Keeping our pick? This might be a Lottery year

[PtldPlatypus]

Givony has us taking Keegan Murray and TyTy Washington in the first and Yannick Nzosa and Matthew Mayer in the second in his latest mock.

Duren is projected to go sixth. Maybe we can move up a couple spots to take him, assuming he doesn’t fall. We don’t need four rookies anyway. I’m also not convinced we’re gonna just trade one of the picks for Grant, especially if Billups keeps developing his young talent the way he has so far.

Of all the players in this draft, why would we take Washington? There's zero chance of him being the "clear BPA" at one of our picks.

 

[Scalma]

Of all the players in this draft, why would we take Washington? There's zero chance of him being the "clear BPA" at one of our picks.

I’ve spent 0 minutes on point guards in this draft so idk anything about him. Not saying we won’t draft a point cuz what do I know, but I’m not wasting any time on that position.

He had Mathurin, K. Brown, and Daniels still on the board. I’d take any of them over a point guard. I think Brown is being underrated.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

I’ve spent 0 minutes on point guards in this draft so idk anything about him. Not saying we won’t draft a point cuz what do I know, but I’m not wasting any time on that position.

Kinda where I'm at.

 

[RR7]

Givony has us taking Keegan Murray and TyTy Washington in the first and Yannick Nzosa and Matthew Mayer in the second in his latest mock.

Duren is projected to go sixth. Maybe we can move up a couple spots to take him, assuming he doesn’t fall. We don’t need four rookies anyway. I’m also not convinced we’re gonna just trade one of the picks for Grant, especially if Billups keeps developing his young talent the way he has so far.

I didn't read his, but i do know a lot of the draft websites usually don't take teams in to account until after the lottery/much closer to the draft. At this point, it's usually just kind of an overall ranking.

 

[TBpup]

What y’all think of Wendell Moore JR? I think he’s gonna be one of the better players to come out of this draft. His defense has always been good. This year his 3 point shooting has improved tremendously. He’s averaging 4.6 assist and 5.6 rebound. At 6 foot 6 with a reported 7 foot wingspan with solid athletic ability he got all the making of a solid two way Swiss Army knife dude. I am thinking he can be what Winslow was always meant to be with a jump shot

I like more, but I like Tari Eason more. Bigger, can defend across the board, and a little better stats all around except for 3'pt shooting and assists. Eason is not bad from '3' at .367. Moore is very nice at .402. Eason has also played a tougher schedule.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Tank for Chet!

 

[Scalma]

The more I think about it the more I want the Blazers to keep both their firsts should they get them. I love what Billups is doing with our younger players, and literally none of them were lottery picks. Jerami Grant isn’t gonna be the difference between contending. So unless a better player than that becomes available, I’d rather just build the talent pool up.

 

[tykendo]

Tank for Chet!

He has a real bad body. Weak looking . He makes Durant look muscular. Durant is a freak. Not sure Chet is going to be the same. Could he be Stasche Part Deux?

 

[tykendo]

A lot of Chet's highlights are against Slappy's. Smith is a smoother athlete. Duren reminds me of Julius Randle, and has an NBA ready body.

 

[tykendo]

Duren's the guy. He's great at shot blocking , finishes with ease, and can shoot the mid range. Physical player.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Duren's the guy. He's great at shot blocking , finishes with ease, and can shoot the mid range. Physical player.

... and isn't a guard!

 

[Scalma]

Duren's the guy. He's great at shot blocking , finishes with ease, and can shoot the mid range. Physical player.

Let’s say we have the 8th pick and Duren doesn’t fall past 6. What would it take to move up a couple spots? Surely not another lotto pick right? I really want him too.

 

[tykendo]

Let’s say we have the 8th pick and Duren doesn’t fall past 6. What would it take to move up a couple spots? Surely not another lotto pick right? I really want him too.

Possibly a player, but man! he's imposing in the low post on both ends.

 

[Scalma]

Possibly a player, but man! he's imposing in the low post on both ends.

I just know Billups would get the best out of him too. He’s got so many elite physical tools, just needs the right coach to guide him.

 

[tykendo]

I just know Billups would get the best out of him too. He’s got so many elite physical tools, just needs the right coach to guide him.

I like hearing about his work ethic from Coach Penny. Already putting in the extra work. But the Julius Randle-esqe body , you can't teach.

 

[Scalma]

I like hearing about his work ethic from Coach Penny. Already putting in the extra work. But the Julius Randle-esqe body , you can't teach.

he’s got a better body than that. He’s got a much longer wingspan. He’s gonna be a monster if he develops properly.

 

[tykendo]

he’s got a better body than that. He’s got a much longer wingspan. He’s gonna be a monster if he develops properly.

Randle has beefed up in the weight room, while also extending his range.

 

[illmatic99]

I like hearing about his work ethic from Coach Penny. Already putting in the extra work. But the Julius Randle-esqe body , you can't teach.

randle is/was super skilled. when i watch duren, it looks like he has stone hands and can't dribble while having terrible touch around the basket. and he's kinda clunky with his feet on back to the basket moves.

i don't see that comp at all.

not many athletic freaks in the league anymore. need to have some sorta skill to play.

duren looks a lot like Tyrus Thomas to me.

 

[Scalma]

randle is/was super skilled. when i watch duren, it looks like he has stone hands and can't dribble while having terrible touch around the basket. and he's kinda clunky with his feet on back to the basket moves.

i don't see that comp at all.

not many athletic freaks in the league anymore. need to have some sorta skill to play.

duren looks a lot like Tyrus Thomas to me.

