That still doesn't mean this is a bad draft. Take out Wemby and they'd be talking about last year's draft the way they're talking about this year's draft.
He fits like a glove in Portland. Having reliable guards open the floor up for Edey allows him to flourish in Purdue. And Portland is one of a few teams that does have this. Of course, the Blazers need to use their pick to acquire a defensive capable wing like Williams, Risacher, or Holland to help ease potential defensive lapses on Edey's part but that's probably who Portland should be targeting anyway. Otherwise, I've already listed that Edey's college PER very likely means he'll succeed in the NBA. Once you get past a certain PER threshold on a top tier Div I team, it seems that players have translated into the NBA. From Olynyk and Brandon Clarke (back up bigs that contend for sixth man of the year) to John Collins and Keegan Murray (good starters) to freshman Zion (very unlikely to be a Zion tier player but if you read old scouting reports, people were saying similar things about Jokic where he's simply an advanced stat nerd's dream, unathletic, and couldn't keep up at the Nike Hoops summit....just food for thought). There's also another threshold where just about every traditional center that can hit 12ppg/8.4 rbg per 28 minutes on efficient FG%, as freshmen, have turned out quite well in the NBA due to being so far ahead of the curve. Edey has this. Hall of fame quality centers like Shaq, Embiid, Hakeem, Robinson showcased this btw. Greg Oden qualified and could've potentially been here too. Then, there is KAT, Cousins, Ayton, Robert Williams III, Wendell Carter Jr. Most recent players who demonstrated this are Jalen Duren and Walker Kessler (Chet may or may not count as traditional center, depending on how you view things, but he achieved this too). Essentially, you draft Edey as your Robert Williams III replacement and if he magically blossoms into another Jokic/Yao or whatever, great. If not, he'll be Robert Williams III tier. I don't think he's a fluke, whatsoever. Then, he passes the eye test, too. Who can guard a hyper efficient 7'11" wingspan that draws FTs and has good FT% while also being able to kick back out? Seems like only Wemby can match that. At #13 and with a few more lottery bound drafts still ahead, I think it's worth a gamble. Now, if you don't like that gamble, Donovan Clingan has also put up a similar freshman year and might be available.
Honest question .....has there ever been a "bad" draft then? If you are so hyped about the #5 and #14th picks....look back. There have been some BRUTAL lotteries. Save the late 1st or 2nd round picks that worked out. I'm talking about LOTTERY picks. There isn't much to get excited about this year that will make us better next season plain and simple. And if dudes on here are mad at me fro bringing this up and not getting excited, sorry. They're the same guys who hate on me for predicting we will only win 20 something games instead of 55. Just trying to keep it real. But on the bright side, you won't have to read my opinions in any draft threads this year. I'll let the experts do that.
These big white guys make me nervous. Shouldn't we be looking more for guys like Adebayo? Yves Missi, FG% about same as Adebayo in college, blocks and steal per 36 about the same and a better rebounder per 36. Or even a guy who should be available in the second round likle Ulrich Chomche. https://www.si.com/nba/draft/prospect-profiles/nba-draft-scouting-report-cameroons-ulrich-chomche#:~:text=Chomche played three games played,from the free-throw line.
I strongly disagree with this. Even taking out Wemby, the '23 and '24 draft classes are not comparable. Combining draft classes: Sarr would be taken ~5-6 (after Miller, Scoot, & Thompson twins) Risacher would be taken in the 10-14 range (similar level prospect to Howard, Dick, Hawkins) Topic would be in that same 10-14 range (slightly better than Bufkin, Hood-Schifino) Williams, Holland, Buzelis would all be in the 15-25 range (Jaquez, Podziemski, Whitmore, OMax, etc).
I'd have taken Miller, the Thompson twins, Scoot, Jarace, and probably even AB and Lively over everyone in this draft.
Nobody in here is "so hyped about the #5 and #14th picks". You're arguing against a position that nobody holds. What people ARE doing is discussing which players that will be available at the spots where we will draft have size/skillset combinations that will best complement our current rebuild. Nobody in here is talking about players that will make us better next year. You're arguing against a position that nobody holds. What people ARE doing is talking about players that we hope will be part of a competitive team 2-3 years down the road. Nobody in here is mad at you for not getting excited. You're arguing against a position that nobody holds. What people ARE annoyed by is you being a wet blanket any time they're minimally excited about anything. Fact is, how posters or analysts label this draft doesn't change the reality of the Blazers' draft situation. They will, in fact, have two first round picks. One would hope that Blazer fans would be united in their desire for the front office to make the most of those picks, even in a "bad draft."
It's becoming increasingly clear that you don't actually understand how the lottery works. We're actually least likely to get the fifth pick in the top 5. Who uses next year as a barometer of whether or not a draft was successful? The best guard in the league took 4 years to develop (SGA).
You constantly tell me what I don't know about. Like the Uber Driver. I understand how the draft works son. I understand fans overhype players on the daily. Just keep the hype train chugging along.
Sure, but do you have an alternative? We are a small market team. The draft is the best way to eventual contention. I would even look into moving Ant and the GS or our pick to move up.
I disagree sir/maam...... I read unbelievably UNREALISTIC posts on here daily. It's those unrealistic takes and opinions that lead to people claiming our 20 year old PG is a "bust" before he had played 30 pro games after 19 semi-pro games. It's those same unrealistic takes that hype up a horrible draft....that all I'm saying man. Didn't mean to rub you the wrong way.
I never questioned our market size or if the draft is our best way moving forward...I know it is. I'm questioning the talent level of this draft is all.
You should. But that doesn't mean there won't be some high quality starters we have the opportunity to add to our team.
I don't think any player in this draft will start next season let alone be "high quality". Is that what you meant?
2 lottery picks and Ant is a bit risky for Sarr. Is he a sure thing? I think there will be stars from this draft in a few years, but we just don't know yet who they are. We are absolutely drafting for the future, not next year. Although I would still be disappointed if our ping ball balls came up in the 7th spot (Where we currently have a 25.7 percent chance of doing so) I would not be as upset as I normally would be. There are quite a few young players, who just need to improve in one area to make the jump. But in this latest mock draft, (as well as Tankathon) I would be just as OK taking the guy they have at 8 (who they compare to Hedo Türkoğlu) as who they have #2 that they compare to Harrison Barnes. https://www.nba.com/news/bleacher-r...d-pro-comparisons-as-tournament-play-heats-up
