Draft prospects @ 10

[The Sebastian Express]

I don't know why anyone would think it was throwing stuff against the wall to see if it sticks. Haynes clearly says sources close to the prospect, not sources close to the Blazers. He also points out the sources told him several other teams were interested, as well, not only the Blazers. The Blazers are only singled out because it is the team he covers.

[Goldbum]

Wesley Matthews thinks that ball handling drill/exhibition is really no big deal.

did you know that Wesley Matthews averaged 0.92 points/possession in isolation. That actually ranked 39th of all players in the NBA.

he also averaged 0.84 points/possession as a P&R ball-handler. That ranked 48th

he averaged 1.16 points/possession on spot-up. That ranked 42nd

and 0.94 points/possession on hand-offs. That ranked 38th

and 1.09 points/possession off screens. That was good enough to rank 16th.

Overall, he averaged 1.02 points/possession. That ranked 39th in the league and 1st on the Blazers.

he also only gave up 0.82 points/possession on defense. That ranked 88th in the league and he didn't have the advantage of a good interior defender backing him up like so many other perimeter players did. That average also, just like on offense, led the team

considering that Draft Express lists ball-handling as an Oladipo weakness, I'm not sure that believing there would be some big positive team differential derived from going from Matthews to Oladipo because of ball-handling is justified. Matthews is one of the more efficient players in the league, who also plays good defense and makes a lot of hustle and energy plays. This could end up being a don't-know-what-you've-got-till-it's-gone situation

I'm not saying Matthews is untouchable. Not close. But exchanging him for a player who hasn't touched an NBA floor is pretty risky, and that doesn't factor in team chemistry and leadership

Wow wize. Great use of advanced stats. I must say im surprised buy youre findings and feel like maybe i havent appreciated We$ enough.

[fishnc]

Probably just his agent trying to boost his stock.

[Goldbum]

I hope we can trade two of our 2nd rounders for a late first. I'd really love to get Reggie Bullock. Also Shane Larkin.

Agree that I want to trade a couple2nds for a late 1st. However Barton > Bullock and Maynor > Larkin. I would LOVE to pick up whatever Center prospect falls though.

PS my posts are FULL of crappy errors... been hitting the Vodka and posting from my VITA... awfull combo.

[fishnc]

I hope we can trade two of our 2nd rounders for a late first. I'd really love to get Reggie Bullock. Also Shane Larkin.

Agree that I want to trade a couple2nds for a late 1st. However Barton > Bullock and Maynor > Larkin. I would LOVE to pick up whatever Center prospect falls though.

I'd much rather have Bullock than Barton. Bullock is a great three point shooter and defender. He's also 6'7 and not built like a twig. He's going to be a great roleplayer. Barton is not great at anything, and he's a defensive liability.

[Sabzi]

Wow wize. Great use of advanced stats. I must say im surprised buy youre findings and feel like maybe i havent appreciated We$ enough.

You also have to account for Matthews low USG% of 19 which puts him 82nd among players who logged at least 2000 minutes. He's not close to a Top 40 talent.

[DeBlazerRiddem]

I have been on the Bullock train for a while, but he keeps moving up in the mock drafts!!


Yeah, I would take Bullock over Barton. I think Bullock has a clear NBA skill-set; Barton has kind of a quirky skill-set that he hasn't been able to parlay into much success.

[DeBlazerRiddem]

I don't think there is a single player in this draft that is a certain All-Star or that couldn't be a bust. Zeller is no exception. But his risk perceived risk was size and athleticism, and I think the combine proved that isn't an issue.

One thing you have to wonder is, if he has great athleticism, why were his perceived weaknesses about his ability to overcome length/athleticism?

Will people be surprised if he gets the same knocks in the NBA that he got in college because of how good his combine was?

[Norm2953]

Blazer drafts have stressed size and length and I would not be surprised if Adams gets
some consideration but the pre-draft workouts will probably begin in June after the
official draft order is determined. If the draft were up to me, I'd pick the BPA and
not worry about position for the cost to move up for Oladipo will likely be Wesley
Matthews which is a no for me.

[Blazinaway]

Blazer drafts have stressed size and length and I would not be surprised if Adams gets
some consideration but the pre-draft workouts will probably begin in June after the
official draft order is determined. If the draft were up to me, I'd pick the BPA and
not worry about position for the cost to move up for Oladipo will likely be Wesley
Matthews which is a no for me.

