Exclusive Official 2020 Draft Thread

[GhostOfPGA]

I would not be mad if Isaiah Stewart fell in our laps, dude is a tank, can’t shoot worth a dick but he could be the next Carl Landry/David West Type guy. Would be AWESOME off the bench with post scoring.

 

[kjironman1]

So far you've tried to shit on both today.

Whoa Hoops?
Leave the tension elsewhere man. Sounds like someone pissed in your Cherrios. Wasn't me bro.
Just seems a bit odd that Draft discussion would be ongoing since November now that i look at the date this was all started. Nobody anywhere "Shit" on anything.

Why not? Olshey scouts draft prospects during the season,

As usual some of what you say is correct kind of but mostly not. Just like the coach you give Olshey way too much credit for what happens. Yes there are people assigned to scouting but it ain't Neil Olshey and at this point of the season he isn't thinking about "Draft Prospects". The Blazers have a couple good people working on it though. First on the International Side of things the Blazers employ Lojze Milosavljevic. He scouts international prospects all over Europe. Lojze has been with the Blazers for 6 years. He was with the Hawks before that and even before that he was with the Seattle Supersonics. He has been in the game for over 20 years. That means old dudes like me know oh him well.
Now on the Scouting side there are a couple people working. One of them covers High School. His name is Danny Conners. Now right now this guy is busy.
You also have Sean Kelly, Preston Fawcett and John Dobbertin. Of course they all work with Johnathan Yim, John Ross, and TC Swirsky who all work video quite well.
Matt Whinrey is the Advance Scout. He has been with the Blazers for three years after coming over from the Pelicans but he is more about scouting teams the Blazers will be facing. Not College Draft.

Edit: oops, unwittingly repeated some of what Bones said!

No sweat. have at it.

 

[GDiama]

I don't follow his season personally, but by knowing his basketball club i'm guessing he's not getting a lot of minutes as a youngster. That team is always under a ton of pressure to get wins, grooming young talent with academic playing time is not a top priority.

Due to restrictions to foreign players though they are forced to play him in the Israeli league so he is still getting many minutes there+some minutes in low 10s in Euroleague where the level is much higher and no restrictions apply.

 

[GDiama]

As usual some of what you say is correct kind of but mostly not. Just like the coach you give Olshey way too much credit for what happens. Yes there are people assigned to scouting but it ain't Neil Olshey and at this point of the season he isn't thinking about "Draft Prospects".

He better be focusing on it as well because Masai Ujiri was watching in person Killian Hayes the other day. I don't need to mention Ujiri is better at his job, but Neil can try harder.

 

[kjironman1]

He better be focusing on it as well because Masai Ujiri was watching in person Killian Hayes the other day. I don't need to mention Ujiri is better at his job, but Neil can try harder.

Ujiri is a real good scout no question. He has been one for almost 20 years at the NBA level. He also has made some real good decisions as a GM no question. Personally i think he gets a bunch of credit and actually way too much really. He would not have beaten a healthy Golden State team last year. Even more so, if they had lost and then lost Leonard how would he look?
Raptors are doing well and they are to be commended for sure. Ujiri has had a very positive impact.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

My #1 prospect for our likely range:

LUKA GARZA!

The college Bosnian Beast.

 

[JDC]

Cole looking rough again against FSU.

Dynamic pull up shooter, especially going left and flashes come competitiveness defensively but don't trust his vision, deceptiveness off the dribble or finishing around the rim.

Also doesn't have great size or willingness/IQ to play or be effective off ball.

Devin Vassell had a pretty quiet 1st half but made a big impact on both ends in the 2nd and still like him as a top 15 guy in this draft (Otto Porter / MKG mashup type player).

Not a clean translation physically (not particularly quick, long or strong) but just an active and high IQ player that applies his athleticism really well on both ends. See him as an impact role guy / context starter on good teams for a long time (team defender / versatile 16-19% usage player on offense)

 

[TBpup]

Obviously our Draft spot is falling and I expect we will make the Playoffs. The #8 seed in the West is currently around #17/18. Who in that aread could be helpful? What made Portland so special back in the 90's was they kept hitting on picks that were no where near the Lottery.

 

[tester551]

Bump...

It's looking more likely that Blazers will have a pick in the 10-13 range. Is anyone standing out to y'all?

