Me vs Olshey with a week to go: my blazers draft list?

[Wizard Mentor]

Here is my list of who the Blazers should draft in order of my preference:

1) Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, SF
A rotation player on a championship caliber team, today. Can guard 4 positions. Athletic freak. Not a good fit for out system as his shot is broken and he doesn't shoot the 3. It's a concern, but not a deal breaker for me. Michael Jordan couldn't shoot 3s either when he was drafted, either (in fact he didn't start to shoot 3s until the finals against the blazers - thanks, jackass!)

2) Justin Anderson, SF
Fantastic 3 and D rotation rotation player today. Will learn to do more in the first 2 or 3 years of his career.

3) Delon Wright, PG
6'5" PG, can do a little of everything. Shooting has improved. High character, NBA pedigree.

4) Robert Upshaw, C
Crazy Upside, Crazy Downside. Better than Freeland right now. No one will draft him in the 1st round. Personally, I'd offer $3 Mil to any team in the 2nd round for his draft rights.

5) Hunter
6) Harrell
7) Wood

Who's on YOUR list?

Who is not on my list and who I don't want to see on yours! (Because they are unlikely to be there at #23)
Karl-Anthony Towns
Jahlil Okafor
D'Angelo Russell
Kristaps Porzingis
Justise Winslow
Mario Hezonja
Trey Lyles
Cameron Payne
Stanley Johnson
Willie Cauley-St...
Myles Turner
Devin Booker
Sam Dekker
Bobby Portis
Frank Kaminski
Tyus Jones

Others who probably won't be there (but you can put on your list)
kevon Looney
Jerian Grant
Kelly Oubre

mods: can you take the question mark off the title?

 

[oldfisherman]

With the 23rd pick in the 2015 draft, the Blazers pick...
(Players are in random order within the three groups.)

Go for it!
Justin Anderson
Delon Wright
Jeriam Grant
Kelly Oubie

Neutral on these players.
Christian Wood
RJ Hunter
Montrel Harrell
Chris McCullough
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson

Fire the GM that drafts these players in the first round!
Robert Upshaw
Kevon Looney
Rashad Vaughn

 

[Rastapopoulos]

I think most people would be very happy with RHJ but it seems very unlikely that he drops. Justin Anderson is sort of the next best thing in terms of defense, and he can hit an open three, which is good. Both would be role players, but RHJ looks like he could be a Tony Allen, transformative on D, role player.u

One guy you didn't mention is Hernangomez. I like him a lot - he's sort of a mini-Marc. I'd be perfectly happy with him. He doesn't fit with Leonard, but he's probably a better player than any American who'd drop, and I'm not sold on building our team round Meyers.

I'd be intrigued if Hunter drops, but I don't think he will. He's a risk, but he seems like a really smart guy and can create offense. If you want to emulate GS, he'd be a good pick.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

ith the 23rd pick in the 2015 draft, the Blazers pick...
(Players are in random order within the three groups.)

I think most people would be very happy with RHJ but it seems very unlikely that he drops. Justin Anderson is sort of the next best thing in terms of defense, and he can hit an open three, which is good. Both would be role players, but RHJ looks like he could be a Tony Allen, transformative on D, role player.u

One guy you didn't mention is Hernangomez. I like him a lot - he's sort of a mini-Marc. I'd be perfectly happy with him. He doesn't fit with Leonard, but he's probably a better player than any American who'd drop, and I'm not sold on building our team round Meyers.

I'd be intrigued if Hunter drops, but I don't think he will. He's a risk, but he seems like a really smart guy and can create offense. If you want to emulate GS, he'd be a good pick.

so
RHJ
JA
Hernangomez
Hunter

is your list?

 

[blue9]

Are there any SG/SF with "star" potential in our draft range? Even if becoming a star is a long-shot (which it always is...especially with where we're drafting)?
Given the lack of depth throughout the NBA at SG/SF finding a good wing would be great.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

I'm not sold on Wright because, although he's tall and can defend, and thus in theory works with CJ/Lillard, I think he's too ball-dominant and not a good enough shooter. Plus, the whole "no big PG outside the lottery has ever amounted to anything"

 

[Rastapopoulos]

so
RHJ
JA
Hernangomez
Hunter

is your list?

Players I'd get excited about:
RHJ
Hunter
Hernangomez
Upshaw (this one would be excitement mixed with queasiness)

Players I'd be perfectly happy with:
Jerian Grant
Anderson
Harrell
Nikola Milutinov

Players I'm kind of meh on, but wouldn't riot:
Wright
Mam Jaiteh

Players that would piss me off (until proved wrong):
Rashad Vaughn
Terry Rozier
Jonathan Holmes
Anthony Brown
Christian Wood

 

[BonesJones]

How bout this:

Players to trade into top 10 for:
1. Justice Winslow - Legit defender with an NBA ready body.
2. Willie Cauley-Stein - Would start from day one. Would be a legitimate rim protecter, and would fit perfectly into our pick n roll defensive scheme. Poor man's DeAndre Jordan for $17M less.

