2021 Draft Thread

[DeBlazerRiddem]

Can someone explain the hype around Cade? I just don't see it. I believe he'll be a solid NBA player, but EM seems like suuuuch a better prospect to me.

I am there. I think Mobley is a clear cut above the rest in this draft.

I have it Mobley, Suggs, Green, Cade.

I just dont see it with Cade. He profiles a bit like post injury Grant Hill, but with better shooting. Going to be smart, efficient shooting good player but I see #3 option at best on a good team. And I dont think his defense will be game changing.

Mobley is going to a unicorn on defense, think AD / Myles Turner. He has elite passing vision and can handle the ball well. He can attack, shoot (Albeit he needs work, but its very workable) and gets putbacks. I think he can be a 3 level scorer and a 3 level defender in this league, which is just very unusual for a 7 footer.

Big Neemias Queta guy too. Think he is a guaranteed above average backup C, but not switchy enough to be someone you want starting if you dont need to.

I'm getting there on Mobley too, he looks like the best two-way player in the draft by a clear lead.

Cade is just such a safe low-risk / high-reward pick that I understand him being projected #1 but a GM with balls might very well go Mobley. Honestly any of the top 4 picks in this draft look quite good.

[BlazersBroncos]

I keep coming back to Wieskamp if we find a way to get a R2 pick. I think he can be SF Pat Connaughton with a more consistent 3PT shot. He is just so underrated IMO. The guy has clear NBA level athleticism, not elite but good enough. He makes some really acrobatic plays, did not expect him to move like this when I began to scout him.

[JasonStern]

Shoot my shot pre-draft:

Most likely no moves, followed with some annoying Olshey presser like "Look, it takes two teams to make a trade. And we're not going to make a move just to make a move." and "I'm not going to answer that" regarding anything Dame/Powell/trade related.

If the Blazers do anything, #49 from Brooklyn for cash considerations. Draft some Joe Wieskamp style prospect to fill a roster spot on the cheap.

Just noticed BlazersBroncos also threw out Joe Wieskamp. Looks like he's as good or bad of a talent evaluator as me.

[red_power]

If the Blazers do anything, #49 from Brooklyn for cash considerations. Draft some Joe Wieskamp style prospect to fill a roster spot on the cheap.

How dare are you to even assume that Olshey won't select another undersized combo guard with a late draft pick?

[DeBlazerRiddem]

My quick draft day take on second round action

High risk/reward

JT Thor: Athletic and very mobile big who blocks a ton of shots and has a developing 3 pointer. (My money is someone takes him first round, recent reports are that he has done a ton of work to improve his outside shooting and looks like he could be a Myles Turner type big.)

Vrenz Bleijenbergh: 6'11 player who can handle/pass and create his own shot (similar prospect to Pokusevski except older so less potential)

Greg Brown: Huge athletic potential but seems like he doesn't have a great BBIQ but man if he can figure it out he reminds me a bit physically of Patrick Williams last year.


Low risk/reward second rounders:

Neemias Queta: Good defensive bench center, not super mobile but long and strong. Not a shooting threat but got his FT% respectable and is a good passer for a defensive minded center.

Joe Wieskamp: Well rounded junior, defense is a question mark but good feel for the game and maybe the best shooter in the second round

Herb Jones: Good defensive forward, older knows his role, can knock down shots but wont be a reliable 3 point threat.

Isaiah Livers: A little bit like Kyle Anderson in that he lacks great speed but makes up for it with good anticipation and BBIQ and should be a decent shooter

Charles Basssey: Productive garbage man / rebounding type big, developed his shot a little bit but will likely have a limited role on offense, the best quality IMO is that he has the foot speed to maybe switch and defend smaller players

[Norm2953]

How I miss the old KP days where draft day was a day of excitement. This board seems dead for we're
discussing buying a second round pick and there has been no word if Portland has seen any action at
the practice facility or if Portland has worked anyone out or even interviewed any potential draftees.

It would however be a successful off season if Jody Allen simply fired NO. Makes you wonder if PA were
still alive, if NO would be gone already.

