2013 Draft Night Thread.

[The Sebastian Express]

Previous thread closed due to reading 100 page milestone; you can find the previous thread here.

New discussion to be continued in this thread.

[Shem]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QomUkx95loo[/youtube]

[zzaj]

Re: Gobert/Shawn Bradley comparison

If Gobert ends up like Bradley then you draft him as fast as you can. He has become the butt of jokes, but the reality is Bradley was a pretty damn good C in an era where there were A LOT of great Cs playing the NBA (Shaq, Robinson, Hakeem, Mourning, Arvydas, Divac, Mutumbo, etc...)

Bradley's career stats are 8/6 with 2.5 blocks per game. That is over a 16 year career, much of which was spent on an up tempo team in which he wasn't a great fit. Arguably, his best season he averaged 14.6/8.7/2.7. His block percentage is #1 in NBA history. Yes, he was inconsistent on offense, but he recorded plenty of pts/reb/blk triple doubles, including, a 13 blk game.

Again, he never lived up to the hype of being the #2 pick in the draft, but if you know you can get that kind of production at #10 in this draft--IMO you don't think twice.

Edit: this is worth a read, on this exact subject:
http://m.bleacherreport.com/articles/15 ... wn-bradley

[Jsun947]

I like Shabazz less and less every time he speaks and I see him play. He might end up being the worst team mate of all time.

http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-trian ... ing-report

Then you compare him to McCollum who's one of the most intelligent, well spoken, and hardest working prospects I can remember. I can't imagine us passing on this guy if he's available. If they liked Lillard they should love this kid.

http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-trian ... ing-report

[Downtown]

McCollum is still at the top of my list of BPA players I think could still be on the board at #10. I think Detroit might have some interest though. And if he displays some good pointguard skills for the Kings they might take him. But besides those two I think McCollum could fall to ten.

[Billy]

Well obviously a lot can happen between now and next Thursday around 5:00 PM, but sounds like Paul Allen is ready to make a pick--not make a trade out:

Paul Allen ‏@PaulGAllen 8h

In PDX this am for my last @pdxtrailblazers pre-draft workout, consensus is we should get a good player w/10th pick.
Retweeted by Chris Haynes

[Jsun947]

If we don't draft a center and don't trade for a center than it's going to be really difficult to get one in FA.

I can't imagine that's the plan...

[JD45]

Re: Gobert/Shawn Bradley comparison

If Gobert ends up like Bradley then you draft him as fast as you can. He has become the butt of jokes, but the reality is Bradley was a pretty damn good C in an era where there were A LOT of great Cs playing the NBA (Shaq, Robinson, Hakeem, Mourning, Arvydas, Divac, Mutumbo, etc...)

Bradley's career stats are 8/6 with 2.5 blocks per game. That is over a 16 year career, much of which was spent on an up tempo team in which he wasn't a great fit. Arguably, his best season he averaged 14.6/8.7/2.7. His block percentage is #1 in NBA history. Yes, he was inconsistent on offense, but he recorded plenty of pts/reb/blk triple doubles, including, a 13 blk game.

Again, he never lived up to the hype of being the #2 pick in the draft, but if you know you can get that kind of production at #10 in this draft--IMO you don't think twice.

Edit: this is worth a read, on this exact subject:
http://m.bleacherreport.com/articles/15 ... wn-bradley

I completely agree. I watched Shawn Bradley play in Dallas for years. He was never an All-Star, but he was productive. And that was after his knees has become a problem and really slowed him down. If NeO is serious about wanted a "rim protector" then a player like Shawn Bradley would be perfect. I am not saying Gobert is Shawn Bradely, but if he is, he would be a great pick at #10.

[Billy]

If we don't draft a center and don't trade for a center than it's going to be really difficult to get one in FA.

I can't imagine that's the plan...

I think at this point Portland would have plenty of decent opportunities to pick up a C in the draft. It would definitely be a bit surprising if they don't. If a better wing/guard/PF drops they should still be able to make a trade to get another pick and grab someone like Dieng.

[DusterBuster]

Well obviously a lot can happen between now and next Thursday around 5:00 PM, but sounds like Paul Allen is ready to make a pick--not make a trade out:

Paul Allen ‏@PaulGAllen 8h

In PDX this am for my last @pdxtrailblazers pre-draft workout, consensus is we should get a good player w/10th pick.
Retweeted by Chris Haynes

I have to imagine it's a really weak trade market out there with so many teams looking to deal. Probably is their best option to just use the pick and call it a day rather than make a deal where the Blazers get less then fair value.

