Ricky Ledo - Thoughts?

[OregonHuskerMan]

I think he may be the best 2G in the draft (including Oladipo and McLemore), specifically offensively.

There are character concerns, out of high school at least. Would that prevent the blazers from drafting him?

If I'm Olshey, I do whatever possible to draft Ledo. I draft BPA @ 10 (hopefully a big) and do whatever I can to land Ledo.

He is a really, really special talent.

 

[MickZagger]

Uh, no. He's a rat ball player. I watched him play a couple time on ESPNU when he was in high school. He's a knucklehead. I wouldn't mind using a 2nd round pick on him, a late 2nd.

 

[OregonHuskerMan]

Uh, no. He's a rat ball player. I watched him play a couple time on ESPNU when he was in high school. He's a knucklehead. I wouldn't mind using a 2nd round pick on him, a late 2nd.

He'll be long gone by late 2nd. He apparently is breaking into the first round.

I'd package both second rounders for him.

 

[jlprk]

He sure can dribble, but what else? His videos are fun, but just dribbling exhibitions.

 

[MickZagger]

I love the Qyntel Woods comparison I read. Nothing going on between the ears. Outside of maybe the top 15-20, those mock draft sites are never accurate. From 20 on its a crapshoot. I remember Nolan Smith wasn't even supposed to be drafted and we took him in the 1st.

 

[OregonHuskerMan]

He sure can dribble, but what else? His videos are fun, but just dribbling exhibitions.

Probably one of the best pure scorers in this draft. There is a reason the kid sat out a year, hasn't played a lick, and still might be a first rounder.

And his dribbling is a major asset - hasn't a decent portion of this board been bitching that we need a 2G that can dribble and attack the basket? Someone who can create their own shot? Well, hello AND he was a solid passer in HS. So, yeah.

 

[OregonHuskerMan]

I love the Qyntel Woods comparison I read. Nothing going on between the ears. Outside of maybe the top 15-20, those mock draft sites are never accurate. From 20 on its a crapshoot. I remember Nolan Smith wasn't even supposed to be drafted and we took him in the 1st.

I'm not saying draft him with #10, but if we can move up to the late 1st, or early second, I say you do it.

Woods was also a lottery pick, not late 1st, early second.

And Q Woods has a lot more lacking upstairs than Ledo. Ledo has his personal issues, but he has a pretty damn solid BBIQ.

 

[jlprk]

Did he practice with the team in his 1 year? I read that the NCAA finally allowed him to, but then I read that he never set foot on a court.

 

[Pinwheel1]

I'm not saying draft him with #10, but if we can move up to the late 1st, or early second, I say you do it.

Woods was also a lottery pick, not late 1st, early second.

And Q Woods has a lot more lacking upstairs than Ledo. Ledo has his personal issues, but he has a pretty damn solid BBIQ.

QWoods went 21st to Portland. I was living in Utah at the time and remembering the Jazz fans being pissed that they passed on him. Jazz management kept repeating that they did their due diligence on him and he wasn't their type of guy. I also remember them taking some shots at Portland for taking him.

Overall 2002 was a pretty shitty draft. (Other than Ming)

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Looks like he already has an NBA body. Seems like exactly the kind of swing for the fences type of pick we should go after. What's the worst that can happen, especially if it only costs us a couple 2nd rounders?

 

[Mediocre Man]

My thoughts are, and always have been, why do we spend so much time talking about role players in this forum?

This team needs 2 improved starters over last season. Let's talk about that

 

[PtldPlatypus]

My thoughts are, and always have been, why do we spend so much time talking about role players in this forum?

This team needs 2 improved starters over last season. Let's talk about that

If the guy is, allegedly, the best offensive 2 guard in the draft, then he theoretically has the ability to be much more than just a role player, and hence would be deserving of conversation.

 

[Boise Blazer]

[video=youtube;Jywe5wNDEgM]

 

[BBert]

That must have been fun for the other guys wandering around the court watching those two.

 

[Mediocre Man]

If the guy is, allegedly, the best offensive 2 guard in the draft, then he theoretically has the ability to be much more than just a role player, and hence would be deserving of conversation.

He is projected in mocks to be the 33rd and 30th pick according to nbadraft.net and draftexpress respectively. Best offensive 2 guard might be a stretch

 

[PtldPlatypus]

He is projected in mocks to be the 33rd and 30th pick according to nbadraft.net and draftexpress respectively. Best offensive 2 guard might be a stretch

Might be--I'm just going by the OP. If the OP believes that he is the best offensive 2 guard in the draft, wouldn't that explain the impetus for starting the thread?

 

[BBert]

I think for the Blazers they should already have a strong opinion how they think the top 12 projected players in the draft might pan out. There's a good chance most of those guys are only role players.

Where I hope they put in the extra work is with the guys like Ledo who are projected to be drafted later. The League is littered with guys who were late picks who turned out to be studs. Manu Ginobili, for example, was the 57th overall pick. If there is someone in this draft who might turn out to be one of those guys, let's identify him and draft him.

Sure, it's a crap shoot. So let's shoot some craps.

 

[OregonHuskerMan]

He is projected in mocks to be the 33rd and 30th pick according to nbadraft.net and draftexpress respectively. Best offensive 2 guard might be a stretch

And once again, MM, how often do you see a player sit out a -full year- not playing ANY basketball, and be a legitimate threat to be a 1st round pick?

