Jun
08
*UPDATE*
As reported by Chris Haynes, Connecticut center
Andre Drummond will be in Portland for a workout next week but Florida shooting guard, Bradley Beal will not workout for the Trail Blazers. That's not because the team doesn't like Beal or is trying to throw other teams off, its simply because Beal is only working out for the top teams in the draft.
Florida's guard Bradley Beal -- who's considered a top 10 pick -- will not be one of the players working out for the Trail Blazers. His agent, Mark Bartelstein tells CSNNW.com that Beal will only workout for the teams at the top of the draft.
The next round of pre-draft workouts for the Trail Blazers will start up again next week, and according to CSNNW's Chris Haynes who is out at the Chicago draft combine, the heavy hitters will invade the Rose City. Via
Hayne's twitter account:
Kentucky standout Michael Kidd-Gilchrist says he has a workout scheduled w/ #Blazers next week. He's likely a top 3 pick. Someone moving up?
Washington G Tony Wroten will workout for #Blazers next week.
Weber State G Damian Lillard will workout for #Blazers next week.
Duke G Austin Rivers will workout for #Blazers next week.
Ohio State big man Jared Sullinger will workout for the #Blazers next week.
With the draft just under three weeks away, don't be surprised if more names are added to this list. But, if the list stands as reported, it will be the first time since 2006, when Portland had the No. 4 overall pick, that the Trail Blazers have had this many potential lottery picks at the practice facility.
In his latest mock draft,
ESPN's Chad Ford has the Trail Blazers selecting Weber State point guard, Damian Lillard at No. 11 overall. As for the other prospects, Ford has Kentucky small forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist slated to go No. 2, Ohio State big man Jared Sullinger one spot ahead of Portland to New Orleans at No. 10, Duke shooting guard Austin Rivers at No. 18, and Washington combo guard Tony Wroten No. 23.
The main attraction would be Kidd-Gilchrist, a player whose intangibles, desire to win, leadership ability, and overall defensive prowess have scouts salivating at the opportunity to draft him. But, as Haynes mentioned, Portland would have to move up, likely into the Top 3 to acquire his draft rights. Would you move up in the draft for MKG, Rip City?
Besides Kidd-Gilchrist, what other prospect are you most excited about seeing workout for the Trail Blazers? I'd say for me it has to be Damian Lillard. A lot of mock drafts have us picking up the 6-3 point guard who can flat out shoot the ball, but with him playing in the Big Sky, a lot of his games weren't televised so I'm really curious to see how he does during these workouts against the best the draft has to offer.
Also, as soon as we get official word of these prospects working out in Portland, we'll pass it along!