Since this was PA's last time to a workout, does anyone have a consensus list of who he was there to watch/interview? That should give us a pretty good idea of who the Blazers are targeting. Here's who I can think of off the top of my head......

McCollum
Adams
Gobert
Zeller
KCP

Am I missing anyone?

I know Shabazz was scheduled for a workout, but I don't believe he ever came in. Some had speculated he got a promise from someone a few days ago since he had worked out for the Wolves, then the next day showed up at the Utah workout with a boot on his foot and a mysterious "ankle injury".

[Wizenheimer]

If we don't draft a center and don't trade for a center than it's going to be really difficult to get one in FA.

I can't imagine that's the plan...

well, the "plan" may not be as firm as you suppose

it may be that the plan, at least the one rumored to be the plan(s), were more along the line of intentions rather then plans

Olshey could have intended to use the 10th pick as leverage in a trade to get a C, but discovered there just wasn't a good enough value-out/value-in ratio to justify spending the pick

Maybe the Blazers have a little more hope for Leonard to develop then we do, and the idea of a couple of vet bigs on minimum contracts (O'Neal perhaps) seems more appealing now then it did 2 months ago.

Maybe Portland has been a little more impressed with the draft prospects then they anticipated.

It's been my hope that the Blazers wouldn't do anything that was long-term stupid just to patch short-term holes. That would include trying to plug in marginal players around Aldridge that would would just make Portland a lower echelon playoff team (at best) with little cap-flexibility moving forward.

I've been thinking for a while that Portland's best shot at having a good C may be to combine good scouting with a little patience. Maybe that 10th pick is Portland's best bet

and if the 10th is used for a player other then a C, it's entirely possible that adding a free agent C like Zaza Pachulia for 3-4 million a year makes more sense then adding a C like McGee or Jordan at 11 million a year

[DeBlazerRiddem]

McCollum
Adams
Gobert
Zeller
KCP

Looks like a good short list at 10.

[Case2012]

I know the 10th is the hot topic but I think there are some gems in the 2nd round.
My top second round choices are Iverson, Wolters, Snaer, Green, Carmichael and Canaan. All of those guys would be good role players off the bench.

Green is moving up and so is Wolters, but if Carmichael is on the board we have to grab him. I posted his dx scouting video on the last page of the other prospect thread. I highly recommend watching it. He would be the backup pf right away.

[DusterBuster]

McCollum
Adams
Gobert
Zeller
KCP

Looks like a good short list at 10.

I spun this off into it's own thread as a poll. I know we're probably reaching maximum overload with draft threads here, but I thought it would be interesting to get a discussion on the guys who Portland has seemed to keyed in on and see what way they fans are leaning. If I were to guess, I'd say McCollum and Adams are going to get the most love. Adams has a big following here and I know a lot of people are fans of CJ.

[Case2012]

Idk why Adams is getting so much love. He had zero touch, zero shot, and has poor defensive instincts.

[DusterBuster]

Idk why Adams is getting so much love. He had zero touch, zero shot, and has poor defensive instincts.

To be fair, that's not exactly true. Work is his shot is actually much better than he showed in college, and a lot of that was due to a thumb injury or something like that. I've also heard that his defensive instincts are solid. My only gripe with him is that he sounds too similar to Meyers Leonard for my liking. His scouting report read almost identical to Adams.

Of the two, I think I'd go for Gobert over Adams. You can't teach the kind of length he has.

[Goldbum]

I worry a lot about Adams instincts. I mean A LOT. I'm really scared he wont put it together and e will have a defensive player who doesn't understand, spacing, timing, rotations ect on an instinctual level.

[GreenRiddler]

McCollum is still at the top of my list of BPA players I think could still be on the board at #10. I think Detroit might have some interest though. And if he displays some good pointguard skills for the Kings they might take him. But besides those two I think McCollum could fall to ten.

PHX could take him at 5.

[GreenRiddler]

I know the 10th is the hot topic but I think there are some gems in the 2nd round.
My top second round choices are Iverson, Wolters, Snaer, Green, Carmichael and Canaan. All of those guys would be good role players off the bench.

Green is moving up and so is Wolters, but if Carmichael is on the board we have to grab him. I posted his dx scouting video on the last page of the other prospect thread. I highly recommend watching it. He would be the backup pf right away.

Southerland and BJ Young too. Also Pierre Jackson. Plus a 1st rounder is bound to fall ala Will Barton last year.

[GreenRiddler]

Idk why Adams is getting so much love. He had zero touch, zero shot, and has poor defensive instincts.

Your not looking hard enough.