SB Nation’s Portland Trailblazers blog Blazers Edge explains the pick: After multiple attempts to trade into the lottery, the faux Blazers decided to take a different route. By trading down to Brooklyn’s pick, Portland kept its spot in the same tier of wing prospects while adding a second round pick. Donte DiVincenzo fits a need, and he could pave the way for a potential backcourt shakeup if he reaches his ceiling. The Blazers need to reliably space the floor for Damian Lillard to flourish, and DiVincenzo’s shooting gives an adequate boost to the current rotation. Along with his shooting, the 21-year-old guard will provide insurance for a possible Pat Connaughton departure this summer. The added second round pick will give the Blazers a chance to address the backup point guard position at a reduced price. Like Connaughton, Shabazz Napier could easily move to a different team this summer. Landry Shamet, Devonte’ Graham, and Trevon Duval represent possible options for Portland at pick No. 45.<doc-sep>The Portland Trail Blazers head into the 2018 NBA Draft with the 24th overall selection in the first round, but Beat Writer Joe Freeman of The Oregonian isn’t convinced that executing the pick is their best option. Participating in a Mock Draft headed up by the Boston Globe, Freeman selected Khyri Thomas from Creighton, but offered this paragraph in the midst of the proceedings: The Blazers are in a place where they need to get older, not younger. So it seems to make the most sense that they look to trade their draft pick -- No. 24 overall -- in an effort to acquire a veteran who can help next season. Earlier, Freeman penned an article looking specifically at the trade issue, in which he added this observation: Owner Paul Allen, who lives for the draft and historically watches workouts featuring serious draft targets, notably did not sit in on any predraft workouts this summer, which only fuels speculation the Blazers are looking to deal. That said, Allen’s right-hand man, Bert Kolde, watched two of the five workouts, scrutinizing Bates-Diop, Frazier, Brown, Okogie, Thomas and UCLA’s Aaron Holiday, among others. Do you think the Blazers will pull the trigger on a trade instead of going for a younger, less-expensive prospect? Do you think that’s their best move at this point?<doc-sep>BROOKLYN, NY - JUNE 22: Zach Collins speaks with the media after being selected tenth overall by the Portland Trail Blazers at the 2017 NBA Draft on June 22, 2017 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Stephen Pellegrino/NBAE via Getty Images) Getting ready for the NBA Draft? So is Rip City Project. Here’s what to expect … Getting ready for the NBA Draft? So is Rip City Project. Here’s what to expect … by Matt George Moore Out of all the teams with a selection in the 2018 NBA Draft, the Blazers seem to have least consensus on what will happen June 21. Every mock draft released by sports media platforms provide a different option for who Portland picks. In a loaded draft, No. 24 can hold a player capable of making immediate change. At the same time, it can become another project for the Blazers, a team which needs to take advantage of Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum‘s prime. So Portland is looking for an already-developed player, ideally a 3-and-D wing, at No. 24. Or, it might explore using the trade to salary dump ahead of free agency. Tanking teams like the Atlanta Hawks and Sacramento Kings may enjoy another selection in this year’s strong draft class in addition to a player with a big contract (i.e. Meyers Leonard or Evan Turner). So what are all the potential options on June 21? Use the Pick The Blazers have hosted four workout sessions, each consisting of six players. The majority of these participants were defensive-minded guards. A few others were big men, of whom many are projected to go undrafted. The fans understand that Portland needs a 3-and-D wing the most. However, the team is exploring all options as few 3-and-D wings will be available around No. 24. Jacob Evans, Troy Brown and Chandler Hutchison are the primary options, but all have interest from teams ahead of the Blazers. In the case that no wings are available at No. 24, the Blazers appear most interested in a defensive-minded guard. Shabazz Napier and Pat Connaughton are free agents this summer, potentially leaving Wade Baldwin IV alone in Portland’s reserve backcourt. Khyri Thomas and De’Anthony Melton‘s defensive and efficient off-ball scoring capabilities make them the best fit. If Portland can’t re-sign Ed Davis or Jusuf Nurkic, it will want to have drafted a big man. So far, one of the only centers to potentially go at No. 24 is Chimezie Metu of USC. There’s also Mo Wagner of Michigan and Keita Bates-Diop of Ohio State. As this shows, there’s no consensus as to who the Blazers choose. Even with less than one week until the 2018 NBA Draft, these are Portland’s selections in various mock drafts: Jonathan Wasserman, Bleacher Report: