Here is my list of who the Blazers should draft in order of my preference: 1) Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, SF A rotation player on a championship caliber team, today. Can guard 4 positions. Athletic freak. Not a good fit for out system as his shot is broken and he doesn't shoot the 3. It's a concern, but not a deal breaker for me. Michael Jordan couldn't shoot 3s either when he was drafted, either (in fact he didn't start to shoot 3s until the finals against the blazers - thanks, jackass!) 2) Justin Anderson, SF Fantastic 3 and D rotation rotation player today. Will learn to do more in the first 2 or 3 years of his career. 3) Delon Wright, PG 6'5" PG, can do a little of everything. Shooting has improved. High character, NBA pedigree. 4) Robert Upshaw, C Crazy Upside, Crazy Downside. Better than Freeland right now. No one will draft him in the 1st round. Personally, I'd offer $3 Mil to any team in the 2nd round for his draft rights. 5) Hunter 6) Harrell 7) Wood Who's on YOUR list? Who is not on my list and who I don't want to see on yours! (Because they are unlikely to be there at #23) Karl-Anthony Towns Jahlil Okafor D'Angelo Russell Kristaps Porzingis Justise Winslow Mario Hezonja Trey Lyles Cameron Payne Stanley Johnson Willie Cauley-St... Myles Turner Devin Booker Sam Dekker Bobby Portis Frank Kaminski Tyus Jones Others who probably won't be there (but you can put on your list) kevon Looney Jerian Grant Kelly Oubre mods: can you take the question mark off the title?
With the 23rd pick in the 2015 draft, the Blazers pick... (Players are in random order within the three groups.) Go for it! Justin Anderson Delon Wright Jeriam Grant Kelly Oubie Neutral on these players. Christian Wood RJ Hunter Montrel Harrell Chris McCullough Rondae Hollis-Jefferson Fire the GM that drafts these players in the first round! Robert Upshaw Kevon Looney Rashad Vaughn
I think most people would be very happy with RHJ but it seems very unlikely that he drops. Justin Anderson is sort of the next best thing in terms of defense, and he can hit an open three, which is good. Both would be role players, but RHJ looks like he could be a Tony Allen, transformative on D, role player.u One guy you didn't mention is Hernangomez. I like him a lot - he's sort of a mini-Marc. I'd be perfectly happy with him. He doesn't fit with Leonard, but he's probably a better player than any American who'd drop, and I'm not sold on building our team round Meyers. I'd be intrigued if Hunter drops, but I don't think he will. He's a risk, but he seems like a really smart guy and can create offense. If you want to emulate GS, he'd be a good pick.
Are there any SG/SF with "star" potential in our draft range? Even if becoming a star is a long-shot (which it always is...especially with where we're drafting)? Given the lack of depth throughout the NBA at SG/SF finding a good wing would be great.
