Draft prospects @ 10

[DusterBuster]

I can't believe I am saying this but I think Bazz is too risky @ 10. Reminds me to much of Xavier Henry.

I'd give this a -1 if I could. There's no such thing as "too risky @ 10". When you're picking that low, every player is going to carry a level of risk with them. Bazz is no more risky than Gobert, Dieng, Len, or anyone else in the 7-14 range of this years draft.

[Blazinaway]

since many of us perhaps got a bit carried away with Gobert here is a guys (supposed analyst) opinon I saw late today

"I was excited to get an up-close look at Rudy Gobert, the supposed cream of a fairly deep international crop. He's exceptionally long, looking every bit of 7-foot-1, and can be a presence on the defensive end. However, he possesses virtually no offensive skills at this stage, and will be tossed around in the NBA. He's a "potential guy" who would be better-served staying in Europe for another couple years, but the word is he wants to come to the US this coming season. The problem is he wouldn't be able to handle the physical aspect and is a major liability on the offensive end."

[DusterBuster]

since many of us perhaps got a bit carried away with Gobert here is a guys (supposed analyst) opinon I saw late today

"I was excited to get an up-close look at Rudy Gobert, the supposed cream of a fairly deep international crop. He's exceptionally long, looking every bit of 7-foot-1, and can be a presence on the defensive end. However, he possesses virtually no offensive skills at this stage, and will be tossed around in the NBA. He's a "potential guy" who would be better-served staying in Europe for another couple years, but the word is he wants to come to the US this coming season. The problem is he wouldn't be able to handle the physical aspect and is a major liability on the offensive end."

This is what worries me about him the most about him. That's why he reminds me a lot of McGee. Players with those types of frames generally are pretty similar defensively. Chris Johnson was another guy a lot like that. Guys who can make spectacular blocks, but when it comes to actually keeping your man from pounding his way to the rim, you might as well have a folding chair there. So I don't know how much of a "rim protector" he's going to really be. Especially considering how easily he's going to get boxed out for rebounds too.

[Shem]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/blazers_olive/status/335184464177147905[/tweet]

[DusterBuster]

There was an interesting sentence in that article....

If the Blazers keep their lottery pick -- and that's a big if as it appears Olshey will look for willing trade partners -- it is likely the team pursues a shooting guard.

It's possible this could just be Quick speculating. If that's accurate though, it could mean to start focusing a lot more on the SG's of this draft instead of the C's, especially considering most of the C's at 10 look to be just as big of projects as Meyers is.

[Blazinaway]

also lets not forget Dieng, Givony just tweeted Dieng has the second longest standing reach but he did not give the numbers, he has been said he has a 7'4 to 7'6" wingspan. He rolled an ankle so did not participate in today's drills

[The Sebastian Express]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/chadfordinsider/status/335194085092642817[/tweet]
[tweet]https://twitter.com/chadfordinsider/status/335194795402227713[/tweet]
[tweet]https://twitter.com/chadfordinsider/status/335194547405590528[/tweet]
[tweet]https://twitter.com/chadfordinsider/status/335195833911885827[/tweet]

[DusterBuster]

Gobert's stats are pretty insane.

Rudy Gobert 7'0.5" in socks and 7'2" in shoes with a crazy 7'8.5" wingspan and insane 9'7" standing reach.

Apparently the wingspan and standing reach are both records for the combine according to DX.

Compare that to the guy I've been saying he's similar to because of his frame in McGee.

6' 11" in socks 7' 0" in shoes 7' 6" wingspan and a 9' 6.5" standing reach. So Gobert is slightly bigger is every category. But again, still doesn't mean much if he gets pushed around easily.

[Norm2953]

I do think it very likely we will end up picking a guard at 10 assuming we keep the pick
for we'd have to deal Meyers if we picked another project big like Gobert.

[DusterBuster]

I do think it very likely we will end up picking a guard at 10 assuming we keep the pick
for we'd have to deal Meyers if we picked another project big like Gobert.

Not necessarily. Quite honestly, Meyers looked more like a PF than a C last season anyhow. Portland could have two projects, BUT if that's how they're going to roll, they need to commit to it fully and ship off the veterans in LMA and Wes.

The SG's in this draft should be less of a project and should be able to contribute right away. So if they pick a SG, that would seem to signify two things; 1) they couldn't get a deal done and 2) they're still trying to stick with their plan of being competitive with what they've got.

