Anyone want to picks someone other than Scoot or Miller?

[Rastapopoulos]

The consensus is that Miller and Henderson are a tier above the next player, but historically the consensus has always been wrong. I feel better about Scoot, but he can't shoot threes and just isn't on an athletic level with players like Westbrook, Rose and Wall that he's being compared with. In general, Miller is giving me Jabari Smith vibes, and Scoot is giving me Jaden Ivey vibes.

Think about it: how often have the second and third players picked (or even the consensus second and third players in mock drafts) turned out to be the second and third best players? I bet it's less than a fifth of the time. Assuming that holds up for this draft, whom should we pick at #3 other than those two? (And don't say "it doesn't matter because we're trading the pick" - what player would you like if it's not one of those two, but he stays a Blazer?)

I'm going to go with Anthony Black. Consensus currently has him going #9, but I don't give a shit.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Was Jaden Ivey really that bad during his rookie season? He did make 2nd team all-rookie team?

I would go Whitmore

 

[Whyachi]

I say we move some pieces around and grab the Thompson Twins. The Blazers need a lot more help then 1 really good rookie. 2 is better !!

 

[JDC]

Amen Thompson

Incredibly fun player to watch. Opens up a lot of interesting team building strategies in the future while complimenting our current and long term talent very well.

Ideally you get him in a trade down but comfortable taking the swing at 3.

 

[TBpup]

Amen Thompson

Incredibly fun player to watch. Opens up a lot of interesting team building strategies in the future while complimenting our current and long term talent very well.

Ideally you get him in a trade down but comfortable taking the swing at 3.

The whole trade down to get more assets is fascinating especially depending on who is available at #3. Amen/Scoot are both very athletic PG's that don't shoot very well. Amen is thought of as the better defender and is 4+ inches taller. Both attack the basket, set up teammates and Amen is a better rebounder. Then you get to Ausar who is a better shooter and defender than Amen and actually averaged more assists and was a 2x MVP....not Amen. Better yet, keep #3 and figure out what it takes to get #6/11 from Orlando.

This roster needs a lot more than 1 player. They need Center help, wing help, defensive help, rebounding help.....multiple pieces needed.

 

[Predator]

Amen, Cam Whitmore.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Cam Whitmore.

I worry that he's a complete black hole on offense. Why not the kid from Houston instead?

 

[blazerkor]

Not at number 3 but if we traded 3 for Franz Wagner and 6 we could take my favorite guy in this draft Jarace Walker. Dude is a monster and if we were starting two forwards like Grant and Wagner a monster like Walker off of the bench would be very welcome.

 

[RonBrewer]

If we can get any value for Ant and 23. A vet Dame enjoy, then i'd just as soon trade down for both of Orlando's lotto picks and grab AB and another.

 

[Whyachi]

If we can get any value for Ant and 23. A vet Dame enjoy, then i'd just as soon trade down for both of Orlando's lotto picks and grab AB and another.

Anfernee does cool sound effects during Dame's freestyle raps. Lillard likes having Ant around. We should be enticed by Simon's volume 3pt shooting, get him on your fantasy team! Then continue listening to Lillard fight off the media pundits about getting traded to a better squad.

 

[Predator]

I worry that he's a complete black hole on offense. Why not the kid from Houston instead?

I’ve expressed my concern with Whitmore that he makes some of the dumbest decisions I’ve ever seen but he’s a freak athlete, can dribble, and shoot right now.

Walker will never be a star. Whitmore could be.

 

[Sheldon Shape]

If we can get any value for Ant and 23. A vet Dame enjoy, then i'd just as soon trade down for both of Orlando's lotto picks and grab AB and another.

If you can turn Ant & 23 into OG and turn Nurk and Little into Ayton you have...

Dame
Shae
OG
Grant
Ayton

BU: Thybulle, Watford, #3

Pretty interesting.

 

[GrandpaBlaze]

I’ve expressed my concern with Whitmore that he makes some of the dumbest decisions I’ve ever seen but he’s a freak athlete, can dribble, and shoot right now.

Walker will never be a star. Whitmore could be.

That description gave me Thomas Robinson vibes.

 

[GrandpaBlaze]

If you can turn Ant & 23 into OG and turn Nurk and Little into Ayton you have...

Dame
Shae
OG
Grant
Ayton

BU: Thybulle, Watford, #3

Pretty interesting.

What is the fascination with Ayton? He is ok but he isn’t a difference maker yet is paid like one.

His BBIQ and work ethic/engagement are both suspect.

Please no.

Fits into KAT category for me, overhyped, overpaid, underperformant.

 

[Sheldon Shape]

What is the fascination with Ayton? He is ok but he isn’t a difference maker yet is paid like one.

His BBIQ and work ethic/engagement are both suspect.

Please no.

Fits into KAT category for me, overhyped, overpaid, underperformant.

I'm not necessarily in love with him, but if you don't trade the pick you can take on salary elsewhere. If you can turn Nurk and change into Ayton I do it. He would make us better than we are with Nurk.

 

[BBert]

Amen

 

[STOMP]

The consensus is that Miller and Henderson are a tier above the next player, but historically the consensus has always been wrong.

true. 20/20 hindsight reveals the consensus view on lots of things to be wrong

I feel better about Scoot, but he can't shoot threes and just isn't on an athletic level with players like Westbrook, Rose and Wall that he's being compared with.

disagree, dude is a top shelf run jump athlete rightfully compared to those guys in that regard. That he's about a half year younger then any of those guys were when they entered the league is worth noting.

