Please help me with this draft, people
I’m trying to pay more attention this season than I usually do, because the Trail Blazers have a pick so far down the line that it’s hard to tell who they will choose.
Because it’s such a weak draft, I somehow seem more interested than in other years. But I don’t get a chance to watch a lot of college ball — I’m watching NBA games every night.
So help me, please. And I want to know two things from you: If the Blazers stay at No. 24, who is likely to be there and who should they pick? Second, if the Blazers can trade up, should they? Who is out there – including Griffin, Rubio, whomever, who could help them? Is there a rookie out there who is worth making a major move to get?
NBA, Trail Blazers | Dwight Jaynes | June 1, 2009
Eric Maynor reminds me of a young Terry Porter, Tyler Hansbrough would bolster our bench at the 4, Darren Collison is going to be a pretty good defender at PG, Ty Lawson could end up being really good, and Stephen Curry would be really, really good next to Roy. Those are my fav 5.
I see 1 of 3 things happening:
1) We use #24 to get a backup PF
2) We use #24 for a good defensive backkup PG (he’ll be 3rd string behind Blake/Bayless)
3) We draft the ‘best’ Euro available and stash him oversees for a few years.
Which of these happens is probably more dependent on what other teams do in front of us. It’s hard to dictate anything from the back of the draft. KP will almost certainly probe me wrong though.
Ouch, typo. I actually hope KP doesn’t ‘probe’ me at all. He is free to ‘prove’ me wrong though.
Dwight, all I know is, I’m glad that Tom Penn is still with the club. There will be some salary dumps this off season I’m sure. And perhaps a few older players who will play for less to be on a winnig team.
KP is going to make so many movements in this draft, it will make Blazer Fans’ heads spin. It is impossible to predict what the Blazers will do, only that they will do a lot. But I don’t think KP is going to make a play for a big time player necessarily. KP & Co., unfortunately, need to wait to see if Greg Oden will become an elite big man before they agressively pursue another elite player. So in this draft, I see Portland going after roll players and improving the team financially.
KP was able to figure out that draft correctly last year with us at #13. I wonder if he really could do that with us at #24. I expect not.
It would be hard to believe that at 24 we would get anyone that would be an immediate impact (judging by the results of last year’s pick). Therefore, either we move up and become a major player or just end up sitting this one out and maybe bundling some of our picks for something better in the future.
Knowing KP – I almost expect us to be drafting around #7 – but we won’t know it until later in the draft.
We don’t need another young player to bring along. I’d package the pick with a player or two to get a solid veteran with playoff experience. Forget the draft this year.
I admit being a biased Tarheel fan, BUT I would make a move to get Ty Lawson, and if possible Hansbrough. Hansbrough will bring that tough inside presence, and Lawson the speed. We know that there will be some fairly significant roster moves this summer so those are my two favs. A Euro to stash overseas for a couple of years would not be bad if they still have the second round picks.
Tyler Hansbrough = Mark Madsen
Ty Lawson = Poor man’s Raymond Felton or rich man’s Sebastian Telfair. In either case, he’s not the answer.
There’s no one in this draft outside of Blake Griffin that should even mildly interest Portland. This team needs toughness at the PF and even though Aldridge is already a solid player, I’m afraid that he won’t cut it as the number two guy if the team is serious about winning a title.
To compete in the West, a team’s secondary scorer (who’s usually a big man) has to be an all-star level stud. Gasol, West, Boozer, Nene, are all better than Aldridge. You can even throw Duncan in there since Parker is their main guy now.
Lamarcus is a nice player on many teams but he just doesn’t seem to have the toughness or the killer instinct to be the second in command on a championship level club.
I say trade down and out of the first round. Top second-round picks are probably about the same as lower first round this year. We already have two, why not more? Maybe we could form our own D-League? It would probably be more popular than soccer.
If, and that’s a big if, IF we could somehow move up into maybe the top 10 and get a Jrue Holiday then I’d do that. But other than that the only thing I see us doing is using one of our 2nd round picks to draft that French point guard Rodrique Beaubois. He’s 6’2″ with a 6’10″ wingspan. That’s not a typo, 6’10″ wingspan, he can shoot the ball, great defender (doesn’t have to body a guy like Rubio does, which helps cause they’ll call those bodying fouls in the NBA), good lateral movement, needs a little better ball handling. But he’s only 22 I think and just has unfathomable reach. He would be like a Batum at the point guard spot, but with a better jumper. Plus if we draft him in the 2nd round we could either leave him over seas or bring him over here depending on what the Brain trust thinks.
