I dont even think they've done the drawing yet if my understanding of the process from overwatching every video about it last year. They do it right before and everyone in room has their phones taken from them and they can't leave until it's announced iirc
Kind of hope we land Ayton but still find a way to tank next season, now. We go with Murray if we want an immediate contributor, right?
I've watched Murray maybe 3 times, doesn't he play same position and Bey? I'm leaning one of the guards assuming top 3 goes as expected
Yes and no. He's a 3 or small ball 4 with great shooting splits. I don't know if he's got much of a ceiling, but he'll play in the league for a long time.
1. S+T Olynyk and Grant for Ayton 2. Sign Jalen Brunson 3. Bring back everyone else pretty much 4. Draft Ivey PG Cade/Hayes SG Brunson/Ivey (6th man and a bunch of bench minutes to start) SF Bey/Diallo PF Bagley/Stewart C Ayton/Stewart/Garza Or if you can sign Bridges over Brunson throw him at 4 and start Ivey
Athletic has us taking Sharpe Spoiler 5. Detroit Pistons Shaedon Sharpe | 6-6 forward | 18 years old | Kentucky A Shaedon Sharpe sighting for the first time this draft cycle! If the NBA Draft has a mystery man within the top 10, it’s Sharpe. The 6-foot-6 wing from Canada committed to Kentucky early this year, only made it to campus for the second semester, then sat out the season and subsequently declared for the draft. He is eligible to be picked because he graduated high school before the 2021-22 NBA season began and turned 19 before the end of 2022. Sharpe represents a high-upside gamble due to his potential as a wing shot creator. He looks every bit like a future NBA star wing, combining elite length with terrific hops. The problem for scouts is that he hasn’t played much at high levels of competition, so nobody’s really sure how he’ll react to the speed of the game. He has all of the tools to be great, but it’ll take a team willing to dive in and take a risk. Troy Weaver tends to really like players with a great intersection of athleticism and length, as well as guys who have high upsides. Sharpe also fits really well on the wing as a shot maker next to Cade Cunningham.
Does everyone want Ayton? Id take him at the right price, but that’s like 12m to me and that’s not happening
My current rank of picks in that range... Ivey Sharpe Murray Mathurin Griffin Ivey is the clear top guy for me. I have no clue what to make of Sharpe either way. He's incredibly talented, but just look at some of the other 5 star kids from that class and where they're viewed now compared to before the season. Chet, Banchero and Smith delivered, but you also have Bates, Baldwin, Duren and Jaden Hardy who didn't. Same with a bunch of other one and dones. Sharpe may have put himself in the conversation for the top pick if he played, or looked guys like Houstan, Baldwin, Bates, Christie and others. And I don't know how anyone can think they know going into this how that plays when the games start. Murray is fine but I'd want to see a Grant trade connected to it to open that spot. Mathurin and Griffin are fringe guys on that list I'd need to read some good arguments for to really consider them as options.
If I had to guess right now, I think Sacramento goes Murray. They want to win now, and they've been talked about as a team looking into Grant over the last year. Ivey is definitely an option, but I don't think he helps them win next year like Murray could, and the fit isn't as good with Fox and Mitchell already in place.
We have a bunch of 6'8" bigs, think we need a big C and he's best one we have a shot at. That said I'm sure I'd hate the contract he'd get... but with so many guys on rookie deals it wouldn't be as bad for us....
Realistically do we think we could center a trade around Grant for 7th pick? Ivey/Sharpe and Duren would be a fun takeaway this draft and Duren could save us giving Ayton a max for those worried about that.
I'm torn on him. He seems to have the potential to be maybe the best player in this draft. But watching Calipari press conferences where he said he can't even play him in garbage minutes because he's not even ready for it, and that his jump shot isn't right and he missed every shot in practice doesn't make me hopeful he's nba ready for a while.
Can't imagine the Portland front office would be willing to take the kind of heat from their fan base that would come from that trade. Saw someone on twitter throw out a three team trade based around Portland getting Charlotte's 2 picks, then flipping #13 and Keon Johnson for Grant. Seems something like that would be a more realistic return.
Agree that Ivy should be the clear favorite at this point in the process. Wonder if there will be another late lottery guy this year that sky rockets up in the top few picks during the process like Williams and Barnes the past two years.
B/R suggested this, includes us eating final year on Bledsoe. Think I'd do this, still have cap space to sign a top guy and have picks 5/7
Im not convinced this Grant for 7 talk is realistic unless the Blazers are desperate to dump more salary, but entering the draft with 5 and 7 would be awesome. Its early, but a combo of Murray and a guard (Ivey, Sharpe?, Mathurin) or take Ivey 5 and hope Murray slips to 7 or taking Sochan would be exciting. I dont even think Id care about making a big move in FA at that point.
If the Blazers are trying to win now, do they expect the 7th pick in the draft to be better than Grant over the next 2-3 years?
I'm beginning to think there is no way Ivey gets to 5. Unless the Kings do something Kings-like and take Murray. I guess that's the hope.
I would be shocked if the Kings don’t take Murray. They seem motivated to be a mediocre team as soon as possible.
I agree, their owner has literally put out a memo to front office about needing to make the playoffs next year. I don't see how Ivey fits with Mitchell and Fox. Sharpe may be the best option for them to roll the dice with the upside play, but Murray is a safe player that can contribute right now so if they keep the pick I imagine it's Murray.
I'm not sure I really want Murray so him going 4 and us having pick of all the guards is ideal scenario for us
Also seems like his ceiling is Cade-lite. As good as Cade is, don't think pairing him with a player with the same skill set leads to winning basketball
Not sure I agree with that. Daniels isn't a scorer, but he does everything else. He's 6'6" (maybe taller) with PG skills as a secondary creator and allegedly a very talented defender/rebounder type. In a world where it all works for him where he becomes an average shooter, that's an Iguodala starter kit. Based on how the Pistons played this year, that seemed like their preferred type of player alongside Cade in the backcourt. If Daniels shoots 35% from 3, he's a really good pro who is exactly the kind of player every winning team needs. But he shot 25% from 3 last year in the G league, so that's a very big question mark. A lot of people really liked him as a player in the G League, though. Especially compared to the more highly regarded chuckers he was playing with like Jaden Hardy
Sounds like he was pretty bad in the G League until they made him the primary ball handler. He has said in interviews he sees himself as at pg and not sure he's the fit as an off guard secondary ball handler.
I’ve been team Murray for awhile and have no idea what Grant’s realistic value is. I hope we can get a mid-late 1 somehow and one of Daniels, Walker Kessler, and Ochai Agbaji was what I was hoping for
I gotta think he's worth more than that considering some teams basically give away mid-late 1sts. I'd rather keep him to make salaries work in another trade or keep him and move at deadline instead of moving him for a non lottery pick. Also really hope we don't take Murray (unless it's with an added 2nd 1st rd pick)