The 2012 NBA offseason marks a time of change for the Portland Trail Blazers. With only six players signed to the roster, a pair of high first round picks in the draft, and a sizable amount of cash to spend in free agency; this is a team on the move. The situation then begs the question: “Where are they headed?”
In a “what have you done for me lately” NBA, the team and newly inked GM Neil Olshey must find a way to move swiftly through their latest rebuilding process, making sure to choose wisely while also doing so under immense pressure to make quality decisions that will ultimately elevate the franchise back to the dominant one it once was, or send it crashing back to doormat status.
With the NBA Draft in the books and free agency already underway, we asked five of Oregon Sports News’ writers to debate the moves the Blazers made, and discuss where the team may be headed.
1. With the 6th overall selection, the Blazers picked Damian Lillard, Weber State point guard. What was your reaction? What do you think Lillard brings to the Blazers?
Casey Mabbott (CM): I was not surprised, but admittedly a bit disappointed. It was not the most glamorous pick, but it may well end up being the right one, so long as the team puts the right pieces around him of course. Bringing a Div-II player to the bigs to be a starter could be seen by some as rolling the dice, and I am one of them. A shoot first and ask questions later point guard who flourished against (let’s be honest) mediocre talent while averaging 18 points per game and under three assists may not be the top-tier talent that the team needs to grow. The number six pick is not supposed to grant the team merely a “serviceable” point guard, however I fear that may be exactly what they are getting.
Jason Hartzog (JH): I was happy with the pick. I would have also been just as happy with Harrison Barnes, who went to the Golden State Warriors with the very next pick. Lillard brings some much needed shooting. He has great range on his shot. I believe his skill sets can make our team better. I see the Blazers being a running team, but when they get into half court sets, he will be able to contribute in a number of ways. He will be a nice asset with LaMarcus Aldridge in a pick and roll option. If they choose to double LaMarcus down low, Lillard will be able to knock down open shots all day. If they don’t, well, LaMarcus will have some really good games. The only question to his game is whether he can guard other elite point guards of the league. There aren’t many players out there who can – it’s going to be difficult. He does have the length and athleticism to be able to stay in front of the likes of Russell Westbrook, Derrick Rose, and Chris Paul so he shouldn’t get torched every night. He also bring along a great attitude, unselfishness, passion, and work ethic.
Allen Plummer (AP): This selection was typical of the Blazer brass, taking the most athletic player at his position. I like Lillard a lot, from film that I’ve seen he reminds me of my hometown’s favorite son: Kevin Johnson. Damian is fearless, has an NBA mentality, great range, big hops (could someday win the dunk contest); the game comes easy to him. I’m just not convinced he’s the right choice. I want a true PG, a pass first, get everyone involved point guard, a guy that’s pushing the tempo, drawing the defense and finding the open man. I would have taken Marshall from UNC or the kid we traded from Kansas, Taylor. The one thing Portland lacks is guys who can fill it up and Lillard can do just that. After all, he was the second leading scorer in college last season, and who knows if Portland can get production from someone other than LaMarcus. He just might become that true point guard.
Grant Lucas (GL): When the 6th spot came around and Andre Drummond was still on the board, I was skeptical. I had a faint feeling Portland would enter into another dead-weight center phase. Fortunately, Olshey knows what he wants and goes after it. He knows the trend of the league is swaying toward scoring point guards. With Lillard, you get more than that. Scouts were in awe over Lillard’s ability to score consistently and at will, his improvement in moving without the ball, and his court vision. His workout was compared to that of Kevin Durant. People question where Lillard comes from, but keep in mind guys like Rodney Stuckey and Stephen Curry. Keep in mind the only reason Lillard continued to shoot more and more was because his team asked him to, they needed him to. Keep in mind he’s a runner, a leaper, a defender and athlete. He’s the starting point guard. Just ask Olshey.
Ryan A. Chase (RC): My initial reaction was, “That could not have been right…”. Yeah he was the second leading scorer in the nation. Yeah he has a shooting range just slightly longer than the Earth is wide. However, looking at the numbers, his numbers are less impressive when you consider his competition. His lowest scoring totals of the season came against the two largest schools he faced, California and BYU. Weber State did not even make the NCAA Tournament. I cannot help but think we got a Stephen Curry with less upside.
