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

[PtldPlatypus]

I have a feeling that this is going to be one of those draft nights that will be ripe for second guessing, so we need to have a thread set for posterity for people to be able to make their draft claims now.

If you love what Neil did in the draft last night, voice that opinion here.

If you are satisfied with the Collins trade, but think we would have been better off with guys available at 15 & 20, specify who you'd rather have.

If there was someone else you think Neil should have drafted at 10 or 26 instead of Collins/Swanigan, specify that here as well.

What DOESN'T belong in this thread is speculation on a trade you think Neil should have made, because we don't know that the desired trade would have been accepted. We're only looking at players we do have or know beyond a shadow of a doubt that we could have had.

If you want the right to critique Olshey's draft down the road, or want to claim you were officially on the bandwagon from the get-go, speak now or forever hold your peace.

 

[KeepOnRollin]

For the most part I happy with both. I certainly happy with the first. I had Caleb as my 4th choice for pick 26 so ya I would have went another direction but I don't think it is huge reach either.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Thrilled with Collins, wish OG would have slipped to 26!

 

[KeepOnRollin]

Also, just because I am curious, would anyone have drafted Monk for this team instead of Z. Collins? We know Olshey wouldn't have of course.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

As for me, I'm OK with the Collins pick, and I probably would have picked Semi Ojeleye at 26 instead of Swanigan.

 

[SIeepwalker]

When our 2 picks turn out to be beasts I want bragging rights

 

[PtldPlatypus]

For the most part I happy with both. I certainly happy with the first. I had Caleb as my 4th choice for pick 26 so ya I would have went another direction but I don't think it is huge reach either.

Come on, complete the process. If Swanigan wasn't your guy at 26, who would you have gone with?

 

[rotary111]

Collins was the right pick in the draft. The best big on both sides of the floor. Caleb seems like he has some skill. I wish we would have traded back for 2 seconds and picked up Bell and Sindarius.

 

[mook]

I like them both. Collins is exactly the kind of mobile, three point shooting defensive guy we needed (and that the league is valuing more). If we ever have any hope of one day competing with GS you need somebody like him you can put on Durant when they go small.

I like the Zach Randolph comparisons for Swanigan. If Z-bo were trying to get drafted in the modern NBA I'm not even sure he'd be a first round pick, given how opposite he is from everything that's trendy. (We got him at 19th back then.) Yet Z-bo still has value in the league even at 35 years old. (Fuck me he's 35? Shit I'm old.) Swanigan is clearly a better passer than Randolph has ever been (did he EVER pass when he was a Blazer? Getting the ball swatted in your face, grabbing it and sneaking it in anyway doesn't count as a pass.) And of course he doesn't have the character issues Randolph had. I'm excited to see what he can do. I'd like to have a second unit team with a big changeup in pace, and Swanigan may provide that for us.

Mostly, though, I like that the Blazers are taking three different stabs to try to solve the problem of our starting PF position. I include Vonleh in there as a third option unless he gets traded. We've invested two years in trying to develop him, but I think it's not a foregone conclusion that one of these two guys instantly beats him out for the starting job. Maybe, hell, hopefully, but not definitely.

If we get health at center with Nurkic, and some kind of solution at PF from among these three options, then I think that wraps up the major issues Portland had last year. Sure, we could use a better starting SF, but between Aminu and Hark I think we'll be ok there. They're not elite 3 and D small forwards like I'd prefer, but they are in the mold.

 

[TBpup]

This thread has 'Bump' written all over it in a year or two.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Thrilled with Collins, wish OG would have slipped to 26!

Amending my answer a bit after learning more. Though I still with OG would have slipped, I am now very happy with CS - hard worker, high character, has strong support.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

This thread has 'Bump' written all over it in a year or two.

That is the intention.

 

[GlydingCJ3s]

I would grade this draft a solid "A"

 

[KeepOnRollin]

Come on, complete the process. If Swanigan wasn't your guy at 26, who would you have gone with?

Semi, Bolden, Bell then Caleb in that order.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Semi, Bolden, Bell then Caleb in that order.

Excellent list--mine is basically the same.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

All right @PDXBlazers1284--I see you voting. Can't say everything was bad if you're not going to come in and tell us who he should have drafted.

 

[Schilly]

I'm pretty happy with the results of the draft in my mind the main priorities in the draft were a center and a power forward, we got both of those. I'm extremely happy that both players are guys that play hard, I am always worried about players who even have the slightest blip of a concern about effort or work ethic.

I think with the players we got we gained some versatility in being able to make some consolidation trade which will net us more value than trading picks.

 

[Sinobas]

You should add an option "Drafted Harrison FUCKING Barnes"

 

[H.C.]

I don't know enough about Collins to make a solid judgement.
I guess I'll just have to hope the right choice was made.

I like Caleb, worried about his defense. But due to his work ethic and him knowing who he is as a player... I don't see why his defense wouldn't improve.
If the draft wasn't so deep this year.. Caleb could've be a top 10 pick.

 

[Mediocre Man]

I'm trying not to crap on the WABC pick, but we absolutely should have drafted Bell at 26

 

[PtldPlatypus]

I'm trying not to crap on the WABC pick, but we absolutely should have drafted Bell at 26

Not crapping on the pick if there was a guy you liked better at that spot. Was there one in particular you liked at 10?

 

[Pinwheel1]

I like the ZC pick. I was interested in getting Bam at 15, but he was gone at 14. I wanted Zach when I watched him back in the tourney, but then didn't think much about him after his stock rose and the Blazer pick seemed out of reach. What I like about him is his versatility. Eventually I really think he can start at PF next to Nurk and also play back up center. A 3 man rotation of Nurk, Zach and Noah could be pretty good. But it will take a year. Can Swanigan take over for Noah if Vonleh commands too much for the Blazers to keep him?

I argued against Swanigan back in March. So I can't say I was excited with the pick. But in reality I only watched him play one game from start to finish. And looking over who was drafted right after him, I can't say I am too disappointed.

 

[oldfisherman]

Justin Jackson did fall to pick 15, but, do we need another mediocre SF?
Everyone available at pick 20 had a serious red flag attached to them.
Consolidating quantity picks for quality appears to have been the right move.

Plus, Zach should fill a huge hole in our lineup for years to come. He can play both C & PF minutes, on a cheap rookie contract. And Swanigan looks like a promising prospect.

Overall, this was a decent draft for the Blazers. Olshey kept the core together, and added depth where needed.

 

[e_blazer]

I'm trying not to crap on the WABC pick, but we absolutely should have drafted Bell at 26

Just refer to him as the WABPF and maybe you'll feel a little better.

 

[PDXFonz]

I like the picks but I'm bummed it meant we didn't get 2K. I think he could be a great fit for OKC.

 

[Minstrel]

I liked the Collins pick. I preferred other players at #26. I feel like Swanigan is ticketed for eternal reserve-caliber status, but I'd like to be wrong!

 

[3RA1N1AC]

i kind of liked the JJ and Giles picks before i knew we traded them, but ZC is pretty cool too. whatevz, i guess i would have liked Bell at 26 though, but we could have got a 2nd somehow if needed to pick him up. Guess we will see how it all turns out.

WHATEVZ

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

Would've rather kept all the picks and took Patton, OG, and Bell

 

[Blazers Roy]

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.

 

[Shaboid]

I have high hopes for Collins and his fit with our core.

I probably would have selected Semi at 26, but I'm not upset about the Swanigan pick.

Can we send Leonard down to the Gatorade League now?