Troy Brown (Oregon). Sean Deveney, Sporting News: Mo Wagner (Michigan). Jeremy Woo, Sports Illustrated: De’Anthony Melton (USC). Trade the Pick The Blazers currently hold two Traded Player Exceptions from trades last season. While there’s little history of beneficially used TPEs, Neil Olshey does get crafty with his trades. Involving the draft, though, he can use the No. 24 pick to entice younger teams much easier. A few of the tanking teams, like the Sacramento Kings, have few selections in this year’s strong class. With plenty of cap space and no potential of making the playoffs within a two-season span, these teams might be willing to absorb one of Portland’s big contracts if paired with the pick. Also, trades swapping CJ McCollum for another marquee player, like Kevin Love, often include the No. 24 pick. Plenty of options exist for Portland on June 21. Some can benefit the team immediately, while others don’t move the needle at all. Hopefully, either via trade or a good draft selection, the Blazers can improve before another season of Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors-dominance in the Western Conference.<doc-sep>With the 2018 NBA Draft in the books, it is time for us to take a look at the 2019 NBA Draft, one in which NBA scouts are not all that enthusiastic about the players at the top. One thing to note here is that there are quite a few players in the Class of 2019 that are old enough to reclassify. Ashton Hagans and Charles Bassey have already done it. There may be a few more than follow in the footsteps of Marvin Bagley III and enroll in August. Here is a quick mock of the 2019 lottery: 1. R.J. BARRETT, Duke Barrett seems like he is ready to follow in the footsteps of Anthony Bennett and Andrew Wiggins before him, becoming the third Canadian youngster to get picked No. 1 in the draft. Before we get into stats and projections, it must be noted: Barrett was phenomenal at the U19 World Cup last summer, as he led the Canadians to a gold medal. That included a semifinal win over Team USA where Barrett put up 38 points, 13 boards and five assists on an American team that included the likes of P.J. Washington, Cam Reddish, Carsen Edwards and first round picks Josh Okogie and Kevin Huerter. There is an awful lot to like about Barrett and the way that he projects at the NBA level. He stands 6-foot-6. He already has a solid build. He can play on the ball given his passing ability and has the athleticism to play as a wing and a slasher off the ball. He should be able to guard multiple positions. His ceiling will be determined by how well his jumper develops, but he’s already spent time working with the Three-Point Whisperer, Drew Hanlen. 2. NASSIR LITTLE, North Carolina Little’s college career got off to something of a rocky start before it even started. He found himself ensnared in the FBI’s investigation into corruption in college basketball when shoe company executives were caught on wiretaps talking about a bidding war between Nike and Adidas and whether they’d funnel him to Arizona or Miami. That turned out well for North Carolina, because he fell into their lap and could end up being the highest Tar Heel picked in the draft since Marvin Williams went No. 2 in 2005. Little was one of the biggest risers in this recruiting class, going from being a four-star recruit to a top five player in the class. He was the MVP of the McDonalds game. He’s added strength and continuously played with a motor that he hasn’t always shown. His size (6-foot-7), length (7-foot-1 wingspan) and athletic ability makes him an ideal switchable wing, and if his jumper continues to progress, he’ll have a chance to play for a long time in the NBA. 3. CAM REDDISH, Duke Like Little and Barrett, Reddish is a fluid, 6-foot-7 wing with a long wingspan and the kind of athleticism that would lead you to believe he can play and defend multiple positions. Unlike Barrett and Little, Reddish is further along on the offensive side of the ball than on the defensive side. He’s a better shooter than the two guys listed in front of him, but his growth will come as he learns to be tougher and improves defensively. But that skill-set he has offensively is really intriguing, and there are some that believe that, given what his ceiling is as a scorer, he could end up being the best player in this class if it all comes together for him. 4. DE’ANDRE HUNTER, Virginia Hunter is going to be an interesting draft prospect to monitor. For the most part, Tony Bennett has done a phenomenal job at turning relatively average — from an NBA perspective — prospect into quality pros. Mike Scott is still in the NBA. Malcolm Brogdon won Rookie of the Year and looks like a steal of a second round pick. Joe Harris. Justin Anderson. Even Klay Thompson is a Tony Bennett product from the Washington State days. But Hunter, who averaged 9.2 points and 3.5 boards last season, is different. Given his physical tools and skill-set, he fits the mold of a wing in the modern NBA perfectly. He has the size at 6-foot-7, the wingspan, the defensive versatility. He can makes threes and attack closeouts. He has some ability to create his own shot. How will he develop in a system that is so … well, Virginia? 