Players to trade into top 20 for:
1. Cameron Payne - Going to be the steal of the draft, would be a legit defender/playmaker off the bench
2. Jerian Grant - Would compliment CJ and Dame well and would be great with LA in the pick n roll
3. Kelly Oubre - Athletic wing that can attack the rim, which is what we need from a backup 3.
4. Sam Dekker - No real weaknesses, big for a SF. Going to be another steal.

Options at 23:
1. Delon Wright - perfect compliment to CJ and Dame. Couldn't be a better fit
2. Justin Anderson - could be a elite 3 and D wing in a few years, brings much needed athleticism l
3. RJ Hunter - big enough to play SF,would make a killer small ball lineup with Dame, Wes and Batum
4. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson - Better defender than Anderson, but Anderson is miles ahead offensively.

Guys to trade into beginning of 2nd round for:
1. Robert Upshaw - If he's there at pick 31 we have to find a way to trade into that pick. Very low risk/high reward. Seems like a good guy based on his DX interview. Could be a legit NBA rim protecter for basically free.
2. Anthony Brown - Don't know much about him, just know that he's a sniper standing at 6'7 which could be useful to spread the floor off the bench at SF
3. Montrezl Harrell - Have a feeling he might fall to the second round. Would be worth it as insurance at PF in case LA leaves
4. JP Tokoto - Has potential to be a decent shooter. If he becomes one he will be a legit bench piece at SG/SF
5. Nikola Mulitinov

Players to trade to the end of 2nd for:
1. Pat Connaugton - He's a good shooter, great athlete, good locker room presence and a hard worker. He's a white guy with bounce, enough to take him late.
2. Tyler Harvey - Rapidly developed in college. Elite scorer, worth a flyer to see if he can keep adding to his game.
3. Norman Powell - If he's around past 45 he would be with trading some cash for. Underated because of his age.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

The worst thing that could happen, from my point of view, is if we give up assets to move up for Porzingis. That would have me screaming at the screen that is telling me this is happening.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Here is my list of who the Blazers should draft in order of my preference:

1) Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, SF
A rotation player on a championship caliber team, today. Can guard 4 positions. Athletic freak. Not a good fit for out system as his shot is broken and he doesn't shoot the 3. It's a concern, but not a deal breaker for me. Michael Jordan couldn't shoot 3s either when he was drafted, either (in fact he didn't start to shoot 3s until the finals against the blazers - thanks, jackass!)

2) Justin Anderson, SF
Fantastic 3 and D rotation rotation player today. Will learn to do more in the first 2 or 3 years of his career.

3) Delon Wright, PG
6'5" PG, can do a little of everything. Shooting has improved. High character, NBA pedigree.

4) Robert Upshaw, C
Crazy Upside, Crazy Downside. Better than Freeland right now. No one will draft him in the 1st round. Personally, I'd offer $3 Mil to any team in the 2nd round for his draft rights.

I like that list. But I also think RHJ will be gone.

 

[BonesJones]

I'm not sold on Wright because, although he's tall and can defend, and thus in theory works with CJ/Lillard, I think he's too ball-dominant. Plus, the whole "no big PG outside the lottery has ever amounted to anything"

he's not a good shooter but I think he could knock down some open shots. He's good at attacking closeouts and attacking to create.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

4) Robert Upshaw, C
Crazy Upside, Crazy Downside. Better than Freeland right now. No one will draft him in the 1st round. Personally, I'd offer $3 Mil to any team in the 2nd round for his draft rights.

Personally you would NOT. You don't have $3M.

Agree with most of this except the "better than Freeland right now". Upshaw right now is good at one thing: shotblocking. That is not the same thing as being a good defender, although it can look like it. Upshaw is widely regarded as pretty clueless on defense, but elite at swatting. Freeland has worked hard for years to become a very good, very sound defender. He's not going to bite on fakes like Upshaw will.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

With the 23rd pick in the 2015 draft, the Blazers pick...
(Players are in random order within the three groups.)

Go for it!
Justin Anderson
Delon Wright
Jeriam Grant
Kelly Oubie

Neutral on these players.
Christian Wood
RJ Hunter
Montrel Harrell
Chris McCullough
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson

Fire the GM that drafts these players in the first round!
Robert Upshaw
Kevon Looney
Rashad Vaughn

Nice List, but I need to do more research on Looney. Right now I can't agree or disagree on him.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Are there any SG/SF with "star" potential in our draft range? Even if becoming a star is a long-shot (which it always is...especially with where we're drafting)?
Given the lack of depth throughout the NBA at SG/SF finding a good wing would be great.

