Draft prospects @ 10

marsblazer · Post #321 » by **marsblazer** » Sun Apr 14, 2013 6:29 pm

Can we get lucky and draft Kabongo in the second? Imagine the great game calls "Ka-bingo-bango-bongo"

Blazer50 · Post #322 » by **Blazer50** » Sun Apr 14, 2013 10:33 pm

Blazers now have the 11th pick - if Denver holds on. Philadelphia has tied the Blazers Record (and will probably get at least one more win) and have a 3 game advantage in Conference play. Blazers and Philly were 1 and 1 head to head - Blazers pick now 11?

Norm2953 · Post #323 » by **Norm2953** » Mon Apr 15, 2013 12:07 am

We get to 10 if Toronto can find a way to beat Boston at home or the Hawks on
the road. Boston is likely to be resting their players as is the Hawks so lets hope
they win out while we lose out.

DusterBuster · Post #324 » by **DusterBuster** » Mon Apr 15, 2013 1:03 am

It sure would be nice if Portland could get up into that #10 spot. I like the talent that could be around the #10 pick better than what should be available around 12. It'd also have a little more trade value should Portland decide that's the route they want to go.

Goldbum · Post #325 » by **Goldbum** » Mon Apr 15, 2013 2:08 am

Judging by most mocks you need to get to #10 to get into the blue chip guys... lets hope.

Norm2953 · Post #326 » by **Norm2953** » Mon Apr 15, 2013 3:12 am

There are no guarantees with the lottery for teams picking behind us could move up
which would push us back but the odds of 3 teams moving up are virtually nil.

I think we'd be left with Zeller, Len or perhaps Shabazz at 10. Let's hope the
Blazers don't screw things up by winning a game.

whatchaknow · Post #327 » by **whatchaknow** » Mon Apr 15, 2013 4:03 am

Norm2953 wrote:There are no guarantees with the lottery for teams picking behind us could move up
which would push us back but the odds of 3 teams moving up are virtually nil.

I think we'd be left with Zeller, Len or perhaps Shabazz at 10. Let's hope the
Blazers don't screw things up by winning a game.

I was about to say that it looks like if we end up top 10 one of those guys would be available. Not the biggest zeller fan but i think he has some good qualities and i wouldnt hesitate to take him. Shabazz has good potential imio, NBA body and rugged style of play is something I like about him. I think he can be a much better player outside of UCLA and there slow paced offense. Len is my number one target but i see him going before the other 2

Post #328 » by **DeBlazerRiddem** » Tue Apr 16, 2013 5:26 am

What is so special about Zeller? I don't think he fits our need at center, and here is a comparison of his 2ed year stats with Leonards:

Leonard: 13.6 points on 58.4% shooting, 8.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.9 blocks, 0.5 steals in 31.8 minutes.
Zeller: 16.5 points on 56.2% shooting, 8.1 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.3 blocks, 1.0 steals in 29.5 minutes.

No-Man · Post #329 » by **No-Man** » Tue Apr 16, 2013 12:54 pm

I don't understand the point of drafting a big, Leonard is still the project, Portland need a starting Center, defensive caliber guy, and there's no one worthy at 10-12

The pick should go on a different direction, a perimeter player for the bench, Goodwin, Carter-Williams or McCollum, that's about it.

Norm2953 · Post #330 » by **Norm2953** » Tue Apr 16, 2013 4:10 pm

Drafting a player like Zeller is preferable to drafting Plumlee for he's going to be a
solid big, better than his brother. Teams draft bigs when they can get them for its
much easier to get free agent wings than overpay for a free agent big.

Goldbum · Post #331 » by **Goldbum** » Tue Apr 16, 2013 4:24 pm

Norm2953 wrote:Drafting a player like Zeller is preferable to drafting Plumlee for he's going to be a
solid big, better than his brother. Teams draft bigs when they can get them for its
much easier to get free agent wings than overpay for a free agent big.

This. Perfectly said. Look at what FA bits get paid. Heck look at what we were paying Pryzbilla all those years. LaFrentz the list goes on. What are Kwame Brown's career earnings? Ridiculous draft your bits and pick up you're wings as FAs.

a_sensei · Post #332 » by **a_sensei** » Tue Apr 16, 2013 5:54 pm

Goldbum wrote:
Norm2953 wrote:Drafting a player like Zeller is preferable to drafting Plumlee for he's going to be a
solid big, better than his brother. Teams draft bigs when they can get them for its
much easier to get free agent wings than overpay for a free agent big.
This. Perfectly said. Look at what FA bits get paid. Heck look at what we were paying Pryzbilla all those years. LaFrentz the list goes on. What are Kwame Brown's career earnings? Ridiculous draft your bits and pick up you're wings as FAs.

