2023 NBA Draft Prelude

[RandyMarsh]

I remember a Sports Medicine Doctor I follow on YT bringing up Zion's biomechanics as a red flag for future injury concerns.

He talked about how he walked, how his hip, knees and feet didn't line up right and it concerned him and this didn't even factor his size either. 

[Deleterious]

Kind of cool how Portland is loyal to Dame and he is loyal to me.  But I can't help thinking that loyalty is going to fuck the franchise up for the next decade.  And Dame wont even sniff a ring in Portland.

Anyway, Pistons probably don't have the assets to get the pick.

Damian Lillard as Blazers end miserable season: ‘I want a chance to go for it’

Quote

On Sunday, there was more big talk. General manager Joe Cronin said it’s time to make impact trades. Coach Chauncey Billups said the roster needs more than tweaks, it needs aggressive moves. And Lillard said there are talented players who want to come to Portland. When asked if he sees a plan to make it all happen, Lillard said he sees “a road to what we could do.”

“But,” Lillard said, “there is a difference in ‘We can do this … and we can do that’ and actually doing it.”

About the only clarity in the Blazers’ path forward is this: The Blazers will likely trade their lottery pick unless they land the No. 1 pick (they have a 10.5 percent chance), which would give them the right to draft who many are calling a generational star in French big man Victor Wembanyama. Lillard all but etched in stone the trade-the-pick path Sunday when he said he did not want the Blazers to draft another young player. He said he wants proven veterans who can help now, not players who will need two to three years to develop.

“I’m just not interested in that. That’s not a secret,’’ the 32-year-old Lillard said of adding another young player. “I want a chance to go for it. And if the route is to (draft youth), then that’s not my route.”

 

[Deleterious]

So this is where we are at.  I believe the draft lottery is May 16th.  So rub that lucky rabbits foot.  Sacrifice your first born, whatever it takes.

The Pistons also have the #31 pick.

[RandyMarsh]

Going by the description of the type of player they want the only guy close to that on our team is Bojan and I highly doubt they'd give up the pick for him. 

Edited April 11, 2023 by RandyMarsh

[casimir]

57 minutes ago, RandyMarsh said:

Going by the description of the type of player they want the only guy close to that on our team is Bojan and I highly doubt they'd give up the pick for him. 

I’d consider it from the Pistons’ side even if there needs to be some back and forth with other picks/player.

And who knows maybe Portland is more willing than would be assumed in order to make Lillard happy.

[Deleterious]

Never underestimate how dumb a desperate team can be.

[Deleterious]

I want Dallas to get the #1 pick if Detroit doesn't.  The bitching and moaning will be amazing.

[casimir]

25 minutes ago, Deleterious said:

Never underestimate how dumb a desperate team can be.

Team, woman, whatever.

[Betrayer]

Don't underestimate the value of that #31 pick. Great spot to pick up a player that has dropped out of the first round without taking on a guaranteed contract. Valuable pick whether you keep it or trade it.

[Scottwood]

On 4/5/2023 at 7:56 AM, RandyMarsh said:

Speaking of Victor has there been any concerns about him from scouts or is he still seen as the best prospect since Lebron?

Just curious cause usually even the best prospects start to get prospect fatigue or whatever you want to call it, basically the longer you go as the number 1 guy the more people magnify your game or try to find holes in it. Wiggins, Simmons and to some extent Zion come to mind in regards to this. 

Woj was on ESPN a few weeks ago and said NBA execs put Victor as a top 3 prospect ever with LeBron and Kareem. So, they haven't changed their views of him at all. It does seem like Scoot is not as hyped as he once was. He's still considered a great prospect, but at one point he was being talked about as a #1 pick in most drafts and I don't get the sense that NBA execs feel that way anymore.

I think the only thing that will stop Vic is injuries.

Edited April 12, 2023 by Scottwood

[RandyMarsh]

2 hours ago, Scottwood said:

Woj was on ESPN a few weeks ago and said NBA execs put Victor as a top 3 prospect ever with LeBron and Kareem. So, they haven't changed their views of him at all. It does seem like Scoot is not as hyped as he once was. He's still considered a great prospect, but at one point he was being talked about as a #1 pick in most drafts and I don't get the sense that NBA execs feel that way anymore.

I think the only thing that will stop Vic is injuries.

Yeah I noticed that about Scoot as well, I did see that people said he likely wouldve gone number 1 in 2020 and had a chance last year but they still put Cade and Mobley ahead of him in 2021. Earlier in the season many had Scoot as the clear number 1 in that draft too.

[1984Echoes]

5 hours ago, Scottwood said:

Woj was on ESPN a few weeks ago and said NBA execs put Victor as a top 3 prospect ever with LeBron and Kareem. So, they haven't changed their views of him at all. It does seem like Scoot is not as hyped as he once was. He's still considered a great prospect, but at one point he was being talked about as a #1 pick in most drafts and I don't get the sense that NBA execs feel that way anymore.

I think the only thing that will stop Vic is injuries.

So we hope if we draft Wemby then, that he is more Lew Alcinder than Kristaps Porzingis...

 

 

Edited April 12, 2023 by 1984Echoes

[Deleterious]

 

[Deleterious]

Lose 70 games and end up with the wrong French kid.

 

[gehringer_2]

49 minutes ago, Deleterious said:

Lose 70 games and end up with the wrong French kid.

 

Is "strong feel for the game" a euphemism for "no standout skill"?

[Deleterious]

Victor officially declared for the draft.  

[Deleterious]

The #2 ranked kid for 2025 behind Boozer.  I would guess outside of this draft, they are both considered the best NBA prospects even though they are 16.

EYBL has some legit competition.  But some are wishing Flagg wasn't playing U16 and had moved up.

 

[Deleterious]

This won't end well 

 

[Deleterious]

Looks like midnight last night was the deadline to declare for the draft.

 

[Shinzaki]

Wemby reminds me of young Kareem...dissimilar games, but both are/were freakishly fluid athletes for their size.

 

[Deleterious]

Imagine if Bates had lived up to his hype. The draft would have been insane.

[gehringer_2]

1 hour ago, Shinzaki said:

Wemby reminds me of young Kareem...dissimilar games, but both are/were freakishly fluid athletes for their size.

 

LOL at the offensive calls on Bellamy.

[Shinzaki]

I know...and they way Kareem loafed coming up the floor on some of those possessions.  I love watching videos from the 6-70's because the game was so different

[Hongbit]

On 4/24/2023 at 12:14 PM, Shinzaki said:

I know...and they way Kareem loafed coming up the floor on some of those possessions.  I love watching videos from the 6-70's because the game was so different

You try dragging Walton and Lanier up the court for 48 minutes! 

[Hongbit]

Great piece on Vic.   Praying for another miracle even through this franchise doesn’t deserve it.  We’ve seen it before with Cleveland and Minnesota winning it twice in short order.