I had a thought last night that's been bugging me... For all of the "Portland has a big man curse" talk, no one ever seems to mention another position that we're horrifyingly weak at. I'm looking for answers to this question: Since Terry Porter, who is the BEST PG that the Blazers have drafted or acquired as a drafted rookie? Jarrett Jack? Telfair? Erick Barkley? This team has been TERRIBLE at drafting quality PGs in the last 2 decades, and as a result, has always had to acquire one via trade. Compared to the C argument where we've had some collosal busts, we've also had Arvydas Sabonis (even as a fat, drunk shell of himself he was a top 5 C in the NBA) and Jermaine O'Neal, with the jury still being Freeland and Oden to a degree anyway. Add to that the development of ZBO, Pryz, Dante Cunningham from nothing to something, and I have to wonder why everyone is still SO hung up on bigmen?!? I get it, we missed out on a chance for the Dream, so we settled for 2nd best over Jordan. Oden looks like a miss, especially in comparison to Durant, but would anyone really be THAT surprised if he got his career turned around and had 8 years of solid BBall?
I agree with your point that we have drafted a great PG since Porter. However, we haven't drafted (and kept) an above average center since Sabonis either. Neither point makes me feel good!
Cho's first draft. After the duds that KP has drafted it's a relief. It's just too bad this draft happens to be historically weak outside a few players.
Sad thing is last draft I thought KP did a great job tell midway through the season. We needed a lockdown 3 shooter and that was what Babbit was supposed to be and McMillian always wants PG's who can defend and while Armon hasn't looked like he has all the tools to run a team, he is like a tank on defense. I still hold some hope for both of them, but its not that I think they can contribute with big minutes. IF Luke can get that 3 shot down lock then he might be a good 10-15m player who gets us 1 to 2 threes a game and the same with Armon as a 10-15m player who is in to guard a quick/strong PG.
The Blazers have had many good Point Guards in their history. Wilkins, Twardzik, Ransey, Porter, Strickland, Anderson, Stoudemire, Jack, Miller are ALL average if not better than average at the position. Twardzik, Ransey and Porter are the best we've ever drafted. Strickland is the best Free Agent signing. Granted we need one now to groom.
The Blazers haven't really drafted a huge number of PG's in the first round, Telfair, Sergio, Erick Barkley, Jarret Jack come to mind. Is Jerryd Bayless a PG? Not sure about that. Their 2nd round picks haven't been that bad: Alvin Williams, Patty Mills, Armon Johnson, The PG mistakes are the ones they passed on (Chris Paul and Derron Williams -- traded down to get Martell Webster), (Victor Claver instead of Beaubois). Really except for the Martell Webster trade, the Blazers haven't been in position to draft a Point Guard on the level of TP, so to me, you chalk it up as one blown draft where they could have gotten a difference maker at PG (and possibly the draft before that led them to believe they didn't need to draft a PG).
We get most of our players through trades. We have 2 advantages that way. 1) Paul Allen's money throws in $3M which other owners highly value. 2) Paul Allen's money takes on big contracts other owners want to dump. We don't have to draft well until we get a new owner.
If you really look at the drafts, Portland sucks at drafting. Aldridge, Batum are the only ones performing how they should for where they were drafted.
Not sure I agree w/ that. ZBO's outperforming his draft spot, just not for us, same can . Jarrett Jack - at the very least is performing up to expectations for a late 1st rounder I think. Given that he was almost Mr. Irrelevant, Patty's given us some nice moments - there are PLENTY of players drafted that late or earlier that are in other professions already... I don't see us as "sucking", but we're certainly not sharpshooters when it comes to the draft either...
Ok, so in the last 10 years we have sucked. As for Jack....We traded out of drafting Paul or Williams in that draft, so he as a career backup does not get the nod
