2022 draft/prospects thread

[Norm2953]

ESPN's post mock draft is out and they have Portland taking Jalen Duren at 7.

I'd be okay with that pick for he's going to be a good player (eventually). Youngest player in this draft
and is a traditional back to the basket type of center. Should be a good fit for when Portland eventually
accepts reality and begins to build around Simons.

[Case2012]

Some y'all need to stop living vicariously through sports, it really shows during the more disappointing moments.

Sorry, my life sucks and I needed this.

[Norm2953]

We can always hope the team tanks for the 2023 draft in the hopes of drafting Victor....

[BlazersBroncos]

My god people need to calm down. We should have expected 6, we ended up 7. Given that there are always risers this doesnt put us anywhere different than what our expected outcome should have been.

Also, wake me up when CJ was worth more than Hart and a late 1st. We would have almost certainly been fine with that return, it was seeing the chance at a MUCH better pick than anyone expected for CJ and losing that chance that has people up in arms with unrealistic expectations. Cronin gambled, a good gamble, but it didnt work out. I will take a MIL 25 FRP over a pick in this draft below #18 or so, who the hell knows where MIL is in 2025 - that pick is only Top-4 protected. (Lets remember Jrue will be 33, Kris 32 and Brook 35 heading into that 24/25 season - and with Giannis already bringing that city a ring he may be more likely to request out when MIL declines)

The LAC trade was bad, we should have ended up with a Top-20 protected FRP or BBJ.

Beer and weed are still legal, the sun still rises, Ukraine is still kicking ass, women still exist. All the truly important things are still out there. Namaste.

[DusterBuster]

ESPN's post mock draft is out and they have Portland taking Jalen Duren at 7.

I'd be okay with that pick for he's going to be a good player (eventually). Youngest player in this draft
and is a traditional back to the basket type of center. Should be a good fit for when Portland eventually
accepts reality and begins to build around Simons.

If the Blazers keep the pick, Duren is my pick too. No one else on the board after 4 makes sense but him in the top 10

[Norm2953]

I think Duren's stock around the league will rise as the draft evaluation process begins in earnest.

Unless AJ Griffin really wows them in the workouts, drafting guys like Mathurin make little sense
for there is no room for him at SG.

[Sinobas]

I like Jalen Duren. Maybe we could bring Rasheed Wallace from Memphis to coach him. If he just can develop a shot he could be a really good 4 or 5.

[Case2012]

ESPN's post mock draft is out and they have Portland taking Jalen Duren at 7.

I'd be okay with that pick for he's going to be a good player (eventually). Youngest player in this draft
and is a traditional back to the basket type of center. Should be a good fit for when Portland eventually
accepts reality and begins to build around Simons.

If the Blazers keep the pick, Duren is my pick too. No one else on the board after 4 makes sense but him in the top 10

Mathurin is a stud. 2 way player that can create, had decent size and length, a motor that doesn't end and a nice looking shot. If we miss on Murray, then Mathurin. Duren is an old school center and an athletic freak but he's not gonna be useful until he's up for an extension given his age. Could be wrong, i do like him. I just don't think he fits our window.

[Jsun947]

Based on us clearly wanting to trade for Grant, and that the NO pick was likely around 14th before we lost it, my money is on us trading down from 7th to 13 & 15 with Charlotte.

Of all the players in that range Ochai Agbaji is the most NBA ready and with a clear skill set that will translate to the NBA. He’s older which is why he’s down on draft boards but we have a good record there between Lillard & CJ. He also has a 6’10 wingspan and is excellent off ball which makes him a great fit on our roster.

[Norm2953]

ESPN's post mock draft is out and they have Portland taking Jalen Duren at 7.

I'd be okay with that pick for he's going to be a good player (eventually). Youngest player in this draft
and is a traditional back to the basket type of center. Should be a good fit for when Portland eventually
accepts reality and begins to build around Simons.

If the Blazers keep the pick, Duren is my pick too. No one else on the board after 4 makes sense but him in the top 10

Mathurin is a stud. 2 way player that can create, had decent size and length, a motor that doesn't end and a nice looking shot. If we miss on Murray, then Mathurin. Duren is an old school center and an athletic freak but he's not gonna be useful until he's up for an extension given his age. Could be wrong, i do like him. I just don't think he fits our window.

I see the draft comparison of Duren is Bam Adebayo but he's as green as grass and will need a lot of patient coaching
for he really should be a college freshman. Duren should test out athletically much like Bam did in 2017 when he
worked out in Portland prior to the draft.

[Dame Lizard]

ESPN's post mock draft is out and they have Portland taking Jalen Duren at 7.

I'd be okay with that pick for he's going to be a good player (eventually). Youngest player in this draft
and is a traditional back to the basket type of center. Should be a good fit for when Portland eventually
accepts reality and begins to build around Simons.