Yep, and Wiz did an excellent job on the Wes post amd Olapido weaknesses, Ithink giving up anything significant is this draft to move up is crazy, why? cause frankly the 8th, 10th or 13th pick could easily end up being a better player than #3 or 4 - E A S I L Y, it is that nuts of a draft this yr

[GreenRiddler]

So if you have Zeller, Bazz, and CJ on the board still when ten comes up, who do you pick? I'm completely torn.
Zeller could've gone #1 in last years deep draft, and now he might be there at ten, so by that logic wouldn't you have to take him? Same goes for Bazz, as he was the favorite for the first this year for a few years. CJ could be this years Damian Lillard, and would be a great fit offensively next to him.

Adams

[GreenRiddler]

How much of that time does Wes turnover the ball though? He is clearly not worth trading Wes for and Wes did get better or back to normal in many aspects of his game. We just need a shot creator off the bench.

I look at Lance Stephenson/Tony allen and Oladipo and I see the similar players IMO. I'd rather have Wes then both those guys

[DeBlazerRiddem]

frankly the 8th, 10th or 13th pick could easily end up being a better player than #3 or 4 - E A S I L Y, it is that nuts of a draft this yr

I don't really agree.

I think there is a clear top tier: Noel, McLemore, Porter, Burke. They will probably be the best from their draft at their respective positions.

Then there is a secondary tier, all of which are likely to be good solid players: Bennett, Oladipo, Zeller, and McCollum.

Then there is a somewhat risky tier: Shabazz, Gobert, Len, Adams, MCW, KCP, Schroeder

Then a "potential to be role player" tier: Olynyk, Plumlee, Dieng, Goodwin, Withey, Franklin, Michell, Rice, Crabbe, Bullock

[No-Man]

Goodwin is the risky tier, he wouldnt be a role player, he's or a star or a bust.

Bazz belongs in the secondary tier, no doubt.

I'll go like...

tier1
Burke

tier 2
Noel, McLemore, Muhammad, Porter, Bennett

tier 3
Oladipo, Zeller, McCollum, Len

tier 4

Adams, MCW, KCP, Schröeder, Saric, Goodwin, Adetokoubo, Mitchell

tier 5

role players+back-ups for life

[Blazinaway]

frankly the 8th, 10th or 13th pick could easily end up being a better player than #3 or 4 - E A S I L Y, it is that nuts of a draft this yr

I don't really agree.

I think there is a clear top tier: Noel, McLemore, Porter, Burke. They will probably be the best from their draft at their respective positions.

Then there is a secondary tier, all of which are likely to be good solid players: Bennett, Oladipo, Zeller, and McCollum.

Then there is a somewhat risky tier: Shabazz, Gobert, Len, Adams, MCW, KCP, Schroeder

Then a "potential to be role player" tier: Olynyk, Plumlee, Dieng, Goodwin, Withey, Franklin, Michell, Rice, Crabbe, Bullock

it's cool, you got your opinion I got mine, in this draft IMO the differences in "tiers" is miniscule compared to most

[No-Man]

frankly the 8th, 10th or 13th pick could easily end up being a better player than #3 or 4 - E A S I L Y, it is that nuts of a draft this yr

I don't really agree.

I think there is a clear top tier: Noel, McLemore, Porter, Burke. They will probably be the best from their draft at their respective positions.

Then there is a secondary tier, all of which are likely to be good solid players: Bennett, Oladipo, Zeller, and McCollum.

Then there is a somewhat risky tier: Shabazz, Gobert, Len, Adams, MCW, KCP, Schroeder

Then a "potential to be role player" tier: Olynyk, Plumlee, Dieng, Goodwin, Withey, Franklin, Michell, Rice, Crabbe, Bullock

it's cool, you got your opinion I got mine, in this draft IMO the differences in "tiers" is miniscule compared to most

It's actually the other way around.

The difference are huge, the guys on the top tier are probably average, and in a regular draft only Burke and McLemore would be worthy of a top5 pick, but the difference between them and the others is huge.

The top8-9 prospects are clear, and the other guys are just full of doubts, the draft is going to be really shallow, probably no more than 15 NBA players in the long term would come out of this class.

