Groupthink 2023 Mock Draft: Pick #3

[Ed O]

(For the purposes of this exercise as we head to draft day, we assume no trades will be made/the draft order is set.)

First two picks:

1. Victor Wembanyama
   
2. Scoot Henderson

Who do you think Portland should take?

Tomorrow at about noon I'll set up another poll with the results factored in.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

I like Ausar better than Amen, but he's not rated highly enough as a prospect to draft at 3. I'd want to trade down with Orlando, and then take the guy I want at 6.

Absent that, I think Miller would be the guy to take, just because he's likely to have the best trade value.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Miller is a safe choice IMO. Not all NBA level or maybe not even an all-star. But none-the-less he has length, he has great range, and has good enough handles to attack the basket. But I think he goes to Charlotte

 

[Hoopguru]

Miller would be my choice over Amenu

 

[illmatic99]

Im probably a bit unconventional here in thinking that i would take Scoot if he's available at three, but would trade the pick if he goes to Charlotte.

Not feeling Miller at all and would rather trade out or down.

But I think Whitmore is the third best prospect in this draft.

 

[illmatic99]

As for my reasoning behind not liking Miller, I feel like he isn't fast or athletic enough to do anything with the extra space he'll get in the league. He's also an extremely poor finisher at the rim in the halfcourt and has iffy shot selection. Also worrisome to me is questions about his work ethic not being maniacal like Scoot's. Also, he's going to be 21 yrs old by Game 1 of the regular season, so it's not really fair to compare him against other freshmen. He's actually 6 months older than Shaedon. With #3, I want to swing for the fences. This ain't Miller. We have decades of experience of similar prospects turning into role players in the league... Or worse.

Last but not least, the murder gives me icky feelings and his responses so far have not been satisfactory to me. I feel like it will continue to be a distraction and affect his career.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

Don't over think it - just take Miller.

Yeah Amen has athletic tools, possibly a higher ceiling, and may eventually be the better player. Thats why its a draft and inexact with projections. Miller is clearly the superior prospect as well as a near consensus to have higher trade value in the weeks that follow. The Blazers are in a very unusual situation with their roster for a team at the top of the lottery in that they may go full win now with an older all NBA player or they may tear down everything and rebuild. Better to keep trade options open as long as possible.

If Scoot is taken at #2 I think it makes the Blazers decisions much simpler. They just draft Miller and evaluate any trade offers at the draft or later. If Scoot instead drops to 3 it will be much more difficult as its likely someone must be traded and it brings in more questions if it makes sense long term to have a team with Dame and Scoot as cornerstones.

I guess the other potential aspect is Miller's legal issues. If this is a red flag for the Blazers they need to trade down or take someone else.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Last but not least, the murder gives me icky feelings and his responses so far have not been satisfactory to me. I feel like it will continue to be a distraction and affect his career.

OK, I will bite since you keep bringing this up. What part of that story do you not believe? I am not saying you are wrong but everything I have read seems to make sense. What am I missing? If you were Miller what would you have done differently?

 

[BlazerMoneyMaker]

I like Jarace Walker for his defense

 

[SharpesTriumph]

As for my reasoning behind not liking Miller, I feel like he isn't fast or athletic enough to do anything with the extra space he'll get in the league. He's also an extremely poor finisher at the rim in the halfcourt and has iffy shot selection. Also worrisome to me is questions about his work ethic not being maniacal like Scoot's. Also, he's going to be 21 yrs old by Game 1 of the regular season, so it's not really fair to compare him against other freshmen. He's actually 6 months older than Shaedon. With #3, I want to swing for the fences. This ain't Miller. We have decades of experience of similar prospects turning into role players in the league... Or worse.

Last but not least, the murder gives me icky feelings and his responses so far have not been satisfactory to me. I feel like it will continue to be a distraction and affect his career.

Thats a pretty good rationale.

I see Miller value as much higher on offense as well as defense both from what I've seen as well as all the analysts. Seems like a player who will be a very good starter if not much better. I guess I'm not as worried about trying to get a clear #1 dominant ALL NBA option in the draft - I don't think thats necessary to build a championship roster. Spurs and Pistons and many great teams never had these player but were dominant teams. Its more important to have many well rounded players all over the roster with few weaknesses. We already have the athletic sky is the limit upside player in Sharpe, and even a bit in Ant, so I don't see the need to have a bunch of those archetypes.

