2008: Draft of the Underrated Center

[Reep]

I was just checking this out and was shocked at how many good centers (and other bigs) went low in this draft:

5 Kevin Love, Forward, UCLA (To Minnesota)
10 Brook Lopez, Center, Stanford
15 Robin Lopez, Forward, Stanford
16 Marreese Speights, Forward, Florida
17 Roy Hibbert, Center, Georgetown
18 JaVale McGee, Center, Nevada
19 J.J. Hickson, Forward, N.C. State
23 Kosta Koufos, Center, Ohio State
24 Serge Ibaka, Forward, Spain
31 Nikola Pekovic, Center, Serbia
35 DeAndre Jordan, Center, Texas A&M
36 Omer Asik, Center, Turkey

A bunch of teams (including Portland) didn't scout very well or this is the all-time surprise draft team. Funny that we passed on RoLo for Bayless, but ended up with him anyway.

 

[Natebishop3]

I was just checking this out and was shocked at how many good centers (and other bigs) went low in this draft:

5 Kevin Love, Forward, UCLA (To Minnesota)
10 Brook Lopez, Center, Stanford
15 Robin Lopez, Forward, Stanford
16 Marreese Speights, Forward, Florida
17 Roy Hibbert, Center, Georgetown
18 JaVale McGee, Center, Nevada
19 J.J. Hickson, Forward, N.C. State
23 Kosta Koufos, Center, Ohio State
24 Serge Ibaka, Forward, Spain
31 Nikola Pekovic, Center, Serbia
35 DeAndre Jordan, Center, Texas A&M
36 Omer Asik, Center, Turkey

A bunch of teams (including Portland) didn't scout very well or this is the all-time surprise draft team. Funny that we passed on RoLo for Bayless, but ended up with him anyway.

Bayless seemed like such a huge steal for us, and that idea seemed to be even more affirmed during summer league, but that guy just never really lived up to the hype. He certainly didn't live up to his ego.

 

[Reep]

Nic was our consolation prize.

 

[Eastoff]

We had Greg Oden. DUH!

 

[BlazerCaravan]

We had Greg Oden. DUH!

We had Greg... we had Clyde... we had Sebastian... FUCK that! NEVER AGAIN!

 

[THE HCP]

Drafts are absolute crapshoots!

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

It just goes to show how difficult both scouting and player development can be.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Drafts are absolute crapshoots!

I'll agree with that.

 

[BBert]

Bayless seemed like such a huge steal for us, and that idea seemed to be even more affirmed during summer league, but that guy just never really lived up to the hype. He certainly didn't live up to his ego.

Confidence sells.

 

[3RA1N1AC]

I remember thinking that bayless was just as good of a prospect as RW

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

I remember thinking that bayless was just as good of a prospect as RW

Maybe he could have been under the right coach. Nate was not the guy to develop someone like Bayless.

 

[PapaG]

Maybe he could have been under the right coach. Nate was not the guy to develop someone like Bayless.

Nobody has developed Bayless, which is why he's bouncing around the league as a bench player. Arguably the best ball he's played was in the PHX playoff series, where he started a few games and averaged 13.5 ppg in that series.

 

[handiman]

Damn, that's a Who's Who of above average to top tier big men in the league.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Just one more reason not to give up on Meyers yet. You couldn't ask for a better mentor in Lopez.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

What's interesting for me is that there might be some centers down in the 2nd round in the upcoming draft who would be worth looking at (Blazers would need to acquire a pick of course). Guys like Mitch McGary, Isaac Austin, Patric Young and A J Hammons.

 

[lawai'a]

we drafted asik if I'm not mistaken and then Pritchard sent him to Chicago for future 2nd? maybe he was part of the pendagragh deal, I can't remember for sure.

 

[Run BJM]

I doubted Patric Patterson every year of his career until this year. Hes an incredible defensive player. Yeah, his hops are kinda shit and he's bad offensively, to the point where he probably can't play PF. But he's really turned into a tremendously impactful defensive player. Love his intensity, intelligence, instincts. Would be STOKED if my W's bought a pick to draft him.

 

[jlprk]

31 Nikola Pekovic, Center, Serbia
35 DeAndre Jordan, Center, Texas A&M
36 Omer Asik, Center, Turkey.

When I complain that Olshey paid 2 #2s for Crabbe, everyone chirps back, #2s are worthless; just throw them in the garbage. That was Pritchard's thinking when he tossed Asik like a hot potato.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

I liked RoLo but I really wanted Ibaka with that #25 pick.

Thought Batum would go lotto.