OFFICIAL Pre-pre-pre Draft Thread

[Rastapopoulos]

"Many" teams are trying to trade up for Kristaps.
Neil has a lot of comp for that Orlando pick.

If he's after Porzingis, then here's hoping the competition wins.

Who was the last big-man-who-can't-rebound who ever amounted to much?

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Probably the most underrated 3-D prospect, Anthony Brown is the latest riser.

Fifth year senior? Here's hoping he started at Stanford at age 16.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Ford is a bit of a quack but Locke is pretty legit.

I think the Frye comp isnt a good one though.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Joe Young with a promise? Chad Ford:


If the Lakers take Okafor or Towns with their first pick, I expect they'll look at guard with their second one. The Lakers had great success with Jordan Clarkson last year and I think they could have similar success taking a chance on Young here. I believe both guards could play together in the backcourt because of Clarkson's size at the one. Young brings something to the table that the Lakers desperately need: shooting. And the fact that he hasn't worked out since the Combine is suspicious. Multiple sources believe that a team in the late first round made him a promise in exchange for not working out for other teams. While I have no idea if that's LA or not, he is a good get at 27.


Fwiw, he did have a workout scheduled with Portland.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Joe Young with a promise? Chad Ford:


If the Lakers take Okafor or Towns with their first pick, I expect they'll look at guard with their second one. The Lakers had great success with Jordan Clarkson last year and I think they could have similar success taking a chance on Young here. I believe both guards could play together in the backcourt because of Clarkson's size at the one. Young brings something to the table that the Lakers desperately need: shooting. And the fact that he hasn't worked out since the Combine is suspicious. Multiple sources believe that a team in the late first round made him a promise in exchange for not working out for other teams. While I have no idea if that's LA or not, he is a good get at 27.


Fwiw, he did have a workout scheduled with Portland.

I like Young but he would be a duplication of CJ IMO. He would work well with Clarkson though.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

I think it's either the Lakers or Spurs.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

I was thinking that if there's one team that needs more guards that can shoot, it's Cleveland.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

The Blazers have had three workouts so far.

The lowest of any team in the league.

They either know who they like at #23 or Neil has other plans.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Pelton on the Locke podcast:

http://weareutahjazz.com/lockedonja...rs-guru-kevin-pelton-on-the-nba-draft-part-2/

He loves Delon Wright. Depending on fit, he uses Dallas as an example, he believes he'd be the rookie of the year. He may not be there at #23 -- I fear Houston or Dallas will nab him.

 

[TBpup]

The Blazers have had three workouts so far.

The lowest of any team in the league.

They either know who they like at #23 or Neil has other plans.

Another Blazer fan and I were just having that same conversation last night. We were wondering if they would bring in Upshaw to work out now that he has been cleared (again) medically and were trying to figure out why they have had so few workouts?

If Neitl feels the Blazers are close by bringing back everyone, than a mid-20's pick isn't going to do anything to contribute. If he has plans to move up, those players likely won't work out for Portland anyhow because of where they are picking and if he were for some reason to trade out of the 1st round to save cap space, then why work out players they are not going to choose anyhow?

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

"Sources near and far tell me #Knicks likely to trade No. 4 pick ... unless they can draft Okafor. " - Chris Sheridan

 

[Scalma]

The Blazers have had three workouts so far.

The lowest of any team in the league.

They either know who they like at #23 or Neil has other plans.

I'll go with B. I think were gonna package batum and move up. It's a way to clear cap space so olshey can bring in a better third option. No idea who.

 

[illmatic99]

The Blazers have had three workouts so far.

The lowest of any team in the league.

They either know who they like at #23 or Neil has other plans.

Does this include group workouts and times when they interact with prospects outside of the PF?

 

[Pinwheel1]

The Blazers have had three workouts so far.

The lowest of any team in the league.

They either know who they like at #23 or Neil has other plans.

Very interesting indeed. If they traded to move up they would still need to work out other players, so are they combing it with one of our players for another player? Probably not. He must be confident that a short list of players will be there when he picks. That's better than being uneasy about any of them. As we have discussed it is a pretty deep draft if you are not in the lottery.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

They've interviewed (in Vegas):

RJ Hunter
Myles Turner
Sam Dekker
Rashad Vaughn
Jerian Grant

And most recently (also in Vegas):

Krisaps Porzingis

None of these players were scheduled for a workout in Portland, at least not yet.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

CAN WE STOP WITH THE "PACKAGE BATUM" TALK??? If you REALLY believe that, rather than just wanting it to be true because you don't like Batum, then let's hear a realistic scenario. What team (a) has the room to just absorb his salary, (b) has a pick we'd want more than Batum, and (c) would want Batum more than the pick. Oh, and also explain how Aldridge will like giving up a pro who defends well, doesn't want shots, and knows how to feed him the ball in his comfort spots for a rookie. Or are you just assuming we already know Aldridge is gone?

