I wouldn’t mind taking Kneppel if we fall to around 10. This team could use more shooting and that kid is lights out.
My ideal draft would be winning the lotto and drafting Flagg and trading back into the first to take Rasheer Flemming. I'd also be thrilled with moving up in the lotto to where we could get Bailey and still trade back in to get Flemming. I think a likely target for us if we draft where our record dictates might be Asa Newell and that might be the only player we acquire through the draft. I like him but that would be a bit disappointing.
I like Flemming. I would take him in the 10-14 range for sure. https://theleadsm.com/the-blazers-can-find-their-future-in-the-2025-draft/
...unless Hugo Gonzalez is available. Yes, two Euro players, which fits a stereotype some people have of me, but really the only motivation is that we're pretty decent and young at all 5 positions, so it's definitely a time to swing for the fences and gamble on a star, and history tells us that the best place to get a star outside of the top 10 is probably not college ball, where everybody's been dissected to death. Look for the next Giannis or Jokic. I don't really know much about either of these players because I don't watch any basketball except the Blazers. Another contender: Saraf's teammate Noa Essengue, whom the Blazers already know because he scored 20 against us.
These guys think Hugo has lottery potential: Gonzalez is a big time prospect out of Spain with Lottery potential in the 2025 NBA Draft. He’s a well-built 6-6 and has natural strength in his frame. Uses this strength to bump defenders off balance and get into the lane. Can drive and finish with either hand and is shifty with the ball. He’s got handles, plays with chance of pace and can contort his body past defenders and use euro-steps to get to the basket. Has a nice shooting stroke and shows a lot of promise as a perimeter shooter. Has a quick release on his jumper. Very good in catch and shoot and can hit jumpers off the dribble. Is a very aware defender who picks pockets and reads passing lanes. https://nbadraftroom.com/hugo-gonzalez/
Saraf expected maybe late first round. I wonder if he could ever develop into a weak imitation of Doncic? Saraf has really good size, crafty scoring ability and is a natural play-maker. He gets to the basket well, showing a good first step and stop/start ability. And he’s a skilled finisher in the lane with nice touch on layups and floaters, especially with his left hand. He’s got really good size at 6-6 and solid strength. Saraf isn’t a great above the rim player but knows how to finish over length. He’s a very active and pesky defender who reads passing lanes and gets a lot of steals and deflections. Doesn’t have elite foot-speed or lateral quickness but anticipates well and gets in good position. Can play on or off the ball and has natural point guard skills. Plays with his head up and sees the floor well. https://nbadraftroom.com/ben-saraf/
So is he "Turbo light" in a ball handling guard version? Another Israeli Mossad agent with many skills? I could go for that
Does anyone watch the GLeauge team? How much potential does Isaac Nogués Gonzaléz have? Is he draftable? Is he someone who should be an UDFA? Does he have more potential to be more than a Pat Bev type? https://marcstein.substack.com/p/ja...sing?r=yvpa&utm_medium=ios&triedRedirect=true
Big fan of Kon and it was nice to see him get more ball handling duties vs Florida State with Proctor out and Flagg out for a large part of the first half with injury. Looked effective guarding out front vs their guards too. Far from perfect defensively...doesn't have the length to be disruptive contesting shots and he can struggle sometimes on long recoveries but a really solid lateral athlete and his strength allows him to consistently stay connected or completely wall off drives. Communicates, competes really hard, knows where to be defensively...I'm pretty safe in projecting him to be a neutral to maybe a slightly positive defender depending on how much responsibility he's given offensively. Like him in our scheme. Think he can switch 1-4 and be fairly effective. I understand wanting to take a swing with no clear star on this team, but not seeing any in this draft to be made after the top 3 (I'm low on VJ Edgecombe's ceiling) 2026's draft seems to be deeper on top end talent.
ROFL let em conveniently leave out all of cronins best moves, we’ll hear about this for a while until Flagg just gets drafted already
First of all, get off the damn floor and act like a man. Now, Cronin has made some good moves, and bad ones….or lack of moves. But please keep in mind that’s not all on Joe
