Draft bandwagons of the past

[Fez Hammersticks]

Hindsight 20/20, what players were you right about?

Paul Milsap: We needed a rebounder and Milsap led the nation in that category for three straight seasons. He was the most logical choice for our lower 1st round pick.

Courtney Lee: I felt he was the most underrated player in college basketball. An all around player who I thought we could play alongside Roy.​

Some other players I thought would fit our core were Joakim Noah and Ronnie Turiaf. I knew we didn't have a chance to draft Noah as we needed another lotto pick, but I was surprised Ronnie slipped into the second round. Passing on Milsap hurts.

The bandwagons I'm on this year?

Dejuan Blair and Eric Maynor.

 

[LameR]

I wanted the Stache and Tyrus Thomas before Roy and Aldridge. I hadn't watched much basketball that year outside of watching Oregon. My bad...

 

[RR7]

I thought Roy was a superstar talent going into the draft, and thought he was an absolute no brainer for the #1 selection. I heard the "upside" arguments about Bargnani and Aldridge and Thomas, but didn't care to hear it. Obviously, I wanted to end up with him, and not have Toronto take him, but I thought Toronto SHOULD have taken him. Lucky for us!

For others, I also liked Milsap that year, and remember hoping we could find a way to get him.

Going back further, I was a fan of Ariza when he was drafted. Thought he got screwed in both NY and Orlando, but I guess it worked out for him alright. Was a big fan of Michael Redd the year he came out, and was surprised ot see him go so late. (On the flip side, I was also a fan of his backcourt mate from THE Ohio State University, Scoonie Penn, so....) I liked Steve Nash a lot coming out of college. Was also a big fan of Chauncey Billups. Liked Ron Artest a lot as well.
Obviously, we weren't in position to draft many of those. Just some of the guys I remember liking before those drafts, and thinking they would be good players.

There's always the misses, also. Was a fan of Priest Lauderdale. I lived in Chicago at the time, and remember hoping he would fall to us. He went 28th. We got Travis Knight at 29. Both sucked. Leon Smith seemed like a great prospect. Until he popped a bunch of aspirin and went hunting indians. I'll admit I was a big Darius Miles fan before he was drafted. After, as well. But again, wa shoping Chicago could get him.

One final guy I liked a lot was John Wallace. Not sure if anyone really remembers him, out of Syracuse. Remember watching him in the tournament, and really liking him. Drafted in 96. I still think he could have been good. Just one of those situations where someone doesn't find the right fit for them, and they never make it. He put up about 17 and 6 per 36 through his short career, but never really stuck anywhere.

 

[TradeNurkicNow]

i had a giant boner for stache and threatened suicide if we drafted roy

then again, i dont watch college hoops!

I also thought it would take lebron 2-3 years before he would average 20 ppg

i too am on the dejuan blair bandwagon.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

I've had more hits than misses, believe it or not.

I was high on Roy. I liked Adam, too, but I thought Roy was the most complete player in the entire draft. I didn't give Aldridge much thought as I thought he was a lock for #1 or #2. Tyrus screamed Jerome 'JYD' Williams to me. I didn't like him AT ALL.

Frye I thought was Mark Blount v.2. Hindsight, I probably owe Blount an apology.

I thought Nate Robinson would be a player GM's would regret passing on. He's built like an NFL player, insane athletic ability, and can score in bunches.

I knew Ha Sueng-Jin would suck major donkey balls. You could see it in his eyes that he had no idea what the fuck to do on the court.

 

[BalancedMan]

i too am on the dejuan blair bandwagon.

Probably means we shouldn't draft him then...right?

 

[uosean]

I'd wanted Aldridge since he was a Junior in High School (sounds kinda perv LOL).

I was COMPLETELY against drafting "the stache"

I was and still am totally in the Oden bandwagon. (Durant is scoring leader type and Oden is Championship type)

I am totally infatuated with Ricky Rubio and think he could be a Chris Paul type in 3-4 years.

I saw Dwayne Wade CARRY his team in the NCAA tournament and wanted him a Blazers uni badly.

I had NO clue who Brandon Roy was, just was weary of his knee issues and still am.

I couldn't understand why people were so into Marvin Williams. I thought he looked mediocre at best.

