I’m a HUGE fan of this kid. I tuned in randomly to a game they played against Arkansas earlier this year and was amazed at his feel for the game. How easy the game came to him. I actually hadn’t been following the draft that hard up to that point and it made sense that he was on draft boards and he’s really shot up the boards recently. insane feel for the game, good size, looks to better his teammates first. Such flair for a young kid and such a sweet as jumper off the dribble which is a money trait to have in the NBA.
I think people are getting two upset about not getting the No. 1 pick. Flagg looks great. The Blazers are going to be in the lottery, so they're going to still have a chance at the ping pong balls falling right and getting him. But this isn't a one-player draft. In fact, I think this draft looked great going in and the lottery looks even deeper now that we're halfway into the season. There are several quality forwards that have emerged. If you were going to tell me that Egor Demin and Asa Newell might be around for the 12th pick, I'd tell you they'd be steals. And another thing ... even if you don't get Flagg, there should be an opportunity for the Blazers to get a very good, maybe even a star player in the top 10-12. SGA's probably going to win MVP this year. He was picked 11th in 2018, when four all-NBA players were selected after the top two, including Brunson at 33. The Thunder's second-best player was the 12th pick in 2022. Jalen Duren was chosen 13th. Walker Kessler was 22nd. Nikola Jovic was 27th. That wasn't even a special draft, just probably a bit above average. The only NBA all-star so far from the 2021 draft was picked fourth. Tyrese Halliburton and Tyrese Maxey were 12 and 22, respectively, in 2020. Donovan Mitchell was 13, Bam Abedayo 14 and Jarrett Allen 22 in 2017. Domantas Sabonis was 11, Pascal Siakam 27, Dejounte Murray 29 and Malcolm Brogdon 36 in 2016. I don't think we should be frustrated if we don't land the top pick or even a top-three pick. There should be a player where we pick that could be a difference-maker. The important things are identifying that player and creating some kind of culture/system that wins here. Just drafting Cooper Flagg isn't going to make the Blazers great if we don't have some kind of organizational direction in place in which he (or whoever), Scoot, Shaedon, Clingan, Toumani, Deni and whoever else can thrive.
Do we have a second round pick this year? I have read that we have the Atlanta pick but protected 41-60. But i looked at one two round mock and it didn't show Atlanta or Portland in the 41 range i would expect it. I understand now that we gave up the Milwaukee pick in this deep and good draft and also our second round pick when we traded for Grant.
We get it if Atlanta is one of the 10 worst teams in the league. Else we don't have any. They are the 11th worst team right now and that pick is 41 (going to OKC of all teams). So better hope Atlanta keeps losing or the teams underneath start winning.
Thanks. That explains why I couldn't find it in a mock draft. Under the conditions right now it would not got to either Portland or Atlanta.
Seems a smart, instinctive player. I guess the knocks on him are that he is an undersized PF and can't shoot threes or FTs.
not only are we not tanking we are also sitting the two guys who are supposed to be our franchise players! By now you shouldn’t have to showcase Grant or Ant, teams know what they are getting with both of these players.
Are we really sitting them? Grant 32 Minutes Ant 32 minutes Camara 31 minutes Sharpe 31 minutes Scoot is too low at 27 minutes, but not by much.
I think, to a degree, it is less the minutes and more who is playing. Ant/Grant/Ayton all think they should be alpha vets and I think that impacts how Scoot/Shae develop. It probably shouldn’t but with lackluster coaching, it sure seems that way to me. Bench/trade the vets and lets the youngsters play. We lose more games (bonus) and our youngsters develop (or not) and we fully embrace the out-with-the-old rebuild; not this half-way-cockamamie brouhaha we have going on now.
I think that is very debatable. It may vary from game to game. Look at the last game, for example, Simons shot it 10 times in 35 minutes, Grant 5 times in 29 minutes, and Ayton did not play. I watch every game, and from what I can see the youngsters are getting their opportunities to develop. Although tonight might be different since it is our nationally televised game. I do wonder how many of the posters are watching the game vs looking at the box score. I say that because an earlier poll suggested that many don't watch. To be clear I am not suggesting that you are one of those.
Hawks are tied for 10th worst right now and just lost Jalen Johnson who is their second best player, for the season. Blazers might actually have a second, and a pretty good one at that. It’s the little things…
Kanon Catchings (nephew of WNBA player Tamika Catchings) is very intriguing. Looked like a two and done early, but starting to get comfortable. A very fluid mover at 6'9". Over 2% steal and block rates and just bombs threes (13.4 per 100 poss.) and they are starting to fall.
Yeah, that was impressive. The 3s and the lobs looked great, but what impressed me was his jump hook. Really hard to stop that with his length.
Just watched their game from earlier against Columbia. Not sure what he finished with, but god damn he looked good. A KD clone.
I really want a late first rounder so we can snag Alex Karaban. Shooting, size, competitiveness. Was a teammate of Clingan.
