its that time again---draft 2008

by midget on Feb 22, 2008 11:48 PM PST

to start watching college ball again. time to start scouting again. it's sad that it has come to this, but hey, at least we get another lottery pick. Russel Westbrook is looking more and more like a player that could complement roy. OJ mayo even. Our team takes too many jumpers as it is, we need someone that can get to the rim and finish. I'm losing faith in our guards each day now and think rudy F will be special, but who knows. Before i was thinking we go big and grab someone like darrel arthur or thabeet out of uconn. Kevin Love will be solid but he's not coming out. I would love a kyle singler on our team too, but i don't think he's coming out either. we're not moving up either so around #10-12 is where i expect us to be,,,,
fave 5 for future blazers

derrick rose
russel westbrook
oj mayo
eric gordon
dj augustin

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Westbrook

I'm total with you on Westbrook. He is a great defender, tall with long arms, quick, can set up the offense and has shown that he can be a good scorer. He is a hard working and coachable player, that didn't get a chance last year, but has step up this year and may now be UCLA's best pro prospect now.

Love the list, I'm with you all the way, even on OJ. Mayo would be perfect next to Roy and people that know OJ say that he is a great person. He still has question marks about his personality, and his Bball IQ, which is why he might not even go in the top 10.

Don't Forget about Oden

by hightide on Feb 23, 2008 12:01 AM PST reply actions

my top 5

1. Rose
(duh, but he's probably going 2 or 3, so we may as well x that)
2. Jerryd Bayless
(unbelievably balanced offensive game, and I think he would complement roy perfectly. I also think we have a chance of trading up a spot or two to get him. I would be ecstatic if we could get him).
3. Augustin
(poor man's steve nash)
4. Ty Lawson
(I haven't actually seen many UNC games, but people tell me he's arguably the best PG in college, so i'll take their word for it. I could be persuaded otherwise).
5. Mayo.
(kind of a risky pick, people are down on him for no real reason. I've seen him firsthand, and he's not a great ballhandler yet or a passer, but he can stroke it, and he can be a lockdown defender when he feels like it. He could end up being tracy mcgrady good).

by OregonDuckworth on Feb 23, 2008 12:18 AM PST reply actions

If we end up in the lottery

I expect KP to move up. We could package our pick, maybe a second round pick, and one of our players to move up. Depends on where the Balls fall, but if we draw around 10-12, I wouldn't be shocked to see us move into the 4-6th spot.

I'm hip, I'm slick, and all the women want my phone number!

by silkybrown on Feb 23, 2008 12:53 AM PST reply actions

Who wouldja nab?

Rose, Beasley and Bayless figure to be the first three players taken (I doubt Lopez goes Top 3; he's not that good)

If you're correct and Pritchard does trade up to the 4th-6th pick, I imagine it would be to grab either Gordon, Mayo or Batum (the next three best players, in my most unprofessional opinion)

Who do you think he takes?

by knickfan on Feb 23, 2008 1:14 AM PST up reply actions

I'm not knowledgable enough

To be very specific, but if we are in a position to get one of those top notch PGs, we will likely draft one of those top notch PGs-- if there IS a top top top notch PG. Cuz we don't need to develop there no mo'. Mayo gets a bad rap for not much, but I'd still put his rep as a reason he'll fall in the draft (and likely not be overly targetted by us). Beasley seems Beastly, but can he play the 3? Would he fit better than LMA with Oden? I dunno.

BUT YOU DON'T KNOW EITHER, stop making me feel bad!!

Your Knicks are gonna have a draft pick for the first time since '87 this year! Who do you want them to get? The unfortunate thing is, Isiah might last the season and then get a great lottery pick and draft an actually really good player who improves the team all by himself/herself (who knows it could be a girl don't be sexist). Then Dolan will say Isiah is doing good and will keep his job. EEKS, Knick fans can't win!

Do you see anyone as a franchise savior?

Mortimer

by Mortimer on Feb 23, 2008 2:15 AM PST up reply actions

Derrick Rose

is the only one I've seen enough of to legitimately characterize as a "savior" type. He's gonna be that top, top, top notch PG you spoke of in your post. Wherever he goes, I believe he will step in and make an impact pretty much right away.

Yeah, I'd love to see the Knicks get him. But they're gonna need a top 2 pick to make it happen. I think Rose and Beasley are this year's Oden and Durant; the runaway consensus top two players in the draft. Given that the Knicks are pretty much locked in with Curry and Z-Bo for the immediate future (now there's a cheery thought), I can't see them taking Beasley if they wind up 1-2 in the lottery. After that, who knoze? I'm no basketball talent maven. Rather, I'm just another schmuck what occasionally looks at mock draft sites.

As for the Blazers, I think Pritchard would also grab Rose if he were in a position to do so. If Rose remains out of reach, Pritchard might just punt on the draft, package up the picks and try and go for a more experienced PG or SF. I'm guessing that the Blazer Brass might not be quite so willing to endure another season of growing pains at a key position by drafting a player that is a bit short on seasoning. Especially not with Oden sure to negotiate his own steep learning curve next year.

