3 years of drafting without producing nba minutes

The ownership probably deserves the most, because of how indecisive they have been with their general managers(who along with scouts are largely responsible for draft duties) the last few seasons. Pritchard was highly over rated by fans too. I just hope Allen finds the right guy for the job the next time around.

2011: Nolan Smith – needs minutes to improve
2011: Jon Diebler – basically an American Draft-N-Stash
2010: Armon Johnson – needs minutes to improve
2010: Luke Babbitt – given enough minutes to show he sucks
2010: Elliot Williams – needs minutes to improve
2009: Victor Claver – Draft-N-Stash
2009: Dante Cunningham – modest NBA rotation player, got plenty of minutes, playing 18 mpg w/ Memphis
2009: Jon Brockman – playing 7 mpg with Bucks, fan favorite
2009: Patrick Mills – played enough minutes to prove he was too short to be an effective NBA player given his skills.

Overall, of 9 guys; two of them we know aren’t good (Mills and Babbitt); 2 are draft-n-stashed; 2 were traded away (Cunningham and Brockman) who are legitimate 8th/9th men on NBA teams; and 3 are rotting on the bench.

I’d say it’s fair to say McMillan is mostly at fault – those guys need minutes to show if they can play or not. The compressed season seems to be a good time to do so, althouhg without enough minutes for Batum, hard to say there are minutes for E-Will/Nolan; and Armon is probably not good enough but hasn’t had quite enough minutes yet.

1) Later draft picks are more risky
2) Need to improve our player evaluation
3) A Nate quote from Quick’s recent article begs for the rest of the blame:

“Those are our guards (Felton, Crawford, Matthews),” he said flatly. “It’s not like we are going to go to our young guys.”

http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/index.ssf/2012/01/blazers_insider_changing_of_the_guards_still_a_wor.html

Shrewd GMs of mediocre teams improve via FA or look to swing deals that will move them up in drafts to get impact players. We have gone the FA route for a while (Camby, Wallace, Crawford, Felton, Matthews, etc). There are plenty of teams out there (most of the good ones) who have very little in the way of draft-pick production, because of the position from which they draft.

lol. Too many crappy players in the last few years.

Bring back KP!

I’m not talking about Durant, and I’m not talking about the late 2nd rounders that some how pan out (Monta Ellis is the one that always sticks out in my mind). I’m talking about DaJuan Blair. I’m talking about Kenneth Faried. I’m talking about Omri Casspi and Taj Gibson. Ryan Anderson. The list is longer too……

All those guys went after Portland had a chance to nab them. And its not like people weren’t clamoring for them. The fans wanted those guys, the media predicted Portland taking them, the radio guys wanted them, etc. Management looks like a genius when the don’t listen to the cries for Adam Morrison and get Aldridge and Roy instead.

But they look equally dumb when the draft Wheelchair Oden and then cite Dajuan Blair’s knees as a cause for concern (with no risk 2nd round pick!) and Blair makes a nice HEALTHY career for himself. Everyone wants Faried? Its cool to pass on him if you get a stud instead, but Nolan Smith? And trade for Felton? And sign Crawford? And are still sitting on a combo guard from last year’s draft? WHY? Again, its genius if Smith is a diamond in a rough. But 3 weeks into the season, he clearly isn’t.

And why even draft Claver if he isn’t even going to come over for a summer league or training camp? You might as well have sold the pick. Its purely a waste.

The draft isn’t a science, its an art. Most late picks don’t become stars. But a lot do carve out rolls for themselves in the league. Many even become starters. How is it that we haven’t even landed one single rotation player in 3 years? With 10 picks? No one since Batum.

I think its safe to say that few teams have been as BAD at drafting as Portland has. Which is a bummer because with picks like Roy and Aldridge (forget Durant) we could have been competing for a title with even marginal drafts in the years that followed. Instead we’ve got ourselves NUTHIN.

I don’t know if Nate is to blame, or the scouts, or the GM turntable, or Paul Allen. But I do blame Nate for screwing up Jerryd Bayless. He could have been our PG if the coach did his job there.
/end rant, time for bed.

to get Babbitt and Bayless. I thought those guys were going to justify the picks — otherwise, why give up additional players for them?

I suppose, at the time, wing position was a key need for the future, but I still disagree with the assessment that either of these guys were NBA material. It’s just bad talent assessment, followed by inept draft day decision making.

Look out for Memphis.

For the billionth time, Nate does not play rookie pgs, he is not the giddy one for them, he is also not the one who has the final say and signs the checks. Get off Nate PLEASE !!

Maybe, we could possibly draft a big man once in a while, dont be scared Paul, just because Greg didnt work out. You have to do it if you want to win.