Event The "OFFICIAL" 2017 NBA draft thread - Feb. 2017 edition

[handiman]

Well as a huge Duck fan.....I was not sold on him as a NBA player either, until the last month or so. IMO his 3 ball needed to improve a lot....but it has. So as a Blazer fan I would now consider him, but not in the lottery. Not sure his lateral quickness is there. (Kind of reminds me of Wes in that regards-which isn't too bad)

I see a lot of Westbrook in him, with that alpha mentality that is more important than pure shooting ability. Of course, that could also mean Brooks would drive us crazy...

I didn't watch any of Brooks prior to his improved 3-ball, so my perception is probably more indicative of current ability than of his overall body of work.

 

[riverman]

I see a lot of Westbrook in him, with that alpha mentality that is more important than pure shooting ability. Of course, that could also mean Brooks would drive us crazy...

I didn't watch any of Brooks prior to his improved 3-ball, so my perception is probably more indicative of current ability than of his overall body of work.

I've watched Brooks a lot....saw him live twice in Eugene...not sure his game will look the same in the NBA but he could become a Wes Mathews 2 guard..he's got a motor and is strong for his size. ...he won't look the same in the paint on the next level I'm afraid though...the Ducks success has been team defense as much as anything...great coach in Altman. I do think he'll have a better chance at the NBA than Lorenzo Ball.....that kid gets knocked down a lot by smaller college defenders...as good as his shot is...Ball to me will be an Adam Morrison if he goes high in the draft.....I've seen half a dozen of his games this season

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

I've watched Brooks a lot....saw him live twice in Eugene...not sure his game will look the same in the NBA but he could become a Wes Mathews 2 guard..he's got a motor and is strong for his size. ...he won't look the same in the paint on the next level I'm afraid though...the Ducks success has been team defense as much as anything...great coach in Altman. I do think he'll have a better chance at the NBA than Lorenzo Ball.....that kid gets knocked down a lot by smaller college defenders...as good as his shot is...Ball to me will be an Adam Morrison if he goes high in the draft.....I've seen half a dozen of his games this season

Steph curry also got knocked down in college. Everyone said he was too small.

Ball is what? 19? He will gain mass as he gets older and will be fine. I think he has a GREAT chance of being the best player from this draft class.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Another solid mid-major prospect:

 

[riverman]

Steph curry also got knocked down in college. Everyone said he was too small.

Ball is what? 19? He will gain mass as he gets older and will be fine. I think he has a GREAT chance of being the best player from this draft class.

I've watched him and my feeling is, he's not going to be all that....I wouldn't take him very high in this draft personally..my prediction...somebody will draft Ball early and get burned...like I said...people were hyped in a similar way about Adam Morrison and that's who I think Ball is...a great college player.

 

[riverman]

A list of this years PF draft class...I know BGD listed them earlier but this way you can click on their names.
NBA Draft Prospect Rankings: Power Forwards


Howard Megdal ranks his top 2017 draft prospects ahead of the NBA Draft.
2017 NBA Draft Prospect Rankings
Rank Player School Year POS HGT WGT
1 Lauri Markkanen Arizona Fr. PF 7-0 230
2 Robert Williams Texas A&M Fr. PF 6-9 237
3 Johnathan Motley Baylor Jr. PF 6-10 230
4 Isaiah Hartenstein International - PF
5 Caleb Swanigan Purdue Soph. PF 6-9 250
6 TJ Leaf UCLA Fr. PF 6-10 225
7 Ivan Rabb California Soph. PF 6-11 220
8 John Collins Wake Forest Soph. PF 6-10 235
9 Thomas Bryant Indiana Soph. PF 6-10 255
10 Ethan Happ Wisconsin Soph. PF 6-10 232
11 Alec Peters Valparaiso Sr. PF 6-9 235
12 Harry Giles Duke Fr. PF 6-10 240
13 Chimezie Metu Southern California Soph. PF 6-11 225
14 Tony Bradley North Carolina Fr. PF 6-11 240
15 Mathias Lessort France - PF 6-9
16 Angel Delgado Seton Hall Jr. PF 6-10 240
17 Jordan Bell Oregon Jr. PF 6-9 225
18 DJ Hogg Texas A&M Soph. PF 6-9 220
19 Tim Kempton Lehigh Sr. PF 6-10 245
20 Gary Clark Cincinnati Jr. PF 6-8 225
21 Nigel Hayes Wisconsin Sr. PF 6-8 240

