2019 NBA Draft Thread (1 Viewer)

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Bazley could very well get drafted and be Dante Cunningham career wise though. No one makes 1st round pick and thinks oh this guy's probably just going to be a borderline nba role player, they pick guys hoping they pan out. Some do, some don't. I mean were all high on Bazley but he could be a bust or never amount to what we think his potential is. It's what makes the draft, challenging, and fun, you just never know.
I don't see it
 
Meh.

He's comparing him to Chuck Hayes. In other words, I don't need to draft this guy. I could sign a Chuck Hayes this year probably for the vet minimum. So, again, why am I drafting a guy who's limited in so many ways when I can take a shot at a guy who can be so much more?
You could sign THE Chuck Hayes, that's for sure.

But if all you got out of that article is that "he's comparing him to Chuck Hayes" then I question your reading comprehension.
 
You could sign THE Chuck Hayes, that's for sure.

But if all you got out of that article is that "he's comparing him to Chuck Hayes" then I question your reading comprehension.

Feel free. That was a big part of the article, though, essentially saying he could be another Chuck Hayes.

He also basically said that he wasn't even Chuck Hayes defensively (which means he's not Draymond defensively) and he's a totally different player than Draymond offensively. And that he could be Jae Crowder, which, again, isn't really doing much for me, since if he's not Chuck Hayes defensively, he's not Jae Crowder defensively.

So, again, I don't see the need. If you are saying you want Grant Williams because the Blazers need a quick impact player, I still don't see where he makes a quick, positive impact. And if you are saying in a couple of years he'll be a guy that moves the needle on this team, then I don't see where the optimism exists for him to climb that next rung.

The writer of the article is entitled to his opinion. I guess we'll see who's right eventually.
 
I don't see it
Im not sure I understand the, “it” in this sentence. The comparison to Dante Cunningham? Cause I wasnt saying they’re similar.
My post was just we dont really know what Bazley’s career will be, could it be a similar career to Cunninghams? maybe? who knows.
 
Im not sure I understand the, “it” in this sentence. The comparison to Dante Cunningham? Cause I wasnt saying they’re similar.
My post was just we dont really know what Bazley’s career will be, could it be a similar career to Cunninghams? maybe? who knows.
I guess, but Cunningham never showed this level of skill, ever.
 
Geez Buzzkill!

1) You don't think there is a difference between taking the highest rated player on your board no matter what position they play and taking the highest rated player at a specific position of need? C'mon man.

2) What does that mean? Was Collins on our radar before the draft? How are you determining he's not on our radar or anyone else's radar? That's nonsense.
My recollection was that Portland was rumored to have interest before the draft last year. I was not surprised we got him.
 
He also basically said that he wasn't even Chuck Hayes defensively (which means he's not Draymond defensively) and he's a totally different player than Draymond offensively.
You mean, like Nikola Jokic?

Draymond wasn't Draymond defensively - in college.

Now, for all we know Williams is a total bust. But you're not rebutting that guy's positive points in the slightest.
 
You mean, like Nikola Jokic?

Draymond wasn't Draymond defensively - in college.

Now, for all we know Williams is a total bust. But you're not rebutting that guy's positive points in the slightest.

Hmmm, skilled 19-year-old 7-footer (coming into the draft) v skilled 6-foot-6 ... yeah, nothing important different there.

Draymond was a pretty good defensive player in college. His defensive rating was 88.3. He came out of one of the best defensive programs in the country. And Williams can't compare with Draymond's length.

Grant Williams' defensive rating is 10 points higher than Draymond's was. This is kind of a silly line for you to take ... you are trying to support Williams being a worthwhile pick as a role player by saying he could be an NBA all-star who has virtually nothing in common with him. In college, Draymond averaged more rebounds in a season three times than Williams averaged in his BEST rebounding season. And Williams is a guy who is supposed to be smart and strong.

I think you're a victim of your own low bar, Rast. I never said he'd be a bust, but that he lines up as the quintessential journeyman. Absolutely no one seems to be trying to make the argument that Grant Williams is going to be a much above average NBA player. Even the article singing his praises compares him mostly with journeymen, and journeymen with whom he shares very little in common.

So how many undersized and underathletic power forwards have put together terrific NBA careers? It's a pretty small list. And there's no reason to think Grant Williams is a guy the Blazers must have. He is a guy who probably won't see the floor this year and likely won't ever see it unless the Blazers go into a tailspin. You can sign a vet who will have more impact on this coming year's team who can do the exact same things Grant Williams can do.

You don't have to rebut Williams' positives when they don't translate to the next level and his negatives are so numerous.

