Who should we choose with the Portland Trailblazers draft pick?

Now we're cooking with gas here.  Good topic.

The amount of effort I put into following the NBA, I can't contribute to this because I don't know much about college ball.

HornetsPlanet, I am relying on you to guide me. 

But the one thing I'll say is my roommate is a die hard Spartans fan and I've seen every game.  Payne is legit and I've read he's projected to be drafted around there.

If Warren somehow slips to us I don't think we could pass it up.

This is not in any particular order, but here is an initial list of guys who I like

Adrien Payne: if he was a little younger (23) he would be a lottery pick, pretty athletic stretch four/five. Has a post game, can shoot the three from outside (when given time, slow release). I have been high on Payne for a while now, he is also a big time competitor, I imagine he would fit into the team well. Random fact, he has only ever missed one free throw in the NCAA tournament and made 17 straight in a f1 point outburst. I would see him coming off the bench and spending time playing both the four and five depending on matchups, 15-20 minutes a night.

James Young: Very talented SG/SF when he is switched on, he is a lottery pick and it is unlikely he is still there, but its possible. Had a reuptation through high school as an elite shooter, but he has been pretty streaky this year. More of a below the rim player, seems to make more tough shots than easy ones, but has a good allround feel for the game

Rodney Hood: Again, may not be there but who really knows? Another SG/SF much more of a catch and shoot player, not the creator that Young is but has all the makings to be a good rotation guy, think a less athletic Terrance Ross. His defence needs work, but isn't actually as bad as most people think, he struggled against Mercer but was decent the rest of the year. He is fairly one dimensional, but can flat out shoot and has good size/;ength

KJ McDaniels: Super athletic SF, probably only behind Wiggins in terms of athleticism, can score in transition also has a decent jumper. Bit of a weird form on his shot, not much lift in his knees either but he is shooting it better than expected, but still only 30% from deep. Has an unbelievable record of blocking shots, quick leaper, long arms, has all the tools to be an elite defender at the next level. Made the all ACC first team this year, bit of a late bloomer.

PJ Hairston: Another SG/SF outside shooter, luckily for us this draft is stacked with these players which is exactly what we need. Was released by UNC after getting caught in a stolen convicts car, smoking weed, with a gun outside the car. Seems to be a bit of a knucklehead, not sure he would fit into the locker room that well, seems to have a bit of an ego, not the type of guy to turn up and workout early in September... But, he is VERY talented, after starting his D League career on fire he has cooled off over the season and is shooting just 35%

I dont know why the first two linked and the last few didnt?

@Plowright completely agree with your list would just add Cleanthony Early to the list. I think he's going to be a pretty good stretch 4 in the NBA. He would pair well with Big Al because of his jump shooting abilities he doesn't need to be in the lane to be an effective scorer. Has the ability to knock down 3's (38%) and his mid-range game is very good. I think he's athletic enough to that he can play some minutes at SF. He might struggle early the year like Cody because he does, like Cody, need to add weight.

@Plowright completely agree with your list would just add Cleanthony Early to the list. I think he's going to be a pretty good stretch 4 in the NBA. He would pair well with Big Al because of his jump shooting abilities he doesn't need to be in the lane to be an effective scorer. Has the ability to knock down 3's (38%) and his mid-range game is very good. I think he's athletic enough to that he can play some minutes at SF. He might struggle early the year like Cody because he does, like Cody, need to add weight.

I like Early, just feel all of those other guys will be better players, if they were off the board then I would be interested... However, it always worries me when someone who has been a nobody for his entire college career comes out of nowhere and is good, age & level of competition hurt his stock.

@Adam42R Bader is similar to Troy Daniels from last year, will be mid 2nd or undrafted, an absolute three point specialist

No love for Patric Young?? The illegitimate love child of:

AND

hell no to young. 

delet

At that spot we are picking the guy that falls to us in the draft.  I hope it is either Payne, McDaniels, or Kyle Anderson.  Really I expect all of those guys to be taken though.  Some guys at the top of the draft could stay in school, everyone will move up a few notches. 

The international prospects Nurkic and Capela are high risk high reward type of guys.  They are probably going to both be busts in the NBA.  Where we are picking though, I wouldn't ending up with Nurkic if he can keep his attitude in check.  Our team needs a hatchet man/enforcer that is a little bit chippy.  This guy averages 10 fouls per 40, and gets like 3 steals per game or something silly because he just constantly swipes and pokes at the ball.  One of his weaknesses on his draft express video is overly physical play, but I consider that a strength in some ways.  I would rather have a player that is too physical then one that is not physical enough. 

I have a lot of confidence in our front office guys though.  The last three years we have gotten good player every year.

2011 Biz, Kemba - We traded Stephen Jackson and took Maggs to move from 19 to 7 to grab Biz.  I would make that trade up 10 times out of 10 in hindsight.  Notable busts from that year: Derrik Williams (2), Jan Vesely (6) Jimmer (10)

2012 MKG - stayed at #2 and took our guy instead of trying to trade down. I was elated and impressed that we dodged a bullet in T-Rob Notable busts: T-Rob (5) Harrison barnes if you ask a warriors fan (7) Austin Rivers (10) Myers Lenard (11)

2013 Zeller at 4 is starting to look like a pretty good pick.  Notable busts: Bennett (1) Porter (3) Len (5)

Now I understand some of you are unhappy we ended up with Kemba, Biz, MKG, and Zeller, but I think all of you will agree with me that it could have been a lot worse.  Is it fair to look back at the past few drafts and be upset our front office didn't pick the best player in the draft every year?  Has any team done that or come close to doing that? No.

