Posted 06/28/2012 10:03 PM

I'll give this draft an A grade because....

1) Lillard - consensus choice by fans, although it became a bit suspect when Barnes was still (unexpectedly) on the board.  Still, this guy is instant offense.  I question his ability to involve his teammates; I think he'll do too much himself, but in the past I've always been disappointed Portland could never have a prolific scorer like Iveson or Kobe and while Lillard is ballhoggish and neglects his teammates at times, he gives Portland points.  He's also such an great ball handler and free throw shooter.  Portland fans will really appreciate his ability to finish and knock down free throws.

2) Meyers works very hard and he's a very capable center who is a legit 7 footer.  Very low body fat, in awesome shape, and while I don't expect him to be a big time dominant center, if he continues to get bigger, maybe he will push guys around and dominate.  He's not going to shoot like Hakeem, but for a 7 footer, this guy is agile.  Most people rate him a B, but the upside on this guy is what made him a lottery pick, so I would grade his future an A and he's going to be a fast learner.  If any of you followed Illini last year, well, from the start to the end of the season, Meyers was a completely different player. If he had the same attitude at the end of the year he had at the start, he'd NEVER gone pro because he was not sure of himself, and really wasn't even worthy of a starting job, but Bruce worked his ass.  Meyers has a good attitude and he's going to complement L.A. because he is taller and he can block.  I hope he turns into a double-double guy.. I'd like him to rebound better.

3) Will Barton is really an exciting pick and why I grade this draft across the board an A.  Will can score, rebound, assist, he might block some shots with his wingspan, and steals.  He can play point, shooter, or SF. His problem might be defending the bigger guards and forwards because he has a thin frame and I don't know if he's ever going to bulk up, he seems to have that skinny frame that will just never change.  Also, he's really not that accurate from downtown.  He's not a marksman and I really don't remember him bombing from downtown that much, maybe a few deep shots a game; that's probably an area he can improve upon.

But altogether, these guys bring in over 50 ppg, about 20 boards per game, I'd guess about 8 assists, a few blocks, they can all dunk the ball well, they're all athletic, and I think they all bring skills to the table that portland needs.

I would have done things a bit different if I were running the show, but I'm not in the war room and I have to look at what they did on a macro scale and then fill in the blanks.  Not taking Barnes tells me the team is committed to Batum.  They better be.  Will Barton is scoring depth behind Batum and Matthews.  I also think it adds some excitement for Elliot Williams since they're from the same school, so now those guys can joke around and have fun together, and when they're on the court together, well, I think it's going to be exciting.  

I think ya'll should keep your eyes and ears open.  If Portland doesn't sign Flynn and they let Felton go, look for Portland to possibly sign Machado as a free agent now.  I'm real surprised he wasn't drafted, at least I don't think he was.  So maybe Portland gets him as their 3rd PG :)  Tu Holloway undrafted.  Hmmm.

Portland's got a long way to go, but I like the additions they made.  Przy and Thabeet need to be signed, right?  Or Portland needs to bring in someone else... I kinda expected O'Quinn at 41.  

Posted 06/28/2012 10:26 PM

Too bad they traded away Tyshawn Taylor after drafting him, I thought he could have been a steal.  Also I was hoping Quincy Miller or Thomas Robinson would fall to the Blazers after they got passed up by some teams, but heading into the draft I was hoping they would get Lillard and either Leonard or Henson so I'm extremelly satisfied with those two picks.  I watched a lot of highlights and also clips from his predraft workouts and Lillard looks outstanding.  You never know how that will translate to the NBA, but right now it looks like a great pick.  Barton could be a steal in the second round too since he was projected as a late first rounder in a lot of mock drafts I saw.  I can't really make judgements on that pick though since I only know as much as one highlight video and some mock drafts told me

Posted 06/28/2012 10:45 PM

I saw memphis play a lot and just know that Will was the best player in his whole conference, and not just b/c he scored, but he shoots over 50% from the floor.  I wouldn't ask him to be a deep threat (that doesn't seem to be his game, but maybe someday).  He'll mix it up in the paint, dissect defenses, etc.  I like him.  If you followed all my posts on the draft thread DHawes made (I was about the only one posting there), I made a short wish list that had Draymond and Barton and then I tweeted Portland before they picked at 40 and when I saw in the chatroom someone said Barton I was like, WOO HOO.   lol.