[Wizenheimer]

would 10th pick + rights to Kostas Papanikolou + Meyers Leonard be too much to pay for Gobert?

Blazers should force something and do something stupid. Getting a mediocre vet C on a big, long, contract, especially if the acquisition cost is high, could very well equal doing something stupid

one can argue that giving up on a just turned 21 year old meyers leonard after one year of player development plus a lotto draft pick for a player that can only earn 10 minutes a game in eurocup could very well equal doing something stupid.

I made it pretty clear I was just throwing stuff at the wall.

and by the way, Gobert' only played in 3 euro-cup games. In Marc Gasols first 23 games in Euro and ACB play, he averaged less then 6 minutes a game. Good thing then that Portland didn't draft him in 2007

I stand by my contention that Portland may be better served in the long run by trying to find and develop their own defensive C rather then looking for some short cut. The viable options among veteran C's is pretty unattractive this summer

[Wizenheimer]

Gobert's stats are pretty insane.

Rudy Gobert 7'0.5" in socks and 7'2" in shoes with a crazy 7'8.5" wingspan and insane 9'7" standing reach.

Apparently the wingspan and standing reach are both records for the combine according to DX.

.

Wingspan:

Mamadou Ndiaye - 2012 8' 1"
John Riek - 2008 7' 8.75"
Alexis Ajinca - 2007 7' 8.75"
Saer Sene - 2006 7' 8.5"
Gobert 7' 8.5"

Standing Reach:

Pavel Podkolzine - 2003 9' 8"
Guy Marc-Michel - 2011 9' 7"
Boban Marjanovic - 2009 9' 7"
Gobert 9' 7"
JaVale McGee - 2008 9' 6.5"

looking at the lists, it's not exactly a good indication of NBA attributes

[DusterBuster]

Gobert's stats are pretty insane.

Rudy Gobert 7'0.5" in socks and 7'2" in shoes with a crazy 7'8.5" wingspan and insane 9'7" standing reach.

Apparently the wingspan and standing reach are both records for the combine according to DX.

.

Wingspan:

Mamadou Ndiaye - 2012 8' 1"
John Riek - 2008 7' 8.75"
Alexis Ajinca - 2007 7' 8.75"
Saer Sene - 2006 7' 8.5"
Gobert 7' 8.5"

Standing Reach:

Pavel Podkolzine - 2003 9' 8"
Guy Marc-Michel - 2011 9' 7"
Boban Marjanovic - 2009 9' 7"
Gobert 9' 7"
JaVale McGee - 2008 9' 6.5"

looking at the lists, it's not exactly a good indication of NBA attributes

Apparently you didn't read my whole post as in the section you edited out, I tried to make that exact point.

[James72]

If we were drafting in the early 20's then yeah i would probably jump on the Gobert train. Euro bigs always scare me though...Way too many busts.

[lukeyrid13]

I am extremely happy to see Pavel Podkolzine in this thread. Imagine if he and Ha had teamed up?!

[Jsun947]

That's because guys with that size usually lack speed, quickness, agility, good hands, and timing. They are at the combine because they are big, not because they are athletes.

Gobert has all of those things going for him. He looks like a basketball player, not a big guy trying to pretend to be one.

[James72]

That's because guys with that size usually lack speed, quickness, agility, good hands, and timing. They are at the combine because they are big, not because they are athletes.

Gobert has all of those things going for him. He looks like a basketball player, not a big guy trying to pretend to be one.

I agree, thats why a pick like #20 or #21 would be well justified. TAt that range, you arent expected to be a chump.

[JD45]

I do think it very likely we will end up picking a guard at 10 assuming we keep the pick
for we'd have to deal Meyers if we picked another project big like Gobert.

That would assume that both Gobert and Leonard turn into good starting Centers. It is more likely that at least 1 of them does not. And very possible that both don't. So I would be all for drafting Gobert and letting them fight it out. If one is a good Center and one a good backup, that would be terrific. If a miracle happens and they both deserve to start, then it will be easy to trade one to fill another need.

[Jsun947]

If you wait until 20-21 there is a very very small percentage of picks that become nba rotation players. Gobert deserves to go in the lottery in this draft.

[Shem]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/jwquick/status/335226844393652224[/tweet]
I saw the name Mike Muscala and looked up his scouting video:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtGdt51d96A[/youtube]