Shaedon Sharpe is our future

Both Curry brothers were (are) essentially combo guards. The Warriors only really took off when Steph was off-ball more.

Here's the argument for Richardson on defense (start at 5:43)



But essentially if you draft him, you draft him because you need shooting. And I'd say we need shooting, particularly if we regard our current core as essentially Clingan, Toumani and Deni.

I wish we could've had him work out with Coward and Clifford, though.

 

Why is that the standard? You think we're getting our franchise player at #11 in the first draft when NIL money really depleted the ranks?

 

yeah, it's almost like that Senior year last year didn't happen, which is why next year would have been his Senior year of eligibility Do you think Shaedon was developing his game when he was sidelined with labrum tears? It was a lost period of development. The poster's point in trying to degrade him was that he's so old now he lacks upside and then made a laughable comparison saying "do we really need another Kris Murray except stayed past his junior year?" Murray didn't go to college straight out of HS and instead played at a sports development academy for a year prior to enrolling at Iowa. When drafted after 3 more healthy but uninspiring years at Iowa, dude was over a year older then Cedric will be. His game in no way compares to Coward's. Only placeholding unathletic players without plus skills (like Murray for instance) are largely done developing in their early 20s. Players like Cedric with plus shooting, length and athleticism have the opportunity to level up maybe several times... I could list endless examples. Cedric's age falls between the ages of Scoot and Sharpe... it's laughable to think that they're done improving.

good for you. You're clearly way smarter then all the NBA front office types who pay close attention to that yearly big waste of time/money and that includes the PTB's front office. Certainly the Pacers and Thunder have no great run/jump athletes with great length... obviously everyone has a lot to learn from a genius like you. Also, what the heck was Duke thinking offering a reported 3 Million dollar NIL deal to such a low impact player?

STOMP

 

4x Curry

Jrue(2x)/ White were pretty good. They didn't primarily lead a team to a title, but they were exceptional starters.

I never liked building the Blazers around Dame as the #1 option as he was short, ball dominant, and a shit defender. Yeah that seems like a horrible strategy.

But the Blazers drafting a short guard this month with their worst draft pick in the last 4 years is totally different and fine IMO. We're not trying to have him be the #1 option leading the Blazers to contend. He just needs to be a role player.

 

There's been plenty of great short guards on contenders. Steve Nash, CP3, Jason Terry.

Nash probably wins titles in Phoenix if not for Lakers/Spurs dynasties in his way many years.

All else equal elite wings are the best position and I don't think anyone is arguing otherwise. But that doesn't mean there aren't great short PG or tall centers that could be a key piece of a team winning a title.

 

I don't see why he has to be a "SG". The NBA doesn't have many traditional "PG" today like they did in the 80s/90s.

His heith should certainly be a consideration. But it shouldn't blacklist him

 

Odd guys to bring up when projecting Richardson. White and Holiday both measured 6'3.25 barefoot at their respective combine and both had considerably more weight on their much bigger frames then Richardson too. Their size allows them to effectively switch onto 2s and 3s which part of why they've been so successful and making All NBA D teams. Curry was not only much bigger but the greatest shooter in the history of the game which helped compensate for his slight stature. Even so he had to beef up considerably to keep from being bullied by bigger players.

STOMP

 

They are better when he's off ball, though, because he can run off screens and get open easier. He's just such a capable scorer that it makes sense to have him off the ball and getting open looks. Putting that pressure on the defense.

But he's a really good point guard. It's not like having him at point guard is worse than having somebody else at point guard. He runs the offense well from the point guard position.

It's just that if he's at point guard he doesn't have a scorer as good as himself to pass to.

*Edit* And they're lucky enough to have good enough basketball players who actually move the ball and find him for open looks consistently.

I guess that's kind of a given in the NBA but... A lot of teams with great scoring guards don't seem to have those kind of guys who can move the ball well and also play good defense.

 

you listed one current player; another from 30 years ago, and a couple from 40 years ago; and all were PG's

and the current player is a two time MVP who is considered the GOAT perimeter shooter in NBA history. He also posted a 40% assist rate his last year in college vs Richardson's 14% rate. And he was 1.5' taller w/o shoes. And, he won his first 3 championships playing alongside a 6'7 SG who is also considered one of the greatest shooters in NBA history

the discussion has expanded to historical precedents when I was specifically talking about the advisability of Portland, after 10 straight seasons of starting an undersized SG, turning around and investing an 11th pick in a 6' SG

 

I think the difference is that most people who want him don't think Mase will have a problem playing the point in the NBA.
You keep saying SG and Combo guard based on his one year at MSU, but after watching his film, I don't think that is accurate.

For the record, he is not at the top of my list at 11.

 

I've watched his film too....and I don't see a lot of PG skills. Maybe a rich man's Patty Mills or a tiny Jerryd Bayless when pegging PG ability.

sure he might be better than that but I sure would hope that 2 years after investing a 3rd pick in a PG while forcing a Dame trade request, Portland doesn't use another lottery pick on a 6' tweener guard who they hope can be the PGOTF because they recognize his unsuitability as a SG

 

Good god this fanbase can't stand to have a tall backcourt.

 

Do not trade Sharpe yet unless its a clear homerun.

 

I think everyone here has loved having big two way forwards in Deni/Camara.

I'm fine with getting another tall player. Seems more the argument is should Blazers take best player available(BPA), or take an inferior player who is taller?

I'm all for drafting the best player regardless of size. Seems others want to draft for need.

I don't want us to draft another Martell Webster because we want someone taller than Chris Paul.

 

None of the Dame history or prior drafts should matter, those are sunk costs.

The 2025 draft pick is currently a decision that stands on its own. Blazers should draft the best player regardless of it being a PG with Scoot/Ant here or center with Clingan/Ayton or any other position. We need all of role players, starters, and a star on this roster so there's holes everywhere.

Wish the Blazers looked at Jordan or CP3 picks that way instead of reaching for Bowie/Webster.

Blazers are many moves from contending. Very possible 3 or 4 of those guys are gone when the team tries to contend. Go get the best player available today and do any trades/free agency to balance the roster.

 

and I thought this was a Shaedon thread, silly me

 

Best player available. Always.

 

What if it's only a very small margin? What if they're only 5% better than a guy who is a better fit? What if they're a headcase?

 

Yeah, we always say "BPA" but when you get more into the Lotto where we draft, and especially in this draft BPA is VERY subjective among draft analysts, teams, scouts etc. So I disagree in BPA assuming there is very little consensus who the BPA actually might be, so if you have 3 or 4 guys (or more) available and it's a coin flip on BPA then pick the one that you think fits the teams needs the best - and in THIS draft I think that is the reality

 

I don't care about fit. If the guy is a headcase enough to be a problem he's probably not the BPA and probably won't last in the NBA.