Blazers

[Duck07]

I think the most likely target would be the best shooter regardless of position.

I'd want to draft an offensive minded 4/5 who could play with Clingan and also operate as a small-ball 5 but the best player could be strictly a wing defender you hope can hit 36% outside as a rookie. Derrick Queen is probably that player for me that fits the most boxes for this team, pending whatever they might do with Jrue or Jerami tonight. Rumors are Dallas and Sac could want Jrue.

[pezsez1]

Sucks knowing we could have had Bailey with a top 5 pick. Ugh. Well at least we had those good vibes.

[Duck07]

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Well getting a 2028 1st is a good move for us since that's when we've got like 2 or 3 other 1sts all lining up.

So who are the best HS sophomores? lol

[Everythingsducky]

Dust has to settle in the upcoming minutes/hours/days, so no idea what the Blazers intentions are. Hardest part is the state of a franchise sale, and how that plays into the draft. Are outside, possible buyers whispering in Jody/Cronin’s ears? Totally a rudderless ship at this point. Orlando could be a freaking good team in 2028, and the pick mostly worthless. Definitely not a Jody or Cronin fan. Just sell the freaking team already. Clean house. Then they draft via trade a totally unknown center project from Japan, not on anyone’s radar. They just drafted a center last year as their first pick…Unbelievable. Hope the entire front office is gone with a new owner.

[Phalanx]

This reminds me so much of the Sebastian Telfair draft. Embarrassing.

[greenyellow]

Can Portland fire Cronin now? Picking another center who was mocked as a 2nd rounder when they need scoring and shooting is just pathetic.

[Duck07]

Dust has to settle in the upcoming minutes/hours/days, so no idea what the Blazers intentions are. Hardest part is the state of a franchise sale, and how that plays into the draft. Are outside, possible buyers whispering in Jody/Cronin’s ears? Totally a rudderless ship at this point. Orlando could be a freaking good team in 2028, and the pick mostly worthless. Definitely not a Jody or Cronin fan. Just sell the freaking team already. Clean house. Then they draft via trade a totally unknown center project from Japan, not on anyone’s radar. Hope the front office is gone with a new owner.

Watching his combine game highlights, what's clear is that he's not a stiff for being 7'1". This year looks like an acclimation year with a 1-2 of Ayton-Clingan, but next year he could be someone who gives you 16+ mpg as the backup to Clingan. He turns 20 tomorrow so I'm down to let him replace Duop Reath as the 3rd Center.

If you were someone who really liked Essengue, Bryant or Queen I understand being upset, and that perhaps was the risk with dropping to 16 for the 2028 1st (which may help them move off Grant's contract someday).

[pezsez1]

What an interesting time to be alive.

[Duck07]

This reminds me so much of the Sebastian Telfair draft. Embarrassing.

Ha Seung Jin was from South Korea though, not China.

[Phalanx]

I mean, there wasn't a trade out there for maybe a decent vet plus a second in this draft to still get the Chinese guy? It really feels right now like they just didn't know what to do with a top 11 pick. Coward was a decent pick at a position of need, why not keep him? Bleh.

Obviously they are planning to either trade Ayton or let him walk after this year. I think I built up the coming season too much and now it seems like the potential is falling apart. I guess since there aren't any games tomorrow maybe it's best just to wait and see. Probably the team is getting sold to a group from Las Vegas anyway.

[Everythingsducky]

From ESPN post-draft analysis: It's hard to imagine a more surprising pick coming in the first round: The Trail Blazers moved back from No. 11 and took a huge swing on Hansen. He is arguably the most gifted Chinese prospect to come along in some time, but also a player nobody around the NBA was readily expecting to go this high in the draft. Yang is a gifted offensive player plus passer for his position who was one of the standouts at the NBA combine, playing his way into the early second round of our projections. But for him to hear his name called this early -- by a team that already has a young center in Donovan Clingan -- is a fascinating decision by Portland. The fit question doesn't make a ton of sense at face value, pointing to the fact that the Blazers must be major believers in Yang's ability and their ability to develop him. How this move plays out will be one of the draft's most fascinating long-term subplots. -- Jeremy Woo. No idea of his offense ability, or his PPG, but he sounds to have the same skill set as Clingan. The Blazers need scoring, mostly from a lengthy wing, after they hopefully dump Grant, and losing the offense of Simons. A mirror image of Clingan does nothing for this team.

[alxtw]

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Well getting a 2028 1st is a good move for us since that's when we've got like 2 or 3 other 1sts all lining up.

So who are the best HS sophomores? lol

Orlando will most likely be a playoff team in 2028. Should have negotiated for memphis’s 2028 first round pick instead. Not surprised with this negotiation plunder from blazers front office though.

[Everythingsducky]

Can’t wait to hear the Cronin spin presser on his rationalization of the Blazers draft to the media, if no other moves are made. Assuming it will be cringe-worthy.

[greenyellow]

Can’t wait to hear the Cronin spin presser on his rationalization of the Blazers draft to the media, if no other moves are made. Assuming it will be cringe-worthy.

Most fans on X have their pitchforks out for Cronin tonight. It makes no sense to take another center after drafting Clingan last year. It's like they have no clue which one will hit and are just hedging their bets one of them turns out to be a starter-level center soon.

[StevensTechU]

Taking a guy who is neither a good fit nor has good trade value is really a Cronin move.