bottom line for me is that this draft is and should be a snore for us, perhaps a late first or 2nd rdr project type player to keep PA happy, but the focus should be on FA/perhaps trades as this team is built for the next 4-6 yrs with Dame and CJ. We simply don't want to develop more than a few "project" players, we should go after players in FA that can help us NOW
Then dont take a project player. But personally i think id rather have sabonis than say vonleh, alexander, montero, connaughton, roberts. And id rather have gp2(probably not a project player, would come cheap, and fills a giant need we have, probably would be a good defender in year 1 or 2) than connaughton, roberts, montero, alexander.
I'd be totally cool with Malcolm Brogdon if the Blazers grab an early/ mid 2nd. Really like that he's a ready to play guard and I think he'd complement Crabbe well. Sturdier defender that can check the bigger guards that Crabbe has issues with and has some playmaking skills. Didn't really play much in the pnr at Virginia, but he consistently makes the right reads and is just a steady presence out there on the floor (super calm demeanor, not fazed by ball pressure). Virginia runs a very similar offensive system to Portland's as well (a lot of fade and down screens) so I think it would be a pretty smooth transition for him in that aspect. Just a bit worried that his great showing during combine 5 v 5's has pushed him up into the late first.
Refined: Vonleh (+?) for Sabonis Cash (and future second?) for NOP's #40 Draft Paul Zipser If you can't buy a second in the upper/mid half and have to settle for a late second -- draft Felder or Uthoff.
We should snag him then! My ideal draft day is adding someone who can help right away, preferably on the defensive end.
Well...... Sabonis for starters..... But no, realistically, probably take a chance on future center/rim protector and pick up a defensive minded point guard. Players we can gradually move into the rotation.
Yeah, I'm on board with this "don't get a project" concept. So is Neil for the most part, I think, since he likes to draft upperclassmen. http://www.draftexpress.com/rankings/NCAA-Seniors/ There are a lot of guys on this list that are interesting. GP2 at PG, AJ Hammons at C, Brice Johnson and Joel Bolomboy at PF, and particularly at the wing, where Taurean Prince, Malcolm Brogdon, Caris LeVert, Jake Layman and Sheldon McClellan all intrigue me.
I get what you're saying, but only partially agree. I've seen enough from Connaughton, Montero, and Vonleh to be intrigued. They've all got something that, if developed, could make them very useful players. The good thing is we can keep all three and still add Sabonis & GP2 without increasing the number of projects/end-of-bench players. Simply cut Alexander and Roberts in favor of Sabonis and GP2. It doesn't set us back at all (other than what we'd have to trade for those picks) - we aren't reducing the number of rotation spots, so we can still focus on adding vets to be competitive. But we've significantly upgraded our future (and likely our present).
A Sabonis/Zipser draft would make Fez very happy. But seriously, this guy is a steal if taken in the second round. CBS recognizes this prospect's skillset - have had him in their first-round for weeks ....to the Spurs.
Moves and plays a lot like our boy Victor Claver but with a jumper, which would be a pretty nice player to have off the bench. Don't see us drafting a SF though with Aminu, Harkless and Montero presumably still Blazers next year. I guess he'd be nice insurance if we can't re-sign Harkless though.
Zipser has often been compared to a young Eric Piatkowski. If anyone here remembers him -- a very solid role player who could shoot.
Trading into the first will be difficult and early seconds are a premium and are very expensive just to buy outright. There are A LOT of solid prospects in both rounds. Target tiers: Undrafted invites: Yogi Ferrell Mamdou N'Daiye Late second: Jarrod Uthoff Kahlil Felder Early/Mid second: Rade Zagorac Paul Zipser Georgios Papagiannis Mid/late first: Juancho Hernangomez Tyler Ulis Lotto: Domantas Sabonis