If Rudy is joining the team next year, I just can't see Pritchard trading up to grab a Gordon, Mayo, or even a Bayless all of whom are essentially scoring guards. My guess is that Pritchard will only move up if he can draft someone who can step in right away and have an immediate impact at either PG or SF. Otherwise he tries to upgrade one or both of those positions through a trade. There was a lot of buzz about Pritchard going after Granger. Maybe he makes a play for Danny; maybe he targets Calderon. I really have no idea; all I know is that it's going to be a very interesting summer, indeed.

by knickfan on Feb 23, 2008 8:03 AM PST up reply actions

I honestly don't have a clue

However, I think the NCAA tournament will really show us who the legitimate frontrunners will be. We'll see some stocks rise and some will fall. Ask me in another 5 weeks. :)

How do you like that for a politican's answer?

I'm hip, I'm slick, and all the women want my phone number!

by silkybrown on Feb 23, 2008 2:34 AM PST up reply actions

if i was looking big

i'd honestly probably take hasheem thabeet over lopez...the dude is still learning but he's huge and can move...guy can play and has a higher ceiling IMO (although lopez will obviously be a little more polished coming out)

that said we should be pretty set at the center so i'm not worried about that

by DominicanAvenger on Feb 23, 2008 5:59 AM PST up reply actions

there's a lot of good center this year

I really like deandre jordan from Texas A&M, he's still really raw, but what 7 foot freshman isn't (besides oden). Anyways, I agree that center is a nonissue, so the depth of college centers is kinda moot.

by OregonDuckworth on Feb 23, 2008 11:58 AM PST up reply actions

I say, not with KP on the prowl

In the past under other regimes, of course it seemed like we couldn't trust them to get the "right" player. But I trust KP explicitly to pinpoint exactly who the perfectest player is, and if it takes a trade up + a Blazer I like, I'll go along with it.

And if we can trade down and get someone else, I bet it's the right move too. KP has proven much more adept at the draft than any Blazer GM I've lived through...

Anyone who can turn getting two players from "2006, The Worst Draft Ever TM" into a franchise changing event is good at what he does. As long as KP is at the helm, even when we're winning championships, I'll look forward to draft day.

Besides, Dave burnt all of the bad ju ju! It'll never come back since Dave followed all of the proper procedures. He's smart!

Mortimer

by Mortimer on Feb 23, 2008 2:24 AM PST reply actions

i've defended mayo on occasion

but didn't he knock out daniel hackett in a preseason practice?

by DominicanAvenger on Feb 23, 2008 5:55 AM PST reply actions

yeah he did

they said it was an accident, but it wasn't. Those two have hated each other since hackett and bill walker had beef.

by OregonDuckworth on Feb 23, 2008 12:00 PM PST up reply actions

veteran vs. draft

I'm wondering if rather than trade up, KP will trade our pick for some more veteran leadership. In either case I'm not sure we need more shooters as much as we need a good defender, rebounder, and a slasher. Even our 2nd unit could use such a player.

I think Kurt Thomas would have been a great pickup if the Blazers could have gotten him, although I don't know what it would have taken to get him. Probably not worth our 2008 1st round pick, but maybe our 2009 or 2010 first round pick plus a player or two.

I know most BEers wanted to stand pat as the trading deadline passed, but I think KP would have made a good trade if it were available. Trades don't always become available when they are most convenient for you.

by blazernerd on Feb 23, 2008 8:06 AM PST reply actions

I agree with blazernerd...

unless KP scores a high end draft pick I think he should go after a veteran lockdown defender, rebounder, and slasher. I tend to think that this team does not need any more high risk projects for a couple of years. More proven veteran leadership and less rookie, 1 and 2 year players. IMHO.

18 Points, 9 Rebounds, 4 Assists, 3 Steals, 2 Blocks and 0 TOs - LMA's Stats Rookie/Sophmore Game

by LaMarvelous on Feb 23, 2008 10:27 AM PST reply actions

We need a PG

and I'm starting to think that we'll draft him.
Bayless is probably out of our reach. I'm 100% against Augustin and Lawson. Haven't seen Westbrook yet. Mayo seems a nice pick but I'm not sure he fits the "culture".

ps. I think we'll get the 12th pick with the way we're losing recently.

by Bruno on Feb 23, 2008 11:37 AM PST reply actions

what's wrong with augustin?

I've liked him, from the 3-4 texas games i've seen, but i'm willing to be persuaded otherwise.

by OregonDuckworth on Feb 23, 2008 12:01 PM PST up reply actions

defense

he's great offensively, but but I think he'll be a below average defender in the NBA. I may be wrong though, I 've only seen a couple of texas games

by Bruno on Feb 23, 2008 12:35 PM PST up reply actions

Hansbrough!

If KP uses the pick and does not trade it, KP will not draft for a need, he'll take the best athlete available at that draft pick. Tyler Hansbrough has team culture oozing out of him. I want him just so he can bang up against McRobers. UNC against Duke. USA, USA, USA!

"Sometimes nothing can be a pretty cool hand." - Luke from Cool Hand Luke (1967)

by tominhawaii on Feb 23, 2008 1:52 PM PST reply actions