Merged: The Draft Thread For Stuff About The Draft Including Thoughts About The Draft

You make a valid point. But I would counter that Mitchell is a much better defender than Dame and CJ. His wingspan is huuggge 6’ 10”. And they would make a great three guard lineup, with Mitchell coming off of the bench.

Plus Mitchell would make Crabbe, and his contract, expendable. Making it easier to re-sign Nurkic and Vonley.

 

I completely get what you are saying. I just don't want to use my 1st Draft pick on the area of biggest strength for a bench player. This team has so many other bigger needs.

 

I like Mitchell too but ....Ford said recently that teams in the lotto are "targeting" him.

 

trading down to target? or picking him in?

 

I think it's becoming more likely that Collins is there at #15 than Mitchell, but both are long shots.

I'd be fine with Mitchell at #15, but I'm firmly set about using that pick to move up for Isaac/Collins or trading it (to move down or for a piece). The only other guy I'd consider at #15 is Dozier and you don't have to take him there...although I'm worried about Utah taking him at #24 if F. Jackson is gone, making him more of a #20 target for me.

And honestly, I think that's where you should take him. I think there will be a big we like left at #26--there's just too many of them for it not to happen. The same can't be said for wings.

 

I bet Kadeem Allen doesn't get drafted. Would be a good guy to pick up as an undrafted free agent.

 

He is projected to go 12th. Very sturdy at 6'1" and 211 lbs (and the huge wing and hops)
I like his game and I am all for taking BPA, but that is a tough one. Yes he would give us defensive energy at combo guard off the bench but I would list that need to be around 4th on the priority list. Still I wouldn't be pissed it it happened.

 

"Beyond Fox, who is now a real threat to go top 3-5, Donovan Mitchell has probably improved his stock the most. Likely a mid-lottery pick now"

 

Wow. Source?

 

I have seen Donovan Mitchell as high as 9. People think he won't get past Detroit at 12.

 

no doubt and I have suggested for weeks we focus on bigs, however just reporting on the draft as I see it and if you think a guy is "easily" BPA and clearly a tier or half tier above what's available you may have to take him

 

Sam Forencich/Getty Images

If there is a team outside the lottery fixing for a draft-day shakeup, it's the Portland Trail Blazers.

General manager Neil Olshey has more picks than roster spots. Retain all three (Nos. 15, 20 and 26), and the Blazers could have as many as 18 players on the roster before July. That number drops to 17 once Festus Ezeli gets waived, and it can dip to 15 if they also ditch the non-guaranteed contracts of Pat Connaughton and Tim Quarterman.

This is still a touchy spot to be in regardless of what the Blazers do with their non-guaranteed commitments. They're projected to blow past next season's luxury tax before adding any money to the payroll. These draft picks will cost them way more than their actual rookie-scale salaries.

Trimming expenses has to be a priority. Even if the Blazers believe in this nucleus, they barely scrapped together a playoff berth. A 41-win unit shouldn't thrust you into the luxury tax.

Trading up is fine if they're looking to crack the lottery. (Do the Charlotte Hornets deal No. 11 for No. 15 and No. 26?) Otherwise, the Blazers should be trying to pawn off more unsavory deals—namely those of Meyers Leonard (three years, $31.8 million) and Evan Turner (three years, $53.6 million).

Does offering No. 15 to the Kings get them to absorb Turner? Are the Blazers willing to include two firsts to make it happen? And if they're shipping out Turner, might they be open to bringing in Pau Gasol as part of some three-team trade that helps the San Antonio Spurs clear space? Does the dumping ground they're sending first-rounders to all of a sudden have enough juice to trade up?

The Blazers have a lot to figure out over the summer, and there's a better-than-good chance they look noticeably different next season—tinkering that could begin, in a big way, on or before draft night.

 

Odd he didn't mention Crabbe. He has the most bloated contract on our current roster and is probably movable to a team that desperately needs outside shooting (and is, preferably under the cap - like MIN or PHI).

He also ignores the fact that our nucleus now includes Jusuf Nurkic. We may have only gone 41-41 for the season, but were 14-6 with Nurkic (27-35 without him). A young nucleus that is capable of winning .700 of their games is more worthy of dipping into luxury tax territory than one that goes .500.

BNM

 

Bleacher Report, lol.

 

I thought Fansided was the new lol.

BNM

 

Including two first round picks just to get rid of Turner?! If any of you want absolute proof that league insiders look at us as a peon franchise.... look at this shit. We have a friggin billionaire as an owner!

 

I hate this but.....

We all said this last year after Harkless and Aminu got the starting forward jobs. "We can win 50+ next year we got it figured out! Second round! Gave GS a run for their money!... "

howd that all turn out? not great...

Even with nurk the best bet is pessimistic. Remember this is a team that will still be in the bottom 18-20 in defense and almost completely (down from completely and absolutely) reliant on Dame and/or CJ going crazy for us to win. Not gunna get us past the first round. ET, AC, Moe, Lenoard, Davis, Aminu could all be traded this off season that's like 60-70% of the rotation. Tell me this is anyone really disappointed to see any of those guys go? And what 50 win team has 70% of their rotation on the chopping block? This team will not continue at the pace they ended the year at I think we all need to get our heads around that. The nurk trade was great and all but it aint all roses in rip city, this team has major flaws. We just dont know if they go down to the foundation or not. Paying LT for THIS TEAM is an irresponsible thing to do imo. Screams of an exec getting too attached to mediocre players rather than being shrewd enough to build a contender.

 

That ET, AC, Moe, Aminu, Davis and Leonard are so much of the rotation does not speak well for Mr. Olshey.

 

I agree we need some major changes, either in the form of another star player (like Paul George), or multiple 2-way players at the forward positions (either through the draft or via trades).

But, I think the addition of Nurk gets us one significant step closer. He's a third piece, that makes us better on both ends of the floor, and we needed that a LOT. You need to walk before you can run, and with Nurk at least we are walking upright. Now we need to find that 4th piece and then the 5th piece. Vonleh has potential, but right now I don't really consider any of our forwards worthy of starting for a contending team.

Unless we see further upgrades, I see our eventual peak as a 4th or 5th seed with 50 - 54 wins. To get to contender status we need more than organic growth of our existing pieces. Neil has assets, most importantly 3 first round picks in a very deep draft. He needs another home run (Paul George) or at least a pair of ground rule doubles (two starting quality forwards).

BNM

 

I see ridiculous ideas about offering one or even two picks to get rid of a player are back.

It's not going to happen. Rookies don't make much and by the time they do, we will not have Turner or Crabbe's contracts anyway. Getting rid of Turner will not allow us to go after any free agent anyway so as a result, we will not have Turner (who is actually a decent player) and also have no rookies (who could become decent) but we'd have an empty rotation spot. Amazing piece of business.