I don't know if I like Quincy Miller as much as I like Quincy Acy.  And I did like Taylor alright at Kansas, but I think Portland can do as well by signing an undrafted free agent now like machado?  I don't think he was drafted.  would be cool to get him for a bargain basement price.  TRob was close.  I wanted Henson over Meyers just because I want a premiere shot blocker and Henson was mr defense in a big time conference 2 years running, christ, why wouldn't anyone want that? He can score too.  But Meyers is taller, stronger, and hes a purer center, so I can't fault portland for that.  I think they did what was in the best interest of the team and the fans.  If we'd got drummond and marshall, we'd be struggling to score.  With Lillard and Meyers we guys of similar size, but much more polished offensively, so while we may not be the best defending team in the league, at least Portland should score some points and that's exciting.

I'm interested in what fans think of Lillard when they see him night in and night out because people make him out to be just the perfect fit, but lol, we'll see.  He's not a point guard for his passing ability, it's because he's too small to be considered a shooting guard and he's a great ball handler.

anyway

time to change the channel and get to bed.

Posted 06/28/2012 11:34 PM

Lol, boomtown. You've talked about Lillard's lack of assist numbers about 50 times now.... I'll be one to say I think you'll be surprised at his assist totals when he starts running the pick and roll with LaMarcus.

This draft was an A because of the nature of the two picks. We added 2 blue-collar, hard-working, low-risk guys (that was a lot of hyphens). If Marshall is the next J-Kidd, oops. But it's a 90% chance he won't be. If Drummond is the next Howard, D'OH! But there's a 99.999999% chance he won't be. I look at the alternative outcomes of this draft, and I think we have the best set up moving forward that could be put together in a few hours. Harrison Barnes at 6? Maybe that was a missed opportunity, but if we wanted that situation, we would've never traded Gerald Wallace. And I still think Lillard is a more promising prospect than Barnes.

There was a WRONG approach to this draft, and I don't think Portland took it.

Posted 06/28/2012 11:59 PM

A! Everyone knows what lillard can do... score, but just cause he didnt have a lot of assists doesnt mean he didnt get teamates involved i agree with D_pickett. Leonard has potential and can contribute now. I also think will barton is a steal, but i hope they finf a way to play matthews, ewill, and barton.

Posted 06/29/2012 12:51 AM

Greg Anthony made a great point about taking Leonard over Zeller. First, he made the standard point about the higher "ceiling" that Leonard has, which was basically the consensus. But he also made the point that Meyers Leonard didn't play with great guards in Illinois, while Zeller had Kendall Marshall to set him up and make him look even better. I thought that was an interesting analysis, and maybe a testament to the rebuild mode that Portland is currently in.

Posted 06/29/2012 2:08 AM

I cant believe the blazers pass on harrison barnes. He is the best player available. He will be a star in this league. Harrison barnes have high ceiling cant belive it. We are so lucky to have him at 6 but then we didnt pick him. I cant believe it

Posted 06/29/2012 7:26 AM

First round, A.  Second, I (Incomplete). 

Posted 06/29/2012 9:38 AM

Lillard is a nice pick, and Leonard has potential he seems to work hard so that is encouraging. 

Both will need to improve defensively, Lillard needs to stop gambling on the passing lanes with unrealistic steal attempts and Leonard needs to improve his spot up defense badly for such a tall, athletic dude he should not be getting torched by jumpers. 

Barton is a nice find but I have to believe that rather than selling a pick the Blazers would have been better off trading 2 for 1. Missing out on Crowder and Green hurts. As does selling a pick when Kyle O'Quinn was still available.

