Let's say AD was looking to stay. Should a team with an all star PF (Pelicans) be looking to Draft Zion?
Sure, he may end up on other team's radars too...that doesn't mean they'll select him. Otherwise, the inevitable result of your logic is that he'll go #1...after all, if he's on the radar of teams picking ahead of us, he'll be on the radar of teams picking ahead of them too. And ahead of the teams picking ahead of them. Etcetera. Ultimately, he has a general range where he's likely to go. Maybe that range will change leading up to the draft, but right now, Portland is in that range. Him ending up "on Portland's radar" doesn't suddenly change his range to be even higher than Portland's pick.
If I didn't think Zion and Davis could play well together, then yeah, I'd seriously look at drafting someone else. There's no guarantee any of these players will live up to their potential so I'd at least pick one that would work the best for the team if the player did work out.
Not drafting Zion in this draft would be the dumbest move any GM with the #1 pick could ever do regardless of roster composition.
If you really don't believe the BPA (in your own evaluations, not trying to say everyone agrees on who BPA is) can co-exist with your best player(s), then you should be trying to trade out of the pick and taking BPA at another selection--not take a player you evaluate to be a lesser talent but a better fit, IMO. Or trading the player(s) that you don't think the draftee can co-exist with, depending on which you judge the rarer talent.
I'd be real happy with Grant Williams. As it says in the article, he just understands the game more than most.
I just don't see where Grant Williams fits on the Blazers at all. I see these mocks linking him with us, but I don't see a fit. He's an undersized 4 who seems to be close to his peak. He reminds me of Biggie. I don't see how he moves the needle for the Blazers now or in the future. Is he good enough to get minutes at the 3 with potentially Mo, Rodney and Jake? If Chief is back, can he get minutes from him and Zach at the 4? Can he be a rotation player on a team that's competing for HCA in the Western Conference? I don't see any of those when I see him. I see a guy who would excel in the summer league.
I've never seen him compared to Draymond Green before. Maybe I've missed it. Draymond's value is as an exceptional defensive player with a non-stop motor. His arm length is insane. That doesn't sound like Grant Williams to me. If he was a slightly above average defensive player, it wouldn't be enough to make him worth it offensively. I think your absolute upside for Grant Williams is Millsap. And it'd be a stretch for me to see him achieving that. And even if he did, I don't know if that guy is a central player in the WC semis or finals. And I don't think Millsap would be a particular great fit on the Blazers in the current system. Just MO.
If you are looking at drafting Grant Williams at 25, IMO, better off to trade the pick for a vet who can make an impact on your roster now or a Skal-type move.
I'm making the comparison. Draymond wasn't seen as what he is now nor was he expected to translate well to the NBA. Lots of people, like you, are saying the same things about Williams. Williams junior year: 18.8 ppg 7.5 rpg 3.2 apg 1.5 bpg 1.1 spg Green junior year: 12.6 ppg 8.6 rpg 4.1 apg 1.1 bpg 1.8 spg Williams does a little bit of everything, just like Draymond, and has the IQ to be a great team defender. He is a much better scorer than Green and slightly worse rebounding so the comparison obviously isn't perfect. None are.
Draymond and Williams measured almost exactly the same in height (with and without shoes) and weight (Williams 4.5 pounds more). Draymond had more fattiness to him with double the body fat. The reason Draymond is fine at that size while Williams will struggle is that Draymond's wingspan was 7'1.25" compared to 6'9.75" for Grant. That's a huge difference when it comes to trying to make up for being undersized. I'm not saying measurements are everything but Draymond would not be as good if he didn't have such long arms.
Jury is still out on that one. Simons hasn’t done much. He will turn out good I think but there were some good wings and forwards who went later in the draft - Kurucs is someone I would have on this team right now. I don’t think Simons will have a career that is way above the likes of Shamet, Kurucs, Robinson.
Do we have a shot at getting Kabengele? I think we do and he could be a good pick. I think there will be plenty of useful role players coming out of this draft. Few potential stars but many versatile players who will contribute on winning teams. Someone like Thybulle is basically your ultimate fifth player specialist type of guy.
