Keeping our pick? This might be a Lottery year

KINGS WIN!!!! That almost assures the Blazers of the #6 spot. Too bad the Pacers keep losing.
Now the Blazers could actually try to win a game against....the Pelicans.

 

Six is a nice spot. No expectations, but pretty decent odds to make a jump. Also good odds that at least one of Duren and Sharpe will be there.

 

I said sixth was the goal.

check the post history bitches

 

Anthony Davis has turned into Russell Westbrook shooting wise.

 

First we have to lose the game in Oklahoma City on Tuesday. Then we can root for them to beat the Pelicans on Thursday.

 

I'm getting Kawhi/Shawn Marion vibes from Tari Eason if I squint hard enough. He's got a tenacity defensively that no one outside of Jabari has in this draft. And he can switch onto guards. And seriously... his advanced numbers are top 5 caliber.

Seems kinda like a Billups guy.

The downside is he could also turn out like Aminu but with a stronger handle. And also unfortunately, he (like Sochan) didn't start until late in the season, albeit he was a transfer on a troubled LSU team.

Prolly depends on his work ethic how he ends up in the NBA, but I love seeing the improvement from yr 1 to 2.

Also fun fact--- he went to the same HS as BRoy.

 

Agreed. My comps for him are Kawhi & Butler. Hes in my top 4

He was also coached by Roy & won the WA St title

 

he is so right-hand dominant with his handle but it's damn strong. so many kawhi vibes in the film i saw today, and stats are fairly comparable too, but eason is a better shooter. kawhi (and Jimmy) both improved drastically AFTER coming to the league, but i think Eason might have the same foundational skills and mindset.

jumped out to me as someone we should not pass if he's available mid-late lottery.

 

I've paid more attention to which players all you guys are focused on than anything else. I did not watch much of the tournament or much of the season, at all. I haven't watched any scouting videos or read any scouting reports. It's been more osmosis from draft threads here

and here's what I've been able to glean: if the Blazers have a top-3 pick, it will be a disaster if they choose either Holmgren or Banchero. Smith if he's available is a can't miss...unless they don't choose Chet or Ivey or Banchero. And if Portland is 4-7, then they should take Mathurin; no, take Johnny Davis; no, take Keegan Murray; no take AJ Griffin; no take Shaedon Sharpe; no, take Ochai Agbaji; no, take Jalen Duren; no take Malachi Branham; no, take Jeremy Sochan; no, take Tari Eason

Yikes!

it's actually kind of relaxing to not have any dog in the fight. My only want is to add players over 6'5 who are either versatile 2-way wings, or 2-way bigs who can play on the perimeter and the paint. Easy peasy

 

Given that the best player from this class could VERY easily, if not even probably WILL be a 6'4 guard AND that our franchise is famous for missing out on 2 of the all-time greatest players by opting for big men instead... I'm afraid it's not even that easy...

 

I should have used green font for easy peasy

 

Nah I'm with ya on the sarcasm. Was just making the point that I don't think there's really any amount of filters or guard rails you can put on this class. It would feel weird drafting Ivey with Dame, Ant and Hart, but I could certainly see plenty of logic for it.

 

well, if Ivey is as good as his fans claim, I suppose Portland might have to take him. It would really make the team too guard heavy though. Have to more Hart to SF, which is his weaker position IMO. Blazers would have Ivey for 4 years on a cheap rookie deal, so there's roster imbalance but not necessarily cap imbalance

Still, unless Ivey is a locked-in future all-star I'd prefer a prototype wing/stretch-4. Maybe, if the Blazers had say a 2nd pick and some team at 4-7 really really wanted Ivey the Blazers could trade back, still have a top-7 pick and pick up some good future draft assets

maybe...if Portland is one of 2 or 3 teams that jumps ahead of the Pistons....Blazers can swap picks AND grab Grant, still leaving them with two more lottery picks

 

I would think Dame & Chauncey want a front line veteran thats in that 6'8-10" range that can score and play D. Maybe its Grant or maybe someone else, or THE PICK can come in and have immediate impact?
Don't be discouraged though if we package the pick with one of our young guns for that established vet?

 

Is Chet going to be available at 6th so the Blazers can take another chance on a 7” big man?

 

We’re uber fucked if we don’t land in the top-3 — the dropoff after Chet/Jabari/Banchero is bigger than most think.

It’s a deep draft of solid players but those are the only three with franchise player type of potential.

 

When I think of those three and think "Franchise Player" best-case I lose interest in Banchero. When I think best-case for him, I think Carmelo Anthony. A great scorer but not someone who ever led his team anywhere.

I will readily admit, I don't watch a lot of college BBall so my opinion should be taken with a grain (or a handful) of rock salt.

Chet, seems like a the biggest question - could be bust, could be good. Not sure we've ever seen someone with his height/weight combo dominate but I also know guys tend to fill out more once they hit the pros. If we got him, I'd be cautiously optimistic and at the same time, downright scared about his ability to stay healthy and play with the bigger/stronger players in the NBA.

 

#6 is good. Fine, just fine.
The consensus saying Smith, Ivey, Banchero, and Holmgren going in the Top4 leaves ... Keegan Murray (Indy can use a PF who looks like a step-and-a-half up from Harkless and Aminu.), Shaedon Sharpe (wildcard extraordinaire), and Adrian Griffin (like Sharpe, 6'6 swing with wingspan and built).
With Little and Ingles (if Dame likes him that much ... I do) ... then 1 of the 3 makes a deeper, larger line-up that can shoot (unknown on Sharpe). Getting the New Orleans pick at 12 is a good asset (go Big and athletic), but put the money on Grant at forward. I'm interested in watching that kind of team.

Who could fall to 6? Obvious answer: Holmgren. The others falling would surprise. OKC at 4 for the thinnest bigs in the League with Poku? Indiana at 5? Probably. But Portland is perfect for that decision -- whiff on Durant vs. pick a Gonzaga big who impressed N.O. with his passing.

 

There's no sure number one in this draft, which means it's possible the best player in 5 years wasn't in the the top 4.

 

The Thunders future looks bright with this guy.

Similar skill set to Holmgren. While obviously Holmgren is much better shotblocker.