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May 18

Draft Fever Begins, Who Will Portland Pick?

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By sarahhecht Posted in: draft2011

The Draft.

The time of the year when imaginations begin (and continue) to run wild.

Scenarios are rampant on TV shows, blogs, message boards and podcasts. Though the inklings and discussions have been whirling about for a few weeks now, it’s time to really get down to business.

Yesterday, the 2011 NBA Draft Lottery took place in New Jersey with the the Cleveland Cavaliers garnering the first pick. The whole lottery drawing isn’t of much consequence to Trail Blazers fans because we don’t have a horse in the race so to speak, but either way, it’s an important day in the NBA.

Here’s how the 2011 NBA Draft Lottery turned out:

1. Cleveland (from the L.A. Clippers)
2. Minnesota
3. Utah (from New Jersey)
4. Cleveland
5. Toronto
6. Washington
7. Sacramento
8. Detroit
9. Charlotte
10. Milwaukee
11. Golden State
12. Utah
13. Phoenix
14. Houston

The Trail Blazers hold the 21st pick, with a variety of options. You only have 36 days to hash it out before Draft Night on June 23rd. So lay it on me, what are you predictions? What do the Trail Blazers need to improve?

Here are some of the top mock drafts projecting who Portland will pick:

From David Aldridge at nba.com:

Kemba Walker, G, 6’1, 172lbs, Connecticut

“Well, Dick Vitale has to wail about someone slipping. Walker is certainly not the 21st-best player in the Draft, but he's a 6-foot-1 scoring guard, and those aren't in great demand in the pros. He can learn how to play the point in the 503 behind one of the best, Andre Miller.”

Read more...

From Chad Ford at ESPN.com

Donatas Motiejunas, PF, 7’0, 220lbs, Lithuania

“The Blazers have been looking for a point guard -- Reggie Jackson, Darius Morris and Nolan Smith will get a look -- but the team also needs depth on its front line. Motiejunas provides that and, at No. 21, he's a big-time bargain.”

Read more... (it’s and insider column)

From Sam Amick at si.com:

Lucas Noguiera, C, 7’0, 225lbs, MMT Estudiantes (Spain)

“The 18-year-old Brazilian center is a project, to be sure. But his 7-foot-6 wingspan and unfulfilled frame have left some scouts wondering if he could be a defensive force someday. And for an organization that has been suffering through the Greg Oden years for what seems like so long no, there’s no harm in taking a flyer on a player who could be its center of the future.”

Read more...

From Aran Smith at hooshype.com

Jordan Hamilton, SG, 6’7, 220lbs, Texas

“Portland is stacked at every position so they can look for the best player available and find one of the better wings in this draft in Hamilton. Jordan stepped up his level of lay considerable as a sophomore. He made a wise decision returning for a second year. He displayed excellent shooting ability. His lack of quickness defensively is a concern and puts his ability to play the SG position in question. He is considered a slow 2 or a small 3.”

Read more...

What do you think?

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11 Comments

If Jordan Hamilton is there, we got to take him. While the 2/3 doesn't seem like the biggest need, I'm all for drafting the best player available! Hamilton is just coming into his own in regards to scoring the ball and could be a big time player in this league. Also, watch out for Kenneth Faried from Morehead St. He led the NCAA in rebounding 2 or 3 straight years.

by DHawes22 on 5/18/2011 1:52 PM
I think we need to trade up in the draft to pick 2, 3, or 4. I know cleveland needs some wing players as well as utah and minnesota. We could package our 1st round pick, Fernandez (while he still has a little value) and possibly our 2nd round pick to move up. If we cannot get Williams or Kanter to solidify our frontline, we can draft either Knight or Walker for our point guard of the future. How would you like one of them learning from miller how to post up before he leaves portland? a point guard who can post up and penetrate would be amazing.

by bfellows9 on 5/18/2011 2:51 PM
I do not believe Bebe Noguiera is ready for primetime. He may have great long-term promise, but it will be years before that's realized in the NBA. Do we really need another project? Plus, he makes CJ look "bulky." ;-)

by occassia on 5/18/2011 3:52 PM
Sarah: I am completely over my head in draft picking. so I will let you pick for me.

by Hg on 5/19/2011 9:13 AM
Make a trade with Cleveland for #1,4,31, Daniel Gibson and Ramon Sessions for Camby, Miller, Fernandez, Babbitt and Batum.

by mbmurr1 on 5/19/2011 8:58 AM
@occassia, I agree... I think he's way to small to hack it in the NBA. He'll need a few years and quite a few pounds to be ready. And like you, I don't think we need another project, we need to sharpen what we've got.

by sarahhecht on 5/19/2011 1:59 PM
Sarah my dear: Since you won't pick for me, do you think we go after a PG first, a big, or the best player left at that spot?

hg

by Hg on 5/20/2011 7:46 AM
@HG, I think we'll go for the best player available period.

by sarahhecht on 5/20/2011 9:26 AM
I thank you, that would have been my quess also. Although we need another shooting guard like we need a whole in the head, but it would give us trading material to go after a PG or Center.

by Hg on 5/20/2011 10:13 AM
Sarah: i think we'll pick the best payer available, but i get the sense with this years draft that we really should look to center/pf. i just completed my mock draft here and i've got us taking Donatas Motiejunas. with Crash, Nicolas, Brandon, Wesley and Rudy at sg/pf, i just don't think taking someone else who plays the same position is a very intelligent move at all. uncharacteristically, i agree with Chad Ford.

mbmurr1: that trade you proposed doesn't come anywhere close to meeting the nba's trade guidelines; it would be even farther away from meeting those guidelines if we were to sign Nicolas to the huge contract you advocate. besides, there's no way cleveland would come close to endorsing any such trade. sorry, but it is impossible.

~ Kassandra

by Kassandra on 5/29/2011 12:49 AM
Miss Sarah: MY problem is I don't know who will be available at 21. With our iffy center or bigs, it is understandable of Kassandra to go with Donatas Motiejunas and I would yield to her wisdom anyway.

Sarah: who do you think will be the best player available at 21 and your second and third option

Kassandra: if your pick isn't available what are your second and third options?

Question: How does the pending lock-out and us with Chad as acting GM, effect the draft, do we trade up? using some of our assets? Do we play it safe and pick a project and store him over seas? Do we go after immediate help or long term help at the PG? I feel we have the long term help in one of our three guards from last year including Patty If we have faith in Greg, we could still go after Donatas Motiejunas because as said, you can't have to many bigs, but we can also resign Jeff, and hopefully Joel.

Long short, I am back to square one and need all the posters to give me insight.

by Hg on 5/29/2011 6:09 AM