FanPost

Possible Draft Pick




I think there is a good chance the Blazers will make a draft day deal - bringing in a veteran player. That deal may or may not include one of the Blazers draft choices. I think there is also a good chance the team looks at trading up. My best guess is, if they keep the two picks they have, they will look at a F/C type with their first pick and a PG with the second selection. Should the Blazers trade up into say the 12-16 range, my guess is they are looking at two players: :

1. Ekpe Udoh - 6'10 - 235 - He fits the mold of a little bit older player (23) who may be more ready to contribute in his first year then some of the younger players going ahead of him). He's a good defender and rebounder (averaged 3.7 blks and 9.8 reb) while scoring 13.9 pts on 49% shooting from the field and 68.5% from the line. Had a 31 inch vertical leap and showed pretty good speed and agility during the combine.

2. Patrick Patterson - About 3/4 of an inch shorter then Ekpe, but still has pretty good size. Patterson turned 21 in March. He appears to have a pretty good all around game and is willing to defer to those around him (get a sense of him being a team player). Patterson doesn't appear to be as good of a defender as Ekpe, but likely has a better offensive game (averaged 14.3 pts - 7.4 Reb while shooting 57% from the field and 69% from the line - the year before he averaged 17.9 pts and 9.3 Reb).

Daniel Orton is being projected to go around where the Blazers are picking, but I'd be surprised if they took someone who didn't log many minutes his Freshman year and is just 19 years old (would be surprised if they took a player at his position who at this stage is more potential then ready to play).

Another player that would seem to fit would be Greg Monroe - PF - Georgetown, but I think he'll go a little higher then the other two and the Blazers may not be willing to move up as high as they need to get him.

Should the Blazers deal Martell and/or Rudy, or possibly Bayless, they may look at getting a shooter - someone like Xavier Henry - 6'6 SG out of Kansas (a player I really like) or Luke Babbitt - 6'8 1/2 - SF - maybe the best shooter in the draft.

If they stand pat, or move up 4-5 spots, I could see them selecting Soloman Alabi - 7'l - Center - Florida State, maybe Damian James - 6'8 - SF - Texas, Kevin Seraphin - 6'10 - F/C - France, Paul George - 6'8 - SF - Fresno State, or maybe Larry Sanders - 6'10 - F/C - VCU. There are some guards that are being talked about (Avery Bradley, Eric Bledsoe) but I can't see them taking one of these two as they seem to dublicate Bayless a bit too much. Craig Brackins - 6'10 - PF - Iowa State, is being talked about, if he were selected I'd prefer it be with the 34th pick.

My question is, if they trade up who might they target? In addition, if they stay at 22, who might they select?