With the 7th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, The Portland Trailblazers select. . . (1 Viewer)

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Many have suggested that Ayton reminds them of Aldridge, and that he could and perhaps even should play the 4. However, I don't think he has the ability to defend on the perimeter the way a forward needs to in today's NBA.
Neither did LaMarcus
 
Does THIS make anyone feel better about (potentially) drafting Clingan:

 
2 areas they talked about the Blazers

Rockets
"Most teams expect the Rockets to heavily pursue trade opportunities, either to move down the board (for example with teams such as the Portland Trail Blazers, Memphis Grizzlies or Chicago Bulls) or to get out altogether if a major building block of a player -- such as Mikal Bridges -- presents itself unexpectedly."

Blazers
"It's hard to see a scenario in which Clingan -- the No. 3 player on ESPN's Big Board -- falls to No. 7, but the Trail Blazers would surely be ecstatic with this outcome, driven by the fact Houston, San Antonio, Detroit and Charlotte all have centers in place in whom their front offices are already invested.

There's chatter around the league that teams such as Portland, Memphis and Chicago might look to move up to draft Clingan earlier than this, but in this mock scenario, he falls right into the Trail Blazers' lap. Clingan brings size, length, defensive prowess, nonstop intensity and passing ability along with a back-to-back national championship pedigree. He has plenty of room for growth alongside the Blazers' core at just 20 years old. -- Givony"
Thank you.
 
I just don't get the thinking. With mobile bigs like Wemby/Chet/Paolo/Mobley/Lively/etc all standing in our way the next decade, we think the best way to counter these dudes will be a big plodding dude with slow feet and no vertical mobility?
 
This is either a smokescreen or Cronin is drafting his Zach Collins.

I’m hoping it’s smoke screen to hopefully get Risacher.
 
I think the first three picks will be set soon. I think at four, SA will try to game the draft. I’m sure that is probably why Castle said he only wants to go to a team without a PG. I expect they will try to get him at 8 instead of 4 and try to steal another player at 4 they know would not get to 8 otherwise.
I've wondered a little if Portland is putting out a fake rumor that they want Clingan at #7 so they can get whoever SA wanted at #8?
 
Neither do I.

1. Hawks - Risacher
2. Wizards - Sarr
3. Rockets - Sheppard
4. Spurs - Castle
5. Pistons - Buzelis
6. Hornets - Dillingham (!)
7. Blazers - Clingan
8. Spurs - Salaun (two non-shooters? I don't buy it)
9. Grizz - Knecht
10. Jazz - Topic (does he really fall this far? Only if people are REALLY scared by the knee)
11. Bulls - Holland
12. OKC - Devin Carter (I don't think defense was their issue, and what about Cason Wallace?)
13. Kings - Ja'Kobe Walter ("There's quite a bit of trade talk around this no. 13 pick")
14. Blazers - Cody Williams
15. Heat - Zach Edey
16. Sixers - Jared McCain (isn't he a bit of a poor man's Maxey? Still, I can see this.)
17. Lakers - Tristan Da Silva
18. Magic - Johnny Furphy
19. Raptors - Kyshawn George
20. Cavs - Carlton Carrington
21. Pels - Collier
22. Suns - Kyle Filipowski (this makes a lot of sense)
23. Bucks - Ware
24. Knicks - Missi (bit of a run on big men here)
25. Knicks - Tyler Kolek (he's almost purpose built to attract Thibs, but don't they have a TON of guards?)
26. Wiz - Klintman
27. Wolves - Baylor Scheierman (ooh, I like this one.)
28. Nugs - DaRon Holmes ("Sources told ESPN Holmes recently canceled several workouts, raising strong suspicions that he has secured a guarantee in the back part of the first round.")
29. Jazz - Justin Edwards (who?)
30. Celtics - Kevin McCullar (who?)
View attachment 64725

I like the Blazers' second round almost better than our first round. I would be very happy with that draft.
Tyler Smith moved down 11 spots since their first mock. I wonder why.
 
I've wondered a little if Portland is putting out a fake rumor that they want Clingan at #7 so they can get whoever SA wanted at #8?
I was thinking it’s more likely that they’re masking who they want to trade up for so that nobody tries to jump them. I think Risacher is the prototype of who they want and if they trade for three, they don’t want someone to trade for two.
 
So if reports are true and we’re drafting Donovan Clingan are we drafting him for twin towers or are we drafting him in hopes that Ayton will have good value and we can trade him for win player in a few years?
 
Tyler Smith moved down 11 spots since their first mock. I wonder why.

Probably because the G-League experiment was not working. Kids were getting paid but not getting good coaching or competitive games where they work on weaknesses. They seem to be less prepared to play in the NBA than one and done college kids. That's just my eye test. Nothing to back it up than personal judgement of the kids being drafted from the G-League.
 