On the murder aspect I think his answers are fine, its pretty standard to point to your attorneys in a situation like this, it would actually be a red flag to me if he did anything different. I will say the Blazers need to get more answers on this, but that can be done in private and none of us need to hear about it. If the Blazers aren't comfortable with that aspect they absolutely should trade down or pick someone else. This is either a major issue or nearly irrelevant IMO. So I'm just going to leave my opinion of it as irrelevant but defer that responsibility to the Blazers of doing the right decision here.

 

[illmatic99]

OK, I will bite since you keep bringing this up. What part of that story do you not believe? I am not saying you are wrong but everything I have read seems to make sense. What am I missing? If you were Miller what would you have done differently?

Did you hear his response to questions about it at the combine? It was rehearsed and vague. He simply repeated 10 times that he needs to surround himself with different people. There was no remorse, or repentance that his actions directly led to the murder of an innocent single mother.

And the fact that he showed up to team interviews with a legal brief saying he can't talk about it? If there is no involvement or he is exonerated (or rather, there is no case) why can't he talk about it?

Feel free to ignore if you wish-- that's your prerogative. I dont think teams will.

 

[riverman]

There's a good reason they brought in Amen...and that Dame was smiling at his workout..he's from Oakland...both twins seem to be mature and have high character.....Miller has character flags and we don't need the next suspended Jah Morant contaminating our young guys. I think Amen is the guy.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

Did you hear his response to questions about it at the combine? It was rehearsed and vague. He simply repeated 10 times that he needs to surround himself with different people. There was no remorse, or repentance that his actions directly led to the murder of an innocent single mother.

And the fact that he showed up to team interviews with a legal brief saying he can't talk about it? If there is no involvement or he is exonerated (or rather, there is no case) why can't he talk about it?

Feel free to ignore if you wish-- that's your prerogative. I dont think teams will.

This just sounds to me like he followed a smart plan from his attorneys.

 

[BlazerMoneyMaker]

After reading Brandon Miller's scouting report and also Amen Thompson's I think Thompson would be the better player

 

[illmatic99]

This just sounds to me like he followed a smart plan from his attorneys.

Unsure of how smart it is given that nearly every national mediaperson dealing with the draft still brings it up whenever they talk about Miller. Duncd on did a podcast on him and talked about this non-case for a fifth of their whole pod.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Did you hear his response to questions about it at the combine? It was rehearsed and vague. He simply repeated 10 times that he needs to surround himself with different people. There was no remorse, or repentance that his actions directly led to the murder of an innocent single mother.

And the fact that he showed up to team interviews with a legal brief saying he can't talk about it? If there is no involvement or he is exonerated (or rather, there is no case) why can't he talk about it?

Feel free to ignore if you wish-- that's your prerogative. I dont think teams will.

OK, so your whole issue is with his statement a couple of weeks ago. That is fine, I was just wondering if I had missed something important about his involvement. Apparently not. I have read multiple articles on the incident so I really did not expect him to talk about it at a press conference But I agree that teams will ask .......in private.

 

[Natebishop3]

Did you hear his response to questions about it at the combine? It was rehearsed and vague. He simply repeated 10 times that he needs to surround himself with different people. There was no remorse, or repentance that his actions directly led to the murder of an innocent single mother.

And the fact that he showed up to team interviews with a legal brief saying he can't talk about it? If there is no involvement or he is exonerated (or rather, there is no case) why can't he talk about it?

Feel free to ignore if you wish-- that's your prerogative. I dont think teams will.

The matter is not closed, correct? They haven't tried his friends yet?

He gains nothing by talking about it publicly. If he admits guilt or remorse, that could be used in a civil court. The guy legally just needs to keep his mouth shut.

What you're saying is essentially, "why not talk to the police, I'm innocent." Meanwhile, every single legal expert will tell you to never talk to the police for any reason. Guilty or innocent. He is clearly not out of the woods yet.

 

[illmatic99]

He is clearly not out of the woods yet.

Then that's even more reason to not brush under the rug while evaluating him.

Regardless, I have about 18 other reasons I wouldn't take him at 3 as I outlined above.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

Unsure of how smart it is given that nearly every national mediaperson dealing with the draft still brings it up whenever they talk about Miller. Duncd on did a podcast on him and talked about this non-case for a fifth of their whole pod.

