CHAD FORD'S MOCK DRAFT 2.0 HAS PORTLAND SELECTING...

[Minstrel]

Agreed, but it's always risky trading a pick for a player. If the pick is good, you are very unlikely to get value. You can get a superstar in the draft, but nobody will trade you one for a pick.

Trade old man Lillard and suddenly point guard is a position of need.

 

[JDC]

We already drafted this guy. His name is Jake Layman.

Have you watched TJ Leaf play?

Honest question.

 

[Denny Crane]

Have you watched TJ Leaf play?

Honest question.

No.

But we drafted a similar sized guy with similar skills.

Plus I think we already are deep at both F spots. Unless he's a significant step up from Aminu, Mo, Crabbe, and ET, I don't see the point.

 

[JDC]

No.

But we drafted a similar sized guy with similar skills.

Plus I think we already are deep at both F spots. Unless he's a significant step up from Aminu, Mo, Crabbe, and ET, I don't see the point.

I view Leaf as a 4, and with Aminu's shooting being what it is right now, I don't think anybody is 100% sure he's the long term answer at the position.

Is Leaf that guy? Maybe, maybe not. But he would give this team something it doesn't have right now at the position.

 

[Denny Crane]

I view Leaf as a 4, and with Aminu's shooting being what it is right now, I don't think anybody is 100% sure he's the long term answer at the position.

Is Leaf that guy? Maybe, maybe not. But he would give this team something it doesn't have right now at the position.

If we draft him, I'll root for him. Like I do for all the players on the team.

But Layman is just 5 lbs lighter, same height, and also is a 3pt shooter.

 

[handiman]

No.

But we drafted a similar sized guy with similar skills.

That's like saying don't draft Charles Barkley because we already drafted Gary Trent. Aside from chronology, of course.

 

[JDC]

If we draft him, I'll root for him. Like I do for all the players on the team.

But Layman is just 5 lbs lighter, same height, and also is a 3pt shooter.

TJ Leaf has nearly a 6" standing reach advantage (and uses every bit of it), and is far from just a 3pt shooter. I actually question how translatable the 3pt shot will be right away.

They're just totally different players.

 

[Denny Crane]

That's like saying don't draft Charles Barkley because we already drafted Gary Trent. Aside from chronology, of course.

Or don't draft Jordan because we already have Clyde.

If you want to make the case this guy is Barkley and our guys are Trent, please do.

What I see is a mid round draft pick whose description matches Layman.

 

[chzbrgr]

Agreed, but it's always risky trading a pick for a player. If the pick is good, you are very unlikely to get value. You can get a superstar in the draft, but nobody will trade you one for a pick.

Eh it's been done before, kevin love comes to mind right off the bat

EDIT: I'm assuming our pick will be relatively high and that we could trade up with the cavs pick

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Eh it's been done before, kevin love comes to mind right off the bat

Do not cheapen the term superstar like that!

 

[chzbrgr]

Do not cheapen the term superstar like that!

Fair but in my defense I did say "disgruntled all-star"

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Trade old man Lillard and suddenly point guard is a position of need.

And we're right back to the problem of playing CJ as an undersized SG...

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Fair but in my defense I did say "disgruntled all-star"

I want one that's gruntled.

 

[Minstrel]

If you want to make the case this guy is Barkley and our guys are Trent, please do.

Our guys are Trent. Whether this guy is Barkley (or, more likely on the extreme upside, Kevin Love/LaMarcus Aldridge with bit more range) is another question.

 

[Minstrel]

And we're right back to the problem of playing CJ as an undersized SG...

With a larger point guard, it wouldn't be a big problem. They could cross-match on defense. It was largely facetious, though, because I don't think Olshey would ever consider trading Lillard.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

With a larger point guard, it wouldn't be a big problem. They could cross-match on defense. It was largely facetious, though, because I don't think Olshey would ever consider trading Lillard.

I want a "large PG" like Giannis. Of course, we had one called Batum...

 

[Orion Bailey]

Eh it's been done before, kevin love comes to mind right off the bat

EDIT: I'm assuming our pick will be relatively high and that we could trade up with the cavs pick

Is Klove a superstar?

 

[Denny Crane]

Our guys are Trent. Whether this guy is Barkley (or, more likely on the extreme upside, Kevin Love/LaMarcus Aldridge with bit more range) is another question.

Make the case he's not another Trent.