Overall though this is a weak draft. I see one point guard (maybe Rubio but I’m not too high on him) being elite and that’s Jrue Holiday. Beaubois
will be good in time, but I think Holiday could step in and help immediately. Obviously Blake Griffin will be decent, but honestly I don’t see him being a perennial all-star. Overall weak draft, maybe get Hansbrough just to bolster our 4 position. But don’t do anything too fancy unless it’s for Holiday.
Jordan makes good points. KP may be making a lot of moves. #24 is no place to pick up player to make a difference
It really is unfortunate Oden is still a mystery. Do you build team around him or not?
I’d rather not trade up if only to save a few $s on a guaranteed rookie contract that would be better spent on current contract extensions on the roster. If the Blazers hold on to #24, I’d like them to take a look at either of the USC big men, Taj Gibson or Jeff Pendergraph as back-up PFs. Taj may be a rookie, but he’s 24 years old. May not have the ceiling of other picks, but he has the maturity to fit into Nate’s mold. Plus he’s a legit 6’10″ coming out of the NBA combine with a 7’4″ wingspan and can really get up and down the floor. He and Pendergraph both have good low post moves and are solid defender/rebounders. I’d rather have either of them backing up LA than Travis or Channing. The other player I’d look at is Nick Calathes. He’s already signed to play in Greece so the Blazers could let him season over there a year or two, but the kid’s got raw skills with the ball that remind me of Manu with a bit of Nash’s court vision. Maybe not Nash’s instincts (but really who does?), but he’d be a solid 6’5″ back-up combo guard two years down the road. As for 2nd rounders, to heck with Ty Lawson or Hansbrough, the UNC kid to pursue is Danny Green. Could be a Granger-esque player down the road. Smooth and unsung to this point, although his value could go up as the draft gets closer. As for other PGs to look at, Beaubois or Pat Beverly (both players with starting PG experience in Euro) are ideal. Beverly can light it up from perimeter (something Bayless can not do yet) and has gained great experience running the point out in the Ukraine. Beaubois has been addressed previously. Or the Blazers can trade/sell away all picks and just bring in Petteri Koppenen and Joel Freeland and see if they are ready to contribute. Petteri looked close to being ready last summer and if Sergio does get moved there will possibly be room to start grooming him over here.
If we move up, I would like us to nab Ty Lawson. I like his speed, penetration, and his ability at stealing the ball. I think he would really compliment Roy’s game
If we keep the pick I would take Hansbrough. If anything he would be an excellent practice player who will keep our first 8 sharp. He has some serious hustle which I think all teams need if they are to win a ring.
What I would really like is us to get a NBA now ready point guard. Seriously would a financially strapped new orleans give up a chris paul? We need to find out what it would take
My hope is they go after veterans to solidify the bench and trade the picks away. A defensive specialist like the lakers Ariza (who can also hit the 3) would be ideal. A power forward like the nuggets Kleiza or even Birdman (great shot blocker) would only add. Throw in Rudy and Blake heading the second unit and you have quite a team…
We got the needed experience, now we just need a few more tweaks and I think we will arrive
I believe KP will get it done
Marco – seriously, aldridge is at least 50% better than West, who is an “all-star” in name only. I’d love to see LA’s stats if CP3 was feeding him.
Is he really? Is that why West has huge games just about every time New Orleans plays Portland?
Sorry dude but there’s not a fan, scout, or GM outside of Portland who would agree with you.
Sure if Aldridge had CP3 feeding him the ball he’d have a few more points. But even Chris Paul can’t stop him from getting outmuscled for a rebound, pushed out of the low post for a fadeaway 18-footer.
If we’re still at 24 I really like the thought of grabbing Rodrigue Beaubois, a french kid who’s a PG that would be a nice ‘upside’ pick (ala Freeland and others).
He’s super athletic, fast, great ballhandling, and freakishly long arms (like batum) so he could be a great defender.
