Blazersedge Draft Board: Power Forward

by Dave on May 30, 2007 1:04 AM PDT in News

It's time to pick up our draft board, interrupted for a week by the furor surrounding the lottery. We had gotten through center and small forward prospects. Today is power forwards. Talk about any power forwards you know about and share as many criteria as you can to help us make a more informed decision. Also remember to list your top five prospects in order somewhere in your post so we can begin to rank them for our draft.

I know some of you will say, "What's the point? We're drafting Oden or Durant and that's it! I don't know if it's EnglandDan's diary or some sea-change in the air but I am getting more and more convinced that the first overall pick will not be our only first round pick in this draft. I don't know that we'll be able to get into the lottery but I bet there will be another one somewhere. Could be one of these guys too, especially if a real talent is left on the table.

In any case, when we do our mock draft I'm going to plug in a surprise trade for the Blazers and have us vote on the result just as we will the first pick. So help us prepare!

Who are the top power forward prospects coming out this year?

--Dave (blazersub@yahoo.com)

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Comments

I don't know...

...the college kids too well so I only have a few games and some highlight reels to judge from but...

I'm most impressed with Yi Jianlian. He could play center but his skills would almost be wasted there. He can run the floor and hit from range and appears to have lots of fire and attitude. Seems more like a Nowitski than a Yao.

Then...
Brandan Wright
Al Horford
Joakim Noah
Josh McRoberts

"...though you may fail...aim at something high." Henry David Thoreau

by Dr Dave on May 30, 2007 3:52 AM PDT reply actions

That's the list.

Wright - Potential superstar
Horford - Can't miss solid starter.
Noah - Who knows? Somewhere between Marion with no shot and Channing Frye with no shot.
Josh McRoberts - Juwan Howard?

by EnglandDan on May 30, 2007 10:38 AM PDT up reply actions

I love the PFs in this year's draft

not to the point that any of them should be chosen over Oden, or that I feel we should trade LMA, of course...

Al Horford - Dominant big man, I think the most NBA ready of the bunch and an immediate impact player.
Jeff Green - I love Green's skills, he's got the ability to pass, and he can take over a game if need be. He worked well with Hibbert, so if you had Oden at #1, I think he'd be a natural to fit in with him. I'm sure I'm the only person ranking him at #2, but I think he belongs here.
Brandan Wright - Maybe the most potential, but also the most downside. He's a bit scrawny yet to play an effective 4, but he'll bulk up and he has great wingspan.
Yi Jianlian. A huge question mark. I'm not sure, Yao Ming aside, how great the transition for him will be. Those who know more about him tend to rank him highly, but I just don't know how well he'll make the transition.

Draft Oden

by zenbowl on May 30, 2007 6:42 AM PDT reply actions

Imagine a three man rotation...

of Oden, Aldridge and Noah. I think that rotation gives you everything you could ever want from your four and five positions for a full 48 minutes.

by ken @ Blazer's Edge on May 30, 2007 6:45 AM PDT reply actions

i want only 2 guys

noah via trade and an easy 2.nd.rd pick n.fezakas in any other draft he'll be top 10 but 2.nd.rd wow i'll go to denver and drive him to portland..

by fatty on May 30, 2007 7:23 AM PDT reply actions

My only comment

is to say that I believe Noah is this year's Adam Morrison- full of hype but will be an ultimate top 10 bust.

by blazerprophet on May 30, 2007 7:35 AM PDT reply actions

Agree with you

What can he do well? At the NBA level its all about what can you do incredibly well. OK scorer, OK rebounder, OK defender, Great hustler... does that make him a NBA star... starter? I don't think so.

by porterfan30 on May 30, 2007 8:29 AM PDT up reply actions

On the contrary

I think Noah is being underestimated because he didn't improve between his sophomore and Junior seasons. At worst i think he will be a VERY solid bench player capable of playing the 4 or 5. The Tyson Chandler comparisons are apt.

by CalNoah on May 30, 2007 10:48 AM PDT up reply actions

Power Forwards

I can't remember his name, but the backup PF for Florida. I believe he's a senior and therefore will be in the draft. The guy is a load and played extremely well in the tournament. I think I also heard he may be working out with David Thorpe. I haven't seen his name on any mock draft boards and think he might be a good choice for the Blazers to take with a 2nd rnd pick or even bring in as an unsigned free agent.

