Who's your pick?

[Wizard Mentor]

Assume we keep the #10 pick
Assume that the following players are drafted:
Noel, McLemore, Bennett, Oladipo, Burke, Porter, Len, McCollum, (yes, that's only 8)

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Today I'm going with Pope, though I'm starting to find Carter-Williams interesting.

 

[magnifier661]

I think this draft could have teams trade up much easier than years prior. I think if olshey wants to keep a pick; then he will go higher in the draft and get the BPA at 5-8 range.

 

[magnifier661]

Oh and btw; don't know too much on the player; cause I don't know the quality of players coming out of the draft; but I suspect it would be a wing.

 

[Mediocre Man]

I voted Pope, but I could have just as easily picked Gobert

 

[3RA1N1AC]

shabazzle

not a fan of pope, seems like a spot up guy

 

[Pinwheel1]

I guess it depends on what Minnesota does. My guess is they go for Shabazz so right now i am leaning towards Zeller as the BPA.

I would love to be persuaded to take MCW. I really want a guard that would fit with Lillard.
I love the idea of having a tall PG.....

I agree that Pope seems to be only a spot up shooter. Can he attack the basket? He has to be able to, otherwise he is not much of an upgrade.

 

[Reep]

If they really want to be in the draft, then I think they would be better served moving up one or two spots and taking McCollum. But, given the choices, I'll go with Zeller. I think he is BPA. Also, part of me is intrigued by having a second LMA-type scoring option. I think it could present problems for other teams--especially if Zeller can really hang in the post on offense.

 

[Mediocre Man]

If they really want to be in the draft, then I think they would be better served moving up one or two spots and taking McCollum. But, given the choices, I'll go with Zeller. I think he is BPA. Also, part of me is intrigued by having a second LMA-type scoring option. I think it could present problems for other teams--especially if Zeller can really hang in the post on offense.

He couldn't in the Big 10 this past year

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Pope plays defense.

 

[HomerLovesKoolAid]

I voted Rudy Gobert, just got a feeling about him. Might be a bust but might be a game changer.

 

[oldmangrouch]

Interesting question.

Straight BPA may well be Schroeder...but he is the worst fit.

If you want to go for need - it has to be Dieng. Gobert is the candidate for bust-of-the-draft, and none of those other guys will be centers at the next level.

I compromised and voted Pope.(by a whisker over MCW) Wes seems to always be dinged up and Pope should at least be able to contribute as an off-the-bench scorer.

 

[OregonHuskerMan]

Shabazz and not even close IMO. Based on BPA, and not assuming who is drafted at 9, Shabazz is easily BPA @ 10. I'm really on the Shabazz bandwagon and think he'll be very, very good in the right situation. Hardworker, big, decent stroke, high FT rate, relentless rebounder and isn't afraid to attack the rim.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Interesting question.

Straight BPA may well be Schroeder...but he is the worst fit.

If you want to go for need - it has to be Dieng. Gobert is the candidate for bust-of-the-draft, and none of those other guys will be centers at the next level.

I compromised and voted Pope.(by a whisker over MCW) Wes seems to always be dinged up and Pope should at least be able to contribute as an off-the-bench scorer.

I still can't figure out why Dieng is listed so low in the Mocks. For example Hoopshype.com lists him at #24, yet when you read their description of him it makes him sound like a Lottery pick. Do they not think he can rebound at the next level?

Dieng benefited from Louisville's deep tourney run, as he was able to display the ability to consistently knock down mid-range shots. While not a speed burner, he shows good defensive abilities, particularly in blocking shots. Dieng missed a portion of the year with a fractured wrist, but his return coincided with the team's resurgence as he anchored Louisville's interior defense. His condor like 7-foot-3.5 wingspan makes him a formidable obstacle around the basket
Read more at http://hoopshype.com/draft.htm#h3PtjojOjrLUyg1b.99

 

[OregonHuskerMan]

I'm guessing age + limited potential. He pretty much is what he is.

 

[magnifier661]

Zeller looks like the best pick if we are trying to find that 7 footer with a complete game. But he seems like a very raw defensive player; one that I am really skeptical about.

I think if our team is really looking into the draft; we need to move up (drafting Victor Oladipo or Alex Len).

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

At #10:

Likely: Caldwell-Pope
Slipper: Zeller/McCollum
Darkhorse: Saric

Additional mid-first:

Value pick: Larkin

Sleeper: Wolters

 

[WillG]

Outside of getting McLemore/Oladipo somehow -
Giorge Dieng
Rudy Gobert/Alex Len
Like to see a flyer taken on Addianis Atenkumbo

Do NOT want to see anything to do with Shabazz. Just say no.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

My quick thoughts:

Center Position:
We have a backup C, so we won't draft one unless NO thinks they can come in and start OR he thinks they are Clearly the BPA. So, assuming Len is gone, I don't feel Dieng, Gobert, Adams, et. al. are starting Centers.

Power Forward:
We could use a backup PF. It sounds like it's not our first priority, but if NO feels like one is clearly BPA we will draft them. There are questions about all of them, but several seem to be high risk/high reward players.