2. The Blazers then took Myers Leonard, Illinois center, with the 11th pick. Did you love or hate the pick? What do you see Leonard doing for the team this season?
CM: Hated it. Leonard had a so-so sophomore season (13 PPG, 8 RPG) after a very forgettable freshman season. Leonard saw his minutes jump from eight per game to 30, and while he did post respectable numbers, he may be more the product of a shallow center pool than a superb prospect. At 7’1 and just 245lbs, Leonard needs to add size to his frame to be a truly serviceable center in this league. While he may be a decent player down the road in the mold of Roy Hibbert, I do not see Leonard bringing anything more than disappointment in 2012. A raw prospect is not what this team needed from a high first round pick, and the thought of him struggling and stumbling his way through his rookie season will be detrimental to the team’s ideals of selling hope in the Rose City.
JH: I don’t hate this pick, nor do I love it. I like it though. Looking at the max offer that was offered to Roy Hibbert makes me like it a little less. Now, the Indiana Pacers will be able to match that offer within 3 days after Hibbert signs, so we won’t know what happens with that until that time comes (July 11th is when free agents can officially sign with teams). If they do sign him, I don’t see Leonard getting much of a chance to showcase his skill sets – especially in his first season. Jeremy Lamb may have been the better option here. I do think that Leonard can become a solid player in the league, but it will take some time. He is very athletic for his size, has great timing on blocked shots, and runs the floor well.
AP: I’ve got mixed emotions about this pick. I’m not really in love with it. Looking back at past center selections, this choice seems to be that safe bet; we won’t lose a grip of games and a ton of money to injury with Leonard. There were a couple of guys I had ahead of him on my board, Fab Melo and Festus Ezeli, for their athleticism and physical tools. But I don’t really hate the pick because this kid brings some things to the table that make you say hmm. He’s seven feet tall (7’1” to be exact), I like that in my centers and you can’t teach height. He just turned 20, so there’s room and time for growth and development. I guess we can give this safe bet 5 years to prove himself; that’s what Greg Oden got. Who knows: he might just man the position for well beyond that period.
GL: I expected John Henson – a defender and rebounder – or Tyler Zeller – a runner and offensive-minded player – to go here. I expected the Trail Blazers to go for someone who could keep up with an up-tempo offense. Going in, I said that if Portland drafted a big man, it would do so based on defense and rebounding. Everything else would be gravy. In Leonard, the Trail Blazers have just that. He’s the tallest player in the class and has the longest wing span. He’ll throw his body around and swat shots. Plus, add some muscle in the weight room and Leonard could show some force offensively.
RC: As someone who followed the Illinois Fighting Illini this season, I despised this pick. At no point this season did Leonard dominate the game, or even the low post. He is 7’1, but he gets pushed out of the low block easily, and fails to put up the rebound numbers you would expect at his size. His only game with more than 15 rebounds this season was against Cornell, and that was because they did not have a player over 6’9. In ten games against Top 25 teams, he got double digits in rebounds just four times. While he had a couple 20-point games, I do not see him doing that at the NBA level. This pick screams Adonal Foyle to me.
3. The old school of thought is to draft for talent over need. With questions looming over four of the five starting spots, did the team draft the best available players? Was either or both picks a reach?
CM: Both picks were a reach. Lillard, known more as a shooter than a passer, was not someone you bring in to build around, and Leonard is relatively small for a center as well as being a good 2-3 years away from being a consistent starter in this league. Forward Harrison Barnes and point guard Kendall Marshall were both available when the Blazers selected at #6 and #11, and both were very highly touted UNC products with high upside. UNC center Tyler Zeller was also available at #11, and is a much more polished player than Leonard, and showed marked improvement over four years of collegiate ball. The Blazers took two very big risks, and it will be interesting to see if their choices pan out better than the players they passed on, which has long been their stigma more-so than any other team in the league not being run by Michael Jordan.