[sobiased]

i wonder if we get involved in the 1st round

[GEE]

Alright folks, here we go... or should I say they go. Pistons on the clock and we haven't moved into the draft. Not a good sign IMO. I'm going to watch and hope to see that Blazer WOJ Bomb, that likely ain't coming. Olshey with the rinse and repeat with players, trading for nothing special, and believing Chauncey will fix everything... I fear we're screwed.

[Norm2953]

Lakers seem to be making moves to add to Lebron +AD. Total silence from Portland

[GEE]

...and for what it's worth, I miss KP too.

[sobiased]

i miss KP also

Lakers aggressive, i hope blazers get aggressive.

[PDXKnight]

Alright folks, here we go... or should I say they go. Pistons on the clock and we haven't moved into the draft. Not a good sign IMO. I'm going to watch and hope to see that Blazer WOJ Bomb, that likely ain't coming. Olshey with the rinse and repeat with players, trading for nothing special, and believing Chauncey will fix everything... I fear we're screwed.

i think chauncey will be an easy fire if things go wrong due to the “allegations” if he doesn’t perform extra well. But my big hope is that same axe falls on olshey too

[PDXKnight]

Lakers seem to be making moves to add to Lebron +AD. Total silence from Portland

Russ isn’t a great addition, big name but he’s not gonna help them win any more games in the playoffs imo

[JasonStern]

Lakers seem to be making moves to add to Lebron +AD. Total silence from Portland

Look, not winning when starting three players 6'3" or shorter wasn't a roster construction problem - it was a coaching problem.

[Norm2953]

Lakers seem to be making moves to add to Lebron +AD. Total silence from Portland

Russ isn’t a great addition, big name but he’s not gonna help them win any more games in the playoffs imo

Russ as the third option in LA with Lebron and AD should do fine. Curious the Lakers seem to be able to make
moves while Portland can't despite Dame asking them to make moves to get better

[JasonStern]

Curious the Lakers seem to be able to make moves while Portland can't despite Dame asking them to make moves to get better

Sometimes the best move you can make is not making a move. Not in Portland's case, but sometimes.

[JasonStern]

If the Blazers do anything, #49 from Brooklyn for cash considerations. Draft some Joe Wieskamp style prospect to fill a roster spot on the cheap.

How dare are you to even assume that Olshey won't select another undersized combo guard with a late draft pick?

How quickly you have forgotten about Leonard, Collins, Swanigan, etc.

(re-reads it, notices "late" draft pick)

Actually, Trent and Crabbe weren't undersized. Layman and Connaughton were solid picks given their draft position. Damn it. Don't make me defend Olshey.

Imagine having one skill when it comes to the draft - identifying decent value in late picks. Then you decide to trade those late picks for Thomas Robinson, twenty-something games of Trevor Ariza, etc., etc.

[PDXKnight]

Curious the Lakers seem to be able to make moves while Portland can't despite Dame asking them to make moves to get better

Sometimes the best move you can make is not making a move. Not in Portland's case, but sometimes.

theres lots of small guards and unfortunately portland has way too many

[JasonStern]

And Duarte (deservingly) didn't fall far enough for Portland to make a move.

Will check back periodically, but like most Blazers fans, don't expect much interest in the draft from me.

But good for Chris! Might not be the highest potential player in the draft, but when the mocks had him in the 20s, anyone that watched his college career knew he was better than that. NBA ready player. Big problem is that Indiana is stacked at the 2/3 so playing time is going to be hard to get. Otherwise, he'd be a lock for making the rookie/sophomore team.

[Myth]

How I miss the old KP days where draft day was a day of excitement. This board seems dead for we're
discussing buying a second round pick and there has been no word if Portland has seen any action at
the practice facility or if Portland has worked anyone out or even interviewed any potential draftees.

It would however be a successful off season if Jody Allen simply fired NO. Makes you wonder if PA were
still alive, if NO would be gone already.

Paul Allen himself would have made it fun. He loved draft Day as much as us fans.