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On Friday, the Blazers worked out Keita Bates-Diop, Jalen Brunson, Melvin Frazier, Aaron Holiday, Raymond Spalding, and Gary Trent Jr. Friday in preparation for the 2018 NBA Draft. However, they were not the only players spotted at the facility. Here’s a recap of the day’s events.
Full Recaps
The Blazers’ Casey Holdahl gave the official summary via the team’s web site. He includes three audio interviews, with Trent Jr, Frazier, and Holiday, who gave his thoughts on how he’d fit in the Blazers’ lineup.
“I could play with Dame, CJ on the court at the same time,” said Holiday. “It doesn’t matter who’s out there, I feel like I can play off people and play off the ball as well.”
NBC Sports Northwest’s Jason Quick provided further insight from the day, including listing the players who enjoyed dinner with Blazers President of Basketball Operations Neil Olshey.
The night before the workout, Trent said he, Holiday and Frazier were dined by Neil Olshey, the Blazers’ president of basketball operations.
Quick also noted that Holiday has seen the Blazers in action... but not at their finest.
After all, he got an up-close viewpoint during the 2018 NBA Playoffs, when he watched his brother and the Pelicans dispatch the Blazers in four games. Holiday said he was in attendance for one of the games in the Moda Center as well as Game 3 and 4 in New Orleans.
The Oregonian’s Joe Freeman also provided his perspective on the events. He touched on Gary Trent Jr’s connection to the Blazers.
If [Holiday]’s off the board, that would open the door for Trent Jr. to follow in his father’s footsteps. The younger Trent said his father, who played with the Blazers from 1995-98 on the infamous “Jail Blazers” teams, has been grooming him for this moment since he was 5, teaching him everything from a jump shot to interview techniques.
”He’s given me everything,” said Trent Jr., who averaged 14.5 points and 4.2 rebounds during his only season at Duke. “He gave me the blueprint.”
Social Media Highlights
A key takeaway from the day? Portland is an awesome city for your lungs.
Two of the three Blazers predraft participants who spoke with the media today mentioned how clean the Oregon air is. Rip City is the NBA champion of clean, breathable air.
— Sean Michael Meagher (@sean2m) June 1, 2018
Day 1 of Draft Workouts began today at our practice facility!
— Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) June 1, 2018
Take a look through @bruceely's lens: https://t.co/NFxPkm2HI3 pic.twitter.com/AeeUUuMOOa
"I've been working with him on my game since I was 5 years old. He really gave me the blueprint" -@gtrentjr2 on the impact his father, Gary Trent, has had on his basketball career so far. pic.twitter.com/NY41VIEbx6
— Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) June 1, 2018
Keita Bates-Diop, @KBD_33, from beyond the arc at @trailblazers pre-draft workouts 7 foot-3 inch wingspan for the forward out of @OhioStateHoops. Big 10 player of the year. #RipCity pic.twitter.com/Mjs0snVdJj
— NBC Sports Northwest (@NBCSNorthwest) June 1, 2018