Keeping our pick? This might be a Lottery year

[TBpup]

Blazers climb up to #6 in the Lottery rankings courtesy of the Pacers 125-113 win over the Jazz. Sabonis dropped 42 on the Jazz who were missing Rudy Gobert.

#3 - Rockets
#4 - Thunder 3 GB
#5 - Pelicans 3.5 GB
#6 - Blazers 4.0 GB

Blazers 1 game out of the #4 spot.
#SilverLining

 

[JDC]

Why has Bol Bol been a much better college player then?

Based on what? Points per game?

Bol Bol was the much more agressive scorer and shot the hell out of the ball in a small sample (9 games) whereas Chet has picked his spots more and isn't really a focal point of Gonzaga's offense.

But the difference in the defensive film is drastic. Chet's feel and physicality is just on a whole different level.

 

[LayneStaley]

Ivey is my favorite player in this draft, of course that means CJ and Ant would have to be gone. A guard rotation of Dame/Powell/Ivey would be real nice, assuming we don’t deal Powell too.

 

[BankTeller]

Based on what? Points per game?

Bol Bol was the much more agressive scorer and shot the hell out of the ball in a small sample (9 games) whereas Chet has picked his spots more and isn't really a focal point of Gonzaga's offense.

But the difference in the defensive film is drastic. Chet's feel and physicality is just on a whole different level.

Agreed there. I’m more excited about his defense than his offense. His impact on that side of the bad would immediately translate in the NBA if he were stronger. On a team with two guards that can score at will, we would need his defense to develop quicker than his offense anyway.

Pairing him and Simmons is still the dream for me.

 

[BankTeller]

Ivey is my favorite player in this draft, of course that means CJ and Ant would have to be gone. A guard rotation of Dame/Powell/Ivey would be real nice, assuming we don’t deal Powell too.

I would bet that Ivey would be able to start by the end of next season if not right away. Same size if not bigger than both CJ and Ant, and at least on film he’s already a better on ball defender than all three of our SGs. I love his intensity. Not the distributor that Ja is but I’m willing to bet he could he as good of a scorer.

 

[Mediocre Man]

God help me if this team gets a high lottery pick only to select Chet Holmgren

 

[Orion Bailey]

I don’t get the Chet slander tbh. He’s got some
flaws but is an elite prospect with skills, motor, and instincts. I have this theory that if he were an international prospect he’d be the consensus #1 guy.

Portland fans hesitant to bid on another tall skinny white guy. Biased, but understandably so.

 

[handiman]

Bol Bol barely got drafted. I’d say for a reason…

Pretty sure a big part of that reason was injury, and the lingering concerns. He was projected as a pretty high pick prior to that.

If Holmgren stays healthy through the tourney, it's going to be an interesting thought process for front offices trying to project his durability. If he crumbles before then, expect to see a steep decline like with 2-Bol.

 

[MickZagger]

Pretty sure a big part of that reason was injury, and the lingering concerns. He was projected as a pretty high pick prior to that.

If Holmgren stays healthy through the tourney, it's going to be an interesting thought process for front offices trying to project his durability. If he crumbles before then, expect to see a steep decline like with 2-Bol.

Also he was awful defensively, had attitude issues and some of the slowest lateral quickness some NBA scouts had ever seen.

 

[wizenheimer]

Blazers climb up to #6 in the Lottery rankings courtesy of the Pacers 125-113 win over the Jazz. Sabonis dropped 42 on the Jazz who were missing Rudy Gobert.

#3 - Rockets
#4 - Thunder 3 GB
#5 - Pelicans 3.5 GB
#6 - Blazers 4.0 GB

Blazers 1 game out of the #4 spot.
#SilverLining

Blazers are also only 1 game out of the play-in. In fact, teams 10-15 are only separated by 2 games. Wacky year

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[TBpup]

Blazers are also only 1 game out of the play-in. In fact, teams 10-15 are only separated by 2 games. Wacky year

************************************************************************************************

View attachment 43817

Exactly.....which is why a few ill-timed wins could be devastating. Scraping into the Play-In to be 1st Round cannon fodder (again) versus getting an asset that could actually help the team.

