Notice Official Blazer Press Release - TRAIL BLAZERS ACQUIRE DRAFT RIGHTS TO JAKE LAYMAN

[riverman]

If he really wants a career in Portland he's going to have to change his name to Layperson.

I want his jersey for sure...Layman..great name! It's Japanese for Raymond!

 

[Hobbesarable]

Dude. 2nd round project

Practice player.

 

[riverman]

Another 4 year college player...there's a pattern!

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Damian Lillard ‏@Dame_Lillard 1h1 hour ago
Damian Lillard Retweeted Paul Grua

Yessir PG!

Damian Lillard added,


Paul Grua @PaulGrua
Incredible that @WeberStateMBB now has two players in the @nba. @Dame_Lillard and @Bolomboy21.
37 retweets 284 likes

 

[VanillaGorilla]

You could very well be right, but are you sure you are not basing it on where he was drafted and not his actual ability? He seems to move better than Babbitt.

I don't know if I'd agree that he moves better than Babbitt but I don't think I'm just basing it on where he was drafted. But I'd be stoked if he ended up being better than Babbitt, I just don't think it's likely.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Is he untouchable yet?

Nope. Are you bored with this shtick yet?

 

[Strenuus]

You should put "official press release" in the title.

Another tag in the works, maybe?

 

[BBert]

I'm underwhelmed.

My consolation is that it appears the Blazers are in win now mode, don't need more rookies, and need to preserve max room to improve the team in free agency and/or trades.

Good thing I saved my excitement for July 1st.

 

[Scalma]

I actually think layman can be something. Athletic, 6'9 guys that can put the ball on the floor and shoot have value. There's no one with that skill set on our current roster except maybe Aminu. He's landed with a great coaching staff that has shown they can get the best out of players so he's in good hands.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Maryland's Jake Layman has the stats, measurements and look of an NBA draft pick

Even before classes ended at Maryland, Jake Layman began the transition from college student to professional basketball player.

Layman had pretty much finished his course work by mid-April, when he signed with an agent and moved from College Park to Chicago to prepare for the NBA Draft.

“It definitely gives you a lot more time to work on your craft and really pinpoint certain things; it definitely makes it more fun for sure,” said Layman, who took part in graduation in May.

The solid career Layman had with the Terps – as well as what he showed both at the NBA Draft Combine last month and in subsequent sessions with individual teams – has led to the 6-foot-9, 215-pound forward likely being picked in the second round Thursday.

...

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/...look-of-an-nba-draft-pick-20160623-story.html

 

[Nikolokolus]

I'm willing to give this kid the benefit of the doubt based on Neil's penchant for seeming to be able to find guys who can shoot and play a little bit. I was sure Crabbe would be a goner after the first year, so what the hell do I know?

Am I actually confident that this guy will be an important rotation player in two or three years? Well . . . no, not really, but that's sort of par for the course with guys picked in the mid to late second round.

c'est la vie.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

47. Orlando Magic (traded to Portland Trail Blazers)

Pick: Jake Layman, forward, Maryland

Grade: C-

Analysis: As a pure-shooting, athletically gifted 6-foot-9 wing, Layman fits the bill in Portland. But he lacks consistency and versatility.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sport...-tracker-ben-simmons-brandon-ingram/86303580/

 

[Wizard Mentor]

47. Orlando Magic (traded to Portland Trail Blazers)

Pick: Jake Layman, forward, Maryland

Grade: C-

Analysis: As a pure-shooting, athletically gifted 6-foot-9 wing, Layman fits the bill in Portland. But he lacks consistency and versatility.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sport...-tracker-ben-simmons-brandon-ingram/86303580/

Incompetent analysis.

One cannot lack consistency and versatility and yet "fit the bill."
One cannot "fit the bill" and get a C-.
For whatever his faults, Layman is as versatile as anyone in the draft.

 

[JDC]

Just watched 3 full games of his (there's quite a few on youtube) and here are my thoughts.

Has good size and a nice shooting stroke, but I'm not sure if he hangs in the league. Positionally, he's pure 3 due to an average reach (8' 6"), while also lacking the necessary physicality and rebounding instincts to be a stretch 4.

Played a very limited role for Maryland and for good reason as he was very turnover prone when asked to create or be a playmaker. Good leaper, but his questionable ball skills don't allow him to show it off very often and he'd rather run the 3pt line than the basket in transition. Shows some post up potential if he has a matchup advantage, but I'm not sure how valuable that is ultimately. The bulk of his offense is spot up 3's or assisted finishes at the rim.

His movement on the floor and shooting form actually reminds me a lot of Mike Dunleavy.

Defensively he has decent lateral quickness and balance, but he's susceptible to the bad closeout and spacey off the ball at times. Not sure if he's going to have the tools to guard multiple positions consistently either.

There wasn't a lot left on the board at this point in the draft, but not in love with the pick.

 

[jlprk]

Just posted this in another thread -

Jake Layman
http://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/jake-layman-1.html

Wait what? Maryland moved out of the ACC? Did Lefty Driesell move with them? I can't believe he'd go along with that.

 

[jlprk]

We just drafted another Karl Malone!

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/...forward-of-the-year-award-20150217-story.html

 

[jlprk]

I took a quick look at the draft classes for the last 10 years... There are always 3-5 guys who made an impact from the second round, and often one or two starters (Milsap, Marc Gasol, Lance Stehpenson, etc) a year. I think we got a guy who can fit in a rotation, possibly replacing Crabbe if he gets a toxic offer.