Tyrus Thomas? More like Robert Williams

 

[illmatic99]

btw, didn't realize it earlier but Dame worked out at the same gym in Tigard with Ochai Agbaji. His trainer just posted a pic with two of them today on IG. I really think this kid is going to shoot up the rankings into lotto territory once workouts start.

 

[illmatic99]

oh damn, there's an athletic article about it. I didn't realize he worked out with Beckner as well.

https://theathletic.com/3144399/202...w-kansas-ochai-agbaji-became-an-all-american/

Beckner was so impressed that he wanted to give Agbaji a sneak peek of his master class. So he kept dangling out the possibility of Agbaji joining him for a trip to Portland for a training session with Lillard.

Lillard is particular with who works out with him. In three years working for Beckner, Beamer says that Beckner had never invited any of the pre-draft players to work out with Lillard.

“If you’re going to work with him, you’ve got to be about it,” Beckner says. “I’m like, Dame, you got to give this kid a chance. I’m telling you, he’s working really, really hard. He’s like Phil, he’s not messing up my workout. He’s not getting in the way.”

When it was finally time to go in mid-June, after the Trail Blazers had been eliminated from the playoffs, Lillard gave Beckner permission. Agbaji got the official invite.

“He was so excited,” Olofu says, “It was like Christmas Day.”



One of Lillard’s favorite quotes is “pit bulls and poodles can’t be in the same kennel,” and he wasn’t about to let a poodle in his workout when Agbaji arrived in Portland. So on Day 1, Lillard worked, and Agbaji watched.

Two weeks earlier Agbaji had watched Lillard drop 55 points in the playoffs against the Nuggets, and the thought crossed his mind, What else could Phil possibly say to Dame to make him better?

“It was weird watching them work out,” Agbaji says. “It was not like how he talks to me. They wouldn’t say anything. Phil would be like, ‘OK, get your arm up.’ Dame wouldn’t say anything. He’d just do it.”

Beckner worked on Lillard’s shooting posture. Agbaji sat wide-eyed, thinking, He’s shooting it great. How could he get better?

“It just put a lot of things in perspective as far as never being complacent,” Agbaji says.

After Lillard’s workout, the two traded places. Lillard watched from the sideline. Agbaji was nervous, feeling Lillard’s eyes on him, and tried to be perfect. About 20 minutes in, as Agbaji worked on a dribble move, Lillard couldn’t simply watch anymore. Agbaji was too stiff with the ball. Lillard walked over, put his arm around Agbaji and told him: “Breathe. Move. You want to glide here, dance with your feet.”

Agbaji worked alongside Lillard for the remainder of the trip. Eventually, Lillard invited him over to his house to watch a Philadelphia-Atlanta playoff game before going to watch a high school basketball game. Agbaji peppered him with questions about what it takes to be successful in the NBA, especially as a rookie.

Lillard told him to learn the terms they use in the NBA, memorize scouting reports and be a professional. One of the key components to that, he told Agbaji, was a lesson Beckner had taught him: thank everyone.

“It goes a long way,” Agbaji says. “It means something.”

After every workout now, he thanks everyone in the gym. After the interview for this story, Agbaji thanked the author. And a couple days after Agbaji hit the shot to send the Texas Tech game to double overtime and scored a career-high 37 points against the Red Raiders, Lillard saw ESPN’s Sean Farnham interview Agbaji on TV. He took a picture of his TV and sent him a text, telling Agbaji that he’s getting better and he’s proud of him.

Agbaji, wisely, responded with a thank you.

From one pit bull to another.

 

[Scalma]

The knocks on Duren remind me of the knocks on Bam coming out. I was a big fan of him too, but people were saying the same stuff: he looks more of an athlete than basketball player. But its all about projection. You put guys like that with the right coaches and they will thrive. You cant teach what they have physically and athletically. The rest can be developed.

 

[illmatic99]

Check out the improvement.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Check out the improvement.

View attachment 45653

A 4-year player with an already-established rapport with Dame? Could make a lot more sense than a 19-year-old.

 

[Scalma]

A 4-year player with an already-established rapport with Dame? Could make a lot more sense than a 19-year-old.

This isnt Olshey though.

 

[illmatic99]

A 4-year player with an already-established rapport with Dame? Could make a lot more sense than a 19-year-old.

i was convinced we were drafting Chandler Hutchison a few yrs back, but we didn't so who knows.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

i was convinced we were drafting Chandler Hutchison a few yrs back, but we didn't so who knows.

Miles Bridges would be cool.
Adbaji seems really interesting.
You've got a lot of good ideas....

But, could you possibly get excited about someone who might be there at 8, who is taller than 6'8"?

 

[illmatic99]

Miles Bridges would be cool.
Adbaji seems really interesting.
You've got a lot of good ideas....

But, could you possibly get excited about someone who might be there at 8, who is taller than 6'8"?

not at 8. maybe Jovic?

This could change, obviously. Still tons of research to do.

 

[MickZagger]

btw, didn't realize it earlier but Dame worked out at the same gym in Tigard with Ochai Agbaji. His trainer just posted a pic with two of them today on IG. I really think this kid is going to shoot up the rankings into lotto territory once workouts start.

Yeah I’ve been an enamored with his potential and posted about him a week ago.

 

[MickZagger]

He has a real bad body. Weak looking . He makes Durant look muscular. Durant is a freak. Not sure Chet is going to be the same. Could he be Stasche Part Deux?

Chet’s about 2 inches taller than Durant. If you look back at Durant’s freshman year at Texas they’re similarly skinny.

People are hesitant on Holmgren because he’s white. We’re he black with the same skill set he’s be a slam dunk pick by everyone.

7 footer with guard skills, crazy shot blocking abilities and feel for the game. Without a doubt he’ll add some weight as he’s only 19.