Small Forward:
Are there any SFs in this draft?

Point Guard:
I think we need a rotation player so I don't think we'll draft a PG because of fit reasons. That being said, if the player can also play backup SG (like MCW), then that would work.

Shooting Guard:
I think this is what NO and many blazer fans are looking for. I don't think CJM falls and in this poll he doesn't. I also don't think Snell and Hardaway will be reached for.

That's why I chose KCP. Yes, there are some questions about his game, but he can shoot the NBA 3 right now, can shoot off the dribble, and he can defend.

 

[Pinwheel1]

My quick thoughts:


Point Guard:
I think we need a rotation player so I don't think we'll draft a PG because of fit reasons. That being said, if the player can also play backup SG (like MCW), then that would work.

Shooting Guard:
I think this is what NO and many blazer fans are looking for. I don't think CJM falls and in this poll he doesn't. I also don't think Snell and Hardaway will be reached for.

.

Regarding MCW, if he was chosen he would be a back up PG . Lillard would be an occasional back up SG when pared with him. If MCW is any good, then I like that scenario. Obviously on Defense
MCW guards the bigger player. But it takes some pressure off of Damian for 10 minutes a game.

 

[BigGameDamian]

Could Shabazz even start for the Idaho Stampede?

 

[KeepOnRollin]

Could Shabazz even start for the Idaho Stampede?

Your trolling needs work. Would he start over Durrell Summers? Who? Ya, exactly. I think so.

 

[BigGameDamian]

Your trolling needs work. Would he start over Durrell Summers? Who? Ya, exactly. I think so.

Well Shabazz is a natural SG and thats getting harder to find in the NBA as everyone wants to be combo guards these days. So if Shabazz is worth taking a look at why is his draft stock falling in a what is called a weak draft? This draft doesn't excite me much but the one player that would really blow my skirt up is Ben McLemore, he will be the best player out of this draft. Victor Oladipo will be very solid as well but McLemore will be a stud.

 

[BBert]

Victor Oladipo will be very solid as well but McLemore will be a stud.

My daughters would be so stoked if the Blazers drafted McLemore.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

There are two different questions:

1. Who should go at the #10 pick in the draft? and
2. What player in this draft would you like the Blazers to end up with?

The reason why they're different is (of course) because there might be a player there that a lot of other teams want but we don't that we could leverage for more picks lower down (like, say we drafted Saric and traded him to Atlanta for their #17 and #18. They get even more cap space (especially if he doesn't come over) and we can take two players like (maybe) Gorgui Dieng and (almost certainly) Franklin/Crabbe/Larkin.

I want Dieng, Schröder, and Crabbe, but #10 is probably a bit high for all of them. Of them all, I want Dieng the most, although he's more likely than Schröder to be available with a lower pick. The answer to Q1 would then depend on what player is most valued by other GMs, something that (a) we don't know, and (b) will probably change a lot in the coming weeks.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

...I don't think we'll draft a PG because of fit reasons.

So basically you're calling Olshey a liar (he insisted that he would draft BPA regardless of "fit")?

Besides which: we definitely DO need a PG (Nolan's gone and isn't Maynor a FA? and with both of them, Lillard was still playing too many minutes).

 

[BigGameDamian]

LaMarcus Aldridge to the cavs for #1 pick (McLemore), Anderson Varejao and Dion Waiters?

 

[Rastapopoulos]

I still can't figure out why Dieng is listed so low in the Mocks. For example Hoopshype.com lists him at #24, yet when you read their description of him it makes him sound like a Lottery pick.

Agreed. My guess would be that this draft is deepest in Cs, of which he is among the smaller and older ones. Even if you think he's right there with people like Len, Gobert and Adams, if you push them ahead of him then he drops several picks to the next team that needs a C. Also, Givony is going round and watching all the team workouts, and my guess is Dieng would look pretty ordinary in those settings, while Givony creams his jeans over Adams hitting jump shots. There might also be a little "we've seen so much of him he's not a tantalizing mystery" effect. I think us public tend to overvalue players that made it into the final four, and almost as a reaction scouts act like hipsters and are scornful of the guy that everyone knows in favor of their cult fave whom only they and a few other scouts have seen much of.

One more reason: what Dieng is strong in is unquantifiable. He's a leader and he coordinates the defense. He makes me think of a goalie in "soccer" ordering his defenders around. The best goalie isn't necessarily the one who makes spectacular saves but the one who is in the right place to stop such saves ever being necessary.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

LaMarcus Aldridge to the cavs for #1 pick (McLemore), Anderson Varejao and Dion Waiters?

1. this has been done to death in at least two other threads.
2. Why would you want McLemore AND Waiters?

 

[Reep]

1. this has been done to death in at least two other threads.
2. Why would you want McLemore AND Waiters?

You can never have too many undersized combo guards.

I'm starting to warm on Pope. I know his handle is weak, but loved watching some of his defensive clips. Reminded me a bit of MKG where he moves his feet very quickly and is always right in front of his man--leading to a terrible shot or a turnover. Love his dribble stop and pop too. Looks very consistent. Slashing is clearly his one weakness.