Draft Workouts

[Rastapopoulos]

This is a very interesting selection (Okobo!) -- so of course they pick the ginger Connaughton clone from Villanova to be the representative for the photo...

 

[tester551]

https://www.nbcsports.com/northwest...rs/trail-blazers-draft-workouts-start-holiday

No Brunson:

Typically the Blazers go to dinner ONE on ONE with the guy they really like AFTER the workout.

I can't remember ever hearing about the Blazers picking a player that they went to dinner with in a group setting.

 

[tester551]

What I want the Blazers to do, seems impossible... Shed Meyers or ET and move up to the mid-lower teens in the draft.
I don’t necessarily mean in one move but if they got both of those things done this summer while keeping Dame / Nurk / CJ I think it’d be ok with it. Maybe doesn’t “move the needle”...

yep. That is pretty much impossible

 

[Rastapopoulos]

 

[Rastapopoulos]

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Listening to various podcasts, Evans is garnering a lot interest.

 

[BonesJones]

Of the guys in today's workout -- Brunson all the way.

He's perhaps the safest pick we could make at #24 -- also one of the most NBA-ready players in this draft.

A super solid backup PG -- think Eric Maynor in OKC before he tore his ACL.

Ew. He'll be a mediocre backup PG at best. Not quick enough to get to the rim, or defend PGs..

People always fall in love with the multi-year PG that wins a championship before declaring... remember all the Shabazz Napier hype before and during his draft?

 

[BonesJones]

Listening to various podcasts, Evans is garnering a lot interest.

He's solid.

 

[BonesJones]

The Blazers' 2nd predraft workout features: Miami G Bruce Brown, Villanova G Donte DiVincenzo, Cincinnati G/F Jacob Evans, Georgia Tech C Ben Lammers, USC F/C Chimezie Metu and France G Elie Okobo.

Great crop of underrated talent.

I really like Okobo, Evans, Brown, and Metu (if he can mature).

 

[BonesJones]

This is a very interesting selection (Okobo!) -- so of course they pick the ginger Connaughton clone from Villanova to be the representative for the photo...

Okobo's gonna be a stud. I think he has a chance to go in the lottery.

 

[BonesJones]

Okobo would be a perfect 3rd guard though as a guy who can score on all three levels and as a good defender.

He's 6'3 with a 6'8 wingspan, so he could probably guard SGs.

 

[BonesJones]

"We already have Clyde Drexler at SG, we don't need to draft another one..."
"We already have Sebastian Telfair, we don't need to draft Chris Paul or Deron Williams..."

I assume you're talking about Baldwin? I don't see much evidence that he's a PG. If you're talking about Napier - is he even still under contract?

Exactly. You take the dude that could pop. Okobo could be like Eric Bledsoe behind Chris Paul, except hopefully we could cash him in, or keep him.

Okobo for 25mpg behind CJ and Dame sounds good to me. Dude's better and bigger than Napier, and better and more fundamentally sound and in control than Baldwin.

You don't pass on the dude if you think he's the best player available.

 

[BonesJones]

Left-handed French Damian Lillard clone.

He's a top 10 talent in this draft. His pace and footwork are deadly. He can finish creatively around the rim. He's a big PG. He has defensive potential. He can shoot 3s off the dribble and the catch and shoot at an elite level and on high volume.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Left-handed French Damian Lillard clone.

He's a top 10 talent in this draft. His pace and footwork are deadly. He can finish creatively around the rim. He's a big PG. He has defensive potential. He can shoot 3s off the dribble and the catch and shoot at an elite level and on high volume.

He's been my #2 Euro prospect all season - only behind Doncic.

High-upside pick who's on the rise. He seems like the ideal type of pick that San Antonio will surly jump on. In short, I highly doubt he'll be there at #24.

 

[BonesJones]

I found my new draft crush.

 

[BonesJones]

He's been my #2 Euro prospect all season - only behind Doncic.