I was into Chris Paul but had issues with the rumor that he didn't want to workout for PDX. I thought Deron Williams would be too heavy to play PG at a high level.

I was against drafting Mayo and still am quite weary of how is character would affect a locker room.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

i had a giant boner for stache and threatened suicide if we drafted roy

then again, i dont watch college hoops!

I also thought it would take lebron 2-3 years before he would average 20 ppg

i too am on the dejuan blair bandwagon.

You just jinxed Mr. Blair.

 

[hasoos]

Mario Chalmers-Jury is still out on how that one will turn out, although starting his rookie year isn't bad. He showed some signs of off the court issues though.

Lamarcus Aldridge-That one turned out pretty good.

Greg Oden-Still on the bandwagon, I think Greg will pull it together.

Kirk Snyder-Well that one didn't work out. He is barely still in the league.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I don't remember getting to jacked up about draft picks one way or another, although I did think it was insane that we passed on Deron Williams to trade down for Martel (although I thought CP3 would end up being nothing that special because of his lack of height). And last year I desperately wanted us to trade up and get Russell Westbrook or even DJ Augustin -- Bayless was a want too, but I figured there'd be no way we could get him.

This year I'm inclined to think that almost everyone sucks, although I am kind of on board with Rodrigue Beaubois as a player to take at 32 and stash overseas for a couple more years (I'm way higher on him than Koponen, who I don't ever see as a starting NBA point guard). Beyond him, I kind of like Lawson who I think will probably end up being a slightly to much better version of Ray Felton (since he can actually shoot).

 

[Hank The Dwarf]

Honk Honk!

I wanted Durant over Oden - Nailed it.

I wanted Foye over Roy - ouch. (although I had LMA as my #1 pick in that draft)

I wanted Chris Paul over anyone in that draft and could not believe we traded down because of Sebastian Freakin' Telfair. (John Nash should be shot for that whole draft day debacle)

 

[RR7]

Hank honked once. liar

 

[Hank The Dwarf]

Hank honked once. liar

LOL.. stop hating.

I said Durant from day one.

 

[Wheels]

LOL.. stop hating.

I said Durant from day one.

link or it didnt happen

 

[oldguy]

Hindsight 20/20, what players were you right about?

Paul Milsap: We needed a rebounder and Milsap led the nation in that category for three straight seasons. He was the most logical choice for our lower 1st round pick.

Courtney Lee: I felt he was the most underrated player in college basketball. An all around player who I thought we could play alongside Roy.​

Some other players I thought would fit our core were Joakim Noah and Ronnie Turiaf. I knew we didn't have a chance to draft Noah as we needed another lotto pick, but I was surprised Ronnie slipped into the second round. Passing on Milsap hurts.

The bandwagons I'm on this year?

Dejuan Blair and Eric Maynor.

No comment on where you were on Oden?

 

[PapaG]

Mario Chalmers-Jury is still out on how that one will turn out, although starting his rookie year isn't bad. He showed some signs of off the court issues though.

Lamarcus Aldridge-That one turned out pretty good.

Greg Oden-Still on the bandwagon, I think Greg will pull it together.

Kirk Snyder-Well that one didn't work out. He is barely still in the league.

I remember debating you about Snyder. I had watched him play at the NCAA tournament in Seattle. He had almost zero handle and dribbled the ball in front of him. I didn't think he'd be worth a first-round pick.

 

[Ed O]

I remember arguing in favor of Garnett ahead of Ed O'Bannon... in the early days of the online Blazers chatter. I figured that I was right enough on that one that I can cruise the rest of my fan career.

Ed O.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

I'm on the Blair and Flynn bandwagons, but don't think we'll end up with either.

A long time ago (in a website far, far away) I was on the Richard Jefferson bandwagon.
I was also on the Bonzi Wells bandwagon.

 

[Wheels]

I remember arguing in favor of Garnett ahead of Ed O'Bannon... in the early days of the online Blazers chatter. I figured that I was right enough on that one that I can cruise the rest of my fan career.

Ed O.

is that why you are called Ed O?

 

[TradeNurkicNow]

You just jinxed Mr. Blair.

