You know, there is a lot of belly aching about the Blazers not tanking hard enough etc... - the Blazers were the #5 team in games lost to "injuries" last year by the salaries of the injured players (veterans). More than Brooklyn and Washington and Phoenix (Houston) and San Antonio. https://www.spotrac.com/nba/injured/_/year/2024/view/team In other words, the Blazers concentrated on developing the young-ones and they worked hard and produced... The reality of the situation is that this team had more talent than people were willing to admit - and the players and coaching staff worked hard to establish winning habits. While it would be nice to pick higher or get lucky, I still think it might be better, in the long run, than a culture of losing. I honestly find it hard to complain about the coaching staff and players working hard and trying to win - that's what you want them to do. The Blazers have enough assets that they will get more talent somehow - it would be nice if it happens by getting lucky for a change in the draft, but if it's not, it is still not the end of the road in term of acquiring talent. Smart drafting even lower in the order is important, smart trades are important and continue development from within is important.
Maybe wait to see what happens in the lottery and draft before declaring nuclear winter for the Blazers?
some yes, not all prior to the season I predicted 23 wins if they started the tank early, and 37 if they started late or didn't tank at all. Blazers have depth of talent; no elite talent
Three years of horrible unwatchable basketball and never hit the jackpot. Game changing players are very rare. Get a lot of good ones and develop them and incidentally be more fun to watch and more enjoyable for players.
We could move up (16.9%) or we could strike gold at 10... hell I think in this draft it might be smart to move back. The Thunder have picks 15 and 24... I think you get the guy you know will impact winning at 15 and then you swing for the fences at 24 or flip that. You get two more chances at difference makers.
Go back and read what was posted here when Portland drafted Dame. Turned out pretty well. Clyde wasn't a can't miss prospect. Oden was. Kersey, Cliffy, Duck second round picks. Countless posts have blasted Blazers for drafting Player X when someone several picks later turned out to be an impact player. Do due diligence and hope. That's really what draft is about.
