With the 7th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, The Portland Trailblazers select. . . (2 Viewers)

[Natebishop3]

The question is if there is a BPA at #7. Is someone like Reed (or any guard or center) that much better than a position-of-need player? (IMO that is a forward) I don't know the answer to that. It needs to be obvious and I am not sure it is.

Exactly. The margin between BPA and fit is pretty damn thin in this draft and nobody really knows who is going to go where. It’s best not to fall in love with any player because that player might go top 3 or they might go 8th.

 

[Kell]

Don’t think Sheppard makes it past the spurs pick at 4.

 

[BigGameDamian]

Don’t think Sheppard makes it past the spurs pick at 4.

You don’t think the Spurs would rather pair Wemby with more of a veteran guard that’s ready now?

 

[handiman]

You’re like the guy who gets a 78 pinto and are continuously trying to get everybody to believe it will handle like a 2024 BMW M5. Why are you so invested in trying to convince everybody that we will land players who will make us better? Now if you have seen the talent level of this years draft….THAT is truly strange.

It's called hope. Maybe try experiencing it rather than trampling it? That's what fans generally do.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Don’t think Sheppard makes it past the spurs pick at 4.

The Spurs pick is kind of important for the Blazers. I don't care which guard they take (Sheppard, Castle. Topc) but I want them to pick one of them. I think they should go with either Castle or Topic at 4, and a shooter at 8. (Knecht, or Salaun)

I like to see Houston grab a guard as well but not sure what position they see Amen playing in the future. Is he a PG or SF? They have Whitmore at SF.
If I were them I think Brooks and VanVleet should be moved and start Amen and Green in the backcourt with Sheppard backing them both up.

 

[Kell]

You don’t think the Spurs would rather pair Wemby with more of a veteran guard that’s ready now?

Think Sheppard goes to the Rockets or spurs if they keep their picks anyway. Should the spurs go for a veteran? Definitely but I am not up on their roster or what picks they would move for said veteran.

 

[Sheldon Shape]

You don’t think the Spurs would rather pair Wemby with more of a veteran guard that’s ready now?

If they can, yes. Wemby is ready to compete and I don't think they want to wait on someone to develop. They can win now.

 

[Sheldon Shape]

The Spurs pick is kind of important for the Blazers. I don't care which guard they take (Sheppard, Castle. Topc) but I want them to pick one of them. I think they should go with either Castle or Topic at 4, and a shooter at 8. (Knecht, or Salaun)

I like to see Houston grab a guard as well but not sure what position they see Amen playing in the future. Is he a PG or SF? They have Whitmore at SF.
If I were them I think Brooks and VanVleet should be moved and start Amen and Green in the backcourt with Sheppard backing them both up.

I think Houston wants to compete. I can see them moving #3 and change for a vet like Bridges.

 

[Sheldon Shape]

You’re like the guy who gets a 78 pinto and are continuously trying to get everybody to believe it will handle like a 2024 BMW M5. Why are you so invested in trying to convince everybody that we will land players who will make us better? Now if you have seen the talent level of this years draft….THAT is truly strange.

But please continue.

Bro, why are you calling your wife a 78 Pinto? Seems uncalled for.

Back on topic, a lot of us are excited for the draft. Not just me. We will almost certainly draft players that will make us better in the long run. That's a low bar.

I'm sure there are other message boards that don't discuss the draft that would love to have you.

 

[Hoopguru]

If Clingen is there at 7?

 

[Natebishop3]

I think Houston wants to compete. I can see them moving #3 and change for a vet like Bridges.

I think Bridges value is higher than #3 in a bad draft. I think a lot of teams would open up the coffers because of what he would bring to a team that is close to contending.

 

[theprunetang]

Bro, why are you calling your wife a 78 Pinto? Seems uncalled for.

It's the big bumper.

 

[BigGameDamian]

If Clingen is there at 7?

If we are thinking about all avenues (As we should be) then you have to be thinking about Aytons value and replacing him with Clingen?

 

[Sheldon Shape]

I think Bridges value is higher than #3 in a bad draft. I think a lot of teams would open up the coffers because of what he would bring to a team that is close to contending.

I agree. It was just an example. Ingram is another guy.

 

[Sheldon Shape]

If we are thinking about all avenues (As we should be) then you have to be thinking about Aytons value and replacing him with Clingen?

Or let Clingan learn from Ayton for a year before you're able to move Ayton for positive value.

 

[Pinwheel1]

You’re like the guy who gets a 78 pinto and are continuously trying to get everybody to believe it will handle like a 2024 BMW M5. Why are you so invested in trying to convince everybody that we will land players who will make us better? Now if you have seen the talent level of this years draft….THAT is truly strange.

But please continue.

I think it is more about how one of these players could eventually help us.....not next year. Just because there are not any generational stars in this draft, doesn't not mean there are not some really good prospects.

Let's be honest, the guys who you trust about this draft... are guessing just like the rest of us when it comes to predicting the future. We/they don't know how these kids will progress in the next 2-3 years. I say this confidently because when I look at the history of past draft classes, I see a hell of a lot of misses every year made by the "experts" from the various teams. It's really hard to evaluate college players who are one and done, and even harder to evaluate 18-19 international players. So unless one of your guys is Jerry West, it's always a crap shoot.

