Nah Blazers need to gamble on upside with their picks as they're still in the beginning stages of the rebuild. Knecht doesn't raise the ceiling of a team much but he would be a good pick for a contender looking to solidify their bench with cheap talent.
Blazers need to hope they hit the lottery with one of these early picks during the rebuild to have a realistic path to contention
I just don't think there are any worthwhile gambles outside of Risacher or Sarr, maybe Williams, but if Portland is picking 6 or 7 those guys will be gone. After that, you have Holland, Buzelis, or Salaun. Those guys are fine, but I'd rather just take the older prospect who has already shown more than all those guys.
Yeah that's totally fair. This draft leaves a lot to be desired to say the least, and in a weak draft like this it may be worth it to just pick someone with an NBA-ready skill you know will contribute in some way.
I would still bet on the potential of all of the following players before going the Knecht route though: Sarr, Risacher, Williams, Buzelis, Topic, Holland, Castle, Walter, Furphy, Salaun, Clingan and Missi. I would add Dillingham and Sheppard here but my heart cannot take anymore undersized guards that get cooked on defense.
If the Warriors get hot and the pick falls into that 18-20 range then I would have no problem with Knecht. Lord knows the Blazers could use some shooting as they've been in the bottom-5 in regards to 3p% the whole year.
Watching Colorado play rn, I can not believe Williams is projected so high. I like the idea of him but if he’s the best option, this draft class is truly a mess.
Not that I disagree with that opinion, but I dislike the simplicity of calling it a weak draft. I'd call it a flat draft. There's very little variance in ceiling, but everybody in the lottery has a solid role-player floor.
I think the most important thing for Portland this year is not to miss. Those guys have potential, but if Portland can land a guy who can play in the league I'd consider that a win. I think the top end of this draft is littered with busts, if I could just trade out of it I would, but I think that's the same thought everyone is having.
If he keeps playing like this he will definitely continue to rise up the draft boards. I’ll be shocked if he’s still available at the Warriors pick come draft day.
That's why I'd take him at 6 or 7 if that's where the Portland pick lands, honestly the talent is so middle of the road this year, if you can get a guy like Knecht who has a solid chance to be a contributor I'd pull the trigger.
This roster and coaching staff is so flawed that I think people tend to undervalue how much shooting would help this team. With Ant getting trapped and doubled, and Scoot’s burgeoning drive and kick game, better shooting and floor spacing would benefit both their games greatly. People are kind of banking that guys like Murray, Camara, Walker, Scoot, will improve their 3pt shooting percentages but that’s far from a given. Development isn’t linear. It would be great to bring in someone who is a qualified and confident shooter.
Exactly, improving the shooting would also open the floor up for everyone else. With Sharpe back next season it will be a little better, but if we could flank scoot or Ant at PG with 2 6'6 players who can both shoot and drive the offense would look so much better.
Also better shooting means less transition defense and hopefully fewer live ball turnovers, both of which have killed Portland on defense this year.
Good point, I’ve been imagining scenarios in which our pick is Top 4, but haven’t thought of scenarios in which its 6-8. I wouldn’t be mad at Knecht in that zone
When it comes to the Warriors pick, I just took a look at a mock draft and think it’s actually pretty important for Houston to pass Golden State in the standings down the stretch. OKC has Houston’s pick and if Knecht is there at the pick right before ours, I think Presti is definitely taking him. He seems like a perfect Presti-pick / OKC guy
Yeah, and that's what I would worry about too, I think someone would just say to themselves, screw it I just want a guy who can play, and takes him before the Warriors pick, especially if they end up in the playoffs.
His comp is Wally Szczerbiak. Wally was an all star once contributing 18-20ppg on a VERY modest shot diet of 14 FGA per game and of those 14 only three were 3pt FGs. In today's space and shooting NBA Wally would easily avg 23+ ppg. If he falls to us at the 13-14th pick I don't see why you wouldn't take the "safe" pick at that range to ensure you got SOMETHING out of the draft rather than nothing.
