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Let's talk about the draft

With all the talk in here about what PG to get and by what means, it might be interesting to address what should be the top priority: who to draft and why?
In my opinion, the guy to draft (provided he declares) is Tyler Hansbrough.  All I needed to know about him I learned last year in the game when he got his nose broke (or maybe just bloodied) and looked like he wanted to fight someone.  That's the kind of heart and toughness this Blazers team needs now and for the future.  Plus, his pure hustle makes him a rebound machine.  He'd be a great second unit player at the 3 or the 4, despite size (he's listed at 6'9 but is likely 6'7 or 6'8.    
The guy we should avoid at all cost:  Kevin Love.  I really hope he doesn't end up in Portland.  He could end up the size of Oliver Miller.  yikes.

Poll
Who Should the Blazers draft (assuming they all declare and are available in the 10-15 spots)
A. Darren Collison
9 votes
B. Tyler Hansbrough
13 votes
C. Kevin Love
7 votes
D. Chase Budinger
4 votes
E. Someone else
30 votes

63 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs  |  Comment 15 comments

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I voted Hansbrough too
before I read your diary.  Collison is good, but I just don't get the sense that he'd be any better than the PGs we have.  

Hansbrough may not have "tremendous upside potential", but he doesn't really have a downside either.  In that way, he reminds me a lot of Shane Battier.  Other than the broken nose, he's never had injury problems.  He's a hard worker.  He's got a nasty streak.  He may not be a future hall of famer, but this is his second year in a row as one of the best players in college hoops.  He's got to have some skills... and we're not talking  Adam Morrison streaky shooter skills here, we're talking solid front court banger skills.  Just think of this frontcourt:

Oden
Przybilla
Aldridge
Outlaw
Hansbrough

Throw in Roy, Fernandez, and Blake/Jack/PG-to-be-named-later in the back court and the Blazers would have a heck of a top 9 rotation.

On another note, Kevin Love is also my least favorite choice, but in my case it would simply be because the Duck fan in me would be so conflicted.  It would be like 'Sheed coming back, except instead of an All-Star that will be retired before too long anyway, it would be an unproven rookie that's probably going to be around for a while.

by Gargen on Mar 6, 2008 10:40 PM PST reply actions   0 recs

I agree
If you like stats and accolades, then this is all you need to know: http://tarheelblue.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/hansbrough_tyler00.html

He lives and breathes basketball.  Draft Tyler Hansbrough!

by DraftTylerHansbrough on Mar 6, 2008 10:53 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Instead of drafting Hansbrough
Let's trade for Mark Madsen and call it even.

by Parks on Mar 6, 2008 11:00 PM PST reply actions   0 recs

lol
or bryan scalabrini.

by OregonDuckworth on Mar 7, 2008 10:30 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Interesting
Much of the debate here on this board and on others has been what do we do with this pick? Use it or trade it for veteran help? After a while of thinking one player comes up a lot in trade talks, Devin Harris.

To be honest I did not know a lot about him prior to the Kidd trade and when rumors came out that we may be a possible destination for him and that KP might of went after him. Taking a look at him, I found that he was a PG with good athleticism, good perimeter defender, and good on the fast break.

AS per hoopshype:

"One of the top defensive point guards... Decent scorer... Good vision of the court... Great first step... Very quick and intense... Pretty... Not very strong... Bad three-point shooter."

Hmmm. sounds much like this prospect also:

"Athletic and explosive combo guard with the length to make up for his lack of height … Attacks the basket with a lethal first step and crossover ability … Can handle the rock well and gets into the lane effortlessly … Finishes well at the rim and is unafraid to go up in traffic … Huge wingspan allows him to play much bigger than his 6-3 height … Gets good lift on his jumpshot and has a quick release … Solid passer with unselfishness, always looks for the open man … Has an excellent mid-range game … A gym rat, really works hard to improve … Has a great attitude, extremely coach-able … Has the potential to be a bigtime scorer when given the chance … Really excels defensively and has a chance to develop into a great defender … His anticipation for steals and his on ball defensive ability are special … Solid passer who shows the ability to play the point guard position"

Now first off let me say that it is my preference to try to move up in the draft to get a Bayless, Mayo, Gordon or Rose(yeah right, but it doesnt mean I dont want him.) As next year, we will still be incorporating Greg and Rudy into our team and will still have some time to grow, so adding another lotto pick to the team would not be that much of a disaster. Plus, I advocate a combo guard who can play good preimiter D, shoot the 3 at a good clip and play off the ball well to compliment Roy.

Now assuming that we cannot move up to land one of the big 4 Gs and there is no attractive trade offer, I suggest picking the second player listed who sounds a lot like one Devein Harris.

He is not a freshman and here are his stats as a sophomore:

33.1 min
12.4 pts
3.7 reb
4.6 ast
2.7 to
1.7 stl
.2 blk
.487 fg
.708 ft
.346 3pt

Compared to Harris' sophomore season

34.3 min
12.7 pts
4.6 reb
3.1 ast
1.6 to
2 stl
.1 blk
.463 fg
.756 ft
.387 3pt

That mystery players name is Russell Westbrook.

Now mind you I still like Rose, Bayless, Mayo, Gordon in that order but I am starting to come around to grabbing Westbrook if he is avalible at 13 and we do not have to do much work to get him.

The more I think about Harris and Westbrook the more similar they appear to be, albeit Westbrook is a few years behind but we have a few years to develop both him, Oden and Rudy.

Lastly, I like Psycho-t but would not spend a #13 pick on him AT ALL. We could probably use our 2nd rounders and maybe cash to move up and grab him if KP felt that he would be a great asset, but taking him at #13 is a reach.

