Portland Trail Blazers Draft Guide – Point Guards

The Portland Trail Blazers are going into Thursday’s NBA Draft without a draft selection, but with many possibilities of acquiring a draft pick. Last week I covered the pros and cons of the team moving into the draft by either trading for a pick or buying a pick. General Manager Neil Olshey left us pretty convinced that this team will find its way into this draft, one way or another.

There are a couple areas of need on this team. In my opinion, the biggest needs are backup point guard and a backup center. The bench really needs bolstering, as it was one of the worst in the league last year. Last year’s backup point guard, Mo Williams, is searching for a 3-year deal and I do not believe that the Blazers want to sign him to that kind of contract. That leaves a gaping hole on the bench.

Bringing in a rookie point guard is always a risky proposition. The speed, intensity, and complexity of the NBA game tends to sift out those point guards that aren’t willing to put in the work and aren’t able to just rely on natural talent anymore. Portland had a golden opportunity two years ago with the 6^th pick in the draft, when they drafted Damian Lillard. Since then, he has been named Rookie of the Year, played in an All-Star Game, and been added to the Team USA roster.

Without having a high lottery pick, there is little hope to add another point guard of Lillard’s ability, but there may be a chance to bring in a young guy that can help distribute off the bench. Here is my list of point guards to key your eye on during the draft.

Elfrid Payton, University of Louisiana-Lafayette

Projected Draft Position: Late Lottery, Mid First Round

Payton has been steadily sneaking up draft boards this summer, similar to the rise of Lillard a couple years ago. He measured well at the combine and is being slated as the number 3 point guard in the draft, behind Marcus Smart and Dante Exum. Payton can score, despite being a poor 3 point shooter. He is also a very well rounded distributor. One of the biggest selling points of Payton is his athleticism at the defensive end. He should be able to come in and play defense against the NBA’s elite point guards.

Lillard gave Payton a reigning endorsement on Twitter the other day when he said, “Don’t sleep on Elfrid Payton … I watched couple of his games. He can hoop.” Is Lillard giving the world a little hint towards the Blazers’ draft plan???

Shabazz Napier, University of Connecticut

Projected Draft Position: Late First Round

Two years in a row the Blazers drafted a four-year guard. Napier is a proven winner that was super-efficient in his four years at UCONN. Napier is a very, very well-rounded offensive point guard. He can score, distribute and rebound. Adjusting to playing defense in the NBA is going to be tough for him. But for a bench point guard, coming in to distribute and score, he will be a very good value late in the first round.

Jahii Carson, Arizona State University

Projected Draft Position: Late Second Round

Drafting a Pac-12 player adds a bit of excitement, as die-hard basketball fans are already acquainted with him. Carson will have a bit more of an adjustment to the NBA game, but the cost of a late second round pick may be worth the gamble and waiting game. Would be interesting to see him and CJ McCollum battle in practice every day. Carson can score and is a pretty scrappy player but needs to be more efficient and safe with the ball to be an effective point guard in the NBA.

Payton and Napier are probably both going to be first round picks but you never know what is going to happen with Paul Allen as the owner of the team. Over the weekend Alex Kennedy of BasketballInsiders.com said on Twitter, “Several teams want to acquire a first-round pick (Warriors, Blazers, Pelicans, Knicks), but teams are really valuing their firsts this year.”

Tomorrow will be my draft guide covering the wings that the Blazers may be looking at in the upcoming draft.