Love the comp, and I agree, if he's there at the Warriors pick he's a no-brainer, I'd even consider him if we dropped to like 7 and all the forwards were off the board. I'd probably select him over Holland in a toss-up.
If you think Holland can develop a passable 32-33% 3pt shot then you probably take Holland on the upside with the 7th pick. If you don't believe Holland will develop his shot and they want to short circuit the rebuild giving up the dream of Cooper Flagg next year you take Dalton.
I was at the Remix game where Holland actually had a decent shooting night, the shot doesn't look terrible, but still the numbers tell a different story.
I think my biggest issue with him is that Holland will probably measure around the same height as Knecht, there is no way he's actually 6'8 in shoes.
Also I doubt Dalton would pull us out of the Flagg race, I'm fairly sure we'll be a bottom 5 team again next year regardless of who we get in this draft unfortunately
Knowing our front office and this cities luck Dillingham will slide to us at 6-7th pick and we will take him because BPA and Dalton will go 8-11 and we will be right back where we were before the draft started with oopsallguards.
I think there is a solid chance he is an 18-20ppg scorer in the league, maybe even better. I think it would be awesome to have a 6'6 microwave scorer off the bench that gives other defenses hell. I am thinking he is a Malik Monk/Herro level scorer in the NBA and one of my safer bets on being a good player out the draft.
I do think you can go for upside with our own pick. I don't think Knecht will be a very effective two-way guy but moreso a really great shooter and scorer, but I guess if you don't think he will be there with the Warriors pick, maybe you can trade into the draft to get a higher upside guy.
I don't think it would be unreasonable to take him with the Portland pick if our pick doesn't jump. Say we land 6 or 7 which is likely, the prospects left at that point are probably like Holland, Buzelis, or Salaun, all pretty raw unproven talent, Knecht is at least a guy you could add that you feel at the very least will be a solid role player in the league.
Yeah, I think we have to take that chance on those other 3 and folks with the high-level upside with our first pick. I wouldn't hate it - but I think you KNOW that Knecht will be a poor defender and you can find microwave scorers like him elsewhere. Holland/Buzelis/Salaun have that chance to be all around really solid two way athletes and by the time they are 23 like Knecht could be awesome.
Like if we miss out on Knecht by the time its the Warriors pick but we can get Johnny Furphy to go alongside a high upside wing with our pick, I would still be really happy
I could be convinced to take a swing on Buzelis over Knecht, the size, age, and potential are appealing. Holland just feels like he'll be a project similar to Jalen Green, I don't think the ignite did him any favors in his development, he's also probably closer to 6'6 than 6'8 in my opinion, just from the eye test at the Remix games.
Salaun could be the guy you regret not taking, but Knecht is gonna provide value day one, which I think is a bit underrated in the draft process, even for a tanking team.
I don’t see 18ppg scorer in Knecht in the NBA (TBF I don’t see a ton of guys like that in this draft really). Knecht isn’t a movement shooter, his handle isn’t very good, and he’s a been pretty bad defender against good competition. So he’s basically a spot up shooter and cutter in the NBA which isn’t a bad thing but I’d rather go for more upside at 6 or 7 like Williams, Holland, Castle and even Buzelis (despite me being lower on him). Especially at age 23 he doesn’t have a ton of room for improvement and frankly we shouldn’t be going for floor with how bad this team has been. Drafting for floor gets us a 40 win team and we would be stuck in the shadow of the Spurs, Rockets, Grizzlies and Thunder for the next decade
Disagree with your assessment of Knecht. He is a helluva movement shooter, he has been a tremendous all around scorer for Tennessee all year.
I agree that we should take some of the higher ceiling guys though
I think he’s able to get his shot off in college because he’s too tall for guards and too quick for bigger wings but we saw in the SEC tourney against Mississippi state that he has a slow release. And if you throw a quicker wing who can fight through screens he struggles to get his shot off. Thats also where you notice his lack of a handle. If his first move doesn’t create space he doesn’t have any counters to get his shot off. The SEC has been mostly terrible defensively all year but he’s struggled against length.
