I think the go to for these sites when handing out a bad grade is that the pick(s) didn’t fill a need, or there were other players at the same position that were more ready to contribute. It’s almost never about who is going to be the better player down the line. Short sighted bullshit.
The draft was a total whiff for Neil. Face it. He needed and wanted to trade the pick and valuable $13mil trade exception for a vet. He did neither. And so then he drafts a teenager / major project - who plays at our strongest position. Total strike out. So, yeah,. I would sat we were one of the losers.
It takes two to play the trade game. Olshey says he tried for the vet deal that you mention, but that there weren't any takers on draft day. Unable to find someone for his primary plan, he took a chance on a high school kid with raw talent. The trade exception still is in play until July 25th, IIRC. Simons may end up being a steal or a bust. I think, based on that, you have to give Olshey an incomplete at this point. If he's able to make a deal for a vet using the TPE, then he comes up looking like roses given that he also has Simons as potential gravy from the draft.
https://www.si.com/nba/2017/06/23/2...d-losers-bulls-lakers-jimmy-butler-lonzo-ball https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...om-the-2017-nba-draft/?utm_term=.7f837e8583e3
Head-Scratching often comes from ignorance. Defense wasn't our problem last year. Reliable scoring/shooting along side Dame and CJ was. We already have two defenders capable of guarding multiple positions in Aminu/Harkless. If we are going to find another versatile defender of enough quality its going to be a veteran, not a rookie.
LOL, just another vanity publishing content farm. These sites will publish anything anyone writes as long as it gets them some clicks. Of course they pay NOTHING for these "articles", instead they offer publishing "credits" for clueless wannabe sports writers. Pathetic. BNM
The sites shitting all over the Blazers picks tend to focus on short term needs, but offer no alternatives as to exactly what immediate impact players we were going to get at 24 and 37. Simons was the BPA at 24, and if we wouldn't have taken him at 24, the Lakers would have taken him at 25. Nobody should ever get shit on for taking the BPA at 24 , or below. Fit, schmidt. Picking this low, you go for talent and worry about fit later. I think Trent Jr. will end up being a steal at 37. Seriously, anyone picked that low that actually makes an NBA roster is a good pick. You get a rotation player that low and it's a GREAT pick. Yeah, we didn't get Deandre Ayton or Luka Doncic, so give us a fucking F. Morons. BNM
Wow was that worthless. Every team that drafted for potential blew it. Every team that didn't draft for potential blew it. K.
Yep, based on what we know today. Of course, who was REALLY the BPA at that position won't be known for a few years. That's just the way it works. Drafting is an inexact science. Point being, this late in the draft, you choose talent over positional need, and that's exactly what the Blazers need. Obviously, with Dame and C.J. a 6'4" 19-year old combo guard wasn't our biggest need (or even any need at all), but the Blazers said fuck need, this kid has the potential to be special. BNM
Really? "Others"? What others. Name names, SI, or shut the fuck up. It's one thing for us mere fans to make a statement that vague, but a professional sports publication should give a fucking example of the "others on the board" that the Blazers should have selected, and why.
Guess Neil forgot this BPA tenet last year when he picked Swanigan one pick before Kuzma, 12 picks before Bell, and 19 picks before Dorsey. He was neither a good fit nor BPA. FWIW, I thought Evans was BPA or maybe even Robert Williams/ Okobo.
All these people saying Simons will go to the G-League. I call bullshit. The kid is so young and raw he will be kept in-house for development, I think. Trent Jr might be sent down, though. (Yes, I know he's also 19, but he's had coaching at least.)
I agree. The G-League is for playing time, not coaching. Blazers should keep Simons close and well tutored.
This was a draft for the present, not the future. Trent and Simons will start next season after CJ and Dame are traded. barfo
This is starting to become fun! Check out what USA Today said about CJ's class (keep in mind that I just googled and picked the first site, I didn't look for sites that were, in my opinion, wrong):
Williams, really? Great athlete, but very unskilled with a questionable motor. The guy shot 47% from the line and due to lack of skill had trouble scoring at the previous level. BNM