The answer is: You don't. There is a reason people will take him with a last first, early second, despite his lack of basketball in the past year. The guy can flat out BALL. I truly believe he has starter potential.

Ball handling left/right: Check
Create own shot: Check
Size: Check
BBIQ: Check
Multi faceted offensive repertoire: Check
Experience: None, past high school at least. He also plays at one of the weakest positions in the NBA, currently.
Defense: Has the length and size to be a solid defender.

So, now tell me - after doing your homework on him...

Why wouldn't you want him? I've also read PLENTY of tweets saying how he has showed out in workouts with teams.

 

[OregonHuskerMan]

I think for the Blazers they should already have a strong opinion how they think the top 12 projected players in the draft might pan out. There's a good chance most of those guys are only role players.

Where I hope they put in the extra work is with the guys like Ledo who are projected to be drafted later. The League is littered with guys who were late picks who turned out to be studs. Manu Ginobili, for example, was the 57th overall pick. If there is someone in this draft who might turn out to be one of those guys, let's identify him and draft him.

Sure, it's a crap shoot. So let's shoot some craps.

I think it says a lot that he was predicted undrafted and has worked his way into the borderline 1st round. I think there is a reason for that, and that 2 second round picks are worth a shot at this guy. We need to do something to try and "win" this draft.

 

[OregonHuskerMan]

[video=youtube;Jywe5wNDEgM]

That is some poor basketball, but John Wall isn't easy to stay in front of/guard and John Wall is a pretty damn good defender himself.

 

[jlprk]

The whole league knows about Ledo. He won't be there for our 2nd round picks. Find someone less known.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Have they scheduled him for a workout?

 

[oldmangrouch]

He had the chance to prove he can actually play (beyond the HS level) and he pissed it away. If he was anywhere near as good as claimed and had one ounce of competitive fire, he would have proved himself on the court. He could have followed Rice's example and proved himself in the NBDL.

There are 2 reasons for him to sit out the season: A) his ego/sense of entitlement is off the charts, or B) he knows he is not good enough and is running a scam.

Either way - why would you want him?

 

[OregonHuskerMan]

The whole league knows about Ledo. He won't be there for our 2nd round picks. Find someone less known.

That is why I said package both of our second rounders for a late first....

Shocking, I know.

 

[OregonHuskerMan]

He had the chance to prove he can actually play (beyond the HS level) and he pissed it away. If he was anywhere near as good as claimed and had one ounce of competitive fire, he would have proved himself on the court. He could have followed Rice's example and proved himself in the NBDL.

There are 2 reasons for him to sit out the season: A) his ego/sense of entitlement is off the charts, or B) he knows he is not good enough and is running a scam.

Either way - why would you want him?

Or C) because he committed to a college, got a year of free education, and then decided that this year is better for him to attempt to get drafted than next year? And at the time, he had planned on playing the entire season as a college athlete. C'mon dude.

Also, Rice was KICKED OFF OF THE TEAM after playing 3 years in college.

That is a completely different situation.

 

[jlprk]

He had the chance to prove he can actually play (beyond the HS level) and he pissed it away. If he was anywhere near as good as claimed and had one ounce of competitive fire, he would have proved himself on the court. He could have followed Rice's example and proved himself in the NBDL.

There are 2 reasons for him to sit out the season: A) his ego/sense of entitlement is off the charts, or B) he knows he is not good enough and is running a scam.

Either way - why would you want him?

Huh? I thought the NCAA at first prohibited him from even practicing for a year, and then after negotiation allowed practice but not games. It wasn't his choice.

 

[oldmangrouch]

Huh? I thought the NCAA at first prohibited him from even practicing for a year, and then after negotiation allowed practice but not games. It wasn't his choice.

In that sense, it wasn't Rice's choice either. He got booted from his college team for rules violations, and went to the NBDL rather than sit out a year. Of course, they didn't have to get into trouble in the first place.

 

[Pinwheel1]

In that sense, it wasn't Rice's choice either. He got booted from his college team for rules violations, and went to the NBDL rather than sit out a year. Of course, they didn't have to get into trouble in the first place.

Did Ledo get into trouble? I thought he just didn't have the grades. Wasn't he ruled a partial qualifier?

 

[OregonHuskerMan]

In that sense, it wasn't Rice's choice either. He got booted from his college team for rules violations, and went to the NBDL rather than sit out a year. Of course, they didn't have to get into trouble in the first place.

He didn't have an option. He couldn't return to GT so he had to leave. Ledo could return to providence as he wasn't kicked off of the team due to his 4th or 5th suspension.

 

[OregonHuskerMan]

Mac (Portland, OR)

Chad, what do you think the Blazers will do if both Caldwell-Pope and McCollum are no longer available? Please tell me they won't select Steven Adams, he's Meyers Leonard 2.0.
Chad Ford (1:26 PM)

I think you have the two guys -- McCollum and Caldwell-Pope right. Both players are high on their board. I agree with you on Adams, though I think Adams is tougher and the Blazers may just need the extra body. This is way out of left field, but I'm not totally discounting a sleeper pick like Antetokounmpo or Ricky Ledo here if McCollum and Caldwell-Pope are both gone