The problem with building this way is that bigs tend to develop later. They are much more likely to peak on their second or third contract. I'm not against drafting big, but you need to have a lot of patience.

Norm2953 · Post #333 » by **Norm2953** » Tue Apr 16, 2013 6:15 pm

Bigs on their second contract are normally overpaid. At least the drafting team can pay them
more if it comes down to money.

If we let Hickson go, Zeller is not going to the long term answer for we'll still need to sign someone
like Rony Turiaf to provide muscle. Zeller if anything is the answer to LA leaving in two years.

lukeyrid13 · Post #334 » by **lukeyrid13** » Tue Apr 16, 2013 7:24 pm

Zeller would never be a franchise player or THE center of the future or anything but he'd be a great value pick at 10 or 11 and would at worst be a rotational player in our frontcourt and cost next to nothing. I'd easily take him even as just a backup to LMA over reaching for a guy who'd fit a need

Post #335 » by **DeBlazerRiddem** » Wed Apr 17, 2013 12:27 am

Someone first tell me why Zeller is going to be so much better than Leonard. I compared stats from college and it was not promising to me.

Norm2953 wrote:Drafting a player like Zeller is preferable to drafting Plumlee for he's going to be a
solid big, better than his brother. Teams draft bigs when they can get them for its
much easier to get free agent wings than overpay for a free agent big.

Jesus, there would have to be a large number of players gone before Plumlee's name would come up.

Unless Gobert is available or our draft team falls in love with Dieng (I question his offense, but he could be an Okafor/Dalembert type big), I would stay away from the other bigs in the draft. I guess Len is younger than some of the other bigs so that could explain his mediocre numbers, but I guess I don't see a strength of his I can really point to as a bankable NBA skill.

Blazers need to draft the best damn player available, regardless of position. We have too many needs to be picky, and in a weaker draft such as this you have to take what you can get.

Norm2953 wrote:Zeller if anything is the answer to LA leaving in two years.

If anything, Olynyk is the player who could be the answer to LA leaving, if that is what Portland is worried about. He is by far the best offensive big in the draft. Compare his scoring per minute and efficiency with Zeller:

Olynyk: 0.683 points/minute on 63.1% shooting
Zeller: 0.559 points/minute on 56.2% shooting

Maybe I just irrationally dislike Zeller, I don't know. Someone explain why he is getting a ton of love.

Norm2953 · Post #336 » by **Norm2953** » Wed Apr 17, 2013 2:51 am

Zeller is going to be a decent pro for remember he's two years younger than Plumlee.
Hes not the answer at center but drafting another center isn't necessary if the
team feels Meyers is the long term answer. Zeller needs to get a lot stronger though
if he is to play PF but he's a good value pick for it seems there are a group of guys
that will go from 4-10 in any order, after which the value begins to slide.

Guys like Gobert are unknown but he's averaging six points a game in Europe. How
he works out prior to this draft will determine where he goes but he's likely
further behind Meyers as a prospect.

marsblazer · Post #337 » by **marsblazer** » Wed Apr 17, 2013 4:06 am

Smart deciding to stay means even if we get to 10 it's unlikely one of the top tier players slips to us...on the other hand with all the top talent that might come out next year, we have a better chance to be able to draft him in 14(I think he would be a perfect fit next to Lillard)

Goldbum · Post #338 » by **Goldbum** » Wed Apr 17, 2013 4:26 am

I hope somebody shoots up the draft boards and drops somebody to us. Maybe a team picking ahead pf us falls I love with MCW, Gobert,or the Greek.

Wizenheimer · Post #339 » by **Wizenheimer** » Wed Apr 17, 2013 5:34 am

Goldbum wrote:I hope somebody shoots up the draft boards and drops somebody to us. Maybe a team picking ahead pf us falls I love with MCW, Gobert,or the Greek.

that happens every single year, usually with more then one player.

but it's pretty premature for anybody around here to assume they know who the top-10 payers will be.

Post #340 » by **Billy** » Wed Apr 17, 2013 6:23 pm

Indeed, it does seem that every year there are a couple of guys that shoot up the board. Waiters of course was the big one last year.

On the same token, it seems likely there will still be a few people that will drop out of the draft. Smart sticking around was definitely a surprise and shuffles the board.

I wouldn't be surprised to see some guys that got early love last year before dropping out (Mitchell from North Texas being the one that comes to mind) climb back up the charts as GM's fall in love all over again.