast his first year in the NBA with a bad GSW team.

[Downtown]

Lucky Strike made the comments about trades. I think given all the pre draft hype about this trade and that, even from other teams perhaps this is one reason why there's a bit of a down feeling from some fans. Maybe expectations of something great coming out of the blue enticed them.

But there's a lesson learned from the draft and that is don't buy into all the trade rumors beforehand. Only a small fraction turn out to be true. Imagine the Bobcats fans when they read that there were five serious offers for the #2 pick, and they ended up simply keeping it and using it on Kidd-Gilchrist. Or that Cleveland was looking to trade down and had several offers but instead picked Waiters, who most likely would have been available a little lower.

So who knows if there were even any significant trade offers for the #6 and #11 that had any legs as far as seriously considering players coming back in return. The media hyped up some good rumors for their pay though.

[The Sebastian Express]

I guess it is a sign that maybe people weren't as amendable to trades when Cleveland had to send both seconds and their first to move up seven spots from 24 to 17th, to a Mavs team that was looking to SELL the pick. Then Philadelphia had to send a future first and their 45th for the 28th pick.

[GreenRiddler]

Anyone know when the press conf. is to intro the new guys? Lillard is in PDX according to his twitter.

[The Sebastian Express]

In one of the articles last night either Quick or Freeman mentioned they would be introduced the second week of July.

[fishnc]

Lillard is a play-maker I think more so than Marshall he can breakdown defenses, something that in today's NBA you have to be able to do,FWIW Curry wasn't a good passer in college but avg 5+ ast his first year in the NBA with a bad GSW team.

You have no way of knowing whether or not he will be able to breakdown NBA defenses yet. All we know is that he is able to break down Big Sky defenses.

[JasonStern]

not a huge bill simmons fan, but I did enjoy these bits from his post draft analysis:

8:05 — Questions asked in my living room after Portland's pick: "What conference is Damian Lillard from again?" … "Has any top-10 pick ever had more highlights that happened against white people?" … "Is it WEE-ber or Weh-ber?" … "Has anyone ever picked a backup point guard this high?" … "Did they just pick Jerryd Bayless again or am I crazy?" … "Are these highlights from Division I games?"

(Answers: Big Sky … no … "Weh-ber" … yes, Jonny Flynn in 2009 … it's unclear … yes.)

8:09 — Tom Penn just threw a slew of advanced points-per-possession stats at us, trying to make the case that it wasn't completely ludicrous for a two-time Big Sky MVP to go sixth in the entire NBA draft. It's almost like the ESPN producers said, "What segment could we create that appeals to 125 hard-core basketball bloggers and goes over the heads of literally everyone else watching this telecast?"

8:34 — Like everyone else, I get nervous every time Portland spends a first-round pick on a center. It's like hearing that Larry King got married again. Poor Meyers Leonard

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/8111210/welcome-draft-diary-xvi

[The Sebastian Express]

Okay I laughed at the Larry King comment.

[GreenRiddler]

Lillard is a play-maker I think more so than Marshall he can breakdown defenses, something that in today's NBA you have to be able to do,FWIW Curry wasn't a good passer in college but avg 5+ ast his first year in the NBA with a bad GSW team.

You have no way of knowing whether or not he will be able to breakdown NBA defenses yet. All we know is that he is able to break down Big Sky defenses.

True but I have a good feeling that, If Steph Curry could IMO I think Lillard with his athleticism, strength, speed, shooting and PnR skills could as-well.

[NBAMAN2006]

Thing is, Steph Curry was a better shooter than Lillard. If anything, I think Lillard's best trait is going to be his ballhandling. You dont average so few TOs while being constantly double/triple teamed without having amazing handles.

