So: how will you feel if it's Caldwell-Pope?

There's a growing consensus that the Blazers have zeroed in on Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. Suppose that, indeed, happens. How would you feel? I'm feeling pretty "meh" about it myself.
On the one hand: it could be worse. I don't like the idea of Adams or Gobert because they seem very bust-likely to me. I also don't like Muhammad who seems one-dimensional and not team-oriented.
On the other hand: is SG really what we need? Yes, I know, BPA and all that. But Batum does best when played at SG, Wes is actually our emotional and defensive leader (and often leads in +/-), and I liked what I saw in Will Barton's play. Not to mention that Lillard looked good off the ball last year. So I would say that actually, although we don't have a star at SG, it's one of the areas that we have least need for.

Yes, I know, "BPA". But watching Caldwell-Pope doesn't lead me to believe he'd be anything but a sort of average SG. What about you? Does he have any skills that leap out at you? Meanwhile we have no backup PG (we're ditching Nolan (and even if we didn't, we'd still have no backup PG) and, in all likelihood, Maynor) and no defensive presence in the frontcourt. Of course the team could have trades and FA in mind to deal with those, but it seems to me there are some very promising players available in the draft that excite me a whole hell of a lot more than KCP (although, admittedly, his name is AWESOME). Dieng is going to be a +/- all-star and defensive anchor for years to come, Schr[FONT=&quot]öder[/FONT] looks like he could be great, etc. etc.

Thoughts?

 

I think quite possibly Pope will be BPA and I am big on that over need so I would be fine with the pick at that point. If McCollum sp? or someone dropped then I would say them, sticking with the BPA theme.

I still think it is possible we trade this pick though.

 

Regarding Pope, basically comes down to "drive'. Does he have the drive to get better and will he eventually be able to drive to the basket.

He looks to have the potential to be pretty good. Good long range shooter with the skills and desire to defend.

I love gym rats. Is he one? Will he do anything it takes to be a winner? Hard to say. Hopefully the Blazer Brass can make an educated guess on that.

Out of the three potential guards for Portland, I would take him 3rd behind McCollum and Shabazz.

 

Anybody heard anything about Elliot Williams lately?

 

Very rarely do I agree with Rasta but I somewhat agree here. I think KCP is a smokescreen for Len or shabazz. Shabazz would be interchangeable with Batum at SG and SF. Either way our SG would have a size. Advantage. Over the other team. I don't think Batum has the mentality to be an elite scorer. Shabazz does.

 

I agree to that I get the feeling that Pope is a smokescreen as well for some reason. With that said I wouldn't hate the pick especially if he is good on defense. I still like Shabazz or CJ over Pope though. I could be totally wrong on Shabazz but I feel like that's the kind of risk this team is going to have to take.

 

Completely agree. We need to stop trying to make the safe pick, and make the potential, all star or bust pick. Its the only way to get us over this hump, right now.

 

Fine with it. Blazers need to come away from summer with at least good draft pick (someone who will be a rotational player 1-8) and a free agent signing (same for rotation). Alone, it won't get us to the playoffs, but it has to add to our depth.

Any of McCollum, Zeller, Adams, Caldwell-Pope, or even Shabazz Muhammed would all add talent to our team cheaply!

 

"Kentavious Caldwell-Pope headlines Bucks sixth workout"

 

Underwhelmed.

 

I won't care. Olshey has my trust right now. Whoever he takes I'll believe in until I'm proven otherwise.

 

I'm fine with Pope. He's a scorer and we need that.

 

...he has Bayless style T-rex arms, not going to work out -- next please!

 

Eh - he's not that bad. Just a tiny bit worse than McLemore, and better than Hardaway Jr.

 

Meh, my hope is we can get Asik if Howard goes to Hou

 

Yep, right now I'm happy to accept, wait and see. Pope is not high on my list, I would have him going as low as 17th, but if Olshey thinks Pope is the one, I'll celebrate that we got who we wanted. Olshey has much more information than I do.

 

I'd be happy. He can shoot the open jumper, shoot off the dribble, and plays defense. He immediately becomes part of our rotation, and indeed our best player off the bench.

Still, I'd rather have McCollum, but I'd feel fine about KCP.

 

In Olshey I trust. Let's hope he gets it right again.