Here's a collection of the pertinent post-Lottery 2012 NBA Mock Drafts and which players they forecast the Portland Trail Blazers selecting with the No. 6 and No. 11 picks. Also included below are some post-Lottery quotes an analysis.
First, Blazersedge 2012 NBA Draft Lottery Coverage...
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Blazers Get No. 6, No. 11 | Dave on Expectations | Storyteller on Cap Situation | Dave's Latest Videocast
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Chad Ford, ESPN.com here...
No. 6 -- Andre Drummond -- The Blazers need size and Drummond is huge. He's a major project, but in the right team environment, Drummond could be another Andrew Bynum.
No. 11 -- Jeremy Lamb -- The Blazers really need a center or a point guard. But with Lillard off the board, I wouldn't be surprised if they pulled the trigger on Lamb, who could go anywhere from No. 6 to No. 13 on draft night. Portland's scouting staff has been high on him all year and, while he wouldn't fill a primary need, he has the talent to eventually earn a spot as the team's starting 2-guard.
Sam Amick, SI.com here...
No. 6 -- Andre Drummond -- Portland -- which acquired this pick from the Nets in the Gerald Wallace trade and has its own pick at No. 11 -- is a tough team to read. For starters, the Blazers are finalizing a general manager search that could change the decision-making process here (unless interim GM Chad Buchanan is able to win the job, which isn't outside the realm of possibility). Then there's the notion that the Blazers would take a gamble of any kind on a big man after suffering through the Greg Oden experience in 2007, when he was the first pick. But Portland, like most teams, has a wide-open view right now and Drummond has to be intriguing if he gets this far as a frontcourt partner to the franchise centerpiece, power forward LaMarcus Aldridge.
No. 11 -- Dion Waiters -- Once you get past Beal, opinions differ greatly on who's next at shooting guard. But Waiters' efficiency and ability to get to the rim and create his own shot are seen as major positives for his projection, and could give him the nod over the likes of Connecticut's Jeremy Lamb, Duke's Austin Rivers or Washington's Terrence Ross. Veteran combo guard Jamal Crawford, Portland's second-leading scorer, has made it clear that he will opt out of his contract and become a free agent this summer. Raymond Felton will also be a free agent after his disappointing season, leaving an opening at point guard. Waiters doesn't fill that void, but the Blazers are expected to go for the best available player and he just might be it. Pass-first North Carolina point guard Kendall Marshall or athletic, up-tempo Washington point guard Tony Wroten will likely get a look here too.
Tom Ziller, SBNation.com here...
6. PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS: JOHN HENSON
Nice trade, Nets! New Jersey picked up 16 games of 14-7 production from Gerald Wallace -- production I can't imagine has any impact on Deron Williams' decision-making -- for this pick. While the explanation was that the Nets' decision-makers only liked three players (hence the top-3 protection), that's not a good explanation: there are scenarios in which one of those guys (Robinson) slips to No. 6. Ah well.
The Blazers need a point guard, but a good prospect should be available at No. 11. Portland needs bodies up front, and Henson's a helluva prospect and a good complement to LaMarcus Aldridge.
11. PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS: KENDALL MARSHALL
The Blazers might need to start praying one of the two point guards is still on the board here. I'm not sure whether Lillard or Marshall is the better prospect -- we've obviously seen more of Marshall, and know his supporting cast inside and out, especially as compared to Lillard. There seems to be a pretty steep drop-off between these two and the next bunch, at least in perception.
Jeff Goodman, CBSSports.com here...
No. 6 -- Thomas Robinson -- T-Rob is an ideal complement to the skilled Lamarcus Aldridge. Robinson is a relentless power forward who will rebound and become a decent scorer due to his pursuit of the ball.
No. 11 -- Damian Lillard -- The Blazers could lose both Raymond Felton and Jonny Flynn, so they need a point guard. Lillard is a scoring point who is the highest-rated floor leader in a weak crop of points.
Matt Moore, CBSSports.com here...
No. 6 Andre Drummond: Drummond has high reward, but is also high risk. The Blazers can afford to take a risk with another top-11 pick. And with LaMarcus Aldridge, Drummond won't have to jump into the deep end of the pool offensively.
No. 11 Austin Rivers: Coaches' son offensive weapon to upgrade their wing. They need a player capable of taking over a game. Rivers has that potential.
Sean Deveney, SportingNews.com here...
No 6. Portland Trail Blazers. Bradley Beal, SG, Florida. Beal's numbers in one year at Florida were not great (he shot 44.5 percent from the field and 33.9 percent from the 3-point line), but scouts still like his basketball IQ, versatility and shooting form. Even if not enough of those shots went in.
No. 11 -- Tyler Zeller -- Zeller is a pretty safe bet-a good rebounder and adequate inside scorer who can contribute as a rookie. He's not a future MVP candidate, but he figures to have a long and useful NBA career.
Chris Reina, RealGM.com here...
No. 6 -- Damian Lillard, Weber State -- The Blazers enter their most important draft with serious choices to make since 2006 when they ended up with LaMarcus Aldridge and Brandon Roy and without a permanent GM in place. They are the most difficult team to predict because they have several needs in a portion of the draft where the best talent available repeats the incumbents.
The Bobcats and Blazers need each other's draft chips more than their own and would represent fascinating trade partners considering Rich Cho's brief history. But for now we'll pencil in Lillard, who can fill their long-suffering need at point guard while also serving as a shot creator off the dribble.
No. 11 -- Jeremy Lamb, Connecticut
Portland already has Wesley Matthews at the position, but Lamb is a unique talent and has a more traditional skill-set at shooting guard.
DraftExpress.com here...
