Draft prospects @ 10

[Norm2953]

1) Noel
2) Oladipo
3 Porter
4) McLemore
5) Bennett
6) Burke
7) Len (if Cousins is dealt) or Williams
8) McCollum
9) Pope
10) Zeller or Adams

I think Saric is going 13 to Dallas and Schroeder 14 to Utah. Boston supposed has
promised Adams at 16 if Portland passes on him.

Why do you think Phoenix will take Bennett? They acquired both Morris twins last year, and seem pretty stocked at the 4 position for next season.

Also, what is so intriguing about Saric? Is his 37% shooting bothering no one else?

Bennett is a solid player but seems to a bit of a tweener. He's the BPA but Phoenix is hoping Oladipo falls
to them. They might pick Len at 5 but its really hard to pick a player in the top 5 who can't workout
for NBA coaching staffs. McCollum is a possibility for them at 5 but what would be interesting would be
Burke (Michigan) falling to the Pistons at 8.

[chocodog]

If all Wes could net is the 9 then he has more value playing for us than what the 9 could give us.

perhaps, but what if either the bobcats or suns would be willing to trade down for a package of #9 and #10 and the blazers were able to draft oladipo? if neither were willing then blazers don't trade wes. But if so, we'd have even more cap room to fill the bench and the backcourt would be locked down for the next decade.

[SinceClyde]

If the unlikely situation came up that the one guy we wanted number 1 overall fell, like olipado, then that might be worth it. I'm not sold on anyone in this draft being better than Matthews for years (as an overall player) And no guarantee of that even. But if olshey falls in love with a prospect then I hope they have the balls to go and get them.

I know it seems I rate Matthews high. I feel his work ethic and attitude are more what the blazers stand for than anyone else since.. Well it's been a while

[Case2012]

http://www.blazersedge.com/2013/5/30/43 ... cess-state

Transcript of Olshey's interview at the workout today. A lot of really good insight as to how the staff and himself approach the draft.

[Village Idiot]

I'm all for trading down in this draft if we can't trade up for Oladipo.

Let's say the Jazz, drafting 14th, want Schroeder, the PG from Germany. Both OKC at 12 and Dallas at 13 are supposedly interested in him. The Jazz also have the #21.

I would be pretty happy if we could trade the 10 and 39 for the 14 and 21. Guys I would target would be Dieng or Adams and Adetunkbo or Caldwell-Pope

[Joel Embust]

Adams won't be there at 14. If anything his stock is on the rise and he's already projected around 12.

Top 10 pick when it's said and done.

[DusterBuster]

I think people are too convinced this draft is basically set already. Drafts are always fluid in terms of where players end up, but this one more than ever is going to be next to impossible to mock out. Too many players with similar potential/risk levels.

With so many C's in this draft, I have to imagine a couple of them are going to pan out to be pretty solid starters in this league. It's just really tough to figure out who as they all have that potential label but also have a fairly significant bust factor. Steven Adams looks like a good player, but he seems like another Meyers Leonard in terms of his scouting report. Leonard also shot up draft boards around this time of the year last season. Seems like he could be a bit redundant, but maybe he'll be more physical inside than Leonard was.

I think I still like Len the most outside of Noel for a C. After Len, I don't really have a rooting interest in who they pick if they go for a C.

[jhern87]

I think people are too convinced this draft is basically set already. Drafts are always fluid in terms of where players end up, but this one more than ever is going to be next to impossible to mock out. Too many players with similar potential/risk levels.

I agree. I'm looking forward to the draft for the simple reason of seeing who Olshey takes. I really liked our draft last year and I'm curious to see if he can spot another guy or two that can play at this level. Knowing that his strategy is BPA I'd love to see what his big board looks like.

We should create a big board for the team to see if we take the guy we think is the BPA at our selection.

[DeBlazerRiddem]

I think people are too convinced this draft is basically set already. Drafts are always fluid in terms of where players end up, but this one more than ever is going to be next to impossible to mock out. Too many players with similar potential/risk levels.

Make that mock earlier I came to the conclusion that its hard to get a read on picks 7-20. Yeah some guys might be more likely to go in the early part of that group, and some guys are likely to go toward the end but there is a pretty big middle class with a lot of guys potentially going anywhere in there.

Maybe GM's have a better read on this draft.

[Blazinaway]

I think people are too convinced this draft is basically set already. Drafts are always fluid in terms of where players end up, but this one more than ever is going to be next to impossible to mock out. Too many players with similar potential/risk levels.

Make that mock earlier I came to the conclusion that its hard to get a read on picks 7-20. Yeah some guys might be more likely to go in the early part of that group, and some guys are likely to go toward the end but there is a pretty big middle class with a lot of guys potentially going anywhere in there.

Maybe GM's have a better read on this draft.

I think there is some good talent at 7-20 but who will actually turn into good players is always tough - maybe moreso in this draft. I actually would like to acquire another pick, that Dallas pick would be interesting if they are really serious about moving it.

[JD45]

Maybe a hint in Olshey transcript:

They come in here and they're more relative to the players we liked in high school, if they were a four in high school and a five in college in the interior, if they were a combo guard that played as a point or moved off the ball because of roster composition. Their job while in college is to help their college team win regardless of what it does to their NBA stock. Our job is to figure out what they're going to play at our level and how they're going to help our team.

