Running list of prospects meeting/working out with Portland

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illmatic99 said:
I really enjoy others embracing my mindset on avoiding drafting centers in the lottery. been beating this drum for a few months.
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There's a finite amount of resources. If he was an Embiid, Ayton or Jokic like prospect, sure you could make that argument. But he's not.

The bulk of our resources need to go into small and power forwards. If they can make big upgrades like Ayton, that would be good too.
 
Freshtown said:
You don’t spend top 10 picks on raw bigs.

Not because raw bigs aren’t good to have, they are.

But because you can get them later.

Mitchell Robinson
Daniel Gafford
Jarrett Allen
Robert Williams

all taken in the later first round or second round. Where they should be.
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Not apples to apples comparisons as none of those guys combines the size/length and athleticism Duren has. I see him as both a premier shotblocker/rebounder with enough bulk to bang with the true Bigs and being quick enough to switch out onto smaller players. A much higher ceiling is why he's going higher.

STOMP
 
blazedanugz said:
And if we use the pick…it’s gotta be on a wing.
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If Portland is to use the pick and they value a PG or Center prospect on a higher tier with more potential, you'd be for the lessor player?

Good grief, they are no where close to competing. Hindsight on the draft reveals mistake after mistake where teams place their current needs above taking the best available talent probably because the GM wants to win more now so he doesn't get fired. Portland fans should lower their hopes for 2022-3 and look to the future. Get the BPA and figure it out down the line.

STOMP
 
STOMP said:
If Portland is to use the pick and they value a PG or Center prospect on a higher tier with more potential, you'd be for the lessor player?

Good grief, they are no where close to competing. Hindsight on the draft reveals mistake after mistake where teams place their current needs above taking the best available talent probably because the GM wants to win more now so he doesn't get fired. Portland fans should lower their hopes for 2022-3 and look to the future. Get the BPA and figure it out down the line.

STOMP
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I agree with the BPA approach.
However, Duren has not shown anything to suggest that he's the BPA when looking at the Mark Williams, Daniels, Eason, Mathurin tier of players.
 
CJ_is_Gone said:
I agree with the BPA approach.
However, Duren has not shown anything to suggest that he's the BPA when looking at the Mark Williams, Daniels, Eason, Mathurin tier of players.
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Considering Duren as BPA at 7 is laughable.
 
This is so much applying the same logic that made the Houston Rockets and Portland Trail Blazers pass on Michael Jordan.
"We need this position not that position."
 
Who says we're working him out for the 7th pick? If we're planning on trading back to 9 and 25 or for 12 and some package of future firsts we could flip for some impact vet, then this would make a lot of sense. If the team sees this guy as having the highest ceiling in the draft then we'd be dumb not to consider taking him.
 
illmatic99 said:
Considering Duren as BPA at 7 is laughable.
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Are you saying it's laughable that Duren could be better than Dyson Daniels?
That is laughable.
I also think Durens floor is higher than Dyson's.
Dyson could be a huge bust worth nothing.
Duren at least will provide an excellent lob threat and good to excellent rim protection.
 
blazerfan11 said:
Are you saying it's laughable that Duren could be better than Dyson Daniels?
That is laughable.
I also think Durens floor is higher than Dyson's.
Dyson could be a huge bust worth nothing.
Duren at least will provide an excellent lob threat and good to excellent rim protection.
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Rebounding, rim running and athleticism from a post defender that makes him less of a liability on the perimeter.
 
blazerfan11 said:
Are you saying it's laughable that Duren could be better than Dyson Daniels?
That is laughable.
I also think Durens floor is higher than Dyson's.
Dyson could be a huge bust worth nothing.
Duren at least will provide an excellent lob threat and good to excellent rim protection.
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I didn't bring up Dyson at all.

My list of BPA at possible #7 that I would take over Duren:

- Ivey or Murray if they drop.
- Davis
- Mathurin
- Sharpe
- Eason
- Agbaji

As I laid out in the other thread, I don't want to take a raw non-top-tier center in the lottery. There is too much opportunity cost by doing so. I'd be fine taking him if we were at 15 or so.
 
CJ_is_Gone said:
I agree with the BPA approach.
However, Duren has not shown anything to suggest that he's the BPA when looking at the Mark Williams, Daniels, Eason, Mathurin tier of players.
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Playing devil's advocate....who has? I don't think any of them have shown enough. (maybe the top 4 have but no one we are looking at) It is all about projecting who will be the best. This is when a top talent evaluator comes in handy.

I do agree that drafting a center in the top 7 is risky, but if they think he has big-time potential, especially defensively, then who cares if he goes 7th or 11th? Especially if they think they can still land Grant.

I would prefer to use #7 to get some offense at PF (Collins or Siakam) but if that is not happening I would not be unhappy with adding both Grant and Duren. That would be 2 big needs filled.
 
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Pinwheel1 said:
I do agree that drafting a center in the top 7 is risky, but if they think he has big-time potential, especially defensively, then who cares if he goes 7th or 11th? Especially if they think they can still land Grant.
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We should. If we want to maximize the value of the best pick we've had since Dame, and are desperate for an infusion of talent.
 
Some people think it's impossible or unlikely that Duren could be better than Dyson Daniels or Bennedict Mathurin.
 
illmatic99 said:
We should. If we want to maximize the value of the best pick we've had since Dame, and are desperate for an infusion of talent.
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Sure if there is a difference in talent. But with all due respect to your talent evaluation, this year is kind of a crap shoot after the top 4. You can't really guarantee that 7 will be better than 8-15. And neither of us will be in the gym when they bring them in for their workouts. It is so hard knowing which of these 18-19-year-olds will improve the most. And it is all about who will be the best long term, not just next year.
 
I love the potential of Duran but he is a the true definition of a boom or bust player cause I think his ceiling could be an All star type player but his floor could be of a player out of the league in 3 to 5 years.

If the Blazers were picking at 12 to 15 range I might be like take a gamble on this type of player and if they were in a true rebuild BUT when the team is looking to get a ring in the next couple seasons then it is a hard sell at this time. Also what would concern me is he looks like a million bucks and if he has workout that blows people in the gym then he could make someone make that gamble AKA if PA were still alive.
 
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