With the #7 pick, the Portland Trail Blazers select....

I actually think the risk is low. Even if Sharpe or Daniels don't look so pretty from the get-go, they are 18 or 19 years old on a rookie deal. The next time a disgruntled star wants out, these guys are very valuable, even if there's a lack of production. If there isn't a great deal there, make the pick and let them play and see what you have. Go from there.

 

This is like anti-vaxxers watching Youtube videos and being sure the vaccine has a secret microchip tracking device. There are professional scouts who compare him to Anthony Edwards with a better jump shot. Heck, even Dame is already coming out and saying this dude has skills. He called it with Donovan Mitchell.

It's totally possible he doesn't reach his ceiling, like with anyone else, but he's arguably the most high ceiling guy in this draft. If he's there at 7, you take him and see what you have. Even if he's not great out the gate, he's a huge trade piece on a rookie deal should a disgruntled star become available.

 

Eh, draft picks are like cars, their value goes down once they leave the lot. For example, Ziaire Williams was a top 10 pick a year ago and didn't look so good in his rookie season. I highly doubt he'd be a valued piece in a trade for a star.

 

i actually like sharpe as a pick for us. Pretty much closing in on either Mathurin or Sharpe with #7.

I just don't see that comp. Schmitz said it as well. Edwards was an absolute monstrous two foot leaper. Unless Sharpe developed that in the last year in practices, I didn't see it in EYBL games.

and lol please don't compare me to anti-vaxxers-- i'll get triggered cuz i worked in big pharma for a decade and my education is all in science.

 

Ziaire was never the #1 prospect coming out of high school like Sharpe. Money says that Pistons would gladly take Ziaire and change for Grant because he's young, former lotto pick, and on a rookie deal. I have no concern about Sharpe's value post-draft should he not be a complete idiot and can show flashes.

 

I've actually been dead set against drafting another guard, but if a guy with his ceiling is there, you gotta take him and see what you have unless someone is offering you something really good that fits really well. Now, if the scouts think differently and think Sharpe is more Malik Monk, that's fine. Go with someone else. From what I hear, everyone is calling him the real deal. Hence why Damian Lillard is becoming more comfortable with the thought of drafting him.

 

I don't know if you've been paying attention for the last year or so (actually I'm pretty sure you have) but these reporters put words in Dame's mouth all of the time that he hasn't come close to saying. So unless I hear it from Dame, I'll take it with a massive grain of salt.

 

??? Wow?
If you can get Collins for that 7th pick i do that all day every day?

 

I'd value him more then all but Lillard and Ant on the current PDX roster. I thought Ziaire showed surprisingly well on both ends his rookie year

STOMP

 

being the #1 prospect outta high school doesn't mean much in the context of the NBA. If Sharpe got picked and didn't look good, teams wouldnt be lining up for him because of his prospect status as a high schooler. Cliff Alexander was a top 5 recruit and ended up going undrafted. Emoni Bates was a top 3 recruit, where's he at now? Sharpe would be devalued quickly if he didn't produce early in his NBA career.

 

It was an example.

Killian Hayes then. 7th pick two years ago. You think he would be in demand?

 

I don't think it's a question of if we can get Collins for 7 and Bledsoe, I honestly think it's a question of if we can get Collins and 16 for 7, Bledsoe and either 36 or the Bucks pick. But I've been told I overvalue our assets. So maybe it's just Collins for 7 and Bledsoe... which I wouldn't really love.

 

No, he can't shoot... among other things. In general I disagree with the view that guys value drops once they hit the league. Personally I didn't like Hayes as a prospect when he was coming out in what was perceived as a weak draft. Not all drafts are the same, this one is much better.

STOMP

 

Do you trust Vecenie? He just put out a 130 page draft guide. https://cdn.theathletic.com/app/uploads/2022/06/21103601/2022_NBA-Draft-Guide-5.pdf (pwd: Dr@ft2022)

Ultimately, the question is whether Sharpe is closer to Terrence Ross or Anthony Edwards. Athletically, he’s much closer to Ross – not that that’s a bad thing. In terms of shot creation and ability to decelerate into pull-ups, he’s closer to teenage Edwards. My guess is that Sharpe ends up somewhere in the middle of those two. He’s not a perfect prospect and wasn’t perfect even at a lower level. But there are enough tools for someone to bite the bullet on his potential upside as a shot maker in the top 10. If it works, he has All-Star upside – potentially more All-Star upside than anyone in the class outside of the top four. Even if it doesn’t totally come together, it’s hard to imagine him being anything less than an effective microwave scorer off the bench.

His order:

Chet
Jabari
Paolo
Ivey
Mathurin
Sochan
Dyson
Murray
Sharpe
Davis

 

Those guys after 7 are there after 7 for a reason.
If Cronin believes the best player available to the Blazers actually is predicted to come after 7, such as Duren, he could trade down with the condition that Duren is still available with the 10th or 12th pick or whatever it is.
But if Cronin's already decided to trade down no matter what, (or trade out altogether) it could turn out to be a historically bad decision. Mathurin / Sharpe / Daniels could turn out to be fantastic backcourt mates to Simons moving forward. And we'd see that while the guy is playing on another team.

 

I don't think the Blazers should draft a player if they want to flip them in the months ahead. Its very rare that a player in their first two seasons is traded for significant value.

If the Blazers want to be able to make a trade for a vet later they should flip the #7 at the draft for future picks. Teams value draft picks more than an already made high selection that was chosen by another team. Sort of like buying a new car. If the Blazers get say 2 unprotected picks, along with the Milwaukee pick, etc that would start to be enough to possibly get a star back in a trade.

Sharpe or Daniels or whoever the Blazers draft at #7 would have to show something on the court their first months in the league to carry good value, which is a huge gamble.

 

There is a reason you see draft picks traded often at the draft; teams want to make the selection of their choosing. Its much more rare to see a player traded for high value during their first couple years in the league.

 

see Thomas Robinson lol.

 

Beal also wasn't a play maker when he was drafted. That was kind of a ding on him early in his NBA career. It wasn't until John Wall went down that Beal saw an uptick in play making.

 

If Murray is there at 7 (He won't be) and the Blazers don't pick him it will be a shame.