 

[riverman]

The Ducks Jordan Bell could be an interesting guy...he has the frame to put on 20 more pounds of muscle and already has an NBA body...TRob with a high BBIQ...

 

[riverman]

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

If Williams is out of reach I'm leaning towards Bell. It's tough to project where he goes - he could be gone before the Memphis pick. Do you reach for Bell?

"The statistical comparisons for Bell are historic. In his junior season, Bell’s production is similar to what Hakeem Olajuwon, David Robinson, and Patrick Ewing were doing with their NBA teams in the 90’s. With a defensive rebound percentage of 20.4, an offensive rebound rate of 10.5, with per game averages of 2 blocks and 1 steal (3 stocks), Bell is putting up incredible numbers for one of the top teams in the country."

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

If Williams is out of reach I'm leaning towards Bell. It's tough to project where he goes - he could be gone before the Memphis pick. Do you reach for Bell?

"The statistical comparisons for Bell are historic. In his junior season, Bell’s production is similar to what Hakeem Olajuwon, David Robinson, and Patrick Ewing were doing with their NBA teams in the 90’s. With a defensive rebound percentage of 20.4, an offensive rebound rate of 10.5, with per game averages of 2 blocks and 1 steal (3 stocks), Bell is putting up incredible numbers for one of the top teams in the country."

I think Bell has Ben Wallace potential, if we decide not to move the picks I would definitely support us taking him with one of our later first round picks. I'm also a Duck homer so... yeah.

 

[BigGameDamian]

A list of this years PF draft class...I know BGD listed them earlier but this way you can click on their names.
NBA Draft Prospect Rankings: Power Forwards


Howard Megdal ranks his top 2017 draft prospects ahead of the NBA Draft.
2017 NBA Draft Prospect Rankings
Rank Player School Year POS HGT WGT
1 Lauri Markkanen Arizona Fr. PF 7-0 230
2 Robert Williams Texas A&M Fr. PF 6-9 237
3 Johnathan Motley Baylor Jr. PF 6-10 230
4 Isaiah Hartenstein International - PF
5 Caleb Swanigan Purdue Soph. PF 6-9 250
6 TJ Leaf UCLA Fr. PF 6-10 225
7 Ivan Rabb California Soph. PF 6-11 220
8 John Collins Wake Forest Soph. PF 6-10 235
9 Thomas Bryant Indiana Soph. PF 6-10 255
10 Ethan Happ Wisconsin Soph. PF 6-10 232
11 Alec Peters Valparaiso Sr. PF 6-9 235
12 Harry Giles Duke Fr. PF 6-10 240
13 Chimezie Metu Southern California Soph. PF 6-11 225
14 Tony Bradley North Carolina Fr. PF 6-11 240
15 Mathias Lessort France - PF 6-9
16 Angel Delgado Seton Hall Jr. PF 6-10 240
17 Jordan Bell Oregon Jr. PF 6-9 225
18 DJ Hogg Texas A&M Soph. PF 6-9 220
19 Tim Kempton Lehigh Sr. PF 6-10 245
20 Gary Clark Cincinnati Jr. PF 6-8 225
21 Nigel Hayes Wisconsin Sr. PF 6-8 240

Why does our future PF have to be from the draft?

 

[riverman]

Why does our future PF have to be from the draft?

Doesn't but we now have 3 first round picks...that's a place to start

 

[dviss1]

Altman is a good coach, great recruiter. But honestly, his scheme is a gimmick that I don't think can win it all. I could be wrong. But, too much 3 and D. They win when they dictate the pace. Which, they usually do.