 

[James lamphear]

I’m leaning toward Jabari Smith Jr if we get the number 1 pick. I would say his potential is almost as high as Holmgren but I have more confidence that Smith will last. Real nice stroke, good athlete and will probably be good or great defender. I saw a clip of him dribbling up and pulling a 3 in game–he looked like a 6’10 Paul George. After just a very brief watch of Banchero’s highlights, he doesn’t wow me, he has a better offensive than Holmgren but I wouldn’t even say he’s the safest pick of the three. I like what I’ve seen with Holmgren but I worry about his frame. At the same time, I can see OKC running with this guy and Poku for the next 10 years.

That being said, any of the 3 would make me happy. If outside the top 3, I honestly only look at Duren or Baldwin. Or see if CJ + 2022 pick #4-10 + another protected pick (via Nurk/Covington trade) for Ben gets it done.

Eason and Jovic are two guys I look at trading into the draft for though if we trade that lotto pick.

I just watching Duren on tv and right not impress with him. He has one speed going up and down the floor it's a jog. Two and three didn't even get down floor on defense so his motor is questionable to me.

 

[James lamphear]

Sam Vecenie's 2022 NBA Mock Draft 4.0:

5) Portland Trail Blazers - Johnny Davis

I was pretty aggressive in moving up Davis last time, slotting him as a first-rounder after his outstanding performance at the Maui Invitational. Following that event, most evaluators I spoke with saw him as something of a mid-to-late first-round pick. But as the season has progressed, there simply just hasn’t been anyone in college basketball as consistently dominant as Davis...Scouts love his ability to create off the dribble, his defensive toughness and his shot-making ability off the bounce. But there are some real questions regarding just how consistent and confident he is in his jumper...It’s also worth noting that this is where a substantial drop-off occurs in the draft. Scouts I’ve talked to see Davis right now more as a solid lottery-level to mid-first-round guy as opposed to a top-five guy. The problem is, there isn’t really anyone else around whom I’ve gotten the impression scouts see as a top-half-of-the-lottery guy, so Davis falls here for now.

I watch him a couple times so far can score all 3 levels and rebound for his position. Defensely to me hasn't shown he can stay in front of players so to me he below average defender. But I like him more the Ivey though

 

[TBpup]

I just watching Duren on tv and right not impress with him. He has one speed going up and down the floor it's a jog. Two and three didn't even get down floor on defense so his motor is questionable to me.

That is the early knock on him outside of being so young and raw.

 

[James lamphear]

The guy I like is Murray from Iowa I think he just as skill as the top 3 pick. Offensely can hit the 3 and above average defender. But he needs low post move when on the block and could be better rebounder by boxing better underneath. But overall should be top 6 pick for now.

 

[James lamphear]

That is the early knock on him outside of being so young and raw.

Just telling what I seen in the 1st half of the game. Did good block in the 2nd half though.

 

[handiman]

Also he was awful defensively, had attitude issues and some of the slowest lateral quickness some NBA scouts had ever seen.

And yet Bol Bol was still projected something like #5 in a loaded draft up until the injury. Hindsight changes a lot of things as far as how a prospect is viewed.

 

[TBpup]

With the win, the Blazers dropped to #8 in the Draft Lottery rankings, and now are effectively tied for the last Play-In spot. (the horror)

 

[riverman]

With the win, the Blazers dropped to #8 in the Draft Lottery rankings, and now are effectively tied for the last Play-In spot. (the horror)

This upcoming 6 game road trip is more than likely going to change that quickly

 

[TBpup]

This upcoming 6 game road trip is more than likely going to change that quickly

Hopefully. I want this team to get every asset they possibly can to make next year better. It sucks that it comes to this, but it's been a long time coming. Things will need to get worse before they get better.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

The guy I like is Murray from Iowa I think he just as skill as the top 3 pick. Offensely can hit the 3 and above average defender. But he needs low post move when on the block and could be better rebounder by boxing better underneath. But overall should be top 6 pick for now.

Yeh, he is intriguing; has almost all green on the Tankathon rating system.

https://www.tankathon.com/players/keegan-murray

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Stock is on the rise and definitely someone to keep an eye on


https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/moussa-diabate-michigan-wolverines-on-the-rise-2022-nba-draft

Another product of IMG

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Chet is my guy but Smith is a monster prospect too.

