Running list of prospects meeting/working out with Portland

I pretty much agree with everything you said except for one minor thing...I don't think he would help much at the 4 except on the rare occasions when you needed size for a matchup like a healthy Anthony Davis.

Although I do think he could defend perimeter shooting centers like Jokic better than anyone else we have.

 

At least he’s not Greg Oden who looked 58 and had the fragility to match the look.

 

I bolded the ones I rate over Duren, though I'll hedge and list the next 3 as possibilities. I'd like to stretch a tape on Ivey as I don't see him as a PG. He is a very dynamic player, but he's a scorer not a distributor and he'll have to be paired with someone else who can run the show in the half court. If he's 6'2ish 200 lbs as I suspect, thats Dame sized which limits him defensively and on which teams he fits. Smaller scorers are not that hard to come by but he's pretty dynamic so maybe. Sharpe is the mystery man who seems like he could be the real deal 2 guard and could turn out to be the best player in the draft. Like many I truly don't have a bead on him other then knowing he looks the part and has all the measurables. Maybe. Murray is a safe pick (high floor, modest ceiling) who would likely would contribute more in the short term. I wouldn't stand up and cheer, but I do think he's likely to be a solid pro & understand why PDX would to select him to try to appease Dame's window.

I understand the sentiment devaluing Centers in general, however I see Duren as having a very high ceiling once he's a few years in that could make him special. His strengths are what I value most in a Big & as contributing to winning team ball. That he is coordinated, intelligent and seems hard working/motivated bodes well for him developing a consistent shot down the line too. Again, very happy that Portland had him in and that it seemed to go well.

STOMP

 

I hadn't read that, it just makes sense as they've both a need there and the low fan base expectations to allow him to develop. What makes little sense is Ivey paired with Fox in Sacramento. Maybe the Kings extract some value from Detroit swapping picks and then go with Sharpe or Murray?

STOMP

 

I don't usually disagree with you gramps but Oden looked like a damn beast at Ohio State. He looked extremely athletic. Our stupid training staff decided to put a ton of extra muscle on his frame.

 

Oden came into the NBA well built. He’d get an injury and then take the frustration out with food. He was living with like his 500lb uncle in Portland which I’m sure wasn’t a good influence.

Zion kind of reminds me of Oden’s career path. Glimpses of being a freaky good player, but the work ethic and mindset to feed your body good things and take care of themselves just isn’t there.

 

Go look at pictures of him coming out of college and then pictures of him during his actual rookie season. He put on a TON of muscle.

 

Still, I hope they measure his legs.
There's an old saying in Tennessee — I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee — that says, fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can't get fooled again.

 

In the unlikely chance that Nurkic becomes proficient enough shooting 3-pointers, Duren and Nurkic would be able to play together, like Jaxson Hayes and Jonas Valenciunas did to end the season.

 

Not saying he didn’t look like a beast. I was thrilled we could get him. He was a monster at Ohio State.

Just saying he looked much older than he was and then things just seemed to keep breaking.

 

Don’t read anything into this, but the Blazers loved Duren’s workout

 

Casey and Brooke were gushing about him nonstop in their podcast.

 

Was told he was consistently draining shots. Has a long way to go offensively, but can get there. Was told expected ceiling is Dwight Howard

 

Great, we’re gonna trade back for multiple picks and take this guy and Grant.


Smh.

 

i wouldn’t hate that knicks trade if we ended up with obi,duren grant and Nurk as our front court but still doesn’t solve the 3

 

If we throw in a future 1st maybe we can trade him for RoCo!

 

Is it weird that I scheduled off work for draft day and usually do every year?

 

Nope. Either that or I’m weird too

 

It those who don't who are the weird ones. I do it for the NFL and NBA drafts every year.