Meanwhile, you have Bazley who has the potential to be light years better than Williams, and the type of player you typically can't get at this kind of value. But you'd rather take the average guy who you admit also could be a total bust.
 
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The more I think about it and the more I see him, the more I think Bazley will be the pick if he's still there at 25.

The Blazers in the last few years have shown they value shooting and athleticism. Biggie was the outlier in recent drafts. And they've gone for guys like Dame and CJ from smaller colleges or Simons who didn't go to college at all.

Big upside. Plays a position where the Blazers are lacking star potential. Just seems to me he's the best fit, and I like a lot of players in that part of the draft.

I've thought the last couple of years that Thaddeus Young would be a good fit for the Blazers. I see a lot of the same qualities with Bazley, but I think Bazley has greater potential.
 
But, yeah, I wonder if he'll be there at 25. I would pick him higher.
 
There's another guy in this draft who kind of went this route and isn't getting much talk here because he probably won't be picked in the first round. But the Bowen kid fits how the Blazers have been drafting: high upside, shooter, athletic.

I don't know if the Blazers will have two openings on the roster, but I'd start watching if we get toward the middle of the second round and we have a chance to buy a pick from someone. I think Bowen is getting overlooked, but his skillset really fits the modern NBA. If he goes in the second round, I think he's a major steal.
 
A few more thoughts on Bazley:
His similar route to the NBA as Ant may have them bond better than otherwise. Weird to think of Ant as the "vet."

Bazley is repped by Klutch Sports, who apparently also represents Anthony Davis.....

edit:
Really like the idea of Ant/Bazley/Skal as The Future.
 
There's another guy in this draft who kind of went this route and isn't getting much talk here because he probably won't be picked in the first round. But the Bowen kid fits how the Blazers have been drafting: high upside, shooter, athletic.

I don't know if the Blazers will have two openings on the roster, but I'd start watching if we get toward the middle of the second round and we have a chance to buy a pick from someone. I think Bowen is getting overlooked, but his skillset really fits the modern NBA. If he goes in the second round, I think he's a major steal.
I'm not sure I agree with high upside or athletic with Bowen. From what I've seen, he appears to have 'heavy feet' and about 1/2-step slow. I think he'll become an NBA player - but Allen Crabbe is his ceiling.
 
I'm not sure I agree with high upside or athletic with Bowen. From what I've seen, he appears to have 'heavy feet' and about 1/2-step slow. I think he'll become an NBA player - but Allen Crabbe is his ceiling.

I think that's fair. I think he's quicker than Crabbe, but that's definitely a fair criticism.
 
The latest from nbadraft.net (FWIW):
25.
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daniel-gafford-hd.jpg
Daniel Gafford 6-10 230 PF/C Arkansas So.
Gafford is perhaps the most athletic big man available this year. He's a long, fluid bigman who runs the floor well and uses his length and athleticism well to convert alley oops, put backs and be a menace on the boards. He still needs to add strength to handle more physical players. Today's emphasis on bigs that can shoot from the perimeter and spread the floor decreases Gafford's stock to a degree. He lacks ideal touch on his shot, and is more effective scoring on the block.

Why the Blazers take Daniel Gafford: Portland has a lot of talent at the center position. But Gafford at least has the athleticism to play either the 4 or 5, whether he can get there skill wise remains to be seen. Gafford is one of the premiere bigs in this year's draft from an athleticism standpoint. He struggled to improve as a shooter and the fear it that he may always be a rim runner and rebounder that doesn't become enough of a scoring threat. The Blazers have had excellent draft picks since Neil O'Shea has been their GM.

NBA Comparison: Chris Andersen



I don't see the Blazers taking a big that can't shoot at all.
The have Kabengele moved all the way to #10
 
The one thing I will say is I think Bowen might play a little slower than he really is because I don't think he's super-confident with his dribble yet. I think if/when that comes along, you'll see a much superior version of Allen Crabbe. Not quite Rip Hamilton, but there are a lot of similarities in their style -- very sweet shot, and very tough stroke moving laterally off a dribble or two.
 
Gafford's intriguing, but I think of him a bit as a poor man's Zach Collins. Kind of superfluous for the Blazers.
 
A few more thoughts on Bazley:
His similar route to the NBA as Ant may have them bond better than otherwise. Weird to think of Ant as the "vet."

Bazley is repped by Klutch Sports, who apparently also represents Anthony Davis.....

edit:
Really like the idea of Ant/Bazley/Skal as The Future.
Did you purposely leave out Collins?

A 23-and-under developmental team of Simons, Trent, Bazley, Collins, and Skal is really freaking intriguing.
 
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