JH: It looks like the Blazers had their hearts set on these two guys if they were available. I think the players knew it as well. Both Lillard and Leonard were both wearing red. Lillard was seen wearing a red handkerchief and Leonard had a red tie. This may have been a coincidence, but I don’t think it was. I think the Leonard pick was a bit of a stretch. Jeremy Lamb was the better player available. Leonard may not have even been the best option at his position as Tyler Zeller was believed to have been a better/safer center then Leonard. I think the motor of these two guys is what sold them to the Blazers’ front office. GM Neil Olshey is looking for sustainable success for the long-term and these two guys are going to come in and work hard to get better every day.
AP: NO and MAYBE. Lillard may have been the most athletic point guard, but Kendall Marshall was the best PG in the draft, averaging nearly double digit assists when on the court, making North Carolina a far better team than when he was out with injuries. There haven’t been many positive comments about Leonard other than the obvious size and potential, with a plethora of questions regarding his maturity, foot work and shooting range. He may well have been the best available center if you factor in that many of the experts had him going between 5 and 8 on their draft board. Both picks were a reach; Lillard may have scored nearly 25 points a game, but whom other than sports fanatics and basketball executives have heard of him, maybe a few Big Sky or Weber State alumni! And Leonard, just Google him and you’ll understand my stance.
GL: With their first pick, the Trail Blazers were in a unique situation. There may have been more talented players on the board, but with Lillard, Portland had a guy who was among the elite and filled a vacancy in the lineup. There was no second-guessing who to pick up because of that. With Leonard, Portland simply couldn’t pass up the length and size that come so rarely through the draft. Leonard has skill, but maybe someone else left on the board possessed more talent. But with Leonard, the Trail Blazers add a defensive presence, someone players driving the lane always need to have an eye on, similar to Roy Hibbert (coincidence?).
RC: No. Not even close. At six, the Blazers had North Carolina forward Harrison Barnes available, as well as fellow Tar Heel guard Kendell Marshall. While Lillard has greater potential, both Barnes and Marshall are ready to play in the NBA, and they showed that against elite competition all season long. Andre Drummond, the center from Connecticut would have been a fine pick as well, allowing the Blazers to draft small at eleven, and not get Leonard. I would definitely say Leonard was a reach, and Lillard is a fine project on a team that has too many of them.
4. In the second round, the team drafted Memphis Guard Will Barton, then traded Kansas guard Tyshawn Taylor to Brooklyn in exchange for cash. Was this the right move? Which player would better help the team grow?
CM: Conventional wisdom says that teams are usually drafting for depth in the second round, and as that appears to be the case here. I do not take issue with either transaction. Either player gives the team another young guard who can come off the bench and spell the starters. While Taylor was the more polished of the two, the trade gives the team some cash to use in free agency, and they still get a quality scorer to develop in Barton. Since drafting in the second round promises prospects neither a contract or a roster spot, this will be a cheap way to discover if the player is worth a long term investment. I would compare Taylor’s skill set and playing style to those of Nolan Smith, another combo guard; so it really wouldn’t make sense to bring in Taylor over Barton. If you can trade the draft rights on a project player for cash to use to sign established free agents, especially in a rebuilding process, that appears to be the best way to grow this team.
JH: The Blazers did not shoot the ball well this past season. So when the 40th and 41st picks rolled around I was really hoping that the team was going to draft a shooter, and Doron Lamb out of Kentucky was still available. Instead, they went with a guy who is skinnier than I am. If you have seen me, you would find this hard to believe. We weigh about the same at around 175, but he has about 3 inches on me. This was the one pick in which the Blazers decided to draft the best available player. Barton was ranked in the high 20’s on most lists. Hopefully he will be able to fuel Elliot Williams in practices – which in theory would translate to better play for Williams during the season. I think Tyshawn Taylor could have worked the same way with Nolan Smith. Although, getting some extra cash for free-agency doesn’t hurt.
AP: You already know my view on the matter. I like Taylor. Other than his shot selection, he has much to offer: great handles, above average court awareness, that pass first mentality, and a defensive mind set. Barton is 6’6”, averaged nearly 19 a game, and lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament! So it wasn’t the right move; Taylor would’ve been a better contributor in the growth of the Trailblazers.