5. QUENTIN GRIMES, Kansas Grimes is stepping into a situation at Kansas that is going to be somewhat strange. On the one hand, with four starters gone — including the entire perimeter — the Jayhawks are going to have shots available. On the other hand, Kansas had three players, including all-american Dedric Lawson, sitting out as transfers. Rarely has a new roster ever been so experienced. Grimes should fit in just fine. At 6-foot-5, he has the size and ability to play on or off the ball. He can shoot it, he can operate in ball-screens and he has a feel for the game. He’s just a good, solid basketball player that has some upside and should provide Bill Self — who he spent July playing for with the U18 team — with some immediate backcourt relief. 6. SEKOU DOUMBOUYA, France I’m not going to pretend like I’ve watched a ton of video on Doumbouya, but people I trust are high on him. The native of Guinea checks all the boxes for what NBA teams are looking for: Long, athletic, versatile defensively. Read this profile on him to get a feel. 7. DANIEL GAFFORD, Arkansas Gafford was arguably the biggest surprise in this draft class, as he turned down a chance to sneak into the back-end of the lottery to return to Arkansas for his sophomore season. At 6-foot-11, Gafford, who posted 11.8 points, 6.2 boards and 2.2 blocks as a freshman in the SEC, is an absolute freak of an athlete with solid length, some defensive instincts and quite a bit of potential.<doc-sep>
The 2018 NBA Draft is coming up this week, and there is still no consensus on whom the Portland Trail Blazers will pick with the No. 24 selection. Portland hosted what could be its final group of pre-draft workouts last week. Let’s see who draft experts around the basketball community have going to the Blazers at pick 24 after our fourth Mock Draft Roundup. Jonathan Wasserman, Bleacher Report: Troy Brown (SG/SF, Oregon) Still 18 years old, Brown didn’t put it all together during his lone season at Oregon. But his potential two-way versatility is a major draw. Brown has wing size, point-forward facilitating skills and the ability to guard multiple positions. Shooting could be the swing skill that determines Brown’s long-term value. Gary Parrish, CBS Sports: Kevin Huerter (SG, Maryland) Huerter, who was good at the combine, has reportedly also been really good in private workouts -- all of which made it sensible for the 6-6 shooter to leave Maryland after two seasons. He averaged 14.8 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 34.4 minutes a game for a Maryland team that finished 39th at KenPom. But the key stat is that Huerter made 41.7 percent of the 5.5 3-pointers he took per contest. So he projects as a wing with size who can be a reliable threat from the perimeter. No, the hand injury he just suffered isn’t ideal. But there’s no real reason to think it’ll cost him much, if it all, on draft night. The Blazers remain in need of a defensive-minded perimeter presence to complement their stars and should have some options in that regard at this spot. Melton is viewed as a first-round caliber talent and would fit that description cleanly. He’s best paired off the ball alongside a creative guard, with long arms, active hands and a knack for forcing mistakes on the defensive end. Melton has a good sense of how to play in transition, but isn’t very good at finding ways to score in the halfcourt right now. His jump shot was inconsistent at USC, but looks solid mechanically and isn’t viewed as a dealbreaker. Sean Deveney, Sporting News: Mo Wagner (PF/C, Michigan) The Blazers could use a frontcourt shooter who can create space for Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum. Wagner has that capability. They could gamble on Dzanan Musa here, too, though Musa’s defensive reputation — it’s not good — might be a hindrance. Michael Scotto, The Athletic (subscription required): Jerome Robinson (PG, Boston College) Robinson established himself as one of the best scoring guards in the ACC averaging 20.7 points while shooting 49 percent from the field overall, 41 percent from 3-point range, and 83 percent from the foul line. Trail Blazers backup point guard Shabazz Napier is eligible for a $3.45 million qualifying offer and restricted free agency this summer. Tim Bontemps, The Washington Post: Jacob Evans (SF, Cincinnati) Assuming Portland keeps Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum, it needs help on the wing — and, in particular, shooting and defense. Enter Evans, who feels like a potential long-term version of Trevor Ariza, who has basically become the model for “three-and-D” players in today’s NBA. The NBA Draft is Thursday, June 21. We’ll try to provide one more Mock Draft Roundup before Thursday if they’re available.