Exclusive Official 2020 Draft Thread

Discussion in 'Portland Trail Blazers' started by tester551, Nov 12, 2019.

  1. oldmangrouch

    oldmangrouch persona non grata

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2008
    Messages:
    12,402
    Likes Received:
    6,323
    Trophy Points:
    113
    How do you feel about Bey? Projections for him seem to be all over the map.
     
  2. Hoopguru

    Hoopguru Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 16, 2014
    Messages:
    19,591
    Likes Received:
    16,198
    Trophy Points:
    113
    If Stewart or McDaniels are there (and chances are they will be) I could see Portland taking either.
     
  3. JDC

    JDC Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 16, 2008
    Messages:
    3,294
    Likes Received:
    3,116
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Saddiq...? He's fallen a bit for me.

    The athleticism worries me at the next level. His defensive value comes primarily on the ball, but not sure he'll be someone you can put on the best perimeter guy and feel comfortable about that. Questionable lateral athlete and doesn't have the start stop ability/ recovery athleticism to still be effective if he has to turn and chase.

    Would be more into him if his tools/skills translated better to the PF position, but I think you'll be forced into making some pretty significant physicality, rebounding and weakside rim protection trade-offs by playing him there.

    His size, the recent track record for Villanova guys and probable shooting keep me from ruling him out as a guy that sticks though.
     
    Last edited: Apr 14, 2020
    PCmor7 and oldmangrouch like this.
  4. JDC

    JDC Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 16, 2008
    Messages:
    3,294
    Likes Received:
    3,116
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Jaden is interesting, but pretty far away from contributing. Also question his mental makeup.

    I like him in a smaller role if he develops in the right areas, but he ultimately feels like a guy you'd be better off trying to sign after his rookie deal rather than draft him.

    Never been a big Stewart guy. Don't like the way he moves and lacks a bit as a vertical athlete. Don't love the rim protection instincts either.

    If he shoots threes he could become an interesting offensive center, just not big on that type of player. Especially for us.
     
    Last edited: Apr 14, 2020
    UKRAINEFAN likes this.
  5. BonesJones

    BonesJones https://www.youtube.com/c/blazersuprise

    Joined:
    May 7, 2015
    Messages:
    44,368
    Likes Received:
    38,405
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Vancouver, WA
    Georgios Kalaitzakis is my favorite 2nd round sleeper.
     
  6. Rastapopoulos

    Rastapopoulos Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 30, 2008
    Messages:
    37,387
    Likes Received:
    21,980
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Occupation:
    Ballin'
    I work for the University of Michigan and I think there's a strong possibility there isn't a COLLEGE season next academic year.
     
  7. Rastapopoulos

    Rastapopoulos Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 30, 2008
    Messages:
    37,387
    Likes Received:
    21,980
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Occupation:
    Ballin'
  8. BonesJones

    BonesJones https://www.youtube.com/c/blazersuprise

    Joined:
    May 7, 2015
    Messages:
    44,368
    Likes Received:
    38,405
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Vancouver, WA
    I see Avdija's standing reach reported at 8'10 but you said 8'6? Whered you get that from?
     
  9. JDC

    JDC Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 16, 2008
    Messages:
    3,294
    Likes Received:
    3,116
    Trophy Points:
    113
    https://eurospects.com/?page_id=5499

    Taken two years ago at basketball without borders. Never been able to find a source for ESPN's listing.

    8'5.5" then at 6'7.5" barefoot. Currently listed at 6'9" so hasn't grown much since, if at all.

    Also has very similar dimensions as Jake Layman who also had short reach for height.

     
    Last edited: Apr 24, 2020
  10. GhostOfPGA

    GhostOfPGA The late great Paul Allen

    Joined:
    Nov 5, 2018
    Messages:
    3,222
    Likes Received:
    3,440
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Heaven
    If Aaron Nesmith was just a couple inches taller...
     
  11. TorturedBlazerFan

    TorturedBlazerFan Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 31, 2018
    Messages:
    19,824
    Likes Received:
    23,356
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Occupation:
    Baby Daddy
    Location:
    Chasing my kids
    then he'd be a baller.
     
  12. GhostOfPGA

    GhostOfPGA The late great Paul Allen

    Joined:
    Nov 5, 2018
    Messages:
    3,222
    Likes Received:
    3,440
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Heaven
    A shot caller
     
    TorturedBlazerFan likes this.
  13. Rastapopoulos

    Rastapopoulos Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 30, 2008
    Messages:
    37,387
    Likes Received:
    21,980
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Occupation:
    Ballin'
  14. PtldPlatypus

    PtldPlatypus Let's go Baby Blazers! Staff Member Global Moderator Moderator

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2008
    Messages:
    31,952
    Likes Received:
    40,230
    Trophy Points:
    113
    With a '64 Impala?
     
