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Monday at the Blazer’s practice facility in Tualatin, Portland brought in IMG Academy guard Anfernee Simons, Duke guard Trevon Duval, SMU guard Shake Melton, Kentucky guard Hamidou Diallo, UCMB guard Jairus Lyles and Idaho guard Victor Sanders for the third pre-draft workout ahead of the 2018 NBA Draft on June 21st.
There are three big names here for vastly different reasons. Simons is a year removed from high school and will be 19 in June but has forgone his collegiate eligibility so there’s an air of mystery around his potential.
Diallo is another in the long line of Kentucky guards that sports hyper-athleticism, explosive plays at the rim and an inconsistency in his game that makes establishing a baseline and/or ceiling nearly impossible.
Another blue blood entry, the young point guard Duval from Duke is one of the hardest prospects to judge. Mock drafts have pegged him as high as 15 and as low as 25, so a consensus hasn’t exactly formed.
Casey Holdahl of the Trail Blazers produced a media guide complete with audio quotes that you can find here.
Alex Kennedy of HoopsHype shared this on Twitter after the Blazers concluded workouts with the draft prospects.
The Trail Blazers are working out free agents KJ McDaniels, Casper Ware, Kadeem Jack, Isaiah Cousins, Kyle Randall and several others over the next few days at a mini camp. Today, Blazers like Zach Collins, Wade Baldwin, Caleb Swanigan and Jake Layman played with/against the FAs.
— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) June 5, 2018
With Blazer bench players Zach Collins, Wade Baldwin, Caleb Swanigan and Jake Layman all in town the Blazers were able to get a look at K.J. McDaniels who was last seen in the 2016-17 season appearing in 49 between the Houston Rockets and Brooklyn Nets, Casper Ware a 5’10” PG who made 9 appearances for the 76ers in 2013-14, and G-Leaguers Jack, Cousins and Randall.
One thing becomes pretty apparent when you look at the players being brought in by the Blazers here- they’re looking at a large group of combo guards in the 6’3”-6’6” range with a guy here or there on either side of that line. It will be interesting to see where the Blazers direct their attention come June 21st and just a couple weeks later on July 1st.