[2nd rounders] #40 | #41

[Fez Hammersticks]

A lot depend on workouts but we could pull a similar move like we did in 2006 to land Joel Freelnd: Package both second round picks for an early second or late 1st rounder.

The player I'm starting to zero in on is Jae Crowder. Once teams realize that this guy can flat out play I don't think he'll be there at #40/#41.

[video=youtube;CVlUSyHoojU]


Jae Crowder
6'5.5" SF
242 lbs.
8'6.75" standing reach
17.5 PPG | 8.4 RPG | 2.5 SPG | .498 FG%
28.8 PER | 8.1 WS
NBA Comparison: Ron Artest​

 

[THE HCP]

NO! I KNEW THIS THREAD WAS COMING! It's hard enough for us to guess who we are drafting at 6 & 11. How in the fuck can we know or guess or hope who we are going to draft in the 40s!!!!!! AAAAAAAGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Hey, you can find gems in the second round.

Happens every year.

 

[VanillaGorilla]

[video=youtube;UOBYpDJu5A0]

Festus Ezeli - Center
Height: 6'11.5"
Weight: 242 lbs.
Wingspan: 7'5.75"

Basic Statistics Per 40 Pace Adjusted
17.4 Points
10.2 Rebounds
3.4 Blocks
54% FG
NBA Comparison: Samuel Dalembert

 

[ironcrotch]

Scott Machado, he won't be there that late though.

 

[Blaze01]

I think POR would be best served by packaging both to move up, hopefully into the late 1st but if not there then early 2nd where you could possibly get a guy like Crowder or Barton or O'Quinn

 

[THE HCP]

Festivus For The Rest Of Us!

[video=youtube;LbfMmCf5-ds]

 

[Tince]

I think POR would be best served by packaging both to move up, hopefully into the late 1st but if not there then early 2nd where you could possibly get a guy like Crowder or Barton or O'Quinn

I think you're more likely to get a late 1st round pick than an early 2nd round pick. Anymore, the early 2nd round picks have more value because there isn't any guaranteed contracts to go with them. If we wanted to package 40 & 41 for a pick in the mid 20's, I would think we would have no problem finding a buyer looking to stay out of the luxury tax or clear more cap room.

 

[BBert]

[video=youtube;UOBYpDJu5A0]

Festus Ezeli - Center
Height: 6'11.5"
Weight: 242 lbs.
Wingspan: 7'5.75"

Basic Statistics Per 40 Pace Adjusted
17.4 Points
10.2 Rebounds
3.4 Blocks
54% FG
NBA Comparison: Samuel Dalembert

Watching those clips reminds me of G.O. Which makes me very sad.

 

[VanillaGorilla]

Would you guys rather have Ezeli or O'Quinn?

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

The other interesting thing about Jae Crowder is that I always felt that Draymond Green was probably the most versatile player in college basketball, but the more I watch Jae Crowder I think he is the most versatile, because he is versatile on both ends. He can defend points, he can defend the paint, he can defend on the perimeter, he blocks shots, he takes charges, he is a great rebounder, he scores, he is blue collar." - Greg Anthony on CBS Sports

...

 

[Blazer Freak]

If we don't take Lillard or Marshall with one of our earlier picks I would definitely like us to target Scott Machado with one of these:

Strengths: A pure, pass-first point guard, Machado's best attribute is his incredible floor vision both in the half court and transition ... The game just slows down for Machado, whose excellent anticipation as a passer meshes with his roving peripheral vision ... Works the drive and dish game effectively, hitting his shooters in rhythm on the perimeter and cutters in stride through the lane ... Good athlete, not great, with a quick first step and a nice burst off the dribble hesitation and over screens ... Shows nice touch on finesse shots over the interior line of defense ... Improved his 3pt percentage to 40% as a senior, showing fluent mechanics and a sense of comfort shooting both off the dribble and the catch ... Excellent control and decision-making running the break ... Shows a strong ability to protect the ball (3-1 a/to ratio) ...

Another potential player the Blazers have seemed to have interest in is Hollis Thompson:

Strengths: A wing with solid physical tools at 6’8 205, and a long build … Standout trait is definitely his jump shot, and never shot below 40% from long range during his time at Georgetown … Projects to be a long-range specialist, and has the mechanics, quick release and size to be able to get his shot off, even against NBA sized wings … Already has NBA range, and an “easy”, natural shot that allows him to hit shots spotting up, off screening action, and off simple 2 dribble pull-ups against hard closeouts … Doesn’t miss very often when he has time and space … Also a pretty good athlete, who covers a lot of ground when running, and who shows nice leaping skills when he has a head of steam … Pretty smooth and fluid … Can finish above the rim, and has the length and leaping skills to convert in traffic, sometimes in impressive fashion …Will occasionally get free on a down screen and get high percentage finish around the rim … Runs the floor pretty well … Plays high percentage basketball, rarely goes out of his comfort zone and role on either end of the floor … Has no problems passing the ball in the flow of the offense … Uses his length to bother jump shooters, and isn’t a bad shot-blocker for a wing … Doesn’t make plays that leave teammates vulnerable on the defensive end, rarely gambles … Has adequate tools to defend the SF spot in the NBA … A solid rebounding wing, who has some instincts after playing PF his first 2 seasons in the Big East ...

I think the Blazers definitely need to target yet another PG prospect with a later pick if they do not choose one early on, and then stick with one-dimensional specialists like Thompson and others with the remaining pick(s).

