Looking at various projected rough drafts, it seems like the first round looks like this: 1. Wemby (a center) 2. Scoot (a point) 3-30 nothing but wings Where are the rebounding big men that we need? We just stocked up on a bazillion wings as it is!
Can the Blazers trade their Knicks pick to Chicago and finally alleviate themselves of Olshey's terrible Covington trade?
Pretty much lol. I would consider Dereck Lively depending on who’s available at 20. He’s coming along nicely recently. Azoulas Tubelis would be awesome to get in the second round. He got some Domnatas Sabonis to his game
I think there is motivation on both sides to make a deal assuming New York doesn’t play its way into the top 4, since Orlando has Chicago’s pick from that godawful Vucevic trade and they need roster upgrades like we do.
Bad news that Wembanyama is now 7’5 in shoes having grown 2”. With his slender build, already, and the need to put on good, reasonable weight — this won’t help. 7’2 in shoes is up there. Hope he’s done as the last thing he needs in the NBA is more height.
In my opinion for our long term success it doesn't really matter. If we miss the playoffs we keep our pick and likely have the Knicks' pick. If we make the playoffs the pick conveys to Chicago and we would still presumably have the Knicks pick and could move forward having all of our picks available to deal. If we do miss the playoffs we would still have to get Chicago to take the protections off in order to use future picks. Make the playoffs and we can deal the Knicks pick after we make it and the 2024, 2026, 2028 and 2030 firsts trying to build a contender around Dame Miss the playoffs and we keep our pick. We would still likely have the Knicks pick. If we guarantee the Bulls the pick for 2024 then we have our pick, the Knicks', 2026, 2028 and 2030. Anyway you cut it we should have five firsts to deal at the draft if that's the way we choose to go. I'd love to see us win a bunch of games during the home stretch of this season because I always want us to win. I'd also love the excitement, even if the odds aren't great, of being to the Wemby lotto. The losses would suck but we'd have a chance.
Thank you for the thorough explanation. Answered my question and then some. I was rooting for us to keep losing when it was clear our chances of winning the chip this year was slim, but now, I don't mind winning, esp when Dame is healthy
1. If the Blazers fail, then a lottery pick arrives in a good draft. To free up future picks for the POSSIBILITY of a big trade, ship off the Knicks’ pick (or numerous 2nds) so the debt is paid. #free_our_picks. And if you want to really swing away, add that lottery pick to a trade package. 2. If Portland makes the playoffs, the pick conveys, the future picks are free. The Knicks’ pick(s) is an asset to use, to package, to ship out Nurkic … to use in a package for the big trade. The above is a path — a narrow one — for building around Dame, now. There’s not much of a 3rd option to contention IMHO that includes Dame as a Blazer. Not being able to use future picks means getting outbid in big deals. Exactly no one wants to deal with finely crafted language on when picks may be included when other teams give firm commitments. It doesn’t mean the elite SF deal gets done this summer, but getting what Cronin did means a big move is feasible.
We need Philly to fizzle and Embiid ask for a trade. He'd be a great "push all chips" player to pair with Dame. I'f we're sacrificing the future, Pascal Siakam ain't ginna cut it
Mock draft with a little bit of a writeup for each player. They have Jarace Walker, Keyonte George, Grady Dick and Cason Wallace in the area we might be drafting. https://hoopshype.com/lists/nba-moc...-thompson-twins-jarace-walker-keyonte-george/
Big performance from Brandon Miller the other night. I saw a little KD at Texas in this performance. Seems like scouts aren’t bothered by his proximity to a shooting.
He seems a bit more developed than the Thompson twins. I could see him locking in at 3–but who knows.
Blazers might not draft a big man. Portland has 2 former NBA point guards as coach 1 & 2. Portland seems to play in a style the coaches are most comfortable with. Guard oriented production through Small ball lineups. The only way I see a rookie C getting extended PT is if Nurkic is next in line to be traded. I think the Blazers would be more comfortable drafting a true PG that can quickly learn the system.
I am guessing they’re trying to slide Badji in as a redshirt this year and sign him next year; Schmitz really likes him. Any of the top wings would fit in nicely. Even a guy like Anthony Black.
What is the link to that evaluation? I'd like to see what he has to say about John Butler.... I don't personally have much hope for Butler turning into an NBA player.
Wow. I’m even more sold on tank now. We can still get to 5th. I still root for us to win cuz I can’t help it but a unilateral decision from Dame, Jody, and Joe to tank would not upset me at all.