Draft prospects @ 10

[TBpup]

I don't know why but I see Oladipo as Wes Matthews minus the shot but more athletic (maybe Lance Stephenson esque)

Oladipo did shoot 44% from '3' this last season. It was a big improvement from the previous year and showed a lot of work put in to improvement.

[Wizenheimer]

I only saw Oladipo play once and he had a mediocre game that time. So I don't have a strong positive impression of him from seeing him.

looking at the DE scouting report: I like some of his strengths...athleticism, disruptive defense, attacking the basket on offense. Those are all attributes Portland needs. He has energy and a motor

but I'd also have concerns about the highlighted weaknesses which are creating his own offense and poor, one dimensional ball-handling. High turnover rate. Draft Express seems to be quite skeptical about his perimeter shooting ability and that the improvement this season was the product of a small sample size. They also suggest that he may have a limited upside....low ceiling...that he might be no more then a role player on the next level. Those are pretty significant concerns from a source that is pretty good at evaluating talent. Not perfect at evaluation though

add the "weaknesses" to the fact he's only 6.4, in shoes. hmmmm

I'd wonder if he'll be the SG version of Avery Bradley or Eric Bledsoe. Disruptive defender who makes some highlight reel plays because of athleticism and speed, but isn't really suited to be a long-term starter because of limitations

That's not to say he wouldn't be a very effective role player or situation starter.

But it all may be academic. Portland would probably have to move into the top-4 to get him and I have a real hard time seeing them doing that. Look at the 5 teams with the inside track on being top-4: Orlando, Charlotte, Cleveland, Phoenix, New Orleans

* Cleveland has a ton of cap-space and no bad contracts. No traction there

* New Orleans has a ton of cap-space and the only "bad" contract is Gordon. No traction there

* Orlando has the expiring contract of Hedo. Phoenix has Beasely. Charlotte has Tyrus Thomas

so, would Oladipo be worth the #10 + rights to Papanikoloau + taking back a crappy contract. Setting aside whether or not another team would do the deal, would Portland really sacrifice their cap-space this summer for a 6'4 SG with some significant question marks? That doesn't seem credible. I know people will be coming up with all kinds of deals that preserve cap-space and assets, but I imagine none of them will be very close to realistic from the other team's perspective

my guess is that Portland. like a lot of teams, would love to move up in the draft, but ultimately the price will be just too high. Who knows, this may just be Olshey's way of pressuring some other GM into making a deal for Portland's pick for fear the Blazers will go another direction

[JD45]

I don't know why but I see Oladipo as Wes Matthews minus the shot but more athletic (maybe Lance Stephenson esque)

Oladipo did shoot 44% from '3' this last season. It was a big improvement from the previous year and showed a lot of work put in to improvement.

Oladipo shot less than 2 3 pt shots per game. So total sample size of 68 shots. If he was really that good of a 3 pt shooter, why shoot so few? There is a real chance he had a hot streak with a small sample size. So I doubt he is really a 44% shooter over the long haul. But he is clearly improving and is likely to work himself into being a good NBA 3 point shooter.

But there is real risk that he can't handle the NBA 3 point shot and becomes just a defender/slasher roll player. Team workouts will be critical for him.

[Wizenheimer]

I don't know why but I see Oladipo as Wes Matthews minus the shot but more athletic (maybe Lance Stephenson esque)

Oladipo did shoot 44% from '3' this last season. It was a big improvement from the previous year and showed a lot of work put in to improvement.

Oladipo shot less than 2 3 pt shots per game. So total sample size of 68 shots. If he was really that good of a 3 pt shooter, why shoot so few? There is a real chance he had a hot streak with a small sample size. So I doubt he is really a 44% shooter over the long haul. But he is clearly improving and is likely to work himself into being a good NBA 3 point shooter.

But there is real risk that he can't handle the NBA 3 point shot and becomes just a defender/slasher roll player. Team workouts will be critical for him.

add to that the fact that the NBA 3 point line is 3 feet futher from the basket. There have been a bunch of 45% college 3-point shooters who never break 35% in the NBA

[Case2012]

Oladipo would be great if he fell to us, but he won't. Plus, given our already weak bench, giving up what few assets we have seems like a bad move. I've said this before but I really like CJ at 10, unless Zeller or maybe Bazz is there. I think taking a risk on Len might be worth it as well.

I feel it should be mentioned that a lot of decent centers seem to fall to the 2nd round and if we grab a wing with the tenth, we could load up on bigs in the second and let them fight for rotation minutes behind Leonard as a starter.

[TBpup]

add to that the fact that the NBA 3 point line is 3 feet futher from the basket.

It is? Really? The NBA 3-pt line is farther out? Thanks for clarifying...

Kidding aside, of course it is farther and naturally percentages tend to go down, at least at first. That said, I was simply commenting on the trend of his improvement and that he had put in the work. I like players that show effort and like to be in the gym. It's why I wanted Durant over Oden even though he was a skinny rail...his work ethic was legendary.

[GreenRiddler]

This is the last draft you want to move up from say 10 to 4, since the are in the same relative tier. Olad is similar to We$, but with better athleticism and dogging on D. I would love to have another wing player to be our premier show stopper, but I would give up alot of assets and cap to do it. I might trust We$ more next season anyway, given their volume three point shooting ( a big part of our offense) is worlds apart, and will likely always be that way.

If we don't trade the pick I wouldn't mind

Adams
CJ Mc
Bazz
Gobert
Zeller
KCP
Dieng

[TBpup]

This is the last draft you want to move up from say 10 to 4, since the are in the same relative tier.