It's smart because he's not putting himself at risk of jail time or a civil suit.

National mediaperson and Duncd don't make any decisions on where he is drafted. Only parties he needs to address this with are those who make the draft decisions, and that is likely done in private.

 

[tykendo]

Miller is a safe choice IMO. Not all NBA level or maybe not even an all-star. But none-the-less he has length, he has great range, and has good enough handles to attack the basket. But I think he goes to Charlotte

If they take Miller, he sure as hell better be an All Star, on the low side. And at least be on the cusp of All NBA.

 

[e_blazer]

Miller makes me nervous because of the bad judgment. Scoot is a really exciting player, but that 27.5% 3pt shooting stat is a deal-breaker for me. I’m going to say Amen on this and pray he’s the Blazers’ pick if they don’t trade it. Amen and Shaedon would be the highest-flying 2-3 pairing since Clyde and Kersey.

 

[Pinwheel1]

If they take Miller, he sure as hell better be an All Star, on the low side. And at least be on the cusp of All NBA.

There is no guarantee for anyone of them to be an all-star. Maybe Victor at #1...... but that's it.
Who in the top 5 from last year will be an all-star other than #1?

I am just saying if Scoot has already been taken based on the parameters from the OP......Miller is a safe pick based on his size and skill level.

 

[Ed O]

Miller makes me nervous because of the bad judgment. Scoot is a really exciting player, but that 27.5% 3pt shooting stat is a deal-breaker for me. I’m going to say Amen on this and pray he’s the Blazers’ pick if they don’t trade it. Amen and Shaedon would be the highest-flying 2-3 pairing since Clyde and Kersey.

Amen Thompson was playing against vastly inferior opponents, is a year older than Henderson, and shot 25% from three point range. He also shot about 10% worse from the free throw line.

A wing that can't shoot is just about worthless these days, and I'm worried that Amen is going to be that. Not that a PG that can't shoot is always awesome, but as much as I dislike Westbrook, he has proven a guy can carve out a spot at the PG spot without being a good shooter.

 

[KingSpeed]

Really, EdO??? We already have a #3 pick discussion thread. It’s a pretty great thread too. Read that instead.

 

[Ed O]

Really, EdO??? We already have a #3 pick discussion thread. It’s a pretty great thread too. Read that instead.

I am reading and posting in that other thread. This is different.

I am doing one thread a day, based on each pick of a mock draft. This poll and thread are based on the assumption that Scoot Henderson will be gone (as determined by yesterday's poll and thread) and we can make no trades... all of those make this different than the 119-page thread you reference.

Tomorrow will be #4.

Read the board, then post.

 

[e_blazer]

Amen Thompson was playing against vastly inferior opponents, is a year older than Henderson, and shot 25% from three point range. He also shot about 10% worse from the free throw line.

A wing that can't shoot is just about worthless these days, and I'm worried that Amen is going to be that. Not that a PG that can't shoot is always awesome, but as much as I dislike Westbrook, he has proven a guy can carve out a spot at the PG spot without being a good shooter.

You convinced me. Trade the damned pick for someone who can shoot.

 

[Ed O]

You convinced me. Trade the damned pick for someone who can shoot.

We might make the playoffs. Maybe.

Woo hoo.

In any event, this is not a "trade the pick" thread by its definition.

 

[e_blazer]

We might make the playoffs. Maybe.

Woo hoo.

In any event, this is not a "trade the pick" thread by its definition.

It’s not a “you get to knock my reasoning no matter how incorrect it may be” thread either.

 

[blazerfan11]

Miller makes me nervous because of the bad judgment. Scoot is a really exciting player, but that 27.5% 3pt shooting stat is a deal-breaker for me. I’m going to say Amen on this and pray he’s the Blazers’ pick if they don’t trade it. Amen and Shaedon would be the highest-flying 2-3 pairing since Clyde and Kersey.

Or Jordan and Pippen.

 

[blazerfan11]

Amen Thompson was playing against vastly inferior opponents, is a year older than Henderson, and shot 25% from three point range. He also shot about 10% worse from the free throw line.

A wing that can't shoot is just about worthless these days, and I'm worried that Amen is going to be that. Not that a PG that can't shoot is always awesome, but as much as I dislike Westbrook, he has proven a guy can carve out a spot at the PG spot without being a good shooter.

What competition did Sharpe play against before the NBA?