I'm fairly disappointed with this draft. However, I do think there are a couple with potential:

Likely off the board before Portland selects:
* Avdija
* Okongwu
* Killian Hayes

Targets in the right range:
* Haliburton (Recent injury may have him slip down to Portland's range. Could be a good role player - without the high level potential.)
* Okoro (I think my personal pick right now. He has the highest peak potential and a decent floor).

Trade down targets:
* Jalen Smith (I think he's being under-rated, but he projects as a role player. He may have some potential to be a good starter-level player).
* Tyler Bey (Could be a good 3&D wing).

I'm not sold on Toppin. I think his defense is below average & will kill him in the NBA.

That's about it for my targets. Fairly ho-hum....

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

I've watched a lot of college and intl' basketball this season and I'm not sold there are more than 2-3 guys in the draft who will be any more than end of the bench role players in a few years. Obviously guys get better and grow up and fill out and who knows, but this to me isn't an exciting year to get a mid-tier lottery pick...

 

[JDC]

My guys at this point...

Isaac Okoro
Devin Vassell
Xavier Tillman
Tyler Bey

Getting 2 of the 4 in trade down with OKC would be ideal, but unlikely.

Vassell and Tillman might be my favorite and most realistic scenario though.

 

[PCmor7]

I was covering a college game last night and was seated with the director of scouting for an NBA team who was there checking out a couple of players. His team isn't going to be in the lottery.

We were chatting for about 2 hours, mostly about the guys he was watching, but we got to talk a little about this year's draft prospects in general.

He's really high on Obi Toppin, mainly because he says he's going to be a guy who can be an above-average defender against both 3s and 4s eventually. He says Toppin is going to be a universal top-five pick if he isn't already, probably going four behind Edwards, Wiseman, and Ball.

I asked him who he would compare Toppin to, asked for an example Batum, but thicker and stronger. He said Batum is a better shooter, but Toppin's the better player, more physical.

I also asked him about a guy I thought might be a fit for the Blazers in the mid-teens, Memphis' Precious Achiuwa. He liked him a lot. Raw, but aggressive, and doesn't get intimidated no matter who he's going against.

 

[tlongII]

I was covering a college game last night and was seated with the director of scouting for an NBA team who was there checking out a couple of players. His team isn't going to be in the lottery.

We were chatting for about 2 hours, mostly about the guys he was watching, but we got to talk a little about this year's draft prospects in general.

He's really high on Obi Toppin, mainly because he says he's going to be a guy who can be an above-average defender against both 3s and 4s eventually. He says Toppin is going to be a universal top-five pick if he isn't already, probably going four behind Edwards, Wiseman, and Ball.

I asked him who he would compare Toppin to, asked for an example Batum, but thicker and stronger. He said Batum is a better shooter, but Toppin's the better player, more physical.

I also asked him about a guy I thought might be a fit for the Blazers in the mid-teens, Memphis' Precious Achiuwa. He liked him a lot. Raw, but aggressive, and doesn't get intimidated no matter who he's going against.

I think Toppin is going to be really good.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

With Olshey's interest in dynamic 6'3" guards, and his history of drafting sons of ex-Blazers who attended ACC schools in NC, seems like Cole Anthony to the Blazers is a lock.

 

[BonesJones]

I've watched a lot of college and intl' basketball this season and I'm not sold there are more than 2-3 guys in the draft who will be any more than end of the bench role players in a few years. Obviously guys get better and grow up and fill out and who knows, but this to me isn't an exciting year to get a mid-tier lottery pick...

You've outpaced me man. I've been too busy to watch college basketball sadly.

Next year has a great group of prospects, and should be extremely entertaining. March Madness will be crazy this year too.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

You've outpaced me man. I've been too busy to watch college basketball sadly.

Next year has a great group of prospects, and should be extremely entertaining. March Madness will be crazy this year too.

Im just having a ton of late nights and honestly my Blazer watching enjoyment is so low, just getting through the games the 1st time is painful, no way Im rewatching it. I mean Dame is amazing the rest of them... eh.

 

[cheesehoff]

Precious Achiuwa, Saadiq Bey, Jordan Nwora, Isaac Okoro, Mamadi Diakete, Zeke Nnaji. I think we are set in the backcourt for a while. This year has proven our weakness is depth in the frontcourt. All these guys have some position flexibility, all are strong defensively and they are from winning programs. My first choice would be Achiuwa and second is Nwora. Diakete might be available in the second round but the others would probably have to be a first round pick.

 

[hoopsjock]

I was covering a college game last night and was seated with the director of scouting for an NBA team who was there checking out a couple of players. His team isn't going to be in the lottery.