You better watch out for that kid Payton Pritchard. He's coming for Gonzaga.

 

[ripcityboy]

Lonzo Ball's father said in a radio interview he would only play for the Fakers. Man. Silver is going to love this!

 

[Boise Blazer]

Lonzo Ball's father said in a radio interview he would only play for the Fakers. God. Silver is going to love this!

https://www.google.com/amp/www.silv...a-draft-top-three-protected-lottery-odds-ucla

"My son will only play for the Lakers,” LaVar Ball said during an appearance on The Kevin and Mike Show, a local Arizona sports radio show. The context of Ball’s comments is somewhat unknown, so they have to be taken with at least a small grain of salt, and it’s also worth noting they don’t totally matter.

 

[JDC]

Donovan Mitchell and Johnathan Motley are the guys I'm locking in on with our late firsts. There's a dearth of starting potential sleepers late in the first this year from what I've watched so far, but these two have a reasonable chance to be "cheap" (if we can manage to get under the tax) rotation level players that might be able to play a little right away, which we sorely need.

Our first is the one I'm having a lot of trouble with. I don't really like any of the guys that are projected to go after the top 6-7, so at this point it's luck into top 3 or trade it for a useful player for me. Still a ways to go until June though.

 

[PDXFonz]

Excited to watch him climb mocks during the tournament.

 

[BonesJones]

Ben Lammers is a guy to watch for late 1st rd, been playin real well of late, need to see more of him but could be a sleeper

The dude probably won't even get drafted. Let alone in the first.

 

[BonesJones]

Seems all Blazers fans want at the end of the first is some prospect that should go at the end of the 2nd, or a Ducks player.

 

[JDC]

I'm slowing getting on the Robert Williams train. I still think he's most liking an energy big if he's an undersized center, but if he can develop the coordination and fundamentals to guard space/pnr (he literally has no clue at this point) and push his range out to 3 (his mechanics are pretty fluid) he has all-star potential as a PF in the mold of a Serge Ibaka. There's a fairly small percentage chance of it happening, but it's there.

Just have to be willing to wait and not sure if the Blazers are in a spot to do that.

 

[ripcityboy]

I'm slowing getting on the Robert Williams train. I still think he's most liking an energy big if he's an undersized center, but if he can develop the coordination and fundamentals to guard space/pnr (he literally has no clue at this point) and push his range out to 3 (his mechanics are pretty fluid) he has all-star potential as a PF in the mold of a Serge Ibaka. There's a fairly small percentage chance of it happening, but it's there.

Just have to be willing to wait and not sure if the Blazers are in a spot to do that.

And with the current coaching staff, we have an excellent chance of turning him into a first rate big man.

 

[PDXFonz]

Which NBA team will take a flier on Marcus Keene?

 

[HailBlazers]

Thanks @JDC

Don't have time to follow NCAA, but peruse draft express with yours and others recommendations.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

A candidate for the MEM/CLE pick:



Theo Ratliff upside IMO.

 

[JDC]

^^^Love Ike. Built like a tank, runs the floor, physical...really like him even if he's never a guy you play more than 20 minutes a game.

Another big who needs time, but he stands out physically and really the only one that has that strong base plus long and wide frame that I look for when scouting potential defensive anchors. Shouldn't be a terrible ft shooter either which is nice--% isn't good this year but has promising mechanics/touch.

He'd be solidly in the mid first for me if he declares and would be more than happy if he fell to one of those later picks.

 

[rotary111]

Ike reminds me of Rodman. A scrappy go for everything all the time kind of player. Between him, Bam Adebayo and Jordan Bell makes me think we can get a defensive big in this draft. How their game relates to the big league remains to be seen.

 

[illmatic99]

In those highlights, he looks like Whiteside.

 

[PCmor7]

That was a fun highlight package to watch.

 

[Trackjack]

I do like Bell real energy guy. Great timing on his blocks and quick jumper for Rebs. I believe he can play the 4 in the NBA.

 

[BigGameDamian]

Dame and CJ will be in there 30's before players are really ready to contribute in this draft.