If he's BPA, grab him.

I would rather draft a PF/C who can play some defense, first.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Is Klove a superstar?

He's back to being pretty fucking good.

 

[chzbrgr]

Is Klove a superstar?

26/12/4 when he was traded people argued at the time that he was the best pf in the game

 

[Orion Bailey]

Superstars:

LBJ
KD
Curry
Harden
Westbrook

Everybody else is a star or allstar, but not a superstar. my opinion though.

 

[chzbrgr]

Superstars:

LBJ
KD
Curry
Harden
Westbrook

Everybody else is a star or allstar, but not a superstar. my opinion though.

I was just playing devils advocate for my own sake

 

[Orion Bailey]

I was just playing devils advocate for my own sake

Do you agree or disagree though? I might be missing a player or two like Dhoward as a superstar, or one time superstar, but I think its a pretty limited list.

 

[Minstrel]

Make the case he's not another Trent.

Nah, I don't know anything about him except the descriptions.

I was just saying that we have mediocre players in the front court, especially at power forward/center. None of them should preclude selecting a front court player if he's arguably the best player at 15. While I'd prefer better defense, shooting is also a big deal. Our front court is missing two things: defense and perimeter shooting. The chances of getting a player that provides both is low, because those players would go much earlier. It's not at all inconceivable that a power forward who isn't a good defender but is good in the post and out to three-point range could be the best pick in the middle of the round.

 

[Denny Crane]

Nah, I don't know anything about him except the descriptions.

I was just saying that we have mediocre players in the front court, especially at power forward/center. None of them should preclude selecting a front court player if he's arguably the best player at 15. While I'd prefer better defense, shooting is also a big deal. Our front court is missing two things: defense and perimeter shooting. The chances of getting a player that provides both is low, because those players would go much earlier. It's not at all inconceivable that a power forward who isn't a good defender but is good in the post and out to three-point range could be the best pick in the middle of the round.

Taj Gibson, 29 pick.

I am sure there are good guys to take at 15 or so.

 

[Minstrel]

Superstars:

LBJ
KD
Curry
Harden
Westbrook

Everybody else is a star or allstar, but not a superstar. my opinion though.

I generally agree that the number of superstars is small, but I'd include Anthony Davis, Chris Paul and Giannis Antetokounmpo.

 

[chzbrgr]

Do you agree or disagree though? I might be missing a player or two like Dhoward as a superstar, or one time superstar, but I think its a pretty limited list.

I dont disagree but I do think it's a little less exclusive than those 5 players but requires you to be elite on both ends of the floor
I mean if Westbrook gets in I think Boogie has to get in too both are unstoppable forces of nature physically (both hurt their teams with a somewhat more selfish attitude) I might throw a Kawhi Lenoard in there too

My list is probably something like

Cream of the crop:

LBJ
KD
Harden
Steph
AD

Second tier but still superstars in my mind

Giannis
Westbrook
Lenoard
Boogie
Paul
Thompson
Butler
George

there's a lot of talent in the league right now...

 

[Minstrel]

Taj Gibson, 29 pick.

I don't know if you're trying to suggest that Gibson fits the description I mentioned but there is no universe, real, theoretical or imagined, in which Gibson is a good shooter out to three-point range.

Gibson is a fine player. It would be awesome to get a guy like him at the end of the first round.

 

[BonesJones]

I dont disagree but I do think it's a little less exclusive than those 5 players but requires you to be elite on both ends of the floor
I mean if Westbrook gets in I think Boogie has to get in too both are unstoppable forces of nature physically (both hurt their teams with a somewhat more selfish attitude) I might throw a Kawhi Lenoard in there too

My list is probably something like

Cream of the crop:

LBJ
KD
Harden
Steph
AD

Second tier but still superstars in my mind

Giannis
Westbrook
Lenoard
Boogie
Paul
Thompson
Butler
George

there's a lot of talent in the league right now...

1.) Where the hell is Dame?
2.) AD? He's led his team to 0 playoff wins. He can't stay healthy. He's a better defending Toronto version of Chris Bosh. Doesn't make him a top 5 player or a superstar.

 

[Trackjack]

TJ Leaf has nearly a 6" standing reach advantage (and uses every bit of it), and is far from just a 3pt shooter. I actually question how translatable the 3pt shot will be right away.

They're just totally different players.

He kind of reminds me of Kevin mchale with 3 point shot.