by timg56 on May 30, 2007 8:05 AM PDT reply actions

name was either

Chris Richard or Chris Richards

Myself I was very impressed with his play, he wouldn't be a bad backup to take a flier on with one of those 2nd rounders

by DominicanAvenger on May 30, 2007 11:37 AM PDT up reply actions

my pf board

Al Horford - I think he'll be a big time scorer in the NBA. At 6'9, I don't think he'll block shots like he did at Florida. I think he's a ''safe'' pick. I don't think he has a HoF potential or anything like that but I believe he'll be a solid pro for a long time.
Yi Jianlin - Never actually seen him play, just youtube clips and read scouting reports. But he seems very versatile, and I think he'll be a unique player. He'll also lead all star voting in 2 years.
Joakim Noah - Most people hate him on this board but I don't. He doesn't have alot of skills that make him dangerous, but his energy and effort I think will keep him around on that alone. Everybody quotes Durants little saying, hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard or something like that, I think Noah lives by that to.
Brandan Wright - I think Wright may have the upside of all of them. He's got crazy skills. He's only 210 pounds though. People criticized Aldridge for being to slim but he was like 230-235 when he entered. Wright better get some weight. I think he's got high reward to him though. Might just be a little ways away.
Josh McRoberts - I think the PF's take a hit after those 4, but I like McRoberts more then Jason Smith (never seen him play) and Tiago Splitter. McRoberts could be a decent energy big man off the bench. I don't think he'll ever be a starter but hey I hope he proves me wrong.

Welcome Greg Oden

by junit3123 @ Blazer's Edge on May 30, 2007 8:49 AM PDT reply actions

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE

Do not waste a top 10 pick on Noah.

The absolute best I can see him being is another Tyson Chandler, which is pretty good but in this draft I'm not sure its top 10 worthy.

The real question is, would you use a top 10 pick on Anderson Varejao?

Noah will be the type of energy guy you like on your team, but not the kind you'd use a top-10 pick on in the deepest draft in years.

The only PFs I'd be interested in at all would be B. Wright, Horford and Yi.

by jksnake99 on May 30, 2007 10:20 AM PDT reply actions

We don't need a PF

So it's not even an issue. But have fun speculating anyway. :)

by jamon51 on May 30, 2007 10:56 AM PDT reply actions

how about Big Baby?

His draft stock has taken a hit since last year so i think we could grab him with one of our second rounders and see what he can do. At the worst he we never have to sign him to a contract

by BlazerBandit on May 30, 2007 11:31 AM PDT reply actions

We already have Zach

and athletically speaking, BB makes Zach look like Tyrus Thomas.

by EngineerScotty on May 30, 2007 12:35 PM PDT up reply actions

Glen Davis

The thought has crossed my mind that he might be worth a 2nd round pick as a flyer. I think I like that Chris Richards guy better though.

by timg56 on May 30, 2007 5:05 PM PDT up reply actions

Noah = T. Chandler ???

If Noah could be projected as another Chandler, I'd take him in the top 5. Chandler is great on D, the boards and high FG's . What an intimidator ! Can you say WINGSPAN !!
I saw several NO/OK games on League Pass and
though he's not great on offense, he runs the
floor great and can dunk. If you have scorers
and your center is a D/Board man, then he gets
his points on high percentage shots, ie. O rebs,
follows, running the floor. Noah could only
be another Chandler if the planets align.

It's GO Time !

by walkoff41 on May 30, 2007 12:19 PM PDT reply actions

to me...

Noah is Tyson Chandler circa Baby Bulls era, not Tyson Chandler circa now.

Decent player, not worthy of a top 10 pick (unless its a weak draft like last year).

by jksnake99 on May 30, 2007 12:57 PM PDT up reply actions

Noah has three years NCAA experience

and two NCAA rings. Chandler was a high-schooler.

by EngineerScotty on May 30, 2007 3:17 PM PDT up reply actions

true

but what can Noah do that a baby bulls era Chandler couldn't?

Noah has zero post moves and no jump shot. Defensively he's pretty good and he runs the court well. He's a nice player, don't get me wrong, but he's very overvalued in this draft.

by jksnake99 on May 30, 2007 11:57 PM PDT up reply actions