We were chatting for about 2 hours, mostly about the guys he was watching, but we got to talk a little about this year's draft prospects in general.

He's really high on Obi Toppin, mainly because he says he's going to be a guy who can be an above-average defender against both 3s and 4s eventually. He says Toppin is going to be a universal top-five pick if he isn't already, probably going four behind Edwards, Wiseman, and Ball.

I asked him who he would compare Toppin to, asked for an example Batum, but thicker and stronger. He said Batum is a better shooter, but Toppin's the better player, more physical.

I also asked him about a guy I thought might be a fit for the Blazers in the mid-teens, Memphis' Precious Achiuwa. He liked him a lot. Raw, but aggressive, and doesn't get intimidated no matter who he's going against.

I hate comparing prospects to NBA players but I've watched a ton of Obi lately and I feel like I'm basically watching Amare Stoudemire.

 

[cheesehoff]

On the other end of the spectrum, I can't believe the love Lamelo Ball and Nico Mannion are getting in mock drafts. Both seem like YouTube wonders that are being overrated. I believe it has to do with the weak class of guards but I wouldn't waste a high pick no matter how bad I needed a PG.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

I hate comparing prospects to NBA players but I've watched a ton of Obi lately and I feel like I'm basically watching Amare Stoudemire.

That isnt a comp that ever crossed my mind. Im gonna have to think about that one.

 

[hoopsjock]

That isnt a comp that ever crossed my mind. Im gonna have to think about that one.

It can't be unseen.

 

[BonesJones]

Im just having a ton of late nights and honestly my Blazer watching enjoyment is so low, just getting through the games the 1st time is painful, no way Im rewatching it. I mean Dame is amazing the rest of them... eh.

I feel it. You been watching any streams? I'm having a lot of fun with those.

 

[JDC]

Toppin is definitely similar to Amare in a stylistic and strength/weaknesses sense.

Not as strong/physical and likely a worse rebounder, but a better passer plus more creativity/touch around the rim.

 

[BonesJones]

Precious Achiuwa, Saadiq Bey, Jordan Nwora, Isaac Okoro, Mamadi Diakete, Zeke Nnaji. I think we are set in the backcourt for a while. This year has proven our weakness is depth in the frontcourt. All these guys have some position flexibility, all are strong defensively and they are from winning programs. My first choice would be Achiuwa and second is Nwora. Diakete might be available in the second round but the others would probably have to be a first round pick.

Nwora is a hothead though. I like his game but his attitude is shit.

 

[JDC]

I feel it. You been watching any streams? I'm having a lot of fun with those.

With a jumper.

Amare was a good mid range shooter and ft shooter for a big.

Toppin will end up taking more 3's, but that's more due to differences in era than anything else.

I'm not totally sold on Toppin as a 3pt shooter either. Not a ton of volume and ft shooting isn't great. Can get yippy with his release at times too.

 

[hoopsjock]

Toppin is definitely similar to Amare in a stylistic and strength/weaknesses sense.

Not as strong/physical and likely a worse rebounder, but a better passer more creativity/touch around the rim.

Dayton uses Obi in a lot of dribble hand offs and has him drop slightly on pick and roll defense coverage. He'd fit seamlessly in Stotts' system!

 

[BonesJones]

Amare was a good mid range shooter and ft shooter for a big.

Toppin will end up taking more 3's, but that's more due to differences in era than anything else.

I'm not totally sold on Toppin as a 3pt shooter either. Not a ton of volume and ft shooting isn't great. Can get yippy with his release at times too.

I look for rhythm and touch in foreshadowing shooting potential, and I like what I see from Obi. His form should also make it easy for him to extend out to the NBA 3pt line.

 

[hoopsjock]

Amare was a good mid range shooter and ft shooter for a big.

Toppin will end up taking more 3's, but that's more due to differences in era than anything else.

I'm not totally sold on Toppin as a 3pt shooter either. Not a ton of volume and ft shooting isn't great. Can get yippy with his release at times too.

I feel like he could shoot so many more 3's if he wanted to but he plays very unselfish for a star at a non-traditional basketball school.

 

[JDC]

I feel like he could shoot so many more 3's if he wanted to but he plays very unselfish for a star at a non-traditional basketball school.

His passing/unselfishness is definitely underrated and probably my favorite part about his game.

 

[BonesJones]

I don't see why people are interested in Okoro.

A 6'6 forward who can't shoot to save his life...