GL: With a pair of second-round picks, I expected the Trail Blazers to deal the selection or player for cash. It just made fiscal sense (first time I got to use that phrase). Fortunately for Portland, it didn’t make too much difference who that player would be. In this case, Portland held on to Barton, a pure scorer who can light it up with the best of them. He’s a scoring option Portland’s rotation misses with the loss of Jamal Crawford and possibly, though a long shot, Nicolas Batum. I’m not a huge fan of the pick with a pair of Kentucky Wildcats still available or even Missouri’s Marcus Denmon.
RC: I honestly feel Barton was the better choice for the Blazers. He is a quick, effective scorer, who put up good consistent numbers all season long. He actually had similar numbers to Derrick Rose when he was at Memphis. I think he will be able to give the Blazers quick energy and scoring off the bench at the shooting guard spot, maybe eight to twelve points per game. Taylor reminds me of Jason Williams. Thinks he can make passes he cannot, makes bad decisions several times in a row by trying to make up for previous mistakes. He has a greater upside, but there is a lot of risk. I think keeping Barton was the right move.
5. Blazers GM Neil Olshey has publicly stated his intent to aggressively pursue veterans to help boost this team’s confidence and ability. With his two newest high profile players drafted, did he help or hurt the team’s cause in bringing big names to Portland this season?
CM: I say it hurts their cause. I think many free agents would be excited to play alongside LaMarcus and a guy like Barnes or Zeller, but I can’t imagine Lillard or Leonard being great attractions to players looking to join and help this team become a team on the rise. A stack of cash will attract even the most ethical players in the NBA, but the lure of a championship is very difficult to deter players from, and that is just a promise Portland simply cannot make at this point. Guys looking for a fresh start or simply to get the big pay day will be happy to come here, but I am not convinced those are the guys the team needs. Castoffs can become gold in the right scenarios, but those are some long odds for a team that just spent three draft picks on project players. This team still needs a star to control their destiny, and after six up and down seasons, I am not sure LA is the guy to get them there, or that there is a player in this year’s FA class that can do the job for the right amount of money and with the right attitude. Olshey volunteered to clean up this mess when he signed on the dotted line, and with his first moves already handled, we will see if it was the calculated movements of a surgeon, or a deluded madman.
JH: I believe it hurt them a little bit. I really like that the Blazers are going after Roy Hibbert. There are not very many good centers in the NBA these days – Hibbert is one of them. However, this pursuit could hurt a young guy’s confidence (referring to Meyers Leonard). Also, after drafting a much needed point guard of the future, going after the bigger name point guards in free-agency becomes troublesome. A guy like Steve Nash, who was an interest at one point, may not want to sign here after drafting a point guard so high. But it does help in a pursuit for role players. Some veterans in the league may look at the team’s situation and see a spot for them. They could use a backup to LaMarcus and Nicolas Batum – assuming that the team resigns Batum. I really like what J.J. Hickson was able to do for the Blazers last season, so I am hoping they can resign him.
AP: Time will only tell, I think Lillard has big upside if he were to have a career like KJ, what current player wouldn’t want to play alongside him? Leonard more than likely will be a much traveled journeyman. There are plenty of those in the league to play with.
GL: Some believe the Trail Blazers need an experienced vet that can contribute in a noticeable way. While that would be ideal, it’s much more realistic that Olshey sign a vet that could play a small role, but has the personality and attitude that Marcus Camby brought. That’s key. A vet that can be the “uncle” that Camby once was, to bring the team together as a family and create cohesiveness comparable to that of the Oklahoma City Thunder. Think Andre Miller, Derek Fisher, or, dare I say it, Brian Scalabrine.
RC: Hurt. Definitely hurt. Most veterans want to play on a team that has a chance to compete this season. Lillard and Leonard are projects, and the rest of the lineup, short LaMarcus Aldridge, scares no one. It will be quite a task to get top flight players into Portland, and I think the Blazers fans will have to watch a rebuilding year.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