IDK what you want to give up. Give up shooting and RHJ is completely ridiculous.
Give up shot creation, Justin Anderson is fantastic.
Both these guys are hard workers.

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

If they fall:

1. Kelly Oubre
2. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson
3. Justin Anderson
4. Sam Dekker

In our range:

1. Delon Wright
2. Jerian Grant
3. Guillermo Hernangomez
4. RJ Hunter
5. Cedi Osman

Big Risk/Heavy Reward:

1. Robert Upshaw
2. Jonathan Holmes
3. Jordan Mickey
4. Norman Powell

DO NOT DRAFT:

1. Rashad Vaughn
2. Christian Wood
3. Montrezl Harrell

Buy a 2nd for:

1. Richaun Holmes
2. Treveon Graham
3. Aaron White
4. Vince Hunter

 

[blue9]

IDK what you want to give up. Give up shooting and RHJ is completely ridiculous.
Give up shot creation, Justin Anderson is fantastic.
Both these guys are hard workers.

I guess by "star" potential, I mean someone who maybe someday could pour in points. I'd prefer a SG/SF who could create high-percentage shots for themselves (attack the basket off the dribble).

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Players I'd get excited about:
RHJ
Hunter
Hernangomez
Upshaw (this one would be excitement mixed with queasiness)

Players I'd be perfectly happy with:
Jerian Grant
Anderson
Harrell
Nikola Milutinov

Players I'm kind of meh on, but wouldn't riot:
Wright
Mam Jaiteh

Players that would piss me off (until proved wrong):
Rashad Vaughn
Terry Rozier
Jonathan Holmes
Anthony Brown
Christian Wood

Don't know much about Hernangomez. I like Wood more than you do. He seems like Biebs sans shooting, but with shot blocking.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

I guess by "star" potential, I mean someone who maybe someday could pour in points. I'd prefer a SG/SF who could create high-percentage shots for themselves (attack the basket off the dribble).

Cedric Ceballos, remember him? Athletic Dude hung out in the slot, got dunks and rebounds all over the place. He scored a point a minute without having a play called for him, and he couldn't shoot the 3. RHJ could definitely be that type of player. However, Phoenix's offense at the time is different than ours.

 

[blue9]

Cedric Ceballos, remember him?

Mainly I remember the "blindfold" dunk...
Actually, he just covered his eyes with his arm, right? Someone else actually used a blindfold a year or two later if I remember correctly (big if!).

 

[Wizard Mentor]

I'm not sold on Wright because, although he's tall and can defend, and thus in theory works with CJ/Lillard, I think he's too ball-dominant and not a good enough shooter. Plus, the whole "no big PG outside the lottery has ever amounted to anything"

I've heard that knock, but in the 2 or 3 Utah games I watched last year (my son had lunch with Jordan Loveridge several times), I wished Wright had the ball in his hands more, not less.

 

[Pinwheel1]

I guess by "star" potential, I mean someone who maybe someday could pour in points. I'd prefer a SG/SF who could create high-percentage shots for themselves (attack the basket off the dribble).

I agree and that is why I was making a case for someone like DeRosan yesterday. Not that I want to rehash that again.

 

[oldfisherman]

Cedric Ceballos, remember him? Athletic Dude hung out in the slot, got dunks and rebounds all over the place. He scored a point a minute without having a play called for him, and he couldn't shoot the 3. RHJ could definitely be that type of player. However, Phoenix's offense at the time is different than ours.

I really like RHJ’s hustle game, but he does not remind me of Cedric Ceballos. RHJ’s game reminds me of Jerome Kersey, who was one of my all time favorite NBA players. Jerome was all hustle, he also had a body build very similar to RHJ’s.

So why am I neutral on RHJ? I do not see him as a good fit in Stott’s system, which you hint at. Stotts will give time to players that have some skill to score, especially from the 3 pt line.

Few fans remember this, however, Kersey was a very poor shooter, and seldom made a 3pt shot. I doubt even Kersey would find much playing time in Stott’s system. The NBA has changed and is trending towards spreading the floor and away from banging in the paint, unless the banger is a 7’ center protecting the rim.

The Blazers need more scoring from the bench, a player such as Anderson is a much better fit than RHJ.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

How bout this:

Players to trade into top 10 for:
1. Justice Winslow - Legit defender with an NBA ready body.
2. Willie Cauley-Stein - Would start from day one. Would be a legitimate rim protecter, and would fit perfectly into our pick n roll defensive scheme. Poor man's DeAndre Jordan for $17M less.