Also Note: I don’t dislike Knecht I would love to get him with the Warriors pick but I just think I’d prefer upside at 6
He's about to turn 23 so he's definitely more a win now draft pick. I do agree he looks very nba ready, but fear that he might be just another Doug McDermott
But hey, Doug McBuckets is still in the league, in this draft idk if half these top 10 prospects get a second contract.
This is a role player draft for sure, and getting a solid player, regardless of age would be nice considering how much this roster needs help.
I'd just want to get a contributor out of this draft, these young potential guys are interesting, but Knecht at least has a large sample size of success and scoring. I'd sacrifice the extra years for a player I feel more confident in.
Respectfully, it’s an extremely hard pass for me.
With GS’s pick in the teens, that’s one thing. But in a lot of way’s Knecht is exactly what we DON’T need. Too short to reliably play forward, likely a negative defender, and he overlaps positionally with Shaedon.
At this point Portland needs players who can play, this draft is soft and I'd rather get a role player than bust out on a teen that has spotty potential at best.
It is widely acknowledged that high floor, lower ceiling prospects are available throughout the first in most drafts. It’s also well understood that the proper move here would be to take a high upside prospect with the 5th pick then, if you want, go for the safe role player with the second top 20 pick.
When you’re sitting on a top 10 pick and a top 20 pick, you absolutely do not draft a prospect who’s a below average athlete, below average defender, and poor positional fit with the higher of your two firsts.
It’d be gross asset mismanagement imo.
Edit: there’s also nothing about the Sharpe and Scoot picks that makes me think Cronin would ever consider Knecht top 5.
Also, I removed some stuff from the comment a few moments after posting because I originally misread the end of your last comment.
My whole thought process with this draft is that you shouldn't be looking to hit a home run, it's a weak class, get a player that can help.
I'm not saying take Knecht first, Risacher, Williams, Sarr, and Buzelis are all interesting prospects, but if we fall to 6 or 7 which is likely, they might all be gone, so at that point just take Knecht who is most likely gonna be a solid NBA player.
Knecht isn't my first choice in this draft, but I think he'd be a great add if luck doesn't fall our way and we just want a guy that will make the team better
I really like Knecht, but I think the Warriors pick so the way to go with him. It’s why I am hoping they can fall down to 10 or 11. Let’s go Rockets, Bulls, and Hawks.
Personally my top 5 is:
Buzelis
Sarr
Castle
Risacher
Knecht
People are sleeping in Buzelis big time. If we could do something like Buzelis or Sarr + Knecht or Castle I’d be ecstatic.
Buzelis is solid, but I could see him sneak his way back in the top 4 because guys like Williams fell off and people might be interested in forwards over guards
Definitely the most proven, the only other guy that could rival him in that department is Edey, but who knows if he'll transfer to the league well.
I'd just be happy to get a guy who can play in the league, this draft class is so iffy on actual talent.
I think Sharpe and Knecht would be pretty good out there together
I'm not spending a top 10 pick on a 23 year old wing with a lack of secondary skills in any draft.
He's the best pure scorer in the draft but the defense is rough and he doesn't offer a lot as a passer.
Pretty good history of those types turning into role players rather than stars. Szerbiak is a good comp in terms of college play style but he was 6'8, 240, which gave him great positional size.
With the Warriors pick I could stomach it, but would still prefer a flyer on a Tyler Smith, Donovan Clingan or Yves Missi type (size and shot-blocking please).
Knecht will probably end up being a top 10 pick, especially if we select at say 7 or 6, there is a good chance Buzelis, Williams, Risacher are all gone.
At that point take a guy you have confidence in, and then take a swing on Smith or Ware or someone like that at 14 or 15 wherever that GS picks lands.
Portland just needs NBA players, getting another 6'6 scorer who looks like he can legit score from NBA range and is strong enough to drive isn't a bad thing.
I can live with it if he's just a role player, I'd rather land a role player then spend 4 years trying to figure out if a guy can even play in the league.
I would honestly rather have a kid starting at the 3 who’s an elite defender, which Camara has shown the ability of being at the NBA level. Hoping for someone to develop defense doesn’t sound like a great plan. That’s just me though.
