Blazers Draft Grades

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Ed O

Ed O

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Some of us loved our draft. Some of us are pissed. Some are, presumably, in between but just not posting about it.

What does the media think? Let's find grades (either about players picked or the team's effort) and post here. I think it'll make most of us feel pretty good about tonight :)
 
The Sporting News: #2 overall. A+.

https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nba...spurs-worst-clippers/cqc6kaw5xpwnfvbxfju3f38x

The Trail Blazers landed the second-best player in the draft with the No. 3 pick. Henderson is going to be a future All-NBA caliber talent and he'll (potentially) get to learn from franchise cornerstone Damian Lillard. Portland continued to add to its roster later in the draft, selecting a win-now 3-and-D forward in Murray and a long-term development project in Rupert, who I had as a first-round grade.
 
It's early, but i think you have to give the Blazers an A. They got a top 3 pick after tanking. Murray, i think, will be better than where he was picked. The Frenchman is said to be quite the defenseman. So All in all, looks like Joe , Mike , and all the scouts Slam Dunked it again ( Sharpe, Walker looking like great to good picks as well last year)
 
tykendo said:
It's early, but i think you have to give the Blazers an A. They got a top 3 pick after tanking. Murray, i think, will be better than where he was picked. The Frenchman is said to be quite the defenseman. So All in all, looks like Joe , Mike , and all the scouts Slam Dunked it again ( Sharpe, Walker looking like great to good picks as well last year)
Click to expand...
Home run 2 years in a row!
 
Yahoo
https://sports.yahoo.com/2023-nba-d...by-pick-analysis-trade-updates-001311447.html

Scoot: A
Henderson is the best guard in this draft class and can grow into a pro learning from Damian Lillard. The 6-2 guard dominated the G League the last two seasons and averaged 17.6 points and 6.6 assists this past year. Henderson will bring tremendous court vision and playmaking to the Trail Blazers.

Murray: B+
Murray is a solid forward who does a lot of the little things very well. He's a reliable shooter, will always make the extra pass to an open teammate and not force anything, and uses his footwork to keep guys in front off the block. Murray is a player who can come in right away and give solid minutes, and he still has room to grow into more of an offensive threat past the 3-point line.
 
DraftKings Nation (is that a thing? Stupid sports gambling means it probably is a thing...)
https://dknation.draftkings.com/202...rs-wembanyama-hornets-blazers-rockets-pistons

Scoot: B+
Henderson is a great prospect for Portland, and this likely means some sort of trade is coming for the Blazers. This grade is factoring in some sort of deal, because Portland cannot possibly keep four high-usage guards on the roster. Henderson is going to feel a bit slighted, and he should learn a lot from Damian Lillard over the next few seasons.

Murray: C+
The positional fit is interesting, especially if the Blazers bring Jerami Grant back. Murray’s shooting regressed with additional volume, which is a bit of a concern for Portland in this current setup. If he can improve defensively and prove his shooting slump was a fluke, this grade will improve.
 
SB Nation
https://www.sbnation.com/nba/2023/6...ades-instant-every-pick-hornets-trail-blazers

Scoot: A
Henderson is a super fast, super strong point guard who can put pressure on the rim as a scorer, rip mid-range jumpers, and make advanced passing reads in the pick-and-roll. Henderson will need to improve his three-point shot and play up to his physical talent defensively, but he fits the mold of the hyper-athletic point guard that has always been coveted in the NBA. The real question now in Portland is what happens with Damian Lillard. Lillard reportedly preferred if this pick was traded for a veteran star, but Portland’s front office wasn’t on the same page. Whether Lillard asks out or not, Henderson is an incredible prize at No. 3 overall.

Murray: B
Murray is the twin brother of Keegan Murray, who went No. 4 overall in last year’s draft. Kris Murray had a similar breakout year at Iowa once his brother bolted for the NBA, and he projects as a solid 3-and-D wing at the next level. Murray is a little less prolific as a shooter than his brother, and he looks slightly less athletic, too. Still, this is a high-floor pick who should be able to stick in the league for a long-time as a rotation wing.
 
CBS Sportsline
https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/...ions-with-intrigue-starting-right-after-no-1/

Scoot: A
This was the easiest pick in the draft, and the Blazers nailed it. They get a second high-quality building block alongside Shaedon Sharpe and expedite rebuilding without having to trade Damian Lillard. Henderson is a dynamic athlete and explosive playmaker whose skills should translate after two years in the G League.

Murray: B+
Murray is a very good basketball player, a skilled smart offensive player who is a better shooter than his percentages indicate. When he was a complementary player to his brother, Keegan, he was a better floor-spacer. And that's his role, as a guy who can be switchable and strong as a skilled role player.

Rupert: B
A product of the NBL's Next Stars Program that in recent years has produced NBA talents like Ousmane Dieng, Josh Giddey and LaMelo Ball, Rupert showed flashes last season of developing into a promising prospect. He finished as the No. 31 prospect on the CBS Sports Big Board, so I like the value for Portland at this spot, scooping up an unexpected faller.
 