High-upside pick who's on the rise. He seems like the ideal type of pick that San Antonio will surly jump on. In short, I highly doubt he'll be there at #24.

I'm hearing he could go to Pheonix at 16. Makes a ton of sense there. I think he could possibly rise to Philadelphia at 10, for a multitude of reasons.

 

[Gronk Brady]

Exactly. You take the dude that could pop. Okobo could be like Eric Bledsoe behind Chris Paul, except hopefully we could cash him in, or keep him.

Okobo for 25mpg behind CJ and Dame sounds good to me. Dude's better and bigger than Napier, and better and more fundamentally sound and in control than Baldwin.

You don't pass on the dude if you think he's the best player available.

I like Wade Baldwin’s upside more... would rather roll with him and draft a SF

 

[BonesJones]

I like Wade Baldwin’s upside more... would rather roll with him and draft a SF

Baldwin doesn't have anywhere close to the upside that Okobo does. Have you watched that video? Okobo is amazing.

 

[Gronk Brady]

Baldwin doesn't have anywhere close to the upside that Okobo does. Have you watched that video? Okobo is amazing.

I watched the video... would rather roll the dice on Baldwin being a lock down defender with more size

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Okobo ----> Donovan Mitchell-ish.

 

[Gronk Brady]

I like Wade Baldwin’s upside more... would rather roll with him and draft a SF

And honestly, I am just tired of 6’3” and under combo gaurds... can we for once get a backcourt player with some size and length

 

[BonesJones]

I watched the video... would rather roll the dice on Baldwin being a lock down defender with more size

There's nothing substantial that even shows Baldwin as a better defender than Okobo.

And Okobos offensive game is MILES ahead of Baldwin's.

But you can easily develop both.

 

[BonesJones]

Okobo ----> Donovan Mitchell-ish.

Dame Lillard man. The closest thing I've seen to Dame.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

Okobo ----> Donovan Mitchell-ish.

I’ve been watching video of him, Okobo might have a similar skill set, but at least in my opinion doesn’t look like he’s as quick / explosive as Mitchell.

 

[BonesJones]

I’ve been watching video of him, Okobo might have a similar skill set, but at least in my opinion doesn’t look like he’s as quick / explosive as Mitchell.

He's not as explosive, but his change of pace is good, and his first step is quick. He has quick feet. Combined with his jump shot, he's able to keep his defender off-balance at all times.

 

[lamlor]

3 guys I would like to see them come away with to replace some bench players:

1- Miles Bridges (I just love his toughness to go along with a solid but not spectacular game)

2- Robert Williams (The new NBA center with tons of upside that a vet like Ed Davis, if re-signed, could mentor)

3- Grayson Allen (I know a lot of people dislike him, but he competes and would be a great role player off the bench. JJ Redick 2.0)

Obviously I would love the top 3 players coming out, but realistically all 3 of these guys can be had with a few moves and all 3 would play a big role with the team for a few years to come.

 

[Scalma]

Okobo is someone you could take because hes got above average length which gives him versatility. Brunson would strictly be a point guard in Portland and doesn’t profile well next to Lillard or in a three guard lineup. Taking him at #24 would be a waste of a pick, especially with all the quality wings that project to be available in that range.

 

[BonesJones]

He's been my #2 Euro prospect all season - only behind Doncic.

High-upside pick who's on the rise. He seems like the ideal type of pick that San Antonio will surly jump on. In short, I highly doubt he'll be there at #24.

I'd trade up for him just to make sure San Antonio doesn't get him.

 

[BonesJones]

In reality I see Pheonix trading the 16th pick to Philadelphia for the 10th and Bayless to get Sexton and then the Sixers take Okobo at 16. Perfect fit, no salary if they stash him.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Robert Williams!

He was my dude last draft, I'd be ecstatic if we could trade into the lotto to land him.

Perfect skill-set to groom alongside Collins.

6'9" with a 7'5" wingspan(!)

Upside: Clint Capela