High bust %

[PTPaQ]

After a little more research into this draft class, I really like Dennis Schroeder, Dieng, Zeller, or Shabazz at pick 10. Schroeder looks like a star to me and would have no problems fitting into lineups, Dieng is an all-out, high IQ defensive big, Zeller would be major firepower off the bench and potentially a long term starting big.

[Wizenheimer]

did you know that Wesley Matthews averaged 0.92 points/possession in isolation. That actually ranked 39th of all players in the NBA.

he also averaged 0.84 points/possession as a P&R ball-handler. That ranked 48th

he averaged 1.16 points/possession on spot-up. That ranked 42nd

and 0.94 points/possession on hand-offs. That ranked 38th

and 1.09 points/possession off screens. That was good enough to rank 16th.

Overall, he averaged 1.02 points/possession. That ranked 39th in the league and 1st on the Blazers.

he also only gave up 0.82 points/possession on defense. That ranked 88th in the league and he didn't have the advantage of a good interior defender backing him up like so many other perimeter players did. That average also, just like on offense, led the team

considering that Draft Express lists ball-handling as an Oladipo weakness, I'm not sure that believing there would be some big positive team differential derived from going from Matthews to Oladipo because of ball-handling is justified. Matthews is one of the more efficient players in the league, who also plays good defense and makes a lot of hustle and energy plays. This could end up being a don't-know-what-you've-got-till-it's-gone situation

I'm not saying Matthews is untouchable. Not close. But exchanging him for a player who hasn't touched an NBA floor is pretty risky, and that doesn't factor in team chemistry and leadership

Wow wize. Great use of advanced stats. I must say im surprised buy youre findings and feel like maybe i havent appreciated We$ enough.

don't get me wrong, Wesley has his weaknesses. However, he works on correcting them every off-season. For instance, maybe he's heard the knocks on himself for not being efficient when attacking the rim. Last season, his at-the-rim FG% was 49.5%. This season it was 60.8%. Also, his FG% in all 3 zones between the rim and the 3 point line have improved, in each of the last 3 seasons

Teams need high efficiency, low usage players.

Zach Lowe wrote a long but good article about the value of players like Matthews:

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/9225802/players-shane-battier-harder-find-conventional-wisdom-suggests

one of the dumber things I've seen said around here, and it's been said a lot, is that a player like Matthews is easy to replace. It's easy to find another SG, but there simply aren't many players like Matthews as that article points out.

[Clarity]

did you know that Wesley Matthews averaged 0.92 points/possession in isolation. That actually ranked 39th of all players in the NBA.

he also averaged 0.84 points/possession as a P&R ball-handler. That ranked 48th

he averaged 1.16 points/possession on spot-up. That ranked 42nd

and 0.94 points/possession on hand-offs. That ranked 38th

and 1.09 points/possession off screens. That was good enough to rank 16th.

Overall, he averaged 1.02 points/possession. That ranked 39th in the league and 1st on the Blazers.

he also only gave up 0.82 points/possession on defense. That ranked 88th in the league and he didn't have the advantage of a good interior defender backing him up like so many other perimeter players did. That average also, just like on offense, led the team

considering that Draft Express lists ball-handling as an Oladipo weakness, I'm not sure that believing there would be some big positive team differential derived from going from Matthews to Oladipo because of ball-handling is justified. Matthews is one of the more efficient players in the league, who also plays good defense and makes a lot of hustle and energy plays. This could end up being a don't-know-what-you've-got-till-it's-gone situation

I'm not saying Matthews is untouchable. Not close. But exchanging him for a player who hasn't touched an NBA floor is pretty risky, and that doesn't factor in team chemistry and leadership

Yeah Matthews pretty much gives you what Oladipo could give you minus the insane athleticism.

I'd stick with Matthews

[JD45]

Matthews would be the perfect player to add to the Roy/LMA/Oden dynasty. Unfortunately, the Blazers were 3 knees short of making that work.

Now the Blazers need more stars. Lillard and LMA are just not good enough to surround them with solid role players and be a very good team. It is possible, but unlikely Batum makes that jump. So that leaves getting another hit in the draft. Trading #10 and Matthews to move up for Oladipo is probably not going to make the Blazers better. If Oladipo's shooting is a mirage, it will make them worse. But if the shooting holds and the ball handling comes around, Oladipo could be an All-Star. Not likely, but possible. It at least gives the Blazers a chance. I probably wouldn't make that trade, but I understand the logic behind it.