Or maybe you misinterpreted what they said. Who exactly are these guys? How much detail did they get into with you about the various prospects? And has it changed as new players have emerged like they normally do this time of year? I still want to know why # 2 last year (Miller) is considered so much better than the predicted #2 this year (Risacher) Why is Scoot considered any better than Castle or Topic? Why is Ausar Thompson considered so much better than say....
Holland. Serious question....what do they say about that?

 

[Natebishop3]

I agree. It was just an example. Ingram is another guy.

Don’t get me wrong. Houston could go get Bridges if they really wanted to. They definitely have the resources. Ingram would be easier to get I think. He can’t stay healthy.

 

[42N8Bounce]

This will be an interesting off season. The Blazers (currently) have 4 draft picks. 7, 14, 34, and 40. The 2 first-round picks are going to be guaranteed contracts. The max number of contracts for a team is 15 (by opening night). The Blazers currently have 14 players under contract. Moses Brown is the only free agent for the Blazers.



To make room for the new rookies, who goes?

Here are the players without guaranteed contracts:
- M Brown (unrestricted free-agent)
- D Banton(1 year team option)
- T Camara (3 years team option)
- J Walker (1 year team option)

Trades are nice, but it takes 2 teams to make a trade. The only thing the Blazers have under their control is picking up the option on a current players contract. If they are not able to find a suitable trade, who goes?

Rebuilding is fun and all, but at some point, the Blazers need to start looking at consolidating talent. I think the pressure is on to make a trade before draft day. My guess is Brogdon and a 2nd and/or a 1st to move up.

 

[inconceivable]

If they can, yes. Wemby is ready to compete and I don't think they want to wait on someone to develop. They can win now.

Pops also old, may desire to win sooner than later

 

[Ripcity4life77]

Blazers will trade Brogs , Thybulle and maybe Williams this offseason --- but IF the Blazers take a guard with 7 or 14 then Ant prolly gone too by Deadline at latest

I am still torn on who they take cause right now who could be there is so fluid

 

[Sheldon Shape]

Don’t get me wrong. Houston could go get Bridges if they really wanted to. They definitely have the resources. Ingram would be easier to get I think. He can’t stay healthy.

I keep hearing they want to get better now. Which makes sense they went out and got Brooks and Van Fleet.

 

[Phatguysrule]

The question is if there is a BPA at #7. Is someone like Reed (or any guard or center) that much better than a position-of-need player? (IMO that is a forward) I don't know the answer to that. It needs to be obvious and I am not sure it is.

Comes down to what our scouts and Cronin think. Whoever they think will be the most impactful, valuable NBA player is who we should pick, IMO.

 

[Sheldon Shape]

Comes down to what our scouts and Cronin think. Whoever they think will be the most impactful, valuable NBA player is who we should pick, IMO.

I think it's tiers. If you have Holland at an 88, but have Shepherd at a 90, you go with Holland imo. I don't think you win by acquiring purely off talent. That was Olshey's mistake.

At some point you need to field a functional basketball team that doesn't have a mean height of 6-3.

 

[Hoopguru]

I think it's tiers. If you have Holland at an 88, but have Shepherd at a 90, you go with Holland imo. I don't think you win by acquiring purely off talent. That was Olshey's mistake.

At some point you need to field a functional basketball team that doesn't have a mean height of 6-3.

Read one Mock this am that had Holland dropping out of the lottery.

 

[Phatguysrule]

I think it's tiers. If you have Holland at an 88, but have Shepherd at a 90, you go with Holland imo. I don't think you win by acquiring purely off talent. That was Olshey's mistake.

At some point you need to field a functional basketball team that doesn't have a mean height of 6-3.

Just because a player is more skilled doesn't mean he's more impactful. You have to be far more skilled as a 6-3 player to warrant being picked over someone 6-8.

There have been a lot of NBA players more skilled than Jordan and Wilt. But those guys were always better on the court. There are a lot of guys in the league right now more skilled than Giannis. But they aren't better.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Read one Mock this am that had Holland dropping out of the lottery.

I wish that we could count on that happening. If it did I would double up on the SF position. Holland can defend both SGs and SFs. That is where BPA would come into play for me.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Not Topic. Not with those knees.

Topic BECAUSE of those knees!

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Blazers will trade Brogs , Thybulle and maybe Williams this offseason

Hey, maybe we can trade them for Damian Lillard!

 

[Sheldon Shape]

Read one Mock this am that had Holland dropping out of the lottery.

I definitely don't think that'll happen but individual workouts at the end of the day will determine how high certain players will go. Holland was rated as the #1 pick at some point earlier in the year, though the stench of the G-League might still be on him, I think he has one of the higher upsides in the draft.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

My fear if we take Sheppard is that he is going to look better than Scoot right away and either force Scoot to the bench OR play Shae at SF

That would be good. It would mean we hit on a pick in this year's draft.

Id much rather have that be the case and we do whatever moves later to balance positions - than we whiff on our pick and have uncrowded rotations again due to shit talent.