At the moment (after three summer league games) I still would. I see what the Blazers saw, lots of potential, although I think he'll have an up and down rookie year.
Yang has looked good, but I'd still take that deal from NOP if we were offered it. That pick next summer could be REALLY good and there are some legit superstar caliber players in the 2026 draft. I'd do what Atlanta did. Take Asa Newell and their 2026 pick and never look back.
It's really early and something we probably revisit often over the years, God willing. But what i've seen so far and the fact we also received a number one future, it's hard not to believe that we did really well here, currently. I was flabbergasted at the pick, read all of the pundits and started watching video. Lot of them quite possibly will be eating crow in a couple of years. The kid is fun to cheer for.
No hesitation, I do the same thing. I'm optimistic that the influx of Chinese fans will at the very least help drive down the number of people wearing the Puce and Bile to a Blazers game.
Knowing that they've been in his camp for 2 years and wanted him last year I think it was a brilliant move to get him and 3 picks out of the draft. Our overseas scouts are paying off with Tou and Han Sen and Rupert and Deni. We've got about 8 foreign players now it seems.
Great angle that isn't mentioned enough. He is a good face of the NBA. Not saying he's the best player on the team but he is absolutely charismatic and feels like a great young man.
The redraft will have at least 17 teams (if I counted correctly) wishing they had evaluated Nique Clifford more thoroughly. He is looking like a real value considering where he was taken. He was who I would have had the blazers take if they had acquired a late pick. But hey Hansen has been a lot of fun so far and I look forward to seeing how working with Tiago Splitter helps his growth.
I don't know. I'm not saying that he won't be good but scoring guards doing great in SL has been fools gold far too many times to get too up or too down on any prospect in SL right now.
I was more comparing his college career and how he is playing the same way in the summer league, I am not saying his #’s will be similar in when the games matter but the way he plays and how he seems to understand his role is going to translate well in my opinion.
Yeah I'd take that Pelicans pick - nuts it's unprotected. They might be the 3rd worst team in the NBA after Utah/Brooklyn. But Yang has been very impressive so I'll be happy to eat crow if he blows past the value of that pick.
Same but I would have probably taken Liam McNeeley. Trade down from 11 to 16, then trade from 16 down to pick up another 1st, then take McNeeley.
I had no real expectations for Portland, as it looked like a weak draft and our place in it sucked. I was doubtful we'd even get a journeyman type player. When they traded down to 16 and then took Yang, I was beside myself. What a difference a couple weeks make. We not only ended up with a guy whose floor is "journeyman" at worst, and whose upside may be the stars and beyond, we ended up with another first round draft pick (unclear as to any protections). It may take a couple of years to wash out but I honestly think Cronin and company hit it outta the park in this particular draft. They made something out of nothing.
Either way, it explains why they were not overly concerned with where they ended in the lottery. Yes, a top 3 pick still would have been nice, but they knew they would add talent regardless.
This draft was hyped up but it sure seems pretty middle of the road. Lots of decent players but hardly any star caliber ones. And then there are the reports that 2027 looks awful. I really think the pipeline for players is starting to dry up.