No. 6 -- Jared Sullinger -- The Trail Blazers have been looking for a strong interior option to pair with LaMarcus Aldridge for quite some time, and this draft will finally give them an opportunity to do so. Going into next season with only Kurt Thomas and Aldridge under contact, Jared Sullinger certainly appears to be an attractive option here, as his skill set complements what they already have.
No. 11 -- Kendall Marshall -- The Trail Blazers had a disappointing season, partially because of injuries and partially because of the lackluster performance of their backcourt. Offseason acquisitions Raymond Felton and Jamal Crawford both struggled to live up to expectations, while Wesley Matthews regressed somewhat after a promising sophomore season. Both of the top point guard prospects, Damian Lillard and Kendall Marshall, will get extended looks here, as will the likes of Austin Rivers, Dion Waiters and others. Drafting a center, such as Tyler Zeller, could also be an option.
Scott Howard-Cooper of NBA.com here...
No. 6 -- Damian Lillard | PG | Weber State -- The Blazers need a center and Andre Drummond is available. But that move is too risky and Lillard is a scoring point who fits.
No. 11 -- Austin Rivers -- Rivers could become a serious scorer and an ideal backcourt partner because he handles the ball and can play with pressure.
DraftExpress.com did a video interview with Blazers Acting GM Chad Buchanan from the Lottery...
Joe Freeman of The Oregonian with some quotes from Buchanan...
"Obviously having two picks is better than one in a very good draft," said interim general manager Chad Buchanan, who represented the Blazers at the lottery along with guard Wesley Matthews. "We feel fortunate to be able to potentially add two young players to our team. But it also opens the door for other opportunities to improve the team as well."
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Roughly 90 minutes after learning the Blazers' draft fate on Wednesday, Buchanan declared the team open for business."We're going to -- as we normally are -- be aggressive to try to find any way to improve the team," Buchanan said. "If that involves trading one or both of the picks, we're not going to turn down any opportunity to improve the team."
DraftExpress.com with a quick question and answer with Blazers guard Wesley Matthews from the Lottery...
Q: You guys are in an interesting position with a lot of really nice pieces, despite a disappointing season.
Matthews:It was a very frustrating season. We knew what we could do, what we were capable of. We started out the year with so much promise, and we just kind of fell off. We couldn't really put our finger on it. But, it's behind us. Now, we're trying to rebuild, find some pieces. Not necessarily rebuild, but find pieces that fit and will help us.
Q: What type of players fit into the program in Portland?
Matthews: We need winners. People who are tough. People who don't like losing. Players who, if they lose a shooting drill, they lose their minds. Guys that play with a lot of heart and are unselfish. Guys that will sacrifice personal stuff for the team.
Matt Calkins of The Columbian with quotes from Buchanan and Matthews...
"It was nerve-racking," Blazers acting general manager Chad Buchanan said. "But we had no control over it, so I tried not to get too worked up."
"There were a lot of nerves," Matthews said. "When Brooklyn's name come up, I saw that as us having the potential to add two pieces in the first round."
Mike Barrett of Blazers.com with thoughts here...
More than a celebration, this turned into a giant relief. Chad Buchanan, who was sequestered in the back room at the lottery, told us as much after things ended. Wesley Matthews, a guy who wasn't drafted at all, but now had the honor of representing his team on the dais, smiled and appeared to exhale when New Jersey's logo was pulled out where it was projected.
Buchanan and his staff have been planning for every possible outcome. It's this whole game of if this happens, then what? Wednesday night was huge for their planning purposes. And, to land New Jersey's pick on this night is a huge feather in Buchanan's cap- the memory of how he surprised many and landed simply the possibility to get the pick should be pointed out, again.
Jonathan Tjarks of RealGM.com with thoughts here...
Their first priority should be assembling a championship-caliber front-line, which means pairing Aldridge with another 6'10+ player upfront. His versatility will give them a lot of options: they could either keep him at the 4 and take a center (Andre Drummond, Meyers Leonard) or move him to the 5 and take another power forward (Perry Jones III, John Henson).
Their second priority should be a perimeter player they could run offense through, something they've been lacking since Roy's knees gave out. And while point guard is the weakest position in the draft, the Trail Blazers will be able to choose from a deep collection of shooting guards. Bradley Beal will almost certainly be a top-5 pick, but Terrence Ross, Jeremy Lamb and Dion Waiters should all be available at the latter stages of the lottery.
Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com with thoughts here...
At No.6, the Trail Blazers should select Harrison Barnes - This 6-7 wing player has an NBA body and will contribute for a team immediately. He's one of the most athletic prospects in the draft and he's only 19 years old, which means he has tremendous upside.
Barnes' stock has been rising of late and he might be off the board by the time the Trail Blazers pick at No.6. However, if somehow big man Andre Drummond is still on the board, I take him.
At No.11, the Trail Blazers should select Perry Jones out of Baylor - Look, I know these two selections don't necessarily address the big-man need, but I think the Trail Blazers can address that need via free agency.
Sean Highkin of Hardwood Paroxysm with thoughts here...
So their recent draft history doesn't exactly inspire confidence. Part of that may be Allen's tendency to fire quality executives with little explanation. I hesitate to make any declarations of whom they should target this year, because outside of LaMarcus Aldridge, Wesley Matthews, and (probably) Nicolas Batum, it's not clear who's staying and who isn't. They need a point guard (Kendall Marshall and Damian Lillard have been thrown around in mock drafts), but their track record of drafting those leaves a lot to be desired. They need a big, but their picks probably outside of the range where Andre Drummond or Thomas Robinson would be available. So fans just have to hope they hire someone that can be trusted to sort through what's left.
What does the lottery mean to the Blazers? A chance at redemption, or another chance to tread water.
-- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com | Twitter