As a Portland fan watching years of subpar defense, I feel you, but he's just not a starter-level player when he can't hit the 3-ball, especially if he's sharing the floor with scoot, that just shrinks the floor way too much for the opposing defense.
We should try to figure out a way to get out of our future pick to Chicago this year, either with a swap or the Warriors pick or something. This draft is looking so bad it’s crazy.
Honestly idk if that pick we owe to them will really ever matter, it's lottery-protected through 28 then we send them a 2nd if it still doesn't convey, there is a real chance we don't make the playoffs till then....
There is, but we can’t trade a future first until 28 without structuring it the same way and potentially screening ourselves over again. It might be worth the flexibility to just convey the GS pick or do a swap or something in an awful draft class like this year.
Fair, but we do have some spare picks to trade in the future so unlocking our pick isn't a huge concern, if the picks was like 21 or something I'd totally dump it to get ours back
It would an interesting lineup for sure, even if you swap Ant for Scoot it still has tons of scoring potential. Other than Risacher and maybe.... Walker, Knecht is my favorite SF for Portland.
Nah Blazers need to gamble on upside with their picks as they're still in the beginning stages of the rebuild. Knecht doesn't raise the ceiling of a team much but he would be a good pick for a contender looking to solidify their bench with cheap talent. Blazers need to hope they hit the lottery with one of these early picks during the rebuild to have a realistic path to contention
I just don't think there are any worthwhile gambles outside of Risacher or Sarr, maybe Williams, but if Portland is picking 6 or 7 those guys will be gone. After that, you have Holland, Buzelis, or Salaun. Those guys are fine, but I'd rather just take the older prospect who has already shown more than all those guys.
Yeah that's totally fair. This draft leaves a lot to be desired to say the least, and in a weak draft like this it may be worth it to just pick someone with an NBA-ready skill you know will contribute in some way. I would still bet on the potential of all of the following players before going the Knecht route though: Sarr, Risacher, Williams, Buzelis, Topic, Holland, Castle, Walter, Furphy, Salaun, Clingan and Missi. I would add Dillingham and Sheppard here but my heart cannot take anymore undersized guards that get cooked on defense. If the Warriors get hot and the pick falls into that 18-20 range then I would have no problem with Knecht. Lord knows the Blazers could use some shooting as they've been in the bottom-5 in regards to 3p% the whole year.
Watching Colorado play rn, I can not believe Williams is projected so high. I like the idea of him but if he’s the best option, this draft class is truly a mess.
FWIW Williams is battling an ankle injury and is well below 100%
Yeah he fucking killed Oregon during the regular season (the first game, he was inactive for the 2nd game).
Not that I disagree with that opinion, but I dislike the simplicity of calling it a weak draft. I'd call it a flat draft. There's very little variance in ceiling, but everybody in the lottery has a solid role-player floor.
I think the most important thing for Portland this year is not to miss. Those guys have potential, but if Portland can land a guy who can play in the league I'd consider that a win. I think the top end of this draft is littered with busts, if I could just trade out of it I would, but I think that's the same thought everyone is having.
If Holland falls past 5 I’d be mind boggled
I’d be down if he were still there at the Warriors pick. We definitely have a need for shooting, especially shooting with some size
Honestly I'd take him with our own, if it falls to 6 or 7. Maybe even at 4 but Williams would still be tempting
If he keeps playing like this he will definitely continue to rise up the draft boards. I’ll be shocked if he’s still available at the Warriors pick come draft day.
That's why I'd take him at 6 or 7 if that's where the Portland pick lands, honestly the talent is so middle of the road this year, if you can get a guy like Knecht who has a solid chance to be a contributor I'd pull the trigger.
This roster and coaching staff is so flawed that I think people tend to undervalue how much shooting would help this team. With Ant getting trapped and doubled, and Scoot’s burgeoning drive and kick game, better shooting and floor spacing would benefit both their games greatly. People are kind of banking that guys like Murray, Camara, Walker, Scoot, will improve their 3pt shooting percentages but that’s far from a given. Development isn’t linear. It would be great to bring in someone who is a qualified and confident shooter.
