Keeping our pick? This might be a Lottery year

If the (25-37) Trail Blazers lose all their remaining games, we'll fall below the following teams and reach the 4th worst record if:
- (25-37 )Knicks: we will get below the Knicks because we have one game remaining with them in New York.
- (24-38) San Antonio: we will get below San Antonio because we have 3 games remaining with them.
- (23-41) Sacramento: The Kings need to win 2 more games. Sac won the season series with the Blazers.
- (22-42) Indiana: Indiana beats Portland and wins 2 other games, including one Eastern Conference team (so they can have a better conference win% than Portland).
- (20-42) OKC: The Thunder beat Portland twice and win 3 other games out of 18. They would sweep the series with Portland 4-0. The Thunder are 3-3 in their last 6 games, with their wins all on the road in New York, Indiana, and Denver. They beat Denver by 12, 119-107, in their last game.

 

btw. Chet is almost a whole year older than Jabari

 

And white, and skinny, a future bust

 

If we end up in a position after pick three where it's our pick and he's available I think we take him if there isn't a great trade instead. The dude can defend on the perimeter, he's a world class weak side shot blocker, he is a phenomenal passer and a knockdown spot up jump shooter who if closed out on too hard can use his handle to get past his guy and either get to the hoop for a dunk or use that passing ability to set up a teammate. Honestly he fits perfectly next to Nurk who takes up so much space and fills the paint on both ends. Chet also doesn't have a history of injuries despite his slight frame. He hits the deck all of the time too and bounces back up, and I'm no kinesiologist but I think he looks good moving.

Don't get me wrong I would definitely entertain trade offers if we had the third through sixth pick and both Jabari and Paolo were gone but I wouldn't be pissed if we took Chet in the four through six range either. I think if we have the third pick and Jabari/Paolo went during the first two selections we have to find the team that wants either Chet or more likely Jaden the most and get the best value we can from one of them.

 

These are stretches I think. I've dove in completely into the draft the last few weeks and still need to fully form my final opinions, but there are way too many superlatives in this statement. That he can be a perimeter defender on the NBA level is laughable to me. He's pretty clunky laterally. He's absolutely an elite shot blocker and that skill should translate. Even passing/playmaking is good but nothing I would classify as "phenomenal."

 

He may be "clunky" laterally whatever that means because his foot speed isn't great but he uses his length both in his legs and arms and his footwork which is definitely not clunky for a big, to stay in front of both bigs and wings on the perimeter. They do get by him at times but for a PF he does a great job keeping guys in front of him and slowing them down when he can't.

Phenomenal in the sense of any basketball player, at any position was a misuse of the word. He is a phenomenal passer/playmaker for a big, the dude makes great passes. He makes passes that we would see from starting level PGs in the NBA but not passes that we would see from the most elite passers in the league at least not yet, he will still only be 19 when his freshman season ends... well until a month later.

Again, I'm not arguing that Chet is the best prospect in the draft. I think Jabari, Paolo and Jaden all have him beaten handily. He just probably leads the next tier of prospects as far as I'm concerned and a few guys on that tier could arguably be better prospects than him as well. However, his footwork is nice on both ends for a guy his size, his handle is really nice for a guy his size, his passing is nice for a guy any size, he is a deadly spot up shooter and he is an elite shot blocker. Chet is not strong when considering him at any position and he has slow feet for an NBA player but not slow feet for a big. The dude has a one of a kind skill set both in it's strengths and weaknesses. I wouldn't be upset if we ended up with him but given our history with bigs if we are going to draft anybody over 6'9" I would want exhaustive physicals done on them including bone density and I'd want an actual kinesiologist to weigh in on the sustainability of the way they move.

 

I see him as at best a good starter. That's not an upside I want to spend a top 5 pick on. There are guys who are rawer who have the elite athleticism and size required in the NBA and yes I mean frame as well. I just see Chet as being bullied down low and being blown by on the perimeter by the better NBA guards on switches. His weakside shot-blocking and shooting are the only things that I think will translate for sure. The rest is a big question mark. He looks like a slower but lengthier Zach Collins with a better shot. I'd rather trade the pick or go for someone who is lower on the Big Board's but has higher upside in terms of athleticism/size.

 

ya i'm not seeing this at all. I think he is going to be rim-bound in the pros and will force the team he plays on to have to go into drop and funnel guys to him. he's gonna get blown by on drives in the NBA if he's on the perimeter in any capacity. He's not Evan Mobley.

He averages 1.9 assists per game. Starting level PG? His assist % is also pretty paltry. He can hit cutters, but this isn't Jokic.

You say you're not arguing that he's the best player yet keep repeating these superlatives.

 

I think he's a good prospect, and his efficiency stats are out of this world, but I've been lukewarm on him for a while. And my disinterest in him isn't just because of his weight. I think he's got mediocre foot speed and will pose severe limitations into how he can be used in the league.

 

Just yuck

 

I am just the opposite. His weight and potential injuries for a guy that tall would be my only concern. As you allude to the guy has a shitload of skill. I would not take him in the top 3 but I would be happy to see him slide down to us. We could use a stretch 4, and this kid, if healthy, will be in the league a long time.

 

I'm just way too scared giving our injury history to spend a top 3 pick on him.

And I really don't think he can be a 4 in the modern NBA. What is he going to do against Lebron/Kawhi/Simmons/Giannis/ KD etc etc? All these guys are either going to drive around him or overpower him.

Strictly a face up 5 who can also roll to the hoop. But I think the whole intrigue about him is the elite rim protection. If he can become a more skilled Gobert, that's tantalizing..... just, not for me.

 

Are you guys watching Zaga games? Chet has routinely blocked post up shots. He has played against very strong big men, and had almost no problem with them. He not just a weak side blocker, he can protect the rim. He would fit well as a center in Billups 2-3 defense. I think he will make an instant impact as a rookie, not ROY level though. But someday down the road when he add strength he will thrive as a center in current nba game. That being said, smith and Banchero are safer bet

 

He’ll be an average NBA player at best

 

Yeah, similar to Durant or....Wait, I can't think of another 7 footer with the shooting/ball handling/shot blocking/passing skills he has. Definitely average player.

And yes, with Spokane ties, I have watched every game.

 

Yay. Sacramento won tonight, beating the Spurs in San Antonio. They now have 24 wins , only 1 win behind the Trail Blazers.
It looks safe to say if the Blazers lose the rest of their games, we should at least have the 6th worst record.
All Sacramento has to do is win one more game since they won the season series with Portland. Sacramento's easier games are New York, Orlando, and Houston (twice).

 

Lol, he’s not even CLOSE to Durant in any shape or form.

hahahahahahahahahhahahaha

 

Yeah I see him developing into a modern game version of LA. He will be a perennial all star