If the Blazers keep the pick, Duren is my pick too. No one else on the board after 4 makes sense but him in the top 10

Mathurin is a stud. 2 way player that can create, had decent size and length, a motor that doesn't end and a nice looking shot. If we miss on Murray, then Mathurin. Duren is an old school center and an athletic freak but he's not gonna be useful until he's up for an extension given his age. Could be wrong, i do like him. I just don't think he fits our window.

Mathurin is my 7th pick personally.

I'd be happy enough with Duren too, but I'd rather try and grab an athletic rim protector with one of our centre round pick. I think we have a better chance to grab a 90% version of Duren with our higher second round pick, than we do a 90% version of Mathurin.

[Case2012]

Based on us clearly wanting to trade for Grant, and that the NO pick was likely around 14th before we lost it, my money is on us trading down from 7th to 13 & 15 with Charlotte.

Of all the players in that range Ochai Agbaji is the most NBA ready and with a clear skill set that will translate to the NBA. He’s older which is why he’s down on draft boards but we have a good record there between Lillard & CJ. He also has a 6’10 wingspan and is excellent off ball which makes him a great fit on our roster.

I also think we trade down, but I think we use those picks for established role players like Grant or Turner. Interesting you bring up Ochai though, he trains with Dame and he's spoken highly of him.

[DusterBuster]

ESPN's post mock draft is out and they have Portland taking Jalen Duren at 7.

I'd be okay with that pick for he's going to be a good player (eventually). Youngest player in this draft
and is a traditional back to the basket type of center. Should be a good fit for when Portland eventually
accepts reality and begins to build around Simons.

If the Blazers keep the pick, Duren is my pick too. No one else on the board after 4 makes sense but him in the top 10

Mathurin is a stud. 2 way player that can create, had decent size and length, a motor that doesn't end and a nice looking shot. If we miss on Murray, then Mathurin. Duren is an old school center and an athletic freak but he's not gonna be useful until he's up for an extension given his age. Could be wrong, i do like him. I just don't think he fits our window.

Sure maybe. I have no idea.

[Jsun947]

Based on us clearly wanting to trade for Grant, and that the NO pick was likely around 14th before we lost it, my money is on us trading down from 7th to 13 & 15 with Charlotte.

Of all the players in that range Ochai Agbaji is the most NBA ready and with a clear skill set that will translate to the NBA. He’s older which is why he’s down on draft boards but we have a good record there between Lillard & CJ. He also has a 6’10 wingspan and is excellent off ball which makes him a great fit on our roster.

I also think we trade down, but I think we use those picks for established role players like Grant or Turner. Interesting you bring up Ochai though, he trains with Dame and he's spoken highly of him.

Now that is interesting, where did you see that?

[BlazersBroncos]

Ochai certainly is one of the more NBA ready players in this class, but at 6'5.5 w/ shoes and a 6'10 wingspan he seems pretty position locked to SG. I could see that pick if we are content w/ using Hart at SF near full time (Something not ideal, but not nearly as un-ideal as Norm at SF IMO).

I am still all in on gambling for Gordon if we keep Dame.

PDX - Bledsoe, Winslow, TPE, #7 for Hayward, Grant, #15
CHA - Hayward, #13, #15 for Bledsoe, Winslow, #7
DET - Grant for TPE, #13

Draft Tari Eason #15, Gabriele Procida #36, Andrew Nembhard #58
Resign Drew Eubanks for Vet Min

G - Damian Lillard / Anfernee Simons / Andrew Nembhard
G - Anfernee Simons / Josh Hart / Keon Johnson
F - Gordon Hayward / Nas Little / Gabriele Procida
F - Jerami Grant / Tari Eason / Greg Brown
C - Jusuf Nurkic / Drew Eubanks / Trendon Watford

[Jsun947]

If Charlotte was interested in straight up salary dumping Hayward I’d take the gamble. I know they are going to have to pay Bridges, Oubre is under contract, and Cody Martin played really well for them and he’s a free agent but that still seems like a stretch.

[Blazinaway]

If Charlotte was interested in straight up salary dumping Hayward I’d take the gamble. I know they are going to have to pay Bridges, Oubre is under contract, and Cody Martin played really well for them and he’s a free agent but that still seems like a stretch.

Hayward? 30.5 mil next yr and near 32 mil the following - I don't think so

[Blazinaway]

Eason officially measured 6’8 in shoes with 7’2 wingspan, nice size and length

[Norm2953]

I see Mark Williams really turning heads after his NBA combine numbers came out for he’s 7-2 with a
9-9 standing reach, which are Gobert numbers.

[Blazinaway]

I see Mark Williams really turning heads after his NBA combine numbers came out for he’s 7-2 with a
9-9 standing reach, which are Gobert numbers.

and 7' 6 1/2" wingspan. guy is huge