 

[THE HCP]

^They spelled IOWA wrong on that guy's jersey!

 

[bigbailes]

^They spelled IOWA wrong on that guy's jersey!

seriously???

 

[bigbailes]

you realize there is an IONA college right?

 

[VanillaGorilla]

Haha I'm pretty sure he was kidding

 

[Run BJM]

Would you guys rather have Ezeli or O'Quinn?

Never watched Ezeli play, but I'd go with O'Quinn.

 

[VanillaGorilla]

Never watched Ezeli play, but I'd go with O'Quinn.

Why? I think they're pretty similar, Ezeli is bigger and played in a better conference.

 

[Run BJM]

I don't know what Ezeli is going to do well in the NBA. He's likely not going to be a scoring option on NBA centers, he didn't rebound that well. Seems to have decent size for a C but I don't know if he'll be that much of a rim protector.

O'Quinn appears to have a more polished offensive game. Scores in the post and mid-range, gets FTs quite a bit. He seems to have a definite edge in intangibles i.e. bball IQ, "feel for the game", leadership. He ought to be able to play both 4/5. He was MVP of Portsmouth this year.

Like I said, I never watched Ezeli and these 2nd round types are especially hard to predict. O'Quinn is a basketball player and seems to have the more versatile game. Ezeli seems more like a big body who learned to produce decently over his college career but ultimately probably won't ever become good enough to do anything in the NBA. I don't see any elite skill that will translate to the league and he seems to lack those "intangibles" that I see in O'Quinn.

 

[Blazinaway]

Would you guys rather have Ezeli or O'Quinn?

O'Quinn gets my vote

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

I think POR would be best served by packaging both to move up, hopefully into the late 1st but if not there then early 2nd where you could possibly get a guy like Crowder or Barton or O'Quinn

Yeah, I posted in an earlier thread that I'd love to see O'Quinn. Could be a solid rebounder off the bench. Reminds me of the guy we had a couple of years ago (whose name I can't recall).

 

[Blazinaway]

Yeah, I posted in an earlier thread that I'd love to see O'Quinn. Could be a solid rebounder off the bench. Reminds me of the guy we had a couple of years ago (whose name I can't recall).

what I like about him is his high motor and that he is a legit backup PF/C candidate with his being tied for the highest standing reach at the combine and a huge 7'5 wingspan. He also had a standing vertical of 30.5 with I believe was 3rd highest for all guys who measured anove 6'8 inches, that bodes fairly well for his shot blocking ability at the NBA level. And he does have some offensive skills. I think he's more athletic than many originally gave him credit for

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

what I like about him is his high motor and that he is a legit backup PF/C candidate with his being tied for the highest standing reach at the combine and a huge 7'5 wingspan. He also had a standing vertical of 30.5 with I believe was 3rd highest for all guys who measured anove 6'8 inches, that bodes fairly well for his shot blocking ability at the NBA level. And he does have some offensive skills. I think he's more athletic than many originally gave him credit for

Hard to think he'll be around in the second round for us.

 

[VanillaGorilla]

what I like about him is his high motor and that he is a legit backup PF/C candidate with his being tied for the highest standing reach at the combine and a huge 7'5 wingspan. He also had a standing vertical of 30.5 with I believe was 3rd highest for all guys who measured anove 6'8 inches, that bodes fairly well for his shot blocking ability at the NBA level. And he does have some offensive skills. I think he's more athletic than many originally gave him credit for

Ezeli's standing vertical is 34" and he's taller, longer, and stronger. I don't get the love for O'Quinn. I watched Ezeli play a lot and he is an excellent post defender, shot blocker, and uses his body extremely well.

 

[RR7]

I'd probably take Tomas Satoransky with one of the picks.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

A player that big and athletic dropping to the second round makes you wonder.

There's usually a pretty good reason for it.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Predictably, I'm going to talk about non-US players (although for the record I'd be very happy with Crowder, Machado or O'Quinn).

Kostas Papanikolaou: a combo forward like Jonas Jerebko or Jorge Garbajosa. He can hit the three, get rebounds and defend. Tough as nails, and an MVP in the Greek league but still only 21. The kind of player that every team could use. A very rich man's Brian Cardinal, but with hair.

[video=youtube;uDcKlLW5E_Y]

Andrew Albicy: a poor man's short Rajon Rondo. I can see him going undrafted, because he's actually a hair shorter than Isaiah Thomas, and he's not much of a shooter. BUT: watching him play for Team France, he's one of those players like JJ Barea who has way more impact on a game than he should. He's a real defensive pest, in particular, and a very unselfish PG. I actually like him more than more heralded foreign players whose skills I don't think will translate to the US. Being a defensive pest always does, and it's the ideal thing in a bench guard. I can see him teamed up with Elliot Williams to make a really good press. (Plus I think it would help Batum to have another Frenchie around. Batum's lost two of his best buddies in Patty and Rudy.)

Both Papanikolaou and Albicy get discussed here, but that's not where I got the idea, honest! I've seen a fair bit of Albicy from watching Batum's games, and I watched a bit of Olympiacos's amazing in the Euroleague.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Incidentally, talking of Crowder and O'Quinn - check it out.

 

[Eastoff]

A player that big and athletic dropping to the second round makes you wonder.

There's usually a pretty good reason for it.

Yeah, but isn't it the second round the time to gamble on those "everyone else thinks his risk is too high, but..."

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

I lobbied for Albicy last year before he pulled out of the draft.

He's a pesky defender and had great chemistry with Batum in the qualifying games.