Compare that to Chad Ford discussing Zeller's workout:

Zeller, for his part, claims that he has always had these skills. As a high school player, he regularly played on the perimeter and took 3s. He said he made three 3-pointers during one game his senior season. However, at Indiana, head coach Tom Crean wanted Zeller in the post and that's where he stayed. As a freshman he took just 27 percent of his shots outside the basket area. As a sophomore he upped it slightly to 34 percent.

Several scouts compare him to a young Chris Bosh. A few others to LaMarcus Aldridge. They are both interesting comparisons -- rail-thin college centers who made the transition to power forward in the pros.

Olynyk might fit that description as well, but he will be drafted a lot lower than #10. Muscala as well.

For the guard comments, maybe MCW?

[Jsun947]

http://youtu.be/i6GvcGy_27E

Feels like I already forgot how good Lillard is. I'll be pretty excited by just about anyone we draft. I really hope we just don't F up free agency.

[Jsun947]

Maybe a hint in Olshey transcript:

They come in here and they're more relative to the players we liked in high school, if they were a four in high school and a five in college in the interior, if they were a combo guard that played as a point or moved off the ball because of roster composition. Their job while in college is to help their college team win regardless of what it does to their NBA stock. Our job is to figure out what they're going to play at our level and how they're going to help our team.

Compare that to Chad Ford discussing Zeller's workout:

Zeller, for his part, claims that he has always had these skills. As a high school player, he regularly played on the perimeter and took 3s. He said he made three 3-pointers during one game his senior season. However, at Indiana, head coach Tom Crean wanted Zeller in the post and that's where he stayed. As a freshman he took just 27 percent of his shots outside the basket area. As a sophomore he upped it slightly to 34 percent.

Several scouts compare him to a young Chris Bosh. A few others to LaMarcus Aldridge. They are both interesting comparisons -- rail-thin college centers who made the transition to power forward in the pros.

Olynyk might fit that description as well, but he will be drafted a lot lower than #10. Muscala as well.

For the guard comments, maybe MCW?

Those are about the only three too guys I really really really don't like. I don't think MCW will make it in the NBA at all and I don't think Zeller or Olynk will be any better than a average reserve. Just watching them play leaves me super unimpressed about translating to the NBA

[jhern87]

I feel like Muscala would be a steal in the 2nd round. Great size and skill set. Bullock is another guy that could likely come in and compete for minutes immediately. A lot of talent in the late first.

[JD45]

Those are about the only three too guys I really really really don't like. I don't think MCW will make it in the NBA at all and I don't think Zeller or Olynk will be any better than a average reserve. Just watching them play leaves me super unimpressed about translating to the NBA

Looking at the DraftExpress stats pages for LA and Zeller is very interesting. Both played 2 years of college. Zeller has better stats per 40 minutes almost across the board. More points, rebounds and foul shots. LA blocked more shots. LA has a bigger wingspan and 4 inch higher standing reach. Zeller is better everywhere else. (leaping, bench press, agility and sprint). And reports from workouts are that Zeller can shoot the NBA 3 pretty well.

I don't think Zeller fills a need for the Blazers. But I think he is the best case scenario for the greatest talent available at #10.

[Jsun947]

Zeller struggles to score against bigger physical defenders and when that happens he's seemingly non existent in the game.

Aldridge has always had an unstoppable shot.

[Jsun947]

Zeller struggles to score against bigger physical defenders and when that happens he's seemingly non existent in the game.

Aldridge has always had an unstoppable shot.

[whatchaknow]

I feel like Muscala would be a steal in the 2nd round. Great size and skill set. Bullock is another guy that could likely come in and compete for minutes immediately. A lot of talent in the late first.

I agree he is extremely skilled. Can shoot, can go over his right or left shoulder, can face up and put the ball on the floor and he also has enough length and athleticism to contest at the rim. Maybe not a great rebounder but hes got a lot of skills for a 2nd rounder. Im not huge on Bullock but in the 2nd he could be a good get, i would rather take a chance on Goodwin personally.

I really think there is a good chance for Muhammad, Len or Zeller to be there at 10 and either one would be a solid get there. Though im not huge on Zeller he would be good value.

Zeller struggles to score against bigger physical defenders and when that happens he's seemingly non existent in the game.

Aldridge has always had an unstoppable shot.

I agree with this to an extent. Though in the NBA there is more spacing and he will be able to use his speed and quickness a lot more than he did in college. Also His mobility is gonna be nice when defending and setting the pick and roll/pop. I think he can play at the very least a Tiago Splitter role and thats at the absolute floor imo.

[Goldbum]

So I just spent a ton of time watching Gobert Videos. One thing that surprised me was his touch around the rim. I had always assumed his galactic high FG% was from dunking everything... that's part of it but his touch on put.backs and drop offs is impressive. Again not saying I would take him over some of the other guys but there may be more to him than I originally thought.

[Jsun947]

Except Zeller isn't as strong or as good of a defender or rebounder that Splitter was. He may be a poor Nan's splitter with better offense. It just feels like his ceiling is so low.