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

Scoot's stock skyrocketed after that great showing vs Wemby

 

I don't really understand that logic. Sarr is #1 because he's most likely to be a star. But don't acquire him because 7 and 14 might be stars? Huh?

It's possible you find someone at 7 or 14 that will be a star, but players like Sarr don't grow on trees. 7-1 who moves like a gazelle. Even if he's not a star, you're getting a freak of nature, who again, most certainly makes us better and more versatile defensively.

 

I'm not even sure if Sarr is most likely to be a star. I think he's most likely to be a good player. This draft is full of boom/bust players and high floor/low ceiling guys. Sarr is the safest pick.

 

He has special size/athleticism combo that you can't often find. I don't think the Hawks would give him up for two later picks, but if they were I would certainly consider it from the Blazers perspective.

 

I kinda picture him as a slightly taller Serge Ibaka.

 

Sarr is way more agile and mobile. Saying that, I'd be thrilled to add a young Ibaka to our current core.

 

According to THIS, Topic:

 

Will be entertaining to read Blazers fans reactions if we use our top lottery pick on another poor defensive PG and don't trade Brogdon/Simons

Honestly I'm good with pure BPA as this roster needs so many other changes before positional depth is relevant.

 

Trying to keep an open mind with this draft given the player movement that might be happening outside of the draft.

 

Sarr isn’t going #1 because he is most likely to be a star. He is Keegan Murray, there just aren’t any Paolo Bancheros in this draft. He is a good, safe pick because usually teams can’t afford to whiff on top ~3 picks. In most drafts, usually star potential AND safe pick goes hand-in-hand, like Wemby. Everyone in this draft has MASSIVE, GLARING holes though.

Hell, I’m pretty sure most draft analysts (lol) said Holland is most likely to be a star if he can figure his shot out.

He is a *safer* pick than Holland, but Holland is much more likely to be a star if he works out. If he doesn’t, he’s a bust, and you probably can’t take that risk at #1.

 

Holland seems to have the right mindset to be a star. I don't know about Sarr.

 

This year is the perfect year to trade up to #1 IF you think Sarr is that guy. I’d be stoked if we added Sarr, Brogdon and both lotto picks is a slight overpay, but very worth it, and I do think Sarr could be a star.

That being said, maybe the combination of two big forwards or a big forward and another athletic big man like Missi or Ware is just as likely to yield a star as trading up for Sarr.

I’ll be fine with either result if Schmitz is making the decision. I did come around to the Murray pick as the season progressed.

 

Agreed.

But at #7, that is the exact type of player you take a swing on.

I don't think he busts and is out of the league in 6 years. I think his floor is basically Nas Little. I think his most likely outcome is more of a mix of Aaron Gordon and Miles Bridges.

 

I certainly wouldn’t be upset with Topic, but it would suck to see Salaun go at #8.

 

Portland’s “immediate need” is developing (Sharpe) or drafting “The Guy” (or both). There are dogs and dudes and guys who I like on the team or would want on the team. But the only way to contend is with a number one guy (and maybe a 2nd one, too). Then, we can be concerned about immediate needs and safe picks. [Just my opinion.]

If the best that happens in THIS draft is drafting a couple higher upside guys who have shown legit flashes and who are driven to get better, then we’ll have a team high up in the lottery next summer. Huzzah!

Also IMHO, Sarr’s defensive chops and physical abilities give him some serious upside. Let’s stipulate that drafting a center is NEVER a safe pick for the Blazers (or almost never) … and Sarr looks lower risk, high reward to me. Though All Star is some serious squinting his direction, I see him as the defense-first-mirror-image of LMA — Not as good on O, definitely better on D.

 

Sarr projects to be an elite, switchable defender. Keegan has always been mediocre. Not remotely comparable.

Regardless of how YOU see Sarr, the only point was that if Portland likes Sarr more than the prospects at 7 and 14, I'd have no problem with that trade.

If they think Holland can be a star and can be had with one of their picks, then I'm good with that too.

I'd be way more excited for Sarr than another guy who can't shoot but that's just me.

 

When was the last time a #1 pick got traded? I don't care how 'bad' this draft is, it ain't happening.

 

you know what else isn’t remotely comparable?

their offense

Sarr could only dream of being as good offensively as Keegan in pretty much any aspect and frankly, his shooting numbers, show practically as much ‘mediocrity’ as Keegan’s defense.

pretty hard to be a star when you’re atrocious on offense and all your shooting splits indicate you’re never going to be particularly adept offensively.

 

https://www.nba.com/news/2024-consensus-mock-draft

Although it is still early, based on the consensus mock above, we can assume Sarr and Risacher will both be gone by 7. I think the majority of us want a forward with our pick, but which one of the leftovers? I would love for this mock to be correct with us getting two of them (Buzelis and Salaun) and hope one turns out to be good. But for the sake of debate which one of these do you guys prefer at 7?

Buzelis, Holland, Knecht, Williams, Saluan

All 5 IMO have different skill sets (and different question marks) Watching all 5 of their videos there were moments when I could talk myself into each of them.
But right now before the Pre-draft workouts......which one of these specific players do you favor? I have flip-flopped quite a bit and will continue to but right now I say Buzelis, but if Detroit takes him I can't decide between the rest.

Knecht seems to be a safe bet. (Low ceiling/high floor) but he is growing on me.

Holland seems to have the highest ceiling and the lowest floor depending on his shot. I think at the very least his 3-point shot will develop and he will be a 3 and D type player. Not sure if he will ever have a good pull-up midrange jumper which I value.

Williams has a pretty high ceiling IMO. But with his weight, is probably the furthest away. But with an additional 20 lbs.......

Salaun, I still know that much other than he has logo range with his 3-ball