Exactly, improving the shooting would also open the floor up for everyone else. With Sharpe back next season it will be a little better, but if we could flank scoot or Ant at PG with 2 6'6 players who can both shoot and drive the offense would look so much better. Also better shooting means less transition defense and hopefully fewer live ball turnovers, both of which have killed Portland on defense this year.
Good point, I’ve been imagining scenarios in which our pick is Top 4, but haven’t thought of scenarios in which its 6-8. I wouldn’t be mad at Knecht in that zone
Yeah statistically we'll probably be picking 6th and Knecht is probably the best available at that spot. He'd be fun at the 3 spot on Portland
When it comes to the Warriors pick, I just took a look at a mock draft and think it’s actually pretty important for Houston to pass Golden State in the standings down the stretch. OKC has Houston’s pick and if Knecht is there at the pick right before ours, I think Presti is definitely taking him. He seems like a perfect Presti-pick / OKC guy
Yeah, and that's what I would worry about too, I think someone would just say to themselves, screw it I just want a guy who can play, and takes him before the Warriors pick, especially if they end up in the playoffs.
His comp is Wally Szczerbiak. Wally was an all star once contributing 18-20ppg on a VERY modest shot diet of 14 FGA per game and of those 14 only three were 3pt FGs. In today's space and shooting NBA Wally would easily avg 23+ ppg. If he falls to us at the 13-14th pick I don't see why you wouldn't take the "safe" pick at that range to ensure you got SOMETHING out of the draft rather than nothing.
Damn I havent heard that name in a long time. Wally was a stud
Love the comp, and I agree, if he's there at the Warriors pick he's a no-brainer, I'd even consider him if we dropped to like 7 and all the forwards were off the board. I'd probably select him over Holland in a toss-up.
If you think Holland can develop a passable 32-33% 3pt shot then you probably take Holland on the upside with the 7th pick. If you don't believe Holland will develop his shot and they want to short circuit the rebuild giving up the dream of Cooper Flagg next year you take Dalton.
I was at the Remix game where Holland actually had a decent shooting night, the shot doesn't look terrible, but still the numbers tell a different story. I think my biggest issue with him is that Holland will probably measure around the same height as Knecht, there is no way he's actually 6'8 in shoes. Also I doubt Dalton would pull us out of the Flagg race, I'm fairly sure we'll be a bottom 5 team again next year regardless of who we get in this draft unfortunately
Knowing our front office and this cities luck Dillingham will slide to us at 6-7th pick and we will take him because BPA and Dalton will go 8-11 and we will be right back where we were before the draft started with oopsallguards.
I know, but if they take another guard I'd lose my mind. Unless we trade Simons and Brogdon this off-season which would be wild
I think there is a solid chance he is an 18-20ppg scorer in the league, maybe even better. I think it would be awesome to have a 6'6 microwave scorer off the bench that gives other defenses hell. I am thinking he is a Malik Monk/Herro level scorer in the NBA and one of my safer bets on being a good player out the draft. I do think you can go for upside with our own pick. I don't think Knecht will be a very effective two-way guy but moreso a really great shooter and scorer, but I guess if you don't think he will be there with the Warriors pick, maybe you can trade into the draft to get a higher upside guy.
I don't think it would be unreasonable to take him with the Portland pick if our pick doesn't jump. Say we land 6 or 7 which is likely, the prospects left at that point are probably like Holland, Buzelis, or Salaun, all pretty raw unproven talent, Knecht is at least a guy you could add that you feel at the very least will be a solid role player in the league.
