Wouldn't mind seeing the Blazers grab Thon Maker, and also: Damian Jones is intriguing - 7' with 7' 3.75" wingspan & 36 " vert. http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Damian-Jones-7211/ Probably will go late first though. (We'd could always use some extra Dame time on our team. Dame Time Deux)
Player development is a core belief shared by both Stotts and Olshey. Shuffling pieces just to do it is not. Most teams don't give up on players (especially 19 year olds) after one year and I doubt they would do it with Alexander unless they believe he is truly hopeless. Yeah he wasn't good enough this year, most 19 year olds aren't in their rookie year.
I hear what you're saying, but if Neil thought the chance of Maker becoming a rotation player was higher than the chance of Alexander becoming a rotation player - or even just thought he had a higher ceiling - he'd absolutely cut Alexander and "start over" with Maker. That's an easy decision to make with the last roster spot.
I am really liking Pascal Siakam http://www.draftexpress.com/article...BA-Pre-Draft-Workout-and-Interview-Video-5495 And I also really like MATHIAS LESSORT
Reminds me of this high-flying lefty: I know you can make a highlight video that makes anyone look good, but that's a lot of highlights for a guy that only played 149 minutes in a Blazer uniform. I had such high hopes for him. It's too bad his career was derailed by so many injuries, first the surgeries on both knees before he even played his first NBA game, and then the shoulder injuries. I only met him once, but he seemed like a good dude. He's had some success in Europe and at the D-league level, but has barely gotten his toes wet in the NBA over the last two seasons. BNM
I know he came before Will but I thought Elliot was going to be better than Will Barton. Might have if he didn't have the injury issues. I guess that is a testimate to Will as well though because he has turned himself into a very good player.
He's been a D league superstar the last two years, which leads to an NBA contract, he plays a few minutes then gets glued to the bench. Kind of makes me wonder if his game, at this point, just doesn't translate well to the NBA. He dominates lesser competition, but then looks pretty meh against NBA talent. His best stretch in the NBA, by far, were those 149 minutes in 24 games he played his one year in POR. He just hasn't been anywhere near that effective against NBA competition since the shoulder injuries. Still, if he's willing to be a non-guaranteed summer league or training camp invitee, why not give him a chance? BNM
Cameron Ridley. He's got insane per-40-pace-adjusted numbers, especially blocks. He could be a taller, perhaps smarter Cliff Alexander. Or, if you want someone more athletic, how about his teammate Prince Ibeh? Check out his best game, vs. Alexander's alma mater.
What are your thoughts on Bender? Is he on Zingis' level? What did you think of Zingis last year before the draft -- Neil was the first GM to interview him in Vegas. That has to mean something about Neil's scouting skills.
I'm honestly not the best person to ask. I was EXTREMELY skeptical of Porzingis last year and turned out to be all wrong. It's much harder to tell with Bender because he's been given comparatively few minutes on his Israeli team. Ideally he's a combination of Toni Kukoc and Andrei Kirilenko. More likely he's a taller Chandler Parsons, which isn't bad, but isn't the other thing.
Rade or Zipser if you want solid role players who can step in relatively quickly: 1-2 years Georgios Papagiannis is the swing for the fences pick.
What a killjoy list! It looks like we shouldn't draft a 2nd rounder, but pick up one drafted by another team a couple of years earlier...
Only scouts who have seen him in person have a grasp on what kind of player he could be as he barely played this season: 9 mpg | 6-26 total fg | 23 fg% The skillset is there though. From what scouts have said (via Chad Ford, DX, etc.) Bender isn't as explosive as KP and doesn't have the freakish length - 7'2" vs. 7'6" wingspan. One thing is clear though, Bender is a llllllong term project.
Ibeh's 9'5" reach combined with his 32.5" no-step vert is something that you rarely see. Elite in both categories. Actually better than a healthy Oden. "No feel" is what Ive read quite a bit on him. Which is why many expect him to go mid/late second round.