    TorturedBlazerFan likes this.
  15. Wizard Mentor

    Wizard Mentor Wizard Mentor

    Joined:
    Oct 22, 2008
    Messages:
    13,835
    Likes Received:
    13,631
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Occupation:
    Master of Xen Foro
    Location:
    La Grande, OR
  16. JDC

    JDC Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 16, 2008
    Messages:
    3,294
    Likes Received:
    3,116
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Obi Toppin thoughts....

    Feel pretty confident he's good enough offensively to be a productive starter. Maybe even an all star. Very weird athlete....maybe the weirdest I've ever evaluated. Such a stark contrast between his elite run and jump athleticism and literally every other athletic trait (first step, hip turns, start/stop, change of direction etc.)

    Hard worker. Was well coached in college and played in an NBA style system with good spacing which I think will have him very well prepared to translate his offense early on.

    Think he's a player that wants to make the right play and help a team win. Unselfish player. Enjoyed watching him play which is a very short list for prospects in this class--although the system that Dayton ran offensively was a large part of that.

    Physically, I worry about him defensively a lot which I'll get into, but I do think he's a fairly smart player positionally. Solid motor. Much like on the offensive end, I think he plays with the mentality to do what he can defensively to help his team.

    That's probably worth a top 7 pick in this draft.

    It's just hard for me to have them that high when I do think he'll be a tough player to fit other front court players around or be a large piece of a high level winning team. Those are guys that are always just going to be pushed down the board for me.

    Obi question marks....

    What position does he defend?

    Played mainly center for Dayton. Maximizes his offensive value but lacks NBA center height/length/strength. Poor lower body strength (top heavy build). Moved easily. Worrisome defensive rebounding numbers.

    Movement skills don't translate cleanly to the PF position. High center of gravity. Struggles changing direction or sliding laterally. Not sure how he's going to be effective guarding spread power forwards where he'll be forced into a lot more help and recover situations.

    Team context will be very important for him. Ideally you want to pair him with another big that can both guard on the perimeter and protect the rim. Very few of those though and certain matchups will still be difficult, especially against teams with big centers.

    If he's forced to play a lot of power forward, how does that affect his value offensively? Enough that it doesn't make up for his issues defensively? Does that force him into being primarily a small-ball 5 off the bench?

    How good of a shooter will he ultimately be?

    Still can be valuable offensively without being a high-level shooter, especially when playing the five. But still important in terms of fitting other front court players around him. Becomes more important if he indeed can't hold up at the center position.

    Mechanics are pretty fluid. Release isn't always the same though, can get a bit yippy at times. Fairly small sample and was only an okay free throw shooter.

    Does his post game translate at all?

    Very good touch with both hands and comfortable scoring over either shoulder but lower body strength issues limit his ability to gain good position down low. Not a physical or power player. Not a foul drawer. Dayton did a good job rolling him / screening him into post-ups.

    Although size / length/ lower body strength issues--and most importantly, how the NBA game is played--make it likely that it's not a huge part of his game at the NBA level, it should still be a valuable piece to have if teams choose to switch pnr to take away his roll game.
     
    Last edited: May 9, 2020
    GhostOfPGA and TorturedBlazerFan like this.
  17. THE HCP

    THE HCP NorthEastPortland'sFinest

    Joined:
    Sep 16, 2008
    Messages:
    65,696
    Likes Received:
    51,894
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    N.E.P.
    Sigh
     
    JDC likes this.
  18. damianlillard

    damianlillard Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 22, 2013
    Messages:
    838
    Likes Received:
    697
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Yeah Obi is probably the most interesting prospect in the draft. His strengths are incredible yet his weaknesses are big enough to question where he will fit in the nba. I see him being kinda like a Thomas Robinson type player honestly. Not in terms of skills or anything but really in how they dominated college but they fail to transition to the nba. But I think Obi might turn out to be alright in the right place. If he fall to us and we draft him I might be happy. I think that Toppin at PF spot next to Little and Collins in the future could be enough to cover his defensive game. With that being said I wouldn’t trade up to get Toppins and I wouldn’t draft him even if he fall cause I think there are better prospects we can get like Vassell, Bey, Patrick Williams, etc.
     
  19. UKRAINEFAN

    UKRAINEFAN Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 30, 2008
    Messages:
    13,539
    Likes Received:
    10,874
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Occupation:
    un-retired
    Location:
    Autonomous Republic of Crimea, Ukraine
    This post seems to high-light how weak this draft is; so many weaknesses on a guy who might go top 7?
     
  20. James lamphear

    James lamphear Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 21, 2018
    Messages:
    7,860
    Likes Received:
    5,531
    Trophy Points:
    113
    If we look for the future I believe Williams might be the choice for me. I do like Vassell but for 2 guard position but he would be playing behind CJ and Trent. But who ever we pick it will be for the future.
     

Share This Page