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This is either a smokescreen or Cronin is drafting his Zach Collins.

I’m hoping it’s smoke screen to hopefully get Risacher.
What do you think it takes to get him?

After watching a two minute clips of him, he gives Manu Ginobili vibes, only taller
 
I just don't get the thinking. With mobile bigs like Wemby/Chet/Paolo/Mobley/Lively/etc all standing in our way the next decade, we think the best way to counter these dudes will be a big plodding dude with slow feet and no vertical mobility?
You mean like 2021 NBA Champion Brook Lopez?
 
What do you think it takes to get him?

After watching a two minute clips of him, he gives Manu Ginobili vibes, only taller

His shot creation has been said to be nowhere close, but I think people might be sleeping on his ability to create with the ball.
 
The furthest we got in the playoffs since 99-00?
Aldridge wasn't on the Kanter team that reached the WCF.

Plus, I don't think it's unreasonable to say that the PF position in the NBA is a bit different now than it was 10 years ago when Aldridge was at his peak.
 
Top 3 pick.

Not sure what Houston would want. Not sure if he drops to 3rd though.
You'd have to trade with Atlanta to be in with a shot at him. And I don't think we've got what they want. They don't even have dead salary that they'd want to offload.
 
This is either a smokescreen or Cronin is drafting his Zach Collins.

tbf, cronin and schmitz saw clingan when uconn played university of portland at the chiles in january; apparently clingan caught a ball on the left block, got doubled teamed, and threw a behind-the-back, no-look pass. that's when cronin knew he was a blazer.
 
tbf, cronin and schmitz saw clingan when uconn played university of portland at the chiles in january; apparently clingan caught a ball on the left block, got doubled teamed, and threw a behind-the-back, no-look pass. that's when cronin knew he was a blazer.
lol.....but he didn't play for Gonzaga?
 
Top 3 pick.

Not sure what Houston would want. Not sure if he drops to 3rd though.

I don't see ZR as a sure thing that I'd give up 7 & 14 to get at 3. I'd rather come out of this with 2 shots at frontcourt guys...and I really like ZR.
I'm really hoping that Cronin trusts Schmitz as much as I don't trust Cronin.
 
Us drafting Clingan when we have Ayton has a very drafting-Scoot-when-we-are-publicly-committed-to-Dame vibe to it.
Disagree... Clingan is a project that will be a backup next year (if he even gets any time as a rookie) and possibly a backup for many years. Scoot was a #1 pick quality franchise PG. Now Scoot didn't live up to the hype, but their not comparable level rookies or comparable situations at all.
 
Portland should not waste any capital to move up in this draft unless it is sending out one of the vets and a pick for a better pick and assets. Basically completing another need, which is clearing cap space for a rebuilding team. I certainly would not be chasing Clingan. My last memory of him is allowing Edey to drop 37/10 on him in the final. That is more than just a bad game. Additionally, Givony has him available at 7. Personally, I am good with Ayton. What are they going to do, move him to the four?
The draft is for players that peak 5-10 years from now, what current temporary starter we have shouldn't factor into that at all.
 
I just don't get the thinking. With mobile bigs like Wemby/Chet/Paolo/Mobley/Lively/etc all standing in our way the next decade, we think the best way to counter these dudes will be a big plodding dude with slow feet and no vertical mobility?
Now I think this is a good point, yeah Clingan and Edey just don't seem like valuable NBA players even if they hit their potential. At best we'd be hoping for a Boban level backup and that's just not a very useful player. Those are vet minimum guys, or maybe tax MLE. Should never be a target with a lottery pick.

Makes me wonder how much drafting and later giving 60 million extension to Meyers Leonard was Olshey or Cronin agenda.
 
The draft is for players that peak 5-10 years from now, what current temporary starter we have shouldn't factor into that at all.

My meaning is that I prefer Portland not to combine 7 and 14 for say the 2 or 3, purely hypothetically. I would prefer they take two stabs at the lotto as they are currently scheduled to do. But, I am fine with them hypothetically packaging say, 7 and Brogdon for 2 and filler. I would prefer Portland not trade either of the last two lotto picks. I would love to see them play along side Ayton and whatever they get out of this draft. But Scoot/Sharpe are worth more than 1 in this draft, by a lot, in my perspective. But nobody is untradable.
 
Now I think this is a good point, yeah Clingan and Edey just don't seem like valuable NBA players even if they hit their potential. At best we'd be hoping for a Boban level backup and that's just not a very useful player. Those are vet minimum guys, or maybe tax MLE. Should never be a target with a lottery pick.

Makes me wonder how much drafting and later giving 60 million extension to Meyers Leonard was Olshey or Cronin agenda.

How anyone could compare Meyers Leonard to Clingan is beyond me. Just two different universes.
 
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