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Ship Batum out while you can.

Orlando is a legitimate option.

He'll be a FA next summer and dealing with his agent was a nightmare.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

The Blazers have had three workouts so far.
The lowest of any team in the league.
They either know who they like at #23 or Neil has other plans.

I don't mind a low number of workouts, actually. I think workouts are dangerous. If you haven't done your homework scouting by now, then a workout isn't going to help. In fact, workouts are the kind of thing that leads to busts getting drafted because they look good against a chair.

(Conversely: we all know that Kevin Durant had the most amazing workout ever seen in Portland, and they still drafted Oden. So if you're going to ignore them anyway, why have them?)

The obvious explanation: they're going to draft Hernangomez!

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Ship Batum out while you can.
Orlando is a legitimate option.

Why is Orlando a legit option? You assuming they like Batum more than Tobias Harris? Or that Tobias Harris is leaving? Scratch that: you think they, a young YOUNG team, like Batum better than Tobias Harris PLUS whomever they take at 5 (probably Cauley-Stein)? Find me one Magic fan who agrees with you.

He'll be a FA next summer and dealing with his agent was a nightmare.

That's (MAYBE) a reason to trade him, but not a reason to trade him NOW. You get LA to re-sign first. If you fail, then trade Batum because you're blowing it up. Or, if you want to get value for him, wait until either (a) after he's played for France in Eurobasket, where he's given more of a role and will look good to other teams, or (b) after he's shown improvement from this year, a down year.

I just think there's no team that will value Batum more than he is valuable to us.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Harris is a PF.

And I think he ends up in NY anyways.

When they lost the lotto Stein and Sheridan tweeted quickly that their pick was on the market for a vet.

Obviously we'd have to throw in more, maybe a lot more, but it's a realistic option.

 

[RR7]

I still think batum to Detroit makes a lot if sense for them. For us, well, obviously a lot of factors come into play for our offseason and direction.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Remember when his brother opened his big mouth and fanned the flames to this:

http://nypost.com/2015/01/23/possible-knicks-target-overwhelmed-by-long-island-love/

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Harris is a PF.

So who was their SF? And Aaron Gordon is what, exactly?

Obviously we'd have to throw in more, maybe a lot more, but it's a realistic option.

So we trade Batum and who? CJ? Leonard? For the #5 pick in a draft long looked as weak? You, my friend, are suffering from irrational exuberance, a common affliction around draft time.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Sheridan just updated his mock:

You may have noticed Porzingis linked with nearly every team. The 7-1 Latvian forward has been very impressive in workouts, and his game impresses a lot of executives. One team not currently in position to take Porzingis has him as the top prospect on their board.

Four days ago:

Jake Fischer– ‏@JakeLFischer
Portland is devoid of tradable assets, but just now was the second I've heard the Trailblazers really like Porzingis, met with him in Vegas.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

I still think batum to Detroit makes a lot if sense for them. For us, well, obviously a lot of factors come into play for our offseason and direction.

Didn't they just use all their caproom on Ilyasova? How're they going to absorb his contract?

 

[oldmangrouch]

CAN WE STOP WITH THE "PACKAGE BATUM" TALK??? If you REALLY believe that, rather than just wanting it to be true because you don't like Batum, then let's hear a realistic scenario. What team (a) has the room to just absorb his salary, (b) has a pick we'd want more than Batum, and (c) would want Batum more than the pick. Oh, and also explain how Aldridge will like giving up a pro who defends well, doesn't want shots, and knows how to feed him the ball in his comfort spots for a rookie. Or are you just assuming we already know Aldridge is gone?

Playing devil's advocate, I can see one way it happens. The other team would have to believe they are ready to make some noise next season (hence not wanting a rookie), AND they have a really wretched contract they are desperate to dump on somebody.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Jake Fischer– ‏@JakeLFischer
Portland is devoid of tradable assets, but just now was the second I've heard the Trailblazers really like Porzingis, met with him in Vegas.

So much for Batum.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Playing devil's advocate, I can see one way it happens. The other team would have to believe they are ready to make some noise next season (hence not wanting a rookie), AND they have a really wretched contract they are desperate to dump on somebody.

Obviously. But who is this mysterious "other team"?

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Now I'm nervous: if we sell the farm to move up and draft Porzingis then I may have to become a Timberwolves fan for a while. At least until the inevitable happens and Olshey gets fired for the most massive swing and miss since Oden.

Way to go, Fez: I was looking forward to the draft and now I'm dreading it.

The upside: we won't have to trade into the top 3 next year if this happens - we'll get there on merit.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Accept it. Embrace change.

And come on, my detective work is rep worthy.