Clutch Points
https://clutchpoints.com/2023-nba-draft-first-round-pick-grades

Scoot: A-
The most dynamic and athletic guard in this year's class, Scoot Henderson gets to team up with Damian Lillard in the Portland Trail Blazers' backcourt. Who knows how things will work out seeing as Portland has Anfernee Simons and Shaedon Sharpe as well, but they could not pass up on Scoot here. Henderson is going to be a factor not only now, but for the Blazers' foreseeable future.

Murray: A-
The younger brother of Sacramento Kings All-Rookie performer Keegan Murray, Kris Murray will be an immediate contributor on the wing for the Portland Trail Blazers. At 22-years-old, he is an older player in this draft class who really does not have any weaknesses to his game. His shooting stroke is strong and defensively, Murray can guard almost any position. Fundamentally sound, Murray will be playing for the Blazers from Day 1 in the league.

Note: I think that Keegan is actually slightly younger than Kris based on a quick Google search I did...

upload_2023-6-23_0-30-4.png
 
USA Today
https://ftw.usatoday.com/lists/nba-draft-first-round-grades-tracker-2023

Scoot: A
Scoot Henderson is a fascinating selection for Portland. This was the right move for the franchise, although it’s unclear what it means for Damian Lillard, because Henderson is such a special talent at the guard spot. Portland is developing a nice young core with Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe in the mix.

Murray: A-
Kris Murray is one of the older players in this year’s draft, but he’s certainly one of the more skilled players as well. He doubled his scoring every single season at Iowa. After his brother, Keegan, was drafted by the Kings in 2022, the Hawkeyes relied heavily on Kris’ offense to carry them this season. He’s the exact sort of big 3-and-D wing the Trail Blazers need.
 
Sports Illustrated
https://www.si.com/nba/draft/newsfe...-blazers-official-selections-and-draft-grades

Grade: A

A bit of a hodge-podge draft for Portland, their grade here is directly associated with the addition of Ignite guard Scoot Henderson, who for most was the second-ranked prospect in the draft entirely.

The Blazers could finally opt to move into a new era with a hyper-athletic backcourt in Henderson and former No. 7 overall pick Shaedon Sharpe.

Kris Murray at No. 23 offers the Blazers more of a win-now piece that's ready to infuse the team with defense and shooting, and Rayan Rupert offers potential upside down the line with a lengthy frame and stingy defense.

Regardless, Portland was one of the winners of the night via Henderson.
 
NBADraft.net
https://www.nbadraft.net/2023-nba-draft-instant-analysis/

Scoot: A
In any other draft, Scoot would be a credible top overall pick. He is an immediate culture-setter with a top-tier work ethic and a tangible competitive fire that can't be taught. To the surprise of nobody, Scoot has dominated the interview/workout circuit. It's clear that he will immediately become one of the league's most popular players and a social media sensation, with a style of play conducive to viral video. He isn't a lights-out shooter now, but it would be foolish to bet against him – he is likely heading to the gym right after the draft to get up some shots. The big question now: What does Scoot's presence in Portland mean for franchise cornerstone Damian Lillard?

Murray: B
Keegan's twin brother can play. Murray is a long, surprisingly big combo forward with a smooth game and solid all-around skills. Much like Keegan, Kris can get to his spots with a variety of hesitation moves and pump fakes, and he possesses an innate awareness of where he should be on any given play. He plays with an extremely high IQ and he comes to the NBA with much more polish than many of his lottery contemporaries. He isn't the most physically dominant or aggressive player, and he can seem to vanish at times, but there is no question that he has a deep bag and a mature mindset. He's much older than most comparable prospects, so his upside is more limited, but he can help round out Portland's rotation right away.

Rupert: A-
Much like Bilal Coulibaly, Rupert has taken advantage of the extra attention on France. Also like Coulibaly, Rupert's arms seemingly extend forever. The 6-7 wing with the New Zealand Breakers is the proud owner of a 7-3 wingspan and a frame that can easily add bulk without sacrificing speed/quickness. His defensive upside is through the roof, thanks in large part to his hard-nosed mentality and relentless motor. The offensive end of the floor is more of a work in progress, particularly his jumper. It might take a season or two for his ball skills to be ready for prime time, but the defensive potential is incredible for this stage of the draft. He is the last man standing in the green room, and Rupert is a steal at 43.
 
Sheldon from Utility Sports.

Blazers were big draft winners. A phenomenal draft. Getting the #2 prospect in the draft with the 3rd pick is very difficult.
Future is extremely bright.
Scoot and Dame together is intriguing because they are not the same. Scoot Henderson is not like CJ McCollum. Scoot is more of a downhill force and a facilitator.

He talks about the Trail Blazers at the beginning of the video.

 
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As a draft it was a great draft when grading it in terms of the value we got where we picked and drafting rookies with both high floors and high ceilings (Scoot and Rayan having the higher ceilings while Scoot and Kris have the higher floors). That's the context I think a draft grade should be given in. The fact that we drafted three promising rookies when Dame said he didn't want that anymore and that we needed to add proven talent and that one of those rookies is undeniably a point guard in my opinion spells the end of Dame Time which is kind of heartbreaking but we shouldn't be surprised besides trading for Grant and maybe re-signing Nurk, every move that Cronin has made has seemed to point toward a rebuild.
 
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