I didn't see a fastball in those highlight videos, so he won't beat fellow Bostonian Connaughton.

 

[Blazer4ever]

this was last month:

He does look a lot like Claver but with much better shooting. If he has Claver's defensive awareness, rebounding, he could be a very nice player

 

[jlprk]

We're building a trend here with drafting seniors. Did he graduate too? Dame/CJ/Patty, etc all graduated.

“It definitely gives you a lot more time to work on your craft and really pinpoint certain things; it definitely makes it more fun for sure,” said Layman, who took part in graduation in May.

 

[jlprk]

Just watched 3 full games of his (there's quite a few on youtube) and here are my thoughts.

Posted 3 hours 20 minutes after Woj announced it. You have seen more of him than Olshey has.

Okay, I read the whole thread.

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

After watching the workout tape, he reminds me of a shorter+thinner Meyers (small ball stretch 4 maybe?). Maybe this guy is a roster spot filler if Leonard gets something completely unreasonable.

 

[SwissBlazer]

Always difficult to judge a player on a 2-3 minutes workout highlight with 95% of open shots made. But I like his form. Looks very fluid. I am very confindent in Neil Olshey regarding draft picks. So I give Layman the benefit of the doubt and will be happy to "scout" him during Summer League.

 

[Boob-No-More]

Geez...seeing these pictures, he sure seems like a goofy looking MFer.

He already has the requisite hipster facial hair. He just need a man bun and he'll fit right in in Portlandia.

BNM

 

[Boob-No-More]

Luke Babbitt was a lottery pick and I don't think Layman will ever be as good as Babbitt. I'm fully alright with being wrong though, in fact, I would think it was awesome if I end up being wrong.

Luke Babbit wasn't a lottery pick. He was selected 16th.

Still, big difference in their draft position. Babbit was a reach at 16, I said it at the time. Maybe Layman will be a steal at 47. Time will tell.

BNM

 

[Boob-No-More]

This is a zero risk, insurance pick by Neil.

Picked in the second round = no guaranteed contract == no cap hold. Does not impact our cap space and ability to sign free agents. A 1st round pick would have come with a guaranteed contract and a cap hold.

We currently have 6 free agents. 3 unrestricted (Henderson, Kaman, Roberts) and 3 restricted (Leonard, Harkless and Crabbe). Henderson, Kaman and Roberts are likely gone, to clear the cap space needed to sign an impact player. 1, or more, of Leonard, Harkless and Crabbe may also be gone. They may get toxic offers from other teams, or we may just need additional cap space to get the player(s) Neil has targeted in free agency.

There is a very good chance we will need a few cheap players to fill out our 15 man roster. Layman my be one of those players. He has a 3-point stroke, which makes him potentially useful in Terry Stotts's system. He can play the 3 and maybe stretch 4, which is insurance against losing Harkless, Leonard and possibly Crabbe. He won't be as good as those guys. The players in front of him (Connaghton, Montero, Vonleh) would need to step up, but he could help backfill the bottom 1/3 of our roster.

Again zero risk and basically cost us nothing (a current 2nd round pick for a future 2nd round pick plus $1.2 million). In the end, if we don't need him, or he doesn't pan out, we are none the worse for the effort. If he does make the roster it's only because we blew our cap space wad on one, or more, worthwhile free agents and needed a cheap 14th or 15th man to fill out our roster.

Smart move by Neil to get a little cheap insurance without getting caught up in the draft day feeding frenzy and jeopardizing our ability to target the player(s) he REALLY wants and can REALLY make a difference come July 1.

BNM

 

[Boob-No-More]

Is he untouchable yet?

I don't know. Why don't you try to touch him and see. If he punches you and/or gets a restraining order, you'll have the answer to your question.

BNM

 

[Boob-No-More]

Another 4 year college player...there's a pattern!

One thing you can say about most 4 year college players - they are good chemistry guys. They've been with the same team for 4 years and played with a variety of players. That experience usually makes them good team players and not the me-first prima donnas that are often 1-and-done college players.

I mean look at Dame and C.J. Dame was ROY, but has never had a sense of entitlement or me-first attitude. He's a great leader, but an inclusive leader. C.J. was a lottery pick that came in and quietly worked on his game without bitching about PT or causing problems. When the opportunity was there to get that increased PT, he was ready and took advantage of it. Both very mature players that helped make this team's chemistry work.

Layman doesn't have nearly their talent, resume or expectations, but as a 47th pick, I think he'll just be happy to have a chance to make an NBA roster and not make waves or cause problems.

BNM

 

[Boob-No-More]

He reminds me a bit of young Batum, but with a post game Nic never had.

Young Batum was 19 with greater upside and much higher expectations. He was considered a lock to go lottery, many mock drafts had him in the top 6, until the "rumors" of his "heart condition" came out just two days before the draft and he fell to 25th.

Layman is 22, with less upside and much lower expectations. Nic's defense won him a surprise starting role at 19. Let's hope we don't see Layman starting 76 games as a rookie. If we do, either something went horribly wrong, or he's either the biggest steal in the history of the draft.

BNM

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Brandon Roy won Batum a starting role over Travis Outlaw. If Layman starts its because he's better than Aminu.

 

[Mediocre Man]

If this guy is smart, and actually has the foot speed to do it, he would come in and BE a defensive stopper in practice. He will absolutely get PT if he does that