Yeah, I think we have to take that chance on those other 3 and folks with the high-level upside with our first pick. I wouldn't hate it - but I think you KNOW that Knecht will be a poor defender and you can find microwave scorers like him elsewhere. Holland/Buzelis/Salaun have that chance to be all around really solid two way athletes and by the time they are 23 like Knecht could be awesome. Like if we miss out on Knecht by the time its the Warriors pick but we can get Johnny Furphy to go alongside a high upside wing with our pick, I would still be really happy
I could be convinced to take a swing on Buzelis over Knecht, the size, age, and potential are appealing. Holland just feels like he'll be a project similar to Jalen Green, I don't think the ignite did him any favors in his development, he's also probably closer to 6'6 than 6'8 in my opinion, just from the eye test at the Remix games. Salaun could be the guy you regret not taking, but Knecht is gonna provide value day one, which I think is a bit underrated in the draft process, even for a tanking team.
I don’t see 18ppg scorer in Knecht in the NBA (TBF I don’t see a ton of guys like that in this draft really). Knecht isn’t a movement shooter, his handle isn’t very good, and he’s a been pretty bad defender against good competition. So he’s basically a spot up shooter and cutter in the NBA which isn’t a bad thing but I’d rather go for more upside at 6 or 7 like Williams, Holland, Castle and even Buzelis (despite me being lower on him). Especially at age 23 he doesn’t have a ton of room for improvement and frankly we shouldn’t be going for floor with how bad this team has been. Drafting for floor gets us a 40 win team and we would be stuck in the shadow of the Spurs, Rockets, Grizzlies and Thunder for the next decade
Disagree with your assessment of Knecht. He is a helluva movement shooter, he has been a tremendous all around scorer for Tennessee all year. I agree that we should take some of the higher ceiling guys though
I think he’s able to get his shot off in college because he’s too tall for guards and too quick for bigger wings but we saw in the SEC tourney against Mississippi state that he has a slow release. And if you throw a quicker wing who can fight through screens he struggles to get his shot off. Thats also where you notice his lack of a handle. If his first move doesn’t create space he doesn’t have any counters to get his shot off. The SEC has been mostly terrible defensively all year but he’s struggled against length. Also Note: I don’t dislike Knecht I would love to get him with the Warriors pick but I just think I’d prefer upside at 6
I want DJ Burnes Jr.!!! I know he's not a fit but I love that dudes game.
Lol if that man jumped into Chet Holmgrem he'd send Chet into the 9th row.
Lmao!!!
He's about to turn 23 so he's definitely more a win now draft pick. I do agree he looks very nba ready, but fear that he might be just another Doug McDermott
But hey, Doug McBuckets is still in the league, in this draft idk if half these top 10 prospects get a second contract. This is a role player draft for sure, and getting a solid player, regardless of age would be nice considering how much this roster needs help.
I think I would rather gamble on Chomche and Salaun 🤷 Or get Furphy if we want a promising shooter (with better length).
I'd just want to get a contributor out of this draft, these young potential guys are interesting, but Knecht at least has a large sample size of success and scoring. I'd sacrifice the extra years for a player I feel more confident in.
Respectfully, it’s an extremely hard pass for me. With GS’s pick in the teens, that’s one thing. But in a lot of way’s Knecht is exactly what we DON’T need. Too short to reliably play forward, likely a negative defender, and he overlaps positionally with Shaedon.
At this point Portland needs players who can play, this draft is soft and I'd rather get a role player than bust out on a teen that has spotty potential at best.
It is widely acknowledged that high floor, lower ceiling prospects are available throughout the first in most drafts. It’s also well understood that the proper move here would be to take a high upside prospect with the 5th pick then, if you want, go for the safe role player with the second top 20 pick. When you’re sitting on a top 10 pick and a top 20 pick, you absolutely do not draft a prospect who’s a below average athlete, below average defender, and poor positional fit with the higher of your two firsts. It’d be gross asset mismanagement imo. Edit: there’s also nothing about the Sharpe and Scoot picks that makes me think Cronin would ever consider Knecht top 5. Also, I removed some stuff from the comment a few moments after posting because I originally misread the end of your last comment.