He’d step in right away as our starting PF for the next decade+

Auburn on a tear — Smith tonight:

25 pts (8-14 FG, 3-6 from three)
7 rebs
4 blks

He has a lot of Paul George in his game.

 

[MickZagger]

Chet is my guy but Smith is a monster prospect too.

He’d step in right away as our starting PF for the next decade+

Auburn on a tear — Smith tonight:

25 pts (8-14 FG, 3-6 from three)
7 rebs
4 blks

He has a lot of Paul George in his game.

The game comes easy to Smith you can tell by just watching him. He’ll be a star. I picked up on that the first game I watched him play. He’d be my #1 pick

 

[BankTeller]

Chet is my guy but Smith is a monster prospect too.

He’d step in right away as our starting PF for the next decade+

Auburn on a tear — Smith tonight:

25 pts (8-14 FG, 3-6 from three)
7 rebs
4 blks

He has a lot of Paul George in his game.

That was my comp for him as well; a 6’10 PG. saw him dribble into a pullup at the 3 point line and instantly though a taller PG.

 

[TBpup]

Blazers have dropped all the way down to the #9 spot in the Draft Lottery rankings. We are now in the last Play-In spot and if we managed to get into the Playoffs, would be up against the Phoenix Suns.

#CannonFodder

 

[illmatic99]

Chet is my guy but Smith is a monster prospect too.

He’d step in right away as our starting PF for the next decade+

Auburn on a tear — Smith tonight:

25 pts (8-14 FG, 3-6 from three)
7 rebs
4 blks

He has a lot of Paul George in his game.

watched the highlights of the game. i don't see george at all. PG was always super smooth and had a terrific handle while being able to finish at the rim. Smith looks a bit clunky whenever he's doing anything other than spot-up shooting. I think Jaren Jackson jr is a decent comp.

For now anyway. Still a terrific prospect at that size, though.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

https://www.theringer.com/2022/1/11/22876836/2022-nba-draft-jabari-smith-jr-auburn

He’s inching closer and closer to being the clear cut #1 overall pick.

Now we can only hope that our green GM doesn’t try to make the playoffs with this shit roster - there’s a big drop-off after Smith/Chet/Banchero.

 

[Predator]

Based on what? Points per game?

Bol Bol was the much more agressive scorer and shot the hell out of the ball in a small sample (9 games) whereas Chet has picked his spots more and isn't really a focal point of Gonzaga's offense.

But the difference in the defensive film is drastic. Chet's feel and physicality is just on a whole different level.

How about based on:
Points (Bol Bol)
Rebounds (Bol Bol)
Essentially the same bpg (slight advantage Chet), same steals (slight advantage Bol Bol)
Shot better from 3 and ft
Essentially same on turnovers (slight advantage Bol Bol)
Worse on assists (2 for Chet, 1 for Bol Bol).
Oh and Bol Bol fouls less.

I mean, pretty much by every measure of the word he was, as I admitted before, a superior player in his limited experience.

That’s not to say Chet would end up like Bol Bol, I asked a question “what’s the difference between Bol Bol & Chet? Everything people are saying that makes Chet a unicorn was said about Bol Bol, plus Bol Bol was better in college.”

If the answer is “BBIQ”, ok, fair - curious why it hasn’t translated into some dominant college basketball player. Because he isn’t a focal points and picks his spots? Well, I’d argue if he was good enough, they’d make him a focal point.

That also doesn’t explain his disappearing acts in half of the games they’ve played against quality competition.

But like I said, it was a question.

 

[Predator]

Agreed there. I’m more excited about his defense than his offense. His impact on that side of the bad would immediately translate in the NBA if he were stronger. On a team with two guards that can score at will, we would need his defense to develop quicker than his offense anyway.

Pairing him and Simmons is still the dream for me.

If you’re drafting someone with a top pick, you should be REALLY concerned with their ability to play offense, imo. I stated that earlier. A top 3 pick who can’t score, isn’t going to help us much, in my opinion.

I also mentioned it briefly before as to why I’d be hesitant to draft him that high.

it’s kinda like Marcus Smart or Davion Mitchell. Elite defenders who… aren’t exactly gonna light the world on fire offensively and it’s a problem.