He’s not ready now, but might be great in a couple of years and he has been worked out by Portland a lot flirting with entering the last two drafts. KP’s had his eye on him for a long time now.
I have a hard time buying the argument that Hansbrough is going to be the next Madsen. The guy is a bit unorthodox, yes, but he was an elite college player against top-notch competition, so he has some game. While I don’t think he is going to set the NBA ablaze, I do think he can be at least a good solid 10-20 minute contributor for several years.
He’s one of the few guys the Blazers could get without having to move up into the top 5 that could actually help right away. I could see him being the Blazers’ “goon” so to speak, a guy happy to come in and do the dirty work for 10 minutes a game. Portland really needs that type of player, and they could get him at little risk late in the 1st round.
We don’t need to waste guaranteed money on Rodrigue Beaubois at 24, he’ll still be on the board in the second round when we pick and that’d be smarter financially. I like the idea of Taj Gibson too, I always seem to forget about him. He’d be a good role player at the 4.
Lastly, this is for Panama, you’ve brought up some good points here and there, but Chris Paul is not available; Canzano should have known better than to start that mumbo jumbo. If you’d like to gut our entire team and get rid of at least one of our big three, we might be able to get him, but it seems like an awful lot to give up for one player (even one as good as CP3). Anywho..take it easy guys
I’d think that the Blazers would prefer a player who could help right away, rather than a project. Preferably a physical interior player, or a capable PG.
At PG, Ty Lawson and Darren Collison seem the best candidates. Both are quick and good ballhandlers, but are small, and have weird looking jump shots (but somehow made them in college). Collison seems the better playmaker. Blazers probably have to trade up if they’re after Lawson. Collison should be available, or might require some minor maneuvering.
At PF, Jeff Pendergraph or Tyler Hansbrough would seem the best options, but neither is going to be anything better than a solid backup at best. Hansbrough works hard, and has some touch around the basket, but will struggle on D. Pendergraph should be better on D (but only played zone, so hard to say), but lacks post skills.
If the Blazers opt for a project, Milan Macvan (Serbia) might be an option. He’s only 19, but was a good rebounder and physical defender (if a bit undersized) at the Nike Hoops Summit, while displaying smart offensive play as well. He’s savvy around the basket, and a good passer. Physical for a Euro.
Don’t see the Blazers moving up significantly in the draft unless they can get Griffin or Rubio, and that seems pretty unlikely.
Mr. Jaynes,
Since 24 counts against the salary cap (along with Freeland and Koponen as of July 1), the Blazers have to be sold on the guy. Hansbrough is extremely good value at 24. If he lasts beyond 20 to 22, I’ll be shocked.
I’d look to the Spurs’ model of building around the core and keeping team salary down–Euros in the pipeline that don’t count against team salary on the first day of the regular season.
If the Blazers love Jerebko or Claver, okay. With 32 or 38, there’s a young kid (19), 6’9 and little definition to a wide body who has been described a bit like Kevin Love … Milan Macvan.
The only way I see drafting Beaubois is in the 2nd round (if Bayless was traded).
The only other American player I see is Danny Green of North Carolina–SG/SF, good school, does the little things, perimeter D, works on his skills. Think of a young Ime Udoka but a little taller and longer.
What I expect? The pick is traded to move up.
Just an FYI for those of you who may not read Chad Ford’s draft coverage on a daily basis over at the mothership, but Ty Lawson and Darren Collison aren’t anywhere close to being the highest ranked PGs coming into this draft based on Ford’s quizzing of GMs out of the combine. I only point this out so that people can stop talking about trading “up” to get them. One of the two (along with Calathes, Patty Mills, & Eric Maynor) will be available at #24 if PG is really the Blazer’s heart’s desire. I don’t think it will be, though. I think some of those names will be there for that first 2nd round pick for Portland and at a better price at that. For all you UNC lovers, I don’t mind if Hansbrough is drafted by the Blazers, I just don’t want to waste guaranteed first round dollars on him. I’d be just as happy with Jon Brockman or Harangody at 2nd round prices. Brockman could be that Chuck Hayes lunch-pail kind of guy we want as the 10th man off the bench. And, no, I am not a Huskie fan; just a hoops fan.