I’m writing this ramble the morning before the NBA Draft starts on ESPN at 5PM PT. I plan to watch it live at the 10 Barrel Brewing in downtown Portland, as I write for GiveMeSport.

I have been refraining from really giving my opinion as my time largely has been taken up by the job. Lots of fun but very challenging, as I continue to learning how to write on demand. But that hasn’t stopped me from reading every mock and listening to every Portland Trail Blazers reporter from here to eternity as much as possible, though. But I wanted to share this top-of-the-head keyboard scribble that just wouldn’t really fit with the whole vibe, y’know?

As an eternal optimist, I think this draft is neither a “weak draft,” but I’m under no illusions that the top-end talent does not rank very well relative to the past three years. Listening to the last Game Theory Podcast before the draft, I think Bryce Simon used a more prescient term: “flat draft.”

In other words, there’s a lot of role players available. Maybe a high-level star, because there’s always one. For the purposes of the Trail Blazers at #7 and #14, however, that’s a boon. It means that Joe Cronin and Mike Schmitz are not forced to gamble for a star or play it safe. They can swing high-upside on one and take perceived production for the other. And if they really want someone, they have the light assets it takes to move up.

Houston, we have a Brogdon—I kid, they would probably want Grant, although there’s buzz about a potential trade for Durant, which is… ballsy, to say the least.

But for the purpose of this brief exercise, let’s just say the Trail Blazers stay at #7 and #14 and I had swapped consciousness with Joe Cronin.

#7 Tidjane Salaun, SF, Cholet

For #7 I’m pretty inclined on Tidjane Salaun from Cholet in France. I think he’s more of a swingman than a true forward, but I like his profile, I like his game and as much as I want Cody Williams, I’m not willing to pass up Salaun’s upside. The kid is just big. He’s 6’10”, 220 lbs, apparently has a frame to grow even bigger and has a motor like no other. Oh, and he shot threes in the French first division at a 40% clip.

Questions surround the kid, but I’m willing to give a French forward another swing, mainly because he is still so raw and the Blazers need to find solutions to a power forward position currently occupied by the likely departing Jerami Grant. The only other options is Dalton Knecht from Tennessee. I would take a look at him as well because of his value as a pure shooter to a team that desperately needs more shooting from its wings corps. But considering Knecht is mocked to Charlotte, I’m willing to spend the higher pick on aa project.

#14 Kel’el Ware, C/F, Indiana

For #14, I would pick Kel’el Ware, a forward/center out of Indiana. This is a bold pick by mock draft standards, considering he’s predicted to fall more towards the 17-22 range. Of course the common refrain why is motor, motor, motor, I know; Ware has questions about his motor. But that’s why I chose Salaun. And watching the game tape, it’s pretty clear that Ware has every bit the skillset of Clingan or Edey, but with a little bit more mobility.

It’s also important to consider that Billups’ scheme emphasizes the ability to press aggressively, switch coverage and generally stay on a swivel, Ware seems like a more natural fit what with Ayton being the presumptive starting center. The key philosophy is that I’m looking for an improvement at backup center because Robert Williams does not inspire confidence regarding health and Reath is a gadget roleplayer, not a long-term solution.

So there you have it that’s what I think the Blazers should do at #7 and #14. I’m very much a “fuck it, there’s a high-upside pick in here somewhere” kind of mindset right now, and I think both picks give the Blazers at least role-player capability. The goal isn’t to win games anyways so, why not pick projects?

Some Other Things

• The NBA’s choice to adopt the two-day draft format was is and always will be stupid. This isn’t the NFL, with 40-something players per team. There’s only 58 selections. The league has stated that this will give teams more time to consider the second round. But that just seems unnecessary. The last two months have been a circus of consideration, teams don’t need another day. Whatever, I guess. More topics to write about.
  
• I’ve been extremely skeptical with buzz predicting Zach Edey out of Purdue at #7. Far be it from me to deny that Edey is the college player of the year, brought Purdue to the Final Four and is a post-up machine. He also can set a mean screen and Johnathan Givony reported that Edey showcased a pretty impressive three-pointer at the Draft Combine.
  
  My impression of him from watching tape, however, is that his agility does not impress. He moves like a battleship, and the NBA is a missile cruiser’s league. Could he be the selection at #14? Sure. I wouldn’t like it, but I would like it a lot less if the Blazers decided #7 was worth Edey. To hedge my bets, I’m willing to be wrong and go full hero turn if he does well.
  
• I was reading a Reddit post on /r/RipCity (I know, reddit, bad for your health) that posed a question about how Mikal Bridges’ move to the Knicks changes the market for Anfernee Simons. It gave me quite a laugh, considering that Simons is (a) not a wing, and (b) can not play defense.
  
  Even though the hypothetical “Anthony Black, salary and one protected first round pick” from Orlando deal has been kicking around for a while now, it’s pretty clear Simons would need to play out of his frickin’ mind for that deal to happen. Until the trade deadline or next offseason, we likely keep him and his value likely stays the same.

---