B overall

Posted 06/29/2012 9:59 AM

I rated B because I can see the direction. Better would have been trade matthews pick 41 for pick 8. Pick Barnes at 6, pick Lillard at 8. Pick Lamb (because you traded Matthews for 8) at 11. even though lamb had a bad work out for us, great pick at 11

Posted 06/29/2012 11:10 AM

If we traded to 8 Ross might have slipped to 11 and then we should have taken him there

Posted 06/29/2012 12:27 PM

A. Lillard is going to make us better just with his pace and ability to penetrate. Not to mention, L.A., finally will have a pg to play a two man game with. He'll definitely see less double teams with a knock down shooter like Lillard. Bartons fram reminds me of J. Cross. Rail thin but he too knocks down shots. Now, which free agent pg can we bring in to give Lillard the veteran skills he'll need ? Chauncey comes to mind. I can see Lillard walk into his three's like Mr. Big Shot himself. And maybe someone should reach out to Brian Shaw. I also hear that Thibodeau and Brooks are running into some issues with their contract extensions. 

Posted 06/29/2012 12:59 PM

Chad Ford gave us a B+-

Posted 06/29/2012 12:59 PM

Lillard = free throws       Meyers = Joel Przybilla with athleticism.     Great picks   AAAAAA+        I just wish we would have drafted Sims at #42

Posted 06/29/2012 1:20 PM

Hey DHawes, what do you hear through the grapevine as to veteran pgs that we're targeting ?

Posted 06/29/2012 3:08 PM

Sam Amick of Sports Illustrated gave us an A+-

Posted 06/29/2012 3:09 PM

Posted By commontongue on 06/29/2012 1:20 PM
Hey DHawes, what do you hear through the grapevine as to veteran pgs that we're targeting ?

I haven't yet. Might need to start a free agency thread soon though!

Posted 06/29/2012 4:01 PM

You can just bump one of the many already created preferably mine

Posted 06/29/2012 7:40 PM

The draft seems like a breath of fresh air after the season we had.  Don't know much about Lillard (didn't follow that league in CB) and probably should have.  Leonard was a slam dunk of a pick but it will probably be a few years before he matures.  Barton is the pick who impresses me the most.  Saw him several times last year and the guy is a good player.  Well, as always, we won't know about this draft till a few years down the road!

Posted 06/29/2012 7:41 PM

The draft seems like a breath of fresh air after the season we had.  Don't know much about Lillard (didn't follow that league in CB) and probably should have.  Leonard was a slam dunk of a pick but it will probably be a few years before he matures.  Barton is the pick who impresses me the most.  Saw him several times last year and the guy is a good player.  Well, as always, we won't know about this draft till a few years down the road!

Posted 06/29/2012 9:48 PM

It was anti climactic how predictable it was!!  I'm guess I'm addicted to the draft day drama.  But sometimes is no news is good news and that's what happened here.  

Blazers needed a PG so they took one and predictably they went after a mature character guy.  Despite the disaster that was last season I wasn't hyperventilating over the PG spot because I thought something could get done in FA.  For that reason I was very interested in Drummond.  Nothing risked, nothing lost and picking up a good big is sooo difficult and so expensive in FA.  But you can't be mad about getting a guy like Liliard.  Best available at a spot you need is great.  

I was pretty sold on Meyers Leonard from the start, and based on his workout he was the better choice over Zeller.  I don't think the comparison to Joel is accurate at all unless you just see them as large white men.  Leonard is basically going to take up space and rebound like Joel.  The interesting part will be seeing just how big he can get while remaining athletic, and how much he can develop his offense.  That's what will make him special and if everything goes right he will be far more of an asset than Joel ever was.  

Good to see the Blazers targeting the players they want, having the opportunity to get them, and sticking with those picks despite having surprise options at both picks.  Shows me that they have a direction in mind which is very comforting considering past seasons' performance.

Altogether it's a solid A if a little boring.  Let's make a splash in FA now!

Posted 06/29/2012 10:57 PM

Solid A we pretty much got what we wanted and needed I like that we got players who stayed in school for their second and third year in college I feel that really going to help them mature into players that we invision they can be I'm getting alittle excited in the direction we are going next stop Free Agency.

Posted 06/30/2012 1:46 AM

Just glad we drafted a Center, it'd been awhile.