Players to trade into top 20 for:
1. Cameron Payne - Going to be the steal of the draft, would be a legit defender/playmaker off the bench
2. Jerian Grant - Would compliment CJ and Dame well and would be great with LA in the pick n roll
3. Kelly Oubre - Athletic wing that can attack the rim, which is what we need from a backup 3.
4. Sam Dekker - No real weaknesses, big for a SF. Going to be another steal.

Options at 23:
1. Delon Wright - perfect compliment to CJ and Dame. Couldn't be a better fit
2. Justin Anderson - could be a elite 3 and D wing in a few years, brings much needed athleticism l
3. RJ Hunter - big enough to play SF,would make a killer small ball lineup with Dame, Wes and Batum
4. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson - Better defender than Anderson, but Anderson is miles ahead offensively.

Guys to trade into beginning of 2nd round for:
1. Robert Upshaw - If he's there at pick 31 we have to find a way to trade into that pick. Very low risk/high reward. Seems like a good guy based on his DX interview. Could be a legit NBA rim protecter for basically free.
2. Anthony Brown - Don't know much about him, just know that he's a sniper standing at 6'7 which could be useful to spread the floor off the bench at SF
3. Montrezl Harrell - Have a feeling he might fall to the second round. Would be worth it as insurance at PF in case LA leaves
4. JP Tokoto - Has potential to be a decent shooter. If he becomes one he will be a legit bench piece at SG/SF
5. Nikola Mulitinov

Players to trade to the end of 2nd for:
1. Pat Connaugton - He's a good shooter, great athlete, good locker room presence and a hard worker. He's a white guy with bounce, enough to take him late.
2. Tyler Harvey - Rapidly developed in college. Elite scorer, worth a flyer to see if he can keep adding to his game.
3. Norman Powell - If he's around past 45 he would be with trading some cash for. Underated because of his age.

Cauley-Stein has too much bust potential for me to trade Batum for (which would be our only option IMHO)

I like your options for #23, I assume that's your order of preference. After the draft I'll see if Olshey agrees!

 

[Wizard Mentor]

The worst thing that could happen, from my point of view, is if we give up assets to move up for Porzingis. That would have me screaming at the screen that is telling me this is happening.

IDK, if LMA does not re-sign, I could see sending off Batum for him. No, I don't think other teams will do that, but I agree that there are few NBA players that Porzingis can actually guard.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Mainly I remember the "blindfold" dunk...
Actually, he just covered his eyes with his arm, right? Someone else actually used a blindfold a year or two later if I remember correctly (big if!).

No, Ceballos was the (see-though) blindfold. You're thinking of Dee Brown, I think.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

What's with the Oubre love? He SCREAMS bust to me.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

I like that list. But I also think RHJ will be gone.

Yep, but that's why it's an ordered list. Right before our pick I'll check off everyone on my list that's been chosen and see if Olshey picks the top person not draft on my list. Come on Olshey, let's see what U got!

 

[Rastapopoulos]

IDK, if LMA does not re-sign, I could see sending off Batum for him. No, I don't think other teams will do that, but I agree that there are few NBA players that Porzingis can actually guard.

What teams would want Batum? I like him, but I don't think the kind of team in position to draft Porzingis would want to pay $11M for Batum. If we trade up it will be by giving up someone like Leonard or CJ.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Personally you would NOT. You don't have $3M.

Agree with most of this except the "better than Freeland right now". Upshaw right now is good at one thing: shotblocking. That is not the same thing as being a good defender, although it can look like it. Upshaw is widely regarded as pretty clueless on defense, but elite at swatting. Freeland has worked hard for years to become a very good, very sound defender. He's not going to bite on fakes like Upshaw will.

Yeah, but I'm worth billions of dollars - well, at least to me I am!

Check out the opponent's FG% when Upshaw was on the floor for Washington and compare it to when he was off. Completely ridiculous disparity. You don't do that by "merely" being a shot blocker. Again, IMHO.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

If they fall:

1. Kelly Oubre
2. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson
3. Justin Anderson
4. Sam Dekker

In our range:

1. Delon Wright
2. Jerian Grant
3. Guillermo Hernangomez
4. RJ Hunter
5. Cedi Osman

Big Risk/Heavy Reward:

1. Robert Upshaw
2. Jonathan Holmes
3. Jordan Mickey
4. Norman Powell

DO NOT DRAFT:

1. Rashad Vaughn
2. Christian Wood
3. Montrezl Harrell

Buy a 2nd for:

1. Richaun Holmes
2. Treveon Graham
3. Aaron White
4. Vince Hunter

great lists. I'll compare come draft time.