I'm not sold on Wright because, although he's tall and can defend, and thus in theory works with CJ/Lillard, I think he's too ball-dominant and not a good enough shooter. Plus, the whole "no big PG outside the lottery has ever amounted to anything"
Players I'd get excited about: RHJ Hunter Hernangomez Upshaw (this one would be excitement mixed with queasiness) Players I'd be perfectly happy with: Jerian Grant Anderson Harrell Nikola Milutinov Players I'm kind of meh on, but wouldn't riot: Wright Mam Jaiteh Players that would piss me off (until proved wrong): Rashad Vaughn Terry Rozier Jonathan Holmes Anthony Brown Christian Wood
How bout this: Players to trade into top 10 for: 1. Justice Winslow - Legit defender with an NBA ready body. 2. Willie Cauley-Stein - Would start from day one. Would be a legitimate rim protecter, and would fit perfectly into our pick n roll defensive scheme. Poor man's DeAndre Jordan for $17M less. Players to trade into top 20 for: 1. Cameron Payne - Going to be the steal of the draft, would be a legit defender/playmaker off the bench 2. Jerian Grant - Would compliment CJ and Dame well and would be great with LA in the pick n roll 3. Kelly Oubre - Athletic wing that can attack the rim, which is what we need from a backup 3. 4. Sam Dekker - No real weaknesses, big for a SF. Going to be another steal. Options at 23: 1. Delon Wright - perfect compliment to CJ and Dame. Couldn't be a better fit 2. Justin Anderson - could be a elite 3 and D wing in a few years, brings much needed athleticism l 3. RJ Hunter - big enough to play SF,would make a killer small ball lineup with Dame, Wes and Batum 4. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson - Better defender than Anderson, but Anderson is miles ahead offensively. Guys to trade into beginning of 2nd round for: 1. Robert Upshaw - If he's there at pick 31 we have to find a way to trade into that pick. Very low risk/high reward. Seems like a good guy based on his DX interview. Could be a legit NBA rim protecter for basically free. 2. Anthony Brown - Don't know much about him, just know that he's a sniper standing at 6'7 which could be useful to spread the floor off the bench at SF 3. Montrezl Harrell - Have a feeling he might fall to the second round. Would be worth it as insurance at PF in case LA leaves 4. JP Tokoto - Has potential to be a decent shooter. If he becomes one he will be a legit bench piece at SG/SF 5. Nikola Mulitinov Players to trade to the end of 2nd for: 1. Pat Connaugton - He's a good shooter, great athlete, good locker room presence and a hard worker. He's a white guy with bounce, enough to take him late. 2. Tyler Harvey - Rapidly developed in college. Elite scorer, worth a flyer to see if he can keep adding to his game. 3. Norman Powell - If he's around past 45 he would be with trading some cash for. Underated because of his age.
The worst thing that could happen, from my point of view, is if we give up assets to move up for Porzingis. That would have me screaming at the screen that is telling me this is happening.
he's not a good shooter but I think he could knock down some open shots. He's good at attacking closeouts and attacking to create.
Personally you would NOT. You don't have $3M. Agree with most of this except the "better than Freeland right now". Upshaw right now is good at one thing: shotblocking. That is not the same thing as being a good defender, although it can look like it. Upshaw is widely regarded as pretty clueless on defense, but elite at swatting. Freeland has worked hard for years to become a very good, very sound defender. He's not going to bite on fakes like Upshaw will.
IDK what you want to give up. Give up shooting and RHJ is completely ridiculous. Give up shot creation, Justin Anderson is fantastic. Both these guys are hard workers.
If they fall: 1. Kelly Oubre 2. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson 3. Justin Anderson 4. Sam Dekker In our range: 1. Delon Wright 2. Jerian Grant 3. Guillermo Hernangomez 4. RJ Hunter 5. Cedi Osman Big Risk/Heavy Reward: 1. Robert Upshaw 2. Jonathan Holmes 3. Jordan Mickey 4. Norman Powell DO NOT DRAFT: 1. Rashad Vaughn 2. Christian Wood 3. Montrezl Harrell Buy a 2nd for: 1. Richaun Holmes 2. Treveon Graham 3. Aaron White 4. Vince Hunter
I guess by "star" potential, I mean someone who maybe someday could pour in points. I'd prefer a SG/SF who could create high-percentage shots for themselves (attack the basket off the dribble).
Don't know much about Hernangomez. I like Wood more than you do. He seems like Biebs sans shooting, but with shot blocking.
Cedric Ceballos, remember him? Athletic Dude hung out in the slot, got dunks and rebounds all over the place. He scored a point a minute without having a play called for him, and he couldn't shoot the 3. RHJ could definitely be that type of player. However, Phoenix's offense at the time is different than ours.
Mainly I remember the "blindfold" dunk... Actually, he just covered his eyes with his arm, right? Someone else actually used a blindfold a year or two later if I remember correctly (big if!).
I've heard that knock, but in the 2 or 3 Utah games I watched last year (my son had lunch with Jordan Loveridge several times), I wished Wright had the ball in his hands more, not less.