Posted 06/30/2012 2:42 AM

Posted By joeblow33 on 06/29/2012 7:41 PM

Well, as always, we won't know about this draft till a few years down the road!

Hell, as long as none of them ends up in a wheelchair we're doing way better than previous years. (Knock on every piece of wood in the Pacific Northwest.)

Posted 07/01/2012 8:48 PM

Just hope our picks turn out well not exactly a good track record, Telfair, Bayless, Webster, Outlaw, N. Smith, Babbitt, and Rudy are just a few small examples.

Posted 07/03/2012 9:33 AM

Ball Don't Lie's Draft Grade-

Portland Trail Blazers

Additions: Damian Lillard, Meyers Leonard, Will Barton

Grade: B

A strange draft. Big centers taken where Leonard was selected almost never pan out, but if the team utilizes him as six fouls and gravy in the second quarter, then they may have found something. Still, several much better basketball players were taken ahead of Leonard.

It's hard to say as much about Lillard, who we like; though we are wary that he'll never get over being a waterbug scorer instead of a playmaker. If he were heading to a different team (one that isn't working with a power forward that needs the ball), I'd probably be more enthused. As it stands, though, he could put his head down and fight for Rookie of the Year votes.

Barton was an odd find in the second round. He's actually a very good shooter and scorer and it was strange to see him drop so low in even this shooting guard-heavy draft.

Posted 07/03/2012 9:35 AM

CBS Sports Draft Grade-

Portland Trail Blazers

Damian Lillard (6): The best point guard available at the sixth spot, fills a big need and doesn't overlook a bigger one. The Blazers landed their franchise point guard, even if he's not in that elite class, and didn't have to go up or down. And they avoided Andre Drummond. Bonus!

Meyers Leonard (11): Fits snug as a bug with LaMarcus Aldridge, and can get up and down the floor. A great fit with Lillard and fills in their roster.

Will Barton (40): Why not pick up the firebug and see if it works out? The Blazers have some depth at a position of need quickly.

Overall grade: A

Posted 07/03/2012 9:36 AM

SB Nation Draft Grades-

Portland Trail Blazers

Drafted Damian Lillard No. 6, drafted Meyers Leonard No. 11, sold No. 41 to Nets for cash

The Blazers filled two immediate needs at point guard and center, so all right! The question is whether either of them are any good. I tend to believe that Lillard will be a good pro because of his shooting ability. We'll see how he is as a passer; the canvas is pretty blank on that one, as it is for every small-conference scoring guard. Leonard looked like a disaster on draft night; he should fare a bit better on the court, provided he can get up to speed quickly on what space LaMarcus Aldridge, the Blazers' star, takes up. Because of the NBA learning curve and the vital positions these two rookies will be in, it could be a tough season for Portland. But the future looks brighter today. GRADE: A

Posted 07/04/2012 5:05 PM

Posted By D_pickett on 06/28/2012 11:34 PM
Lol, boomtown. You've talked about Lillard's lack of assist numbers about 50 times now.... I'll be one to say I think you'll be surprised at his assist totals when he starts running the pick and roll with LaMarcus.

This draft was an A because of the nature of the two picks. We added 2 blue-collar, hard-working, low-risk guys (that was a lot of hyphens). If Marshall is the next J-Kidd, oops. But it's a 90% chance he won't be. If Drummond is the next Howard, D'OH! But there's a 99.999999% chance he won't be. I look at the alternative outcomes of this draft, and I think we have the best set up moving forward that could be put together in a few hours. Harrison Barnes at 6? Maybe that was a missed opportunity, but if we wanted that situation, we would've never traded Gerald Wallace. And I still think Lillard is a more promising prospect than Barnes.

There was a WRONG approach to this draft, and I don't think Portland took it.

My biggest problem with Lillard isn't his ability to compile assists on paper, it's just that so many fans really act like he's godsend, exactly what we need, yet nobody's seen him actually play in a game.  I was in that chatroom at trailblazers.com and some dude was so hyping up Lillard and I said, how can all of you love Lillard so much when you haven't even seen him play, I mean, he was on TV twice that I saw and unless you attend weber, live close, or maybe went to the game at PSU, well there weren't many opportunities to see him play and this dude in the chat says, boomtown, youtube.

