Exclusive OFFICIAL: "What the Blazers SHOULD have done" thread

[Trackjack]

I had us targeting Collins on move up but the 2 that drafted at 15 and 20 I had target at those spot and 26 I target Hart there at that spot. But the draft show me what that Olshey is also targeting a couple our bigs we got on the roster might be trade block.

 

[Natebishop3]

We SHOULD have traded the picks. That's what we SHOULD have done. This team needs more rookies like I need another 10 lbs of fat on my expanding belly. We NEED some veteran impact players like I NEED to start going to the gym.

 

[Mediocre Man]

With 10 in our pick, I would have liked to have seen us use it for a vet

 

[SlyPokerDog]

"What the Blazers SHOULD have done" thread

Once we got the number 10 pick from Sactown we should have immediately called the Spurs and offered it for LMA. Then burst out laughing and hang up.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

I'm OK with both picks; they are both tough and gritty, but it seems we drafted two centers when we already have Nurkic. Would have considered Derrick White at 26, seems we will need somebody if Crabbe and/or Turner goes.

 

[riverman]

I wanted Bell at 26 but now am happy with Swanigan after watching film on him...we did well

 

[BoomChakaLaka]

I would have been happier if we had traded a player or future 2nd to take a flyer on Bell in the second round. Then my grade would have gone from a B to an A-

Clearly NO speaks like the team is set. This leaves me doubtful we will sign a top 5 free agent and even more doubtful a trade of Meyers, Allen or others is remotely possible; after all...it's pretty clear no other team has interest in any of our over paid liabilities.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

I'm OK with both picks; they are both tough and gritty, but it seems we drafted two centers when we already have Nurkic. Would have considered Derrick White at 26, seems we will need somebody if Crabbe and/or Turner goes.

I see both as power forwards, Swanigan especially. Collins can swing between both frontcourt spots, but ideally I think we want him and Nurkic forming a formidable twin-tower lineup.

 

[trailblazer18]

I will never stop bitching about not selecting Monk , what a bummer.

I don't think Collins will be bad, i think he'll be a nice bench player (which is nothing to sneeze at). I just think Monk might have a much higher ceiling.

Feels like we took Darko Milicic instead of Dwayne Wade just because we already got Rip Hamilton.

I like Monk a lot. I am happy with the Collins pick, but I won't be surprised if in the future we will say, dang we could have had Monk...

 

[Mediocre Man]

I see both as power forwards, Swanigan especially. Collins can swing between both frontcourt spots, but ideally I think we want him and Nurkic forming a formidable twin-tower lineup.

Cause that's the way the NBA is headed?

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Cause that's the way the NBA is headed?

No, because Collins seems to have the mobility and range necessary to play the modern NBA PF game on both ends of the court. If you can get the skillset you're seeking in a taller, longer package, why wouldn't you?

 

[mook]

I see both as power forwards, Swanigan especially. Collins can swing between both frontcourt spots, but ideally I think we want him and Nurkic forming a formidable twin-tower lineup.

I think you are absolutely right. Hopefully Collins can coexist with Nurkic. Seems like they should fit, given Collins' footspeed and three point shooting, but you don't really know how he'll develop.

I think Collins could be an unconventional 3-and-D type player. Maybe more similar to a late-stage Rasheed Wallace, but with hopefully a more accurate three point shot.

 

[Duckhook]

We needed length and girth at the 4 and backup 5 and Neil accomplished this. I like both picks.

 

[Hobbesarable]

I like the addition of both guys. Collins is essentially our PFOTF and will see time at the 4/5 spots. Swanigan is a big body we can also use at the 4/5 spots.

These selections also make Meyers Leonard expendable and available as trade fodder for a perimeter defender hopefully capable of defending at the 1/2/3 spots.

I am totally down with our selections, but I think we could have taken a flier on a potentially good perimeter defender in the 2nd round. All things considered, I am a happy Blazer fan!

 

[1eyejack]

Love the picks, can't wait to see Nurk and Collins at same time. Both very high be iq should work great hi low offense.

I like that we are going different direction then rest of league. No one will be as good as GS so don't try and match them go big and see if you can cause problems for them. Nice part about Collins is he's mobile so he shouldn't have a problem guarding perimeter players while supplying help side defense.

 

[42N8Bounce]

I absolutely love both picks.

I think Collins was the best player available, and will be a solid starter in this league for years to come.