There are lots of players I'd like to add from this draft class though probably only a few will make much of an impact next season and instant impact seems to be what this board expects. Historically very few make a positive impact at age 19 or 20 in their rookie year and thats the age of most of the guys expected to go in the lotto this year. We all love Shaedon and love to think about what he could become, but last year his impact was pretty much reflected in his subpar advanced stats. Black will probably be a very good pro overall. Hendricks, the Thompsons, Walker, Whitmore and others all have potential to be solid starters and better. I expect Portland to try to split the baby and trade down to someone in love with what they could get at #3 and select one of the frontcourt players listed above as well as add veteran help. If so, I really like Walker. He brings winning frontcourt intangibles as well as solid size and athleticism.

STOMP

 

[Predator]

That description gave me Thomas Robinson vibes.

Thomas Robinson couldn't dribble or shoot...

He practically tried hard, was a good athlete, and had no real basketball skill lol

 

[Natebishop3]

Thomas Robinson couldn't dribble or shoot...

He practically tried hard, was a good athlete, and had no real basketball skill lol

I don’t think that it wasn’t that he had skill. I think he completely lacked BBIQ.

 

[BlazerMoneyMaker]

What is the fascination with Ayton? He is ok but he isn’t a difference maker yet is paid like one.

His BBIQ and work ethic/engagement are both suspect.

Please no.

Fits into KAT category for me, overhyped, overpaid, underperformant.

KAT is a superstar even if he has holes in his game, Ayton is an overpaid loser

 

[Predator]

I don’t think that it wasn’t that he had skill. I think he completely lacked BBIQ.

https://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Thomas-Robinson-5496/

This is the draftexpress profile on him... (weird to hop in the time machine on this one, kinda interesting to see how people were viewed at the time).

Summary: Can't pass, can't shoot, not a skilled or polished player offensively

The guy was a freak athlete and rebounder lol

 

[Rastapopoulos]

KAT is a superstar even if he has holes in his game, Ayton is an overpaid loser

Potato potahto

 

[BankTeller]

Amen Thompson

Incredibly fun player to watch. Opens up a lot of interesting team building strategies in the future while complimenting our current and long term talent very well.

Ideally you get him in a trade down but comfortable taking the swing at 3.

If it was Brandon or Amen, I’m comfortable just drafting Amen outright. If it was Scoot or Amen, I’d definitely trade down with at least HOU and maybe even DET. Even if Amen has a much higher ceiling imo, Scoot has a much more likelihood of hitting his ceiling, #4 and #20 at least.

All the points you’ve made about Amen, I agree with.

 

[1 Eye Jack]

Scoot is no brainer to me where as I have a few concerns about Miller. If organization has same concerns I would love to trade for 6 and 11 plus player like Wagner. Double your odds of hitting gold.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Scoot is no brainer to me where as I have a few concerns about Miller. If organization has same concerns I would love to trade for 6 and 11 plus player like Wagner. Double your odds at hitting gold.

I agree in theory, but memories of trading down in the 2005 draft haunt me.

 

[e_blazer]

Not a fan of Scoot at all. He’s fun to watch dunk the ball, but he’s going to discover that NBA defenses are better than they are in the G league. He’s another short PG who doesn’t play much D like we’ve been hearing complaints about around here for the last decade. The only difference is he can’t shoot from 3. I’d much rather trade out of the draft or trade down and pick someone else than use the 3 on Scoot.

 

[tykendo]

I'd like to pick Siakam, Bridges, or Markkanen. Bridges & Markkanen have very reasonable contracts right now for 3 and 2 years remaining resectively. Gives a lot more bang for the buck to add more quality to the lineup.

 

[tykendo]

I agree in theory, but memories of trading down in the 2005 draft haunt me.

Time to move on.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

No, I want Scoot or Miller.

Only way I wouldn't is if Blazers don't appear comfortable with Miller shooting incident - I don't believe anyone here will know these details and they would be private conversations. But if the team has a red flag here then I'd understand passing.

I'd probably prefer Ausar over Amen due to his superior shot. I feel like the athletic difference is overrated.

I might prefer Whitmore over the twins though.

Overall the #4-7 prospect are all extremely similar levels so its hart to know what to do. Normally I'm all for drafting BPA - but if we can get a nice piece to move down to #6 and still get the guy we want such as Ausar as well as fine with the alternative if he is gone maybe that's best.

 

[Pinwheel1]

No, I want Scoot or Miller.

Only way I wouldn't is if Blazers don't appear comfortable with Miller shooting incident - I don't believe anyone here will know these details and they would be private conversations. But if the team has a red flag here then I'd understand passing.

I'd probably prefer Ausar over Amen due to his superior shot. I feel like the athletic difference is overrated.

I might prefer Whitmore over the twins though.

Overall the #4-7 prospect are all extremely similar levels so its hart to know what to do. Normally I'm all for drafting BPA - but if we can get a nice piece to move down to #6 and still get the guy we want such as Ausar as well as fine with the alternative if he is gone maybe that's best.

Agree but I am still not sure what we can get that would be acceptable for the other team to give us just to move up a few spots.
Wagner would be worth it to us, but not sure about Orlando. Is Suggs a bust or just a slow start to his career? I bring up those two from Orlando because I like the idea of using our TPE. But we certainly don't have to.

What about other teams? Indiana at #7 seems to be an option. I like Durate if we intended to move Ant and Nas in a different trade. Indiana loved Durate at first but minor injuries have limited his progress, as well as depth at his position. But again another trade for someone with size would have to be the goal.