At #23, Blazers take Kris Murray.

[wizenheimer]

if it's any consolation, none of the players taken after Murray are looking decent, at least not statistically. Last draft may have been one of the worst from #21-#60

 

[Sheldon Shape]

if it's any consolation, none of the players taken after Murray are looking decent, at least not statistically. Last draft may have been one of the worst from #21-#60

Most late 1st rounders aren't going to get much of an opportunity in their first year so it doesn't mean much. Heck, Jarace Walker who was a lottery pick and wouldn't be included in the Siakam trade doesn't get minutes. We won't know for at least a few years. I hope this wasn't a Mike Schmitz pick.

 

[wizenheimer]

Most late 1st rounders aren't going to get much of an opportunity in their first year so it doesn't mean much. Heck, Jarace Walker who was a lottery pick and wouldn't be included in the Siakam trade doesn't get minutes. We won't know for at least a few years. I hope this wasn't a Mike Schmitz pick.

sure...we don't know yet, but the same might be true of Murray. The one issue is he's already 23 years old; he'll turn 24 in August so he might have a limit on his upside that a 19-20 year old wouldn't have

 

[Rastapopoulos]

I have zero faith in him becoming anything in the NBA.

I'd go so far as to say he may be the worst twin in NBA history in comparison to his brother.

Right now, I'd say Brook and Robin probably have the biggest gap. I think the gulf between Kris and Keegan will far surpass that of the Lopez's.

Jason and Jarron Collins?

 

[Sheldon Shape]

sure...we don't know yet, but the same might be true of Murray. The one issue is he's already 23 years old; he'll turn 24 in August so he might have a limit on his upside that a 19-20 year old wouldn't have

Yeah, that's the main issue. I think why so many are down on the pick is because he's already 23 and doesn't look like anything more than a mediocre role player. Even if you whiff, you have to shoot for the guys with higher ceilings when you're a bad team.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Jason and Jarron Collins?

...were both pretty much equally ineffective.

 

[HansenYang]

if it's any consolation, none of the players taken after Murray are looking decent, at least not statistically. Last draft may have been one of the worst from #21-#60

I'm one that is prone to over-use statistics... but I can't see how anyone can say that when they watched GG Jackson tonight.

He looked better than Murray and is ~5 years younger

Not to mention Carmara too, who is the much better player right now

 

[Whyachi]

Always fun to read older takes now that we have some real NBA film on him.

Over/under on him having a better career than Luke Babbitt?

That's not setting the bar. That's the safety mat beneath the bar.

 

[wizenheimer]

I'm one that is prone to over-use statistics... but I can't see how anyone can say that when they watched GG Jackson tonight.

He looked better than Murray and is ~5 years younger

Not to mention Carmara too, who is the much better player right now

sure. I wasn't really reaching firm conclusions on the draft class, just suggesting that the verdict wasn't delivered on Murray yet, although we do have some clues what the verdict will be. I haven't really watched the draft class much, especially the 21-60 picks, other than Camara

and yeah, Jackson definitely looks better and is the player who is the best, by far, statistically after Whitmore at #20. Camara is actually 3 months older than Murray

 

[MickZagger]

Yeah, that's the main issue. I think why so many are down on the pick is because he's already 23 and doesn't look like anything more than a mediocre role player. Even if you whiff, you have to shoot for the guys with higher ceilings when you're a bad team.

Exactly. I never understood this pick at all.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

I can't really say why; but I think he's gonna be all right.

 

[riverman]

I like Murray and see him being like Walker and clicking his seccond season in the league. Hard to compare him to Camara because Camara has a lot more rookie NBA miles than Murray....Murray has gone on reecord as saying this season was about him becoming an NBA defender and I can see he's becoming that. I know he can shoot...saw it in Iowa and his G league time. He's not looking for his shot now, but trying to be a team player....Camara has elite defensive instincts but I think Murray will end up a more rounded two way player and have less foul trouble than Camara....I like having both guys on the roster

 

[Blazinaway]

I like Murray and see him being like Walker and clicking his seccond season in the league. Hard to compare him to Camara because Camara has a lot more rookie NBA miles than Murray....Murray has gone on reecord as saying this season was about him becoming an NBA defender and I can see he's becoming that. I know he can shoot...saw it in Iowa and his G league time. He's not looking for his shot now, but trying to be a team player....Camara has elite defensive instincts but I think Murray will end up a more rounded two way player and have less foul trouble than Camara....I like having both guys on the roster

I don't see it but I hope you are right

 

[Sheldon Shape]

We're likely to add at least one more forward in the draft. This will squeeze Murray or Rupert out of the rotation with Camara and Walker probably in it. Put Murray in an Ant trade and be done with it.

 

[Pinwheel1]

I think Murray has a chance to be a rotational player in the NBA. Maybe not for us but for someone.
He is fundamentally sound, just not great or explosive. I agree his ceiling is not that high, but if he keeps working hard he will be around for a while.

 

[wizenheimer]

Murray's defense is acceptable, but only if he brings some decent offense and rebounding along. So far, he hasn't

 

[jlprk]

I like Murray and see him being like Walker and clicking his seccond season in the league.

From the start of his first Summer League, Jabari Walker had excellent instincts around the hoop, at both scoring and rebounding. Walker is a unicorn for the end of the 2nd round, a steal.

Murray has shown no such instantaneous ability to execute and close. That's why his brother was drafted a year earlier.