Swanigan was the exact type of pick I was looking for at 26. In that range, you look for a player that does a couple of things really well, and hope to build off of that. Most players after the top 15 have holes in their games. Swanigan's weakness is clearly slowness on defense. But wow - 18.5 ppg, 12.5 rpg, 3.0 apg. That's an exciting base to build from.

 

[Natebishop3]

I know he was hitting threes, but he didn't look like he had NBA range. It seemed like the trajectory was a little low on even the college three point line.

 

[1eyejack]

I know he was hitting threes, but he didn't look like he had NBA range. It seemed like the trajectory was a little low on even the college three point line.

It's what happens when your standing reach is over 9'3"

 

[dviss1]

I LOVE both picks. Biggie Swanigan will be one of the hardest workers on the team.

Jonah Bolden is the only other guy I think we should have looked at. Did he even come to a workout?

 

[Natebishop3]

It's what happens when your standing reach is over 9'3"

That's Collins. I'm talking about Swanigan.

 

[dviss1]

Also, the fact that these picks CONFIRM that Butters will not see much PT and may be gone before the season starts, make them even better and more valuable. Both will be better than Butters.

 

[1eyejack]

That's Collins. I'm talking about Swanigan.

Oh lol my bad

 

[Blazers Roy]

Swanigan reminds me of a past player, but i can't put my finger on it...
A fat pf who can shoot threes ... Rodney Rogers??

 

[Nikolokolus]

The picks don't bother me really, but the strategy is kind of a head scratcher. I would have preferred to see trades for an established vet and/or shedding some salary -- assuming there were trade(s) to be made (which I concede may not have been the case). Whatever. Maybe these guys will be meaningful contributors in 2 or 3 years?

I'll reserve judgment until the off-season is resolved and we see if Neil can offload some of these negative value contracts; guys like Meyers, Turner, et al.

 

[Denny Crane]

Seems like NO did really well this draft. I like it that we now have considerable depth at PF and C, with three of those guys (at least) with serious upside.

Vonleh, Swaniga, and Davis behind Nurk and Collins

We were seriously exposed when Nurk went out with his injury. That ended.

NO seems to have made decent picks late in the draft. I believe Swaniga is going to pan out quite nicely.

Of course later on, with 20-20 hindsight, NO might have made better choices. But these are our guys.

Welcome to Portland!

 

[dviss1]

Swanigan reminds me of a past player, but i can't put my finger on it...
A fat pf who can shoot threes ... Rodney Rogers??

Awwww C'mon bruh.... That's cold... Rodney Rogers was YOKED. He didn't gain that much weight until his accident man...

 

[Chris Craig]

Once we got the number 10 pick from Sactown we should have immediately called the Spurs and offered it for LMA. Then burst out laughing and hang up.

how do you know we didn't?

 

[Chris Craig]

I'm happy with both Collins and Swanigan. I wanted Semi at the 26th, everyone else at the party wanted Bell. But, I am ok with Swanigan, guy is a hard working big man exactly what we need.

 

[BBert]

My uninformed opinion:

We slightly overpaid to move up to 10, but sometimes you have to overpay to get what you want. By that I mean, I think 15+26 would have been a fair price for 10, but the Blazers wanted their guy badly enough that they gave a little more. Or maybe they figured there were enough targeted prospects in the 20-26 "tier" that it wasn't an overpay at all.

I think Zach Collins is exactly the type of player they wanted, and needed, and a bit of a steal at 10. He seems to have all the tools to be a modern PF, who can also play backup center, and with a bit of a bull dog attitude. The question is when, not if, he passes Vonleh (who I still like).

The Swanigan pick at 26 surprised me. Based on all the player analysis posted by the experts on S2, there were other guys on the board I thought we'd take ahead of him. The very first words out of my mouth were: "Can he play defense?". Followed quickly by the on-air analysis that no, he can't. We'll see I guess. At least he's a stud rebounder and should be adequate offensively. I've read countless times that "rebounding is a skill that translates to the NBA", so it must be true.

My only real disappointment was that I'd hoped we'd purchase or trade for a second round pick to grab Bell or another good player. Still disappointed by that, and pissed Bell went to GS.

 

[H.C.]

Also, the fact that these picks CONFIRM that Butters will not see much PT and may be gone before the season starts, make them even better and more valuable. Both are better than Butters.

FIFY