With the #7 pick, the Portland Trail Blazers select....

I think both of these guys are going to be hungry after being "the man" and not having it work out. They'll listen to Billups and Dame and they will buy in.

Or they won't and Dame will request out and we can blow it up and rebuild proper.

 

He doesn't seem very athletic for a wing who's supposed to go in the top 10. I guess he used to be really athletic before he sprained both knees.

 

If there was good chemistry on offense, and consistent effort on defense, that lineup could be very good.

 

Yeah, I'm not sold on them, but I legitimately think we could get them both. And if it works it would be the most talented team Dame has had. No 2nd all star, but possibly 3 borderline guys...

If we can do better I'm willing to consider all options. But I don't know who that would be.

 

Randle was an All Star just one season ago (2020-21). He could certainly do it again if he plays well as a Blazer.

 

Oh yeah, good point.

 

It much more had to do with the types of players the response was referring to, than it being a 'talented team'.

Dame - ball dominant guard
Ant - broke out when he was the ball dominant guard
Grant - left Denver to be the main scoring option
Randle - was 2nd team all-NBA when he was the #1 option and a ball dominant forward
Nurk - wants more touches or tells us all how he isn't happy.

Not sure how that all works well together, no matter how talented they are.

 

That’s why I’m on the Sochan / Daniels train.

They’re both pass first players who don’t need the ball. But if they do have the ball they’re probably looking to make plays for others.

It’s also why I’m not too keen on Eason, especially if you’re getting Jerami Grant.

 

I guess I like Wood a little better than Grant so I wouldn't want to send Naz to Detroit and I don't see Houston giving up Wood for # 11 AND giving us a future first back also. But I like the general framework. Would we be able to pay all these guys?

 

I still haven't heard back from @Rastapopoulos why he doesn't like Wood. How about you?

 

Wood seems like the one guy out of him ,Grant and Randle that would not need the ball so much. Can he be an above average defender is the question?

 

If we have enough assets to get Randle, Wood and Grant; shouldn't we just go after Siakam instead?

 

Hello. Do you own a crystal ball?

 

Just for the heck of it, looking at the stats again for Randle, Grant and Wood.
1. Three point shooting:
Randle: very inconsistent. last 4 years .344, .277, .411, .308
Grant Pretty consistent; averaged about .370 over last 4 years, although last two years down from first two.
Wood: last three years .386, .374, .390

2. Career efg%
Randle .503
Grant .512
Wood .581

3. career TRB%
Randle 16%
Grant 8.2%
Wood 16.9%

4. career ORtg DRtg
Randle 107 110
Grant 110 110
Wood 115 111

5. career OBPM DBPM
Randle 0.6 -0.3
Grant -0.6 0.1
Wood 2.2 -0.4

Just looking at stats, Wood's offensive stats far superior and defensive stats only a little bit worse.

 

The problem with Wood is his attitude. While on paper, his numbers certainly jump off the page, he's a bit entitled and thinks of himself as a #1 who is beyond coaching. He's had multiple run-ins with coaches and teammates.

Whether that would still be an issue with Dame running the show is obviously up in air.

 

This statement is why keeping Dame while getting younger is so important. You have to have a strong leader in the locker room who is also one of your best players.

 

Just watching him play I don't see that he thinks of himself as #1. Has he had more than that one run-in where he walked off in sympathy with a teammate? If the team is interested I hope Billups has some contacts he can talk with.

 

He's also very clearly a center....