At least we avoided any of the total busts. Right now any of our guys have more value then some of the players I listed as busts.  Where we are picking this year there are going to be even more bullets to dodge.  We might have to take a bigger risk just to get someone who has a chance to become a rotation player. If our pick is a bust it won't change how I feel about the front office. At #23 you are lucky if you don't get a bust. 

2011:

20 Donatas M

21 Nolan Smith

22 Kenneth Faried

23 Nikola Mictrotic

24 Reggie Jackson

25 Marshon Brooks

2012:

20 Evan Fournier

21 Jared Sulinger

22 Fab Melo

23 John Jenkins

24 Jared Cunningham

25 Tony Wroten

2013:

20 Tony Snell

21 Gorgui Deing

22 Mason Plumlee

23 Solomon Hill

24 Tim Hardaway

25 Reggie Bullock

2003:

20 Dahntay Jones

21 Boris Diaw (a bust with his first team Atl where he was listed as the 3rd string pg on the depth chart)

22 Zoran Plainic

23 Travis Outlaw

24 Brian Cook

25 Carlos Delfino

Josh Howard was picked 29th in the first round, but there were plenty of busts before him so I would say Dallas was lucky. 

I got a question, so lets assume we get PDX pick at #24 and Toronto is at #20. What would be the price (no 2nd rounders) to swap picks with them. We got plenty of capspace, would you take on the 6.5 m of Fields, or the 5,7 of Hayes, or Novak for 2 yrs and 3.5 p/a?

TOR has a 2nd pick at #59 too. Ours will be around #46.

I got a question, so lets assume we get PDX pick at #24 and Toronto is at #20. What would be the price (no 2nd rounders) to swap picks with them. We got plenty of capspace, would you take on the 6.5 m of Fields, or the 5,7 of Hayes, or Novak for 2 yrs and 3.5 p/a?

 

TOR has a 2nd pick at #59 too. Ours will be around #46.

These are the kind of things that it is hard to speculate on as it is so team dependent. The Raptors may Value pick X wayyy more than Dallas value their pick Y. It all depends who their GM likes, what stage their team is at... As NBA fans we have a lot of info available to us, more than most sports and leagues, but trade value is one of those things (especially picks) that are hard to value

2011 Biz, Kemba - We traded Stephen Jackson and took Maggs to move from 19 to 7 to grab Biz.  I would make that trade up 10 times out of 10 in hindsight.  Notable busts from that year: Derrik Williams (2), Jan Vesely (6) Jimmer (10)

That trade looks significantly less rosy when you bring up the fact that Tobias Harris was the 19th pick that Cho traded away. To say nothing of also taking Biz over Klay Thompson, Kawhi Leonard, Nik Vucevic, the Morii, and Kenneth Faried. 

I am really warming to Nick Johnson from Arizona, he strikes me as a more athletic Gary Neal, he should almost certainly be there at 24. Johnson is a very strong scorer, his efficiency has gone down a lot this year due to Arizona having a relatively poor offensive system and he being thrown the ball towards the end of the shot clock a lot of the time. Johnson's big drawback is his size, standing just  6ft 2 but he has a good wingspan of 6ft 5 and is an athletic freak for his size, he manages to play a lot bigger than he is and averages an impressive 0.7 bpg & 1.1spg. He is also a BIG time leader and competitor which we know our FO really rate highly with the Biz, MKG, Zeller picks, he really fits the bill in terms of attitude.

I understand the argument he is too similar to Neal, but he is a cheaper long term replacement for him, by the time Neal's contract expires next year Johnson will have had a year of learning and should be ready to come in and contribute. Not saying this guy should go ahead of the late lottery/ mid first round guys like James Young, Hairston, Stauskas, Harris, Hood but if they are off the board I would imagine he will be in consideration along with UCLA's Jordan Adams

There is a chance Zach Levine slips to #24.  If that happens, I think we take a shot on him.  H can go late lottery or slip to the Portland pick.  The value at #24 would be hard to pass up. 

There is a chance he is there, depends how much teams like his potential, his college career was pretty underwhelming, most thought he would return to school but with Alford basically telling LaVine he was going to start his son Bryce at the point Zach wanted to go. He is really raw, one of the most raw guards to come out of the draft in recent years, I think his draft stock will fluctuate wildly from team to team depending what situation they are in and how quickly then need help, he won't contribute any time soon

http://www.nba.com/n...raft/index.html

DA's SG big board:
Stauskas
Harris
Young
Harrison
Johnson

Hairston at 8.

Nick Johnson at 24 could Work. between him and Hairston, Johnson sounds more like a Cho guy.

I think none of Hairston/Johnson sounds like a Cho guy ("draft for talent, trade for needs"), they are both 92 born, little to none upside for both IMO (I admit I don't know them that much...)

I would not be very enthusiastic if we use Por picks for one of these 2, good for the 2nd rnder if they are still here

I'm not entirely sold that we have to go SG. I think BPA regardless of position should be the pick. Free Agency to address need and draft BPA.