I would completely agree. There are players I like relative to players in this draft but to use assets to move up when this draft is notoriously weak doesn't seem like the best use of those assets. Oladipo is projected somewhere in the #4-6 range but if he were in next years draft, he might not be selected anywhere in the lottery.

[GreenRiddler]

Bazz can be to us what Barnes was to the Warrior, only he can get to the line better and shoot threes a little less. Especially since we like the Warriors last year can help ease him in by giving him a role player position early on, unlike other Lotto teams.

[TBpup]

Updated Measurements with Vertical, Sprint and Agility

http://www.draftexpress.com/nba-pre-draft-measurements/?page=&year=2013&source=All&sort2=DESC&draft=0&pos=0&sort=

[jhern87]

If we stay I think I'd take Gobert.. That wingspan could really be disruptive on D.

I wouldn't mind moving down though and trying to upgrade one of our 2nd rounders and somehow leave the draft with Dieng and Pope or Hamilton.

[jhern87]

Nevermind.. I thought Dieng was taller.. Give me Withy. He's going to bolster the interior D wherever he goes. He tries to block everything.

[GreenRiddler]

Updated Measurements with Vertical, Sprint and Agility

http://www.draftexpress.com/nba-pre-draft-measurements/?page=&year=2013&source=All&sort2=DESC&draft=0&pos=0&sort=

Harden and Bazz measure out similar with Bazz having better height and length, and similar verticals. But he isn't Harden though

[Khazim]

Nevermind.. I thought Dieng was taller.. Give me Withy. He's going to bolster the interior D wherever he goes. He tries to block everything.

Dieng may not be the tallest, but he does have the second highest standing reach in this draft. Height has it's virtues of course, but I'll take reach over height any day of the week.

[JD45]

I am now on the Zeller bandwagon.

The combine measurements and athletic results eliminated a lot of the risk that I saw with Zeller. He had a top 10 college PER, is very skilled in the paint, claims to have a lot more shooting range than was used at Indiana, measured good size for a PF and tested as one of the most athletic big men in the database.

There were concerns he wasn't big enough to play NBA C, but was not fast enough to play NBA PF. He now seems perfect for the PF position with enormous upside. I would probably pick him at #1 now.

[Sabzi]

add the "weaknesses" to the fact he's only 6.4, in shoes. hmmmm

Oladipo makes up for shorter than expected height of 6' 4 1/4" in shoes with a 42" vertical jump and a 6' 9 1/4" wingspan.

Not an issue when you consider all his traits.

[PTPaQ]

If we somehow obtain Victor Oladipo, I'm not going to care very much that he isnt a 3 point sharper shooter, we don't need that. Would it be a plus? Yeah, but you don't pass on that talent/character combo because of a small sample size of 3 pointers. He does a number of other things so well, and can be counted on to improve year by year I'd be excited to make a move up for him.

[GreenRiddler]

I am now on the Zeller bandwagon.

The combine measurements and athletic results eliminated a lot of the risk that I saw with Zeller. He had a top 10 college PER, is very skilled in the paint, claims to have a lot more shooting range than was used at Indiana, measured good size for a PF and tested as one of the most athletic big men in the database.

There were concerns he wasn't big enough to play NBA C, but was not fast enough to play NBA PF. He now seems perfect for the PF position with enormous upside. I would probably pick him at #1 now.

Hold your horse 1? I think your taking too much from the combine. I think he is a good BPA pick, and I would gladly pick him over some other "need" guys, like Dieng, but not 1.

I think he could end up being a blessing in disguise for a team like Monroe was for the pistons or Paul George was for the Pacers. If he is the BPA left at 10 I wouldn't be upset.

[Wizenheimer]

add the "weaknesses" to the fact he's only 6.4, in shoes. hmmmm

Oladipo makes up for shorter than expected height of 6' 4 1/4" in shoes with a 42" vertical jump and a 6' 9 1/4" wingspan.

Not an issue when you consider all his traits.

I haven't reached any concrete conclusions about the guy, except that the price to get him would probably be too high. D-Wade was measured as only 1/2" taller and an inch more wingspan and he turned out all-right

that's why I suggested Oladipo might be the SG version of Avery Bradley or Eric Bledsoe. Uber-Athletic in the open floor and good at attacking the basket while being disruptive defenders. But those guys have some limitations as well.

I still don't see a way Portland gets into position to draft him short of jumping into the top-3 in the lottery

[JD45]

I am now on the Zeller bandwagon.

The combine measurements and athletic results eliminated a lot of the risk that I saw with Zeller. He had a top 10 college PER, is very skilled in the paint, claims to have a lot more shooting range than was used at Indiana, measured good size for a PF and tested as one of the most athletic big men in the database.

There were concerns he wasn't big enough to play NBA C, but was not fast enough to play NBA PF. He now seems perfect for the PF position with enormous upside. I would probably pick him at #1 now.

Hold your horse 1? I think your taking too much from the combine. I think he is a good BPA pick, and I would gladly pick him over some other "need" guys, like Dieng, but not 1.

I think he could end up being a blessing in disguise for a team like Monroe was for the pistons or Paul George was for the Pacers. If he is the BPA left at 10 I wouldn't be upset.

I think this is actually a very deep draft, but without a lot of difference between the top 10 or 15 players. I wouldn't have picked Zeller over the other recent #1 picks. But in this draft, no one player is a sure All-Star. Zeller has terrific production, without (currently) obvious flaws.