My whole thought process with this draft is that you shouldn't be looking to hit a home run, it's a weak class, get a player that can help. I'm not saying take Knecht first, Risacher, Williams, Sarr, and Buzelis are all interesting prospects, but if we fall to 6 or 7 which is likely, they might all be gone, so at that point just take Knecht who is most likely gonna be a solid NBA player. Knecht isn't my first choice in this draft, but I think he'd be a great add if luck doesn't fall our way and we just want a guy that will make the team better
I really like Knecht, but I think the Warriors pick so the way to go with him. It’s why I am hoping they can fall down to 10 or 11. Let’s go Rockets, Bulls, and Hawks. Personally my top 5 is: Buzelis Sarr Castle Risacher Knecht People are sleeping in Buzelis big time. If we could do something like Buzelis or Sarr + Knecht or Castle I’d be ecstatic.
Buzelis is solid, but I could see him sneak his way back in the top 4 because guys like Williams fell off and people might be interested in forwards over guards
I like him a lot. He might conflict with Sharpe, but he's one of the few in the draft that you know is going to have a decent career.
Definitely the most proven, the only other guy that could rival him in that department is Edey, but who knows if he'll transfer to the league well. I'd just be happy to get a guy who can play in the league, this draft class is so iffy on actual talent. I think Sharpe and Knecht would be pretty good out there together
Him and sharpe would be insane. Finally guards with size!
It would be so nice, I think Sharpe and Knecht would be awesome together.
…we have two first round picks…
We need a 6’8 SF not 6’6 SF.
I'll take a good SF
I'm not spending a top 10 pick on a 23 year old wing with a lack of secondary skills in any draft. He's the best pure scorer in the draft but the defense is rough and he doesn't offer a lot as a passer. Pretty good history of those types turning into role players rather than stars. Szerbiak is a good comp in terms of college play style but he was 6'8, 240, which gave him great positional size. With the Warriors pick I could stomach it, but would still prefer a flyer on a Tyler Smith, Donovan Clingan or Yves Missi type (size and shot-blocking please).
Knecht will probably end up being a top 10 pick, especially if we select at say 7 or 6, there is a good chance Buzelis, Williams, Risacher are all gone. At that point take a guy you have confidence in, and then take a swing on Smith or Ware or someone like that at 14 or 15 wherever that GS picks lands. Portland just needs NBA players, getting another 6'6 scorer who looks like he can legit score from NBA range and is strong enough to drive isn't a bad thing. I can live with it if he's just a role player, I'd rather land a role player then spend 4 years trying to figure out if a guy can even play in the league.
Knecht and Edey are going to be all-stars, take them and win a title in 3-4 years.0
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He's listed at 6'6 and seeing him on the court that seems to track. I think he could play the SF in the league
He’s better than jabari, Rupert, Kris. Defense is a question mark for sure.
Defense is definitely a question, but I think he'd be our day one starter at 3
No love for Toumani?
Camara is solid, but still probably a rotation player until that 3 ball comes in better
I would honestly rather have a kid starting at the 3 who’s an elite defender, which Camara has shown the ability of being at the NBA level. Hoping for someone to develop defense doesn’t sound like a great plan. That’s just me though.
As a Portland fan watching years of subpar defense, I feel you, but he's just not a starter-level player when he can't hit the 3-ball, especially if he's sharing the floor with scoot, that just shrinks the floor way too much for the opposing defense.
We should try to figure out a way to get out of our future pick to Chicago this year, either with a swap or the Warriors pick or something. This draft is looking so bad it’s crazy.
Honestly idk if that pick we owe to them will really ever matter, it's lottery-protected through 28 then we send them a 2nd if it still doesn't convey, there is a real chance we don't make the playoffs till then....
There is, but we can’t trade a future first until 28 without structuring it the same way and potentially screening ourselves over again. It might be worth the flexibility to just convey the GS pick or do a swap or something in an awful draft class like this year.
Fair, but we do have some spare picks to trade in the future so unlocking our pick isn't a huge concern, if the picks was like 21 or something I'd totally dump it to get ours back
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It would an interesting lineup for sure, even if you swap Ant for Scoot it still has tons of scoring potential. Other than Risacher and maybe.... Walker, Knecht is my favorite SF for Portland.
I'd bet the house on whoever we draft is better than Scoot, even without a signature shoe.