O’Connor Suggests Three Forward Options if Blazers Deal Into Draft

As of now, the Portland Trail Blazers will not be participating on NBA Draft Day, 2021. But if President of Basketball Operations Neil Olshey finds a way into the festivities on July 29, The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor has suggested three late first-round forwards that might suit the Blazers.

Suggestions include Villanova’s Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, Texas’ Greg Brown and Usman Garuba from Real Madrid in Spain.

O’Connor has likened Robinson-Earl to the Orlando Magic’s Chuma Okeke and the Boston Celtic’s Robert Williams.

Robinson-Earl brings all the qualities teams look for in a high-end role player with his intelligence, feel, and unselfishness.

He paints Brown in the same image as the Detroit Pistons’ Jerami Grant and Golden State Warriors Kelly Oubre jr.

Brown is a raw two-way talent who needs to dramatically improve his fundamentals to reach his potential.

While Garuba has been compared to the Toronto Raptors’ OG Anunoby and former Denver Nuggets big man Kenneth Faired.

A hyper defender who always makes the extra effort but needs to define an offensive role.

You can read O’Connor’s article here with The Ringer’s Draft Big Board here.