Interesting trio - Demin and especially Penda are mocked well below our pick. Queen apparently interviews very well. I saw him compared with Antoine Walker elsewhere by somebody who said he was more of a 3/4 than a 4/5. WHERE IS CMB???
Scratch that - I had CMB mixed up with Fleming for being at that workout two weeks ago. TWO players not listed: Carter Bryant CMB One of these prospects were likely in that 1v1 private workout.
For those too lazy to go to HoopsHype and look up the list - Carter Bryant, Noa Essengue, and Collin Murray-Boyles are notably absent. Not much chatter about Asa Newell. For everyone talking about Demin being just a 3-pt shot away from being a great prospect, the same could be said about Newell...
it almost looks like the Blazers MIGHT be open to trading back or trading for another pick via Ant etc
I'd rather take Demin or Kasparas than Bryant from what I've seen. I like guys who can dribble. The only guy I'd be open to in that mold would be Essengue but I don't think he'll be there at 11.
https://hoopshype.com/rumor/3697329/ Not sure if this was posted. Memphis wanting to trade for Deni? I mean that’s gotta be bullshit right? Ja Morant better be in the deal if true.
No sure about a 'sale job', but he has one unique skill that is better than anyone else I've seen in college or young player oversees and something drastically missing on the Blazers. He is a brilliant passer! He would constantly set up teammates that were mid college players at best putting them in an easier position to score and making them more successful. He is constantly looking ahead and doesn't just hit the open man but will throw teammates open, much like a good quarterback. There are certainly flaws, but his shooting was tightened up from when he was in college to the Pre-Draft workouts and he lit up the gym and he is a crafty finisher with either hand. Defensively, he is not great or even very good, but his length helps cover of some of that and his versatility is quite valuable and I think would fit with the Blazer youth movement in a very good way.
Something I saw on a draft profile that will take him some time to overcome is that he can be "bullied" into bad passes or turnovers pretty easily. When defenders got aggressive and physical with him he couldn't counter it and I think that's a big part of why he wasn't the main facilitator at BYU as the season went on. You know NBA scouts saw it and he'll have to get stronger and improve his ball handling before he'll get big minutes. I didn't think his shooting % was a big deal. When you see his form it's pretty easy to see it's not broken. A huge factor that I haven't heard mentioned with Egor is the fact that at 18 years old he moved to a different country. Ideally you want to see a kid have immediate success, but I can't fault an 18 year old that struggles after such such a drastic change.
Due diligence means they’re just doing their job in case he becomes available. Avdija is a great player.
Agreed, age and moving countries is a big deal. As for an 18 year old getting bullied, I don't have too much of an issue with it. Look at what happened to Flagg on his final shot when they put a bigger, stronger, older player on him for the final possession. I think both will get stronger and use their skills in a more mature way when as they gain experience.