 

[Pinwheel1]

From the start of his first Summer League, Jabari Walker had excellent instincts around the hoop, at both scoring and rebounding. Walker is a unicorn for the end of the 2nd round, a steal.

Murray has shown no such instantaneous ability to execute and close. That's why his brother was drafted a year earlier.

Didn't you say one time that you didn't even watch the Blazer games? Are you watching them this year?

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

He’s on the Dante Cunningham tier: Meh!

I don’t see how you keep Kris over Bari.

 

[jlprk]

Didn't you say one time that you didn't even watch the Blazer games? Are you watching them this year?

I've always watched, but this season I hang up the phone when it's a blowout at halftime.

Last night I missed the comeback because I quit when we were 15 or 18 down in the 3rd quarter.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

He's shooting 26,9% from 3, which is horrendous for a "shooter". Has he improved lately? He's shooting 10.5% from 3 since the allstar game (last 5 games).

Until he starts shooting nba average from 3, we can't evaluate him properly. Anything positive right now is hope, not analysis. I'm ok with that, but we should call it what it is.

 

[BonesJones]

Always fun to read older takes now that we have some real NBA film on him.

Over/under on him having a better career than Luke Babbitt?

That's what I love about being able to go back and see my instant reaction!

https://www.youtube.com/live/hj6hIAZhEqg?si=4jNJiAHonahE-vpd

3:23:05

 

[Tince]

That's what I love about being able to go back and see my instant reaction!

https://www.youtube.com/live/hj6hIAZhEqg?si=4jNJiAHonahE-vpd

3:23:05

Nailed it... Even a broken clock is right twice a day!

Eric didn't nail it so much...

 

[kjironman1]

That's what I love about being able to go back and see my instant reaction!

https://www.youtube.com/live/hj6hIAZhEqg?si=4jNJiAHonahE-vpd

3:23:05

You actually said it didn't make sense to take Murray if they are keeping Dame though. At that point you didn't know what you know now. I don't think either of you were really all that far off? You just were going off what you actually knew at that point?

 

[Rastapopoulos]

In terms of +/- he's one of our least awful players (and he's suddenly getting a lot of minutes):

Analysis? He can't shoot for shit at present, but he probably knows how to run plays and where to stand on defense and that sets him apart among our young guys.

 

[Whyachi]

That's what I love about being able to go back and see my instant reaction!

https://www.youtube.com/live/hj6hIAZhEqg?si=4jNJiAHonahE-vpd

3:23:05

phone toss !! 1 game suspension, fined 5k, and apology note to league is required

 

[Tince]

phone toss !! 1 game suspension, fined 5k, and apology note to league is required

If outbursts like that warranted a suspension, they would be so far up the repeat offender criteria, they might be banned for life!

 

[blazerfan11]

How is Murray ever going to get any playing time in the future?

He's a 23-year-old 6'10" forward who can't shoot 3-pointers. The Blazers have Camara and Walker, not to mention Grant, that are ahead of him on the depth chart.

I don't care what Murray's +/- was. He shot 1-6 (0-3 three-pointers) for 2 points. Another G/F, Matisse Thybulle was 1-5 (0-3 three-pointers) for 2 points.

The Blazers desperately need a Small Forward of typical NBA measurements who is dependable on defense and CAN shoot from the outside.

Other things being equal, younger is better.

Can 18-year-old Rayan Rupert be that guy? Maybe. Maybe not. But he should be given every opportunity that Murray has gotten to show what he can do.

 

[wizenheimer]

How is Murray ever going to get any playing time in the future?

He's a 23-year-old 6'10" forward who can't shoot 3-pointers. The Blazers have Camara and Walker, not to mention Grant, that are ahead of him on the depth chart.

I don't care what Murray's +/- was. He shot 1-6 (0-3 three-pointers) for 2 points. Another G/F, Matisse Thybulle was 1-5 (0-3 three-pointers) for 2 points.

The Blazers desperately need a Small Forward of typical NBA measurements who is dependable on defense and CAN shoot from the outside.

Other things being equal, younger is better.

Can 18-year-old Rayan Rupert be that guy? Maybe. Maybe not. But he should be given every opportunity that Murray has gotten to show what he can do.

just some info from the 2023 pre-draft combine:

Murray was 6'7.75 w/o shoes with an 8'10 standing reach; 213 lbs

Rupert was 6'6 w/o shoes with an 8'10 standing reach; 193 lbs

 

[Pinwheel1]

How is Murray ever going to get any playing time in the future?

He's a 23-year-old 6'10" forward who can't shoot 3-pointers. The Blazers have Camara and Walker, not to mention Grant, that are ahead of him on the depth chart.

I don't care what Murray's +/- was. He shot 1-6 (0-3 three-pointers) for 2 points. Another G/F, Matisse Thybulle was 1-5 (0-3 three-pointers) for 2 points.

The Blazers desperately need a Small Forward of typical NBA measurements who is dependable on defense and CAN shoot from the outside.

Other things being equal, younger is better.

Can 18-year-old Rayan Rupert be that guy? Maybe. Maybe not. But he should be given every opportunity that Murray has gotten to show what he can do.

I agree I want to give Rupert more time for the rest of the season. And I agree that Murray might not get minutes over others, but I am not too worried about Murray's poor 3-point shooting. I would be really surprised if he didn't turn out to be a good 3 pt shooter. Blazer fans said the same thing about CJ early in his second season. Kris has too pretty of a shot not for it not to improve.