The NBA

Where Kyle Korver happens.

by SpyderRyder on Mar 7, 2008 12:54 AM PST reply actions   0 recs

trading up.
If we get another guard with the #13 pick, doesn't that mean at least one of the existing point guards is expendable? If so pick one of them and package with the #13 pick could move the Blazers high enough to get Mayo?  

by mrwonderfull on Mar 8, 2008 6:26 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

i'd be cool with westbrook
if we can't move up for one of the 4 big guards

hansbrough is a great college player but is a second rounder IMO...if we can pick him up with one (or any combination of more than one) of those second rounders i'd take him, but not with a #13 by any means. He certainly fills a need, but i see him as a maxiell/millsap type player, and those tend to be avaliable in the 2nd round anyway even if some other team bites on him earlier

for instance though nbadraft.net has him going in 2009, but with the 27th pick. even if he went this year around that spot, most teams would trade the 27th pick for that many second rounders if they had space for more prospects or were trying to get younger

honestly i'd be happy to come out of the draft with westbrook and hansbrough (barring a trade up, which i wouldn't mind either)

by DominicanAvenger on Mar 7, 2008 11:58 AM PST reply actions   0 recs

WWLBD
I'm still pro-Hansbrough to the extreme.

http://www.insidehoops.com/nba-mock-draft.shtml
16) Portland Trail Blazers: Donte Green (SF 6-8 215 Syracuse)
They have Tyler Hansbrough @ 13

http://www.mynbadraft.com/2008-NBA-Mock-Draft
16 Nicolas Batum  Ht/Wt: 6-7/185 lbs Position:SF Drafted From:France Class:International
They ain't got no Tyler Hansbrough

http://www.draftexpress.com/nba-mock-draft/2008/
12 Trailblazers    Nicolas Batum  SF 19 years old; 6'8"; 214 lbs. Le Mans Sarthe Basket, International
They have Tyler Hansbrough @ 20

You should not retain, copy or use this comment or any attachment for any purpose, nor disclose all or any part of the contents to any other person.

by tominhawaii on Mar 7, 2008 1:00 PM PST reply actions   0 recs

Donte Green
Wow, insidehoops has Milwaukee picking his twin brother Donte at #8.

by blazernerd on Mar 7, 2008 1:14 PM PST reply actions   0 recs

Tyler Hansbrough
I followed Tom's links and DraftExpress had this to say: "As a college post player Hansbrough is in an elite class, possessing the strength, smarts and touch necessary to be an All-American. As a pro prospect, he lacks great size, length and athleticism, and he needs to become more of a threat with his mid-range jump shot. Hansbrough does have tremendous work ethic though, and his constant hustle makes him a coach's dream."

The Blazers need his work ethic as a source of motivation.  That way it's not always on Brandon Roy to be the team motivator.

by DraftTylerHansbrough on Mar 7, 2008 5:35 PM PST reply actions   0 recs

pick at #10? Pick at #6
Phoenix has Atlanta's pick, which is currently at #10.  Think Phoenix would be interested in selling a first round pick to Portland for the third year in a row?

Looks like Mayo will go by 6th pick overall. What would the Blazers have to give to trade up that high?

by mrwonderfull on Mar 8, 2008 6:18 AM PST reply actions   0 recs

Hold the Mayo
that joke is going to get old really fast, but anyway, we don't want Mayo.  I've heard there are off-court issues that probably won't fit in with the "culture" the Blazers are cultivating.  Trading up isn't something the Blazers should be looking to do, in my opinion, unless it's to get Derrick Rose.  What do you people think about DJ Augustin if he comes out?

by DrivetheLane on Mar 8, 2008 12:55 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Since I don't see Portland trading up
I'm not going to fantasize about selecting in the top 5 or 6 spots.

Two guys I'd be interested in seeing us select are Batum and Jawai.  Hansbrough is a guy I'd be ok with as well.  David Thorpe is pretty high on him.  

I don't worry or even think too much about the draft.  That's because I have faith in Pritchard's abilities.  I know he's considerably more capable at both evaluating talent (and character) and knowing what the team's needs are, than I am.   While I am in the group who thinks drafting a good rebounding PF would be nice, I'm willing to go with whatever KP does.  Faith is a very comforting thing.

by timg56 on Mar 9, 2008 9:37 AM PST reply actions   0 recs

Since I don't see Portland trading up
I'm not going to fantasize about selecting in the top 5 or 6 spots.

Two guys I'd be interested in seeing us select are Batum and Jawai.  Hansbrough is a guy I'd be ok with as well.  David Thorpe is pretty high on him.  

I don't worry or even think too much about the draft.  That's because I have faith in Pritchard's abilities.  I know he's considerably more capable at both evaluating talent (and character) and knowing what the team's needs are, than I am.   While I am in the group who thinks drafting a good rebounding PF would be nice, I'm willing to go with whatever KP does.  Faith is a very comforting thing.

by timg56 on Mar 9, 2008 9:39 AM PST reply actions   0 recs

why not?
What do we need a #13 pick for?

We've got a minutes crunch coming.  Another young guy who can't get minutes and can't develop doesn't do us much good....

I think we only use a #13 if we do a 2 for 1 trade elsewhere, or if there is a good Euro to draft, who won't be coming over.  So maybe Batum.

I'm frequently right, but always certain

by jscot on Mar 9, 2008 3:12 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I don't see us trading up
primarily because I don't see much in the way of deals with the teams in front of us.  Not that Pritchard wouldn't do it if a deal was available.

by timg56 on Mar 9, 2008 5:45 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

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