[fishnc]

Here is the mini-bio about Damian Lillard on NBA.com:

Strengths:
*Unselfish/knows how to get his teammates involved
*Good 3-point shooter
*Good penetrator and strong enough to absorb contact in the lane
*Excellent free-throw shooter
*Good rebounder
*Diligent at getting better

Weaknesses:
*Needs to tighten up his handle
*Wasn’t able to consistently perform against upper Division I talent

NBA projection:
In a draft that’s short on point guards, Lillard’s status has steadily risen to the point where he’s projected as a lottery pick. He’s a scorer, but he’s smart enough to know that if he keeps his teammates involved, his scoring opportunities will still be there. He’s got all the requisite point guard stills, and the best thing about him is that he’s never satisfied with his game. During a medical redshirt season in 2010-11 he watched every tape from his 71 career games played in an effort to learn his weaknesses and how he could improve and also met his goal of bench-pressing 300 pounds.

2011-12 Season:
Lillard led the nation in scoring much of the season before finishing second to Oakland’s Reggie Hamilton. He ranked in the top 20 in the nation in made 3-pointers per game, 3-point field-goal percentage and free-throw percentage. Lillard was the Big Sky Conference MVP after leading his team to a 25-7 overall record, 14-2 in the league, which was good enough to win the regular-season title. Lillard set a Weber State single-season record with 784 points, another record for made 3-pointers (94) and tied the school record for most free-throws made (228).

Key statistics:
24.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 4.0 apg, 2.3 tpg, 1.5 spg, 34.5 mpg, .467 FG, .409 3PT, .887 FT

Cool statistic:
Finished as Weber State’s career leader in made 3-point goals (246) and made free throws (520).

Reminds me of:
Norris Cole

What Insiders Say:
Weber State coach Randy Rahe
“He’s got a great feel for when our team needs him to be aggressive, a great feel for when others need to be involved. If they give him something he takes it, if not, he goes to the next guy. … He’s the kind of kid that if he’s not doing something to get better on a daily basis, he struggles with that. He’s such a focused kid on how do I improve, how do I get better.”

What Outsiders Say:
San Jose State coach George Nessman
"Lillard is a great player for his team. We did a great job on him until the last 10 minutes of the game [Lillard scored 14 second-half points and 17 in two overtimes]. I don't know if we'll face a scorer that good the rest of the season."

Cal coach Mike Montgomery:
“Damian Lillard is a really good player and a really good athlete.”

BYU coach Dave Rose:
(Comparing Lillard to Wisconsin point guard Jordan Taylor)
"I think they're similar in their ability to make some late shot-clock scores and to create for themselves and for their team.”

It's pretty impressive that he was able to improve his bench press to 300 lbs during his medical redshirt year.

[AllMyNeilOlshey]

So you are all mad that we didn't draft players based on "potential"? Are you not all the same people that get mad that Batum hasn't reached his "potential"? This job is going to be a lot harder then I thought. Maybe your just insecure about the picks because the majority of you have never seen Lillard or Leonard play?

-Olshey Out-

[GreenRiddler]

Thing is, Steph Curry was a better shooter than Lillard. If anything, I think Lillard's best trait is going to be his ballhandling. You dont average so few TOs while being constantly double/triple teamed without having amazing handles.

Yea but I think they are pretty much the same if you look at the # shooting wise with Curry slightly better but Lillard more efficient. Numbers first year to last excluding Lillard's injured year

Basically both 40 50 90 guys.

Curry
FG% 46.3 48.3 45.4 3pt% 40.8 43.9 38.7 FT% 85.5 89.4 87.6 FGA 15.4 18.2 20.2 PPG 21.5 25.9 28.6

Lillard
FG% 43.4 43.1 46.7 3pt% 37.4 39.3 40.9 FT% 84.1 85.3 88.7 FGA 8.8 13.8 15.5 PPG 11.5 19.9 24.5

[fishnc]

So you are all mad that we didn't draft players based on "potential"? Are you not all the same people that get mad that Batum hasn't reached his "potential"? This job is going to be a lot harder then I thought. Maybe your just insecure about the picks because the majority of you have never seen Lillard or Leonard play?

-Olshey Out-

3/10