We got the #3 pick. Discuss the possibilities.

Amen Thompson is the best lob-thrower in the draft.
The Blazers have the best lob-catcher/finisher in the NBA.

 

I'm not sure what I expect on draft night. There are so many unknowns.

Who is going to be there at 3?

What stars are even really available?

What value does the 3rd pick really have?

I admit that it's more likely I'm going to be disappointed on draft night. I'd be happy if we just kept the pick and took BPA.

 

Not bad, Problem is I think you need pick 23 to go to Bulls to free up trading a future 1st. Might have to be two future 1st for Ayton

 

This made me genuinely LOL

 

No, they don't trade down. They take Amen at three and trade Lillard for 6 and 11 and those three guys.

 

In their scenario they will still have Simons. so maybe would not want another short guard. Sharpe would be the 2 guard.

 

For those who think Amen should be picked third, what do you think is his ceiling?

 

It was an odd draft because there was were like 8 guys all ranked right around each other. I mean look at all the top picks, none of them ended up being very impressive. There is a legit case that CJ at #10 was the best player in the lottery. Of course Giannis was the best player overall at #15.

Just kind of a shit draft at the top. But we knew that at the time, nobody was talking about the top picks being super valuable as in this draft or others. So while all drafts have a lot of risk, there are also a lot of valuable projections that can be made, especially as we get closer to the moment of the draft.

 

I'll only be ok with picking Dick if we also pick up Bona in the 2nd round.

 

- Draft miller
- Nurk / Nas / 23 for Ayton
- Ant / future draft capital for OG

Dame
Sharpe
OG
Grant
Ayton
Miller 6th Man
Thybulle
Winslow (Big Backup Playmaker)
Backup C ??

 

Yeah BPA probably has the most fans happy. We also won't know what other options were realistically available so there is nothing precise or tangible to be upset about.

If we trade for Brown or Bridges I'll be more excited to think about our team in the playoffs next season, but less excited long term with Sharpe's future, while more concerned of the risk the win now moves flop. We'll always look back on that player at #3 and wonder what could've been. That could be a Jermaine Oneal 2.0 or even much worse situation.

Dream scenario is if we can do one of the above trades and also a second trade to flip other assets or future picks for acquiring a second all star. That would make us 2000 era contenders. Just seems extremely unlikely both these opportunities would be available and that Cronin/ownership can execute it.

One thing I will say if we draft BPA - its not certain that we won't trade that draftee a few days or weeks later. Perhaps the veterans we want become available in trade when their teams situations chance in free agencies and when other trades are completed. But of course is also not certain we won't flip Dame weeks later if we draft BPA. Its very rare to have a team in the Blazers situation that could go so strongly in such wildly different directions over a manner of weeks.

If we do trade the #3 pick for a veteran we know for certain we are trying to win now with Dame. If we draft BPA it'll be unclear if we are running it back, going young, or going to flip some youth for vets. Cronins comments at a press conference could be very telling of the next moves in that situation. If BPA is Scoot I'd assume its much less likely we just run it back adding him, and if its Miller much more likely we run it back.

 

Assuming he fix his shot, something along the line of a slightly better scoring Scottie Pippen. Amen already has the tools to be a great defender, playmaker, and rebounder much like pippen. But it come down to his shooting. That’s his realistic ceiling. I’ve seen people compare him to SGA which is possible

 

If Houston wanted to move up to 3, what would we want from them?

4+ who?

This is assuming that we want Amen. Let's say Scoot drops. They want Scoot. What would we want?

 

One of my best friends played on that college team with Olowakandi. When it came out that he was projected to be a top NBA pick, they all thought that NBA scouts were idiots. He has told that story several times about teammates would just chuckle and comment that 'whatever team picks him, that is not going to end well.'

Apparently the scouts didn't interview teammates.

 

#20

or 3 + 23 for 4 + Sengun

 

These are some really lofty projections. I did ask for ceiling so maybe valid, but nothing he did on the court has come close to these names so far at his OTE level, so it would be based completely on his physical tools.

Not seeing the SGA thing tbh. Amen shot less than 30% from the midrange.

 

I'd try to get their #20 and Sengun.

 

I don’t see the SGA comparison but people have mentioned it

 

in college SGA shot 50% on two's, 40% on three's, and 82% of FT's. Amen shot a scintillating 57% of FG's but 23% on three's and 65% of FT's

 

Houston has the 20th pick in the upcoming draft.