I'm going to go ahead and say that this is probably true.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Last draft: I was sure (and glad) from way back that we would draft Batum, but with our #13 pick and to stash in Europe. I was NOT high on Bayless OR Alexander (his pluses sounded too much like Outlaw's). I was on Rose. I really wanted us to land Kyle Weaver and am pleased to see him doing well in OKC.

2007: Oden all the way! I thought Corey Brewer would be better, but I also really liked Noah. I thought Thaddeus Young and Al Thornton would be busts... I thought Jared Dudley would be really solid (I still hold out hope!) Same for Koponen.

2006: I did NOT want the 'Stache. I suggested we just take Roy at #4 and people jumped all over me.

2005: REALLY wanted Bogut (phew!) but failing that, Williams first or Paul second (I had already given up on Telfair). Was pleased at the time to land Jarrett Jack.

2004: Thought Orlando was crazy to take Howard first... REALLY wanted Shaun Livingston. Happy to get Monia... Not so happy to get Telfair.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Further back, I was dead set against Tracy McGrady...

I remember that all the buzz had Rick Pitino taking him, so much so that I think he had to take his own Kentucky guy just to prove people wrong. Bad move. Billups and McGrady would've been a nice draft...

 

[cloudydays]

I wanted Roy over anyone else in that 06 draft (My dad really wanted the Stache though). I also liked Aldridge in that draft over Bargnani.

I was on the Oden bandwagon in 07.

I realllllllllllllllllly wanted Bayless last year, I was totally thrilled when he fell to #11 and we got him.

This year I am on the Maynor and Terrence Williams bandwagon.

 

[Wheels]

I wanted Roy over anyone else in that 06 draft (My dad really wanted the Stache though). I also liked Aldridge in that draft over Bargnani.

I was on the Oden bandwagon in 07.

I realllllllllllllllllly wanted Bayless last year, I was totally thrilled when he fell to #11 and we got him.

This year I am on the Maynor and Terrence Williams bandwagon.

So everyone who you've wanted we have gotten.. hmm.. I think we have finally narrowed down which moniker KP uses when he peruses the message boards.

 

[cloudydays]

So everyone who you've wanted we have gotten.. hmm.. I think we have finally narrowed down which moniker KP uses when he peruses the message boards.

LOL I wish. I always liked Roy from his UDub days (cause he was one of the only guys I saw live). And his run in the NCAA Tourney, most specifically this game in which Nantz and Packer kept talking about how awesome Roy was plus the fact that UDub got screwed in that game sealed my love for Roy.

I also never understood why Bargnani was so highly thought of, and I was more impressed with LMA than Thomas in that 06 Tourney.

Oden was a no brainer IMO, and Bayless was an elite talent who should have been top 3 and someone on the O Live boards made this long post about how awesome Bayless was.

 

[PapaG]

I was leaning Rudy Gay over Roy in '06, but had posted that I would be happy with either one. LMA, now that was a heck of a surprise. I liked his game a lot at Texas but figured the Blazers had no shot at him.

 

[STOMP]

Last year at #13 I wanted Anthony Randolph. If he was gone I wanted Batum

2007 I wanted Greg Oden

2006 Aldridge and Roy were ranked 1 and 2 on my wish list

2005 I was a lonely proponent of Chris Paul and crushed when they didn't go that way

2004 everyone I wanted was gone before the Blazers selected at 13. I really wanted them to trade up for Biedrins or Iguadala. Of the guys that were debated here (Telfair, Jefferson, Snyder) I was mostly silent but did like Kirk's performance at the combine... I didn't like his jumper

2003 I wanted Diaw or Josh Howard

2002 I was thrilled that they ended up with Qyntel... how in the world did he ever drop so far??? Prior to draft day I was hoping they'd somehow move up to select Nene

STOMP

 

[barfo]

I don't follow college ball so I don't have an informed opinion. I was pretty sure Morrison was going to be a bust, though, because of the ridiculous hype. It just felt like mass hysteria.

barfo

 

[Da_O]

My draft bandwagon

I was on the Brandon Roy train ever since I seen him play against Uconn in the tourney. I really liked Russell Westbrook in last years draft also.

 

[cdub503]

damn roy was small when he was in college hes pretty big now