With the 7th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, The Portland Trailblazers select. . .

I think moving up from 14 a few spots to ensure you're getting the wing you like makes sense. Moving up from 7 is not much of a priority for me because I don't think the guys available at 3 are much better than 7, and further investing key assets into the 2024 draft seems unwise.

 

Exactly.

 

I can only imagine us trading up for Sarr, because he fits with our supposed "rebuild".

 

Sir - are you visiting from the future?

 

Very few big men are being recruited/developed to guard the post anymore. So teams won't be prepared for Edey. It's considered "old school", but an army of medieval longbowman could have easily wiped out an army full of guys with muskets.

 

Rasheed trying to talk sense into people about Zach Edey.

 

no doubt. I'm wondering, is it harder to evaluate C's than other positions? Maybe?

curious so, lottery picks for Big's going back to the 2010 draft (plus those after lottery):

3 Derrick Favors (not worth a 3rd pick)
5 DeMarcus Cousins (worth it)
7 Greg Monroe (worth it)
11 Cole Aldrich (bust)
13 Ed Davis (I liked him a lot but not worth a lottery pick)

15 Larry Sanders
17 Kevin Séraphin
29 Daniel Orton
33 Hassan Whiteside
35 Nemanja Bjelica
***************************************
3 Enes Freedom (not worth 3rd pick, not close)
5 Jonas Valančiūnas (not worth 5th pick; maybe late lottery)
6 Jan Veselý (bust)
7 Bismack Biyombo (bust)

16 Nikola Vučević
20 Donatas Motiejūnas
****************************************
9 Andre Drummond (worth it)
11 Meyers Leonard (bust)

21 Jared Sullinger
22 Fab Melo
26 Miles Plumlee
27 Arnett Moultrie
30 Festus Ezeli
49 Kyle O'Quinn
*****************************************
4 Cody Zeller (bust)
5 Alex Len (bust)
6 Nerlens Noel (bust)
12 Steven Adams (worth it)
13 Kelly Olynyk (not worth lottery)

21 Gorgui Dieng
22 Mason Plumlee
27 Rudy Gobert
39 Jeff Withey
40 Grant Jerrett
44 Mike Muscala
45 Marko Todorović
*******************************************
3 Joel Embiid (worth it)
7 Julius Randle (worth it - barely; 7th a stretch)
9 Noah Vonleh (bust)
12 Dario Šarić (bust)

16 Jusuf Nurkić
21 Mitch McGary
25 Clint Capela
36 Johnny O'Bryant
41 Nikola Jokić
43 Edy Tavares
45 Dwight Powell
**********************************************
3 Evan Mobley (worth it)

16 Alperen Sengun
19 Kai Jones
22 Isaiah Jackson
30 Santi Aldama
32 Jeremiah Robinson-Earl
37 JT Thor
39 Neemias Queta
*******************************************
4 Dragan Bender (bust)
9 Jakob Poeltl (not worth lottery)
10 Thon Maker (bust)
11 Domantas Sabonis (worth it...great value))
13 Georgios Papagiannis (bust)

16 Guerschon Yabusele
28 Skal Labissière
32 Ivica Zubac
37 Chinanu Onuaku
41 Stephen Zimmerman
43 Zhou Qi
52 Joel Bolomboy
************************************************
1 Deandre Ayton (worth lottery, maybe, not worth #1 at all)
2 Marvin Bagley III (bust)
4 Jaren Jackson Jr. (worth it)
6 Mo Bamba (bust)
7 Wendell Carter Jr. (not worth lottery)

25 Moritz Wagner
27 Robert Williams
36 Mitchell Robinson
************************************************
8 Jaxson Hayes (bust)

18 Goga Bitadze
19 Luka Šamanić
27 Mfiondu Kabengele
31 Nic Claxton
34 Bruno Fernando
38 Daniel Gafford
44 Bol Bol
*************************************************
2 James Wiseman (bust)
6 Onyeka Okongwu (bust)
10 Jalen Smith (bust)

16 Isaiah Stewart
17 Aleksej Pokusevski
22 Zeke Nnaji
27 Udoka Azubuike
42 Nick Richards
44 Marko Simonovic
**************************************************
3 Evan Mobley (worth it)

16 Alperen Sengun
19 Kai Jones
22 Isaiah Jackson
30 Santi Aldama
32 Jeremiah Robinson-Earl
37 JT Thor
39 Neemias Queta
*****************************************************
2 Chet Holmgren (worth it...probably)
11 Ousmane Dieng (bust)
13 Jalen Duren (worth it?)

15 Mark Williams
22 Walker Kessler
34 Jaylin Williams
39 Khalifa Diop
43 Moussa Diabaté
46 Ismael Kamagate

I quit at the 2022 draft

the gauge I'm using is of course subjective and based on if the big's were worth the investment of a lottery pick. By my count, 25 of 39 lottery picks used on big's were wasted picks. That's almost 2 out of 3. And that's being kind of generous. For instance, Valunciunas was probably woth a lottery pick, but he was drafted too high at 5. Same with Ayton only worse because he was the first pick taken before Doncic, Jaren Jackson, Trae Young, Mikal Bridges, and SGA

I'm also noticing that fewer and fewer bigs are being taken in the lottery. Maybe that's an artifact of the talent in the draft classes. Or maybe it's an artifact of many teams learning lessons about the wisdom of investing lottery picks on C's, especially drop-coverage Cs

Part of that may be because every draft seems to have some solid C's available outside the lottery

 

https://bleacherreport.com/articles...s-full-2-round-predictions-with-2-weeks-to-go
"No. 5 could be a spot late-lottery teams want to trade up to for a chance to draft Donovan Clingan. Rival teams also continue to predict that Cody Williams will be picked earlier than most expect, potentially by the Detroit Pistons at No. 5 or the San Antonio Spurs.

The pitch to Williams revolves around a coveted, big-wing archetype, his efficiency at Colorado and the belief that he has the mentality and blueprint (being Jalen's brother) to continue improving and maximize his potential."

 

I've been preaching this for a few years. I suggest using a skilled BIG man the way Adelman used to do with Duckworth. 5 or 6 minutes to start each half and feed him the ball inside. Get a few easy buckets. Maybe the opposing center picks up a couple fouls. When they're gassed after a couple minutes you bring in Uncle Cliffy for the big minutes.

 

It works if they don't know its coming, but the opposing teams do watch film. I prefer to get your best shooter going early. Even if they start out slow they eventually heat up. The sooner the better. I hated watching Dame force feeding Nurk to start each game.

 

If he drops in our lap at 7, wow!

 

These 2 sentences are key....
It's why I'm dumbfounded by those clamoring to draft Clingan at #7.

I finally heard a good best-case comparable for Clingan.... Andrew Bogut. He'll have a good high floor outcome (baring injuries).... but I still don't like drafting a slow footed, drop coverage C in the lotto.

 

I don’t understand drafting a dude who played 22 minutes per game. We did that…… with Collins.

 

Im with you, but watch them roll out that shit word, POTENTIAL!

 

I can understand not liking Clingan.

But other than them both being tall white guys, Clingan and Collins are NOTHING alike. Completely different players.

 

He played 22 minutes because his conditioning was horrible. I think it's part of the reason Edey ate him up. Clingan looked gassed after a few minutes in every game I watched.