Then this same guy is all over Zeller, totally loves him, wants him at 11 and I'm like, dude, you're an expert on all these guys after watching youtube videos, really?

I mean, look, I can go to my neighbors hoop, and have someone shoot video of me for 4 hours, then edit that and show you guys a string of 10 minutes without me missing a shot.  Then I can show you 1% of all my passes, the best passes, so that I look totally awesome.  And then all of you are going to be saying, why didn't we draft ME?  

Thing is, most of you probably don't care about his downfalls because he brings to Portland what all of you want, so you're all willing to overlook the imperfections. But I know what you see on the court isn't anything like what you see in those videos and Lillard will have fans scratching their heads often.  The dude is not michael jordan.   He doesn't have his air, nor his defensive ability, he dont' have iverson's crossover, and he's not nearly as big or strong as kobe, so his ability to back guys down, well, he doesn't have that ability.  I really hope he is an all-star as a rookie because I think that's what fans are expecting... they wanna see a guy as dominant as Kobe... or a guy with his upside.  But at times, it's going to be funny watching him gets his chops busted when he drives the lane, and some critics are going to be reminding him, this ain't weber state and this certainly ain't the big sky.  Don't get me wrong, I'm not expecting him to fail, but him being able to pass the ball is only one of many things Lillard needs to improve upon.  

Damian, if you're reading this, I'm not one of those critics who doubts you, I'm just a guy whose actually seen you play a couple times and I know you're not perfect, so I"m not expecting superman.  If you work hard and improve, maybe you can tattoo an S on your arm like Shaq did.  But stay humble, and do your thing.  Stay focused and work hard.  I don't want fans shunning you in 3 years like they are Batum now.  But a lot can happen in 3 years and nobody knows what the future holds.... just don't disappoint.

Posted 07/04/2012 6:38 PM

That was  the Gospel Boom. Think i'll pump my brakes also, because damned if i wasnt on the Lillard Train to the promise land.

Posted 07/04/2012 9:56 PM

It may not sound like it, but I like Lillard a lot and offensively, he may be as good as it gets in this draft.  He may be the closest thing to an all-star, at least in terms of how people define all-stars these days... getting to the hole, scoring points, and look, Schonely's words are always ringing in my brain:  You've GOT to make your free throws.  Has Portland really had a reliable guy at the line?  Lillard is automatic and Weber ST was the best in the nation at the free throw line last year as a team.  So that's really good.  We've all talked about the good things he brings and maybe the best is that he's always had critics, but he is a hard worker..  I guess you can say that about anyone, but if there's one thing I hope for out of Lillard is that he involves his teammates much more than he did in college.  Maybe with better talent around him, he will pass more, but that could also get him more hesitant.  I wouldn't say it's like teaching an old dog new tricks, but Lillard is what he is.  If he were 3 inches taller, he'd be a shooting guard with point guard ability, and we'd still be wanting Nash, but he's so good with the ball, and so used to taking it up the court, that's just what he does, but he don't have the vision of kidd, nash, or even marshall... because he's just not accustomed to passing like them.  I mostly saw dump offs, not beautiful open court passes or sweet bb's to guys slashing to the hoop.  I always saw Lillard slashing to the hoop, with the ball and sometimes teammates left wide open while defenses converge on Lillard; he didn't turn the ball over much, but he did get himself in trouble and left teammates out in the cold.  

If Paul Allen would listen to me, or if anyone here has any pull, I would try to get former Blazer Rod Strickland on staff and help to incorporate Calipari's motion offense... Strickland's an assistant there now and has been for years, going back to Memphis.  I'm not sure how well it would go over in the NBA, but I see little downside, mostly it gets guys more involved in the offense, so a guy like Matthews isn't always camping on the perimeter waiting for the action to come to him... b/c with Lillard, I see Matthews doing even less unless they get him moving better without the ball... and batum too if he's staying, I haven't heard for sure, but I think he's gone.

anyway, it won't be that bad, portland will be scoring more ppg, but we're not exactly going to be run TMC here...