Portland Trail Blazers: 2023 Lottery Is Over And Rip City Is On The Clock
Andrew Elderbaum
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By landing the third pick in a three player draft, the Portland Trail Blazers are in a tough spot. Our Andrew Elderbaum is here to guide them through their options.
The NBA draft lottery is over, and the Portland Trail Blazers once again have missed out on a generational prospect. Considering their luck with centers at the top of the draft, it might be for the best.
The third overall selection is going to open up a few scenarios for Portland, depending on what Charlotte does ahead of them at two. And where General Manager Joe Cronin sees his team heading over the next few seasons.
Option A
The second pick is going to be either Scoot Henderson or Brandon Miller. If Charolette goes Scoot, then Portland’s choice is made for them. A wing who can create and shoot, Miller is exactly what the Blazers need on their roster.
However, if the Hornets go with Miller things get very complicated in Rip City. Henderson is an athletic undersized guard.
Portland already has Damian Lillard, Anfernee Simons, and Shaedon Sharpe in their backcourt. Henderson wouldn’t be a good fit.
Option B
The problem is a huge dropoff in potential from Scoot down to the next tier of players leaving the Portland Trail Blazers with a dilemma. Do they trade down? If they do, would 6 and 11 from Orlando be worth it?
Henderson would be the perfect player to team with Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner in Orlando. the Magic might even be willing to throw in a quality player as well.
Option C
Cronin could send the pick for a veteran to help contend now. I’m not sure there’s anyone available that moves the needle enough to do that.
OG Anunoby, John Collins, and the usual suspects are still out there. Anonouby is a good player but has one year on his deal and will want a max extension. I said he was a good player, but he’s not a great one.
Collins can do more offensively and is a little bigger but also is not going to vault Portland into playoff contention. Besides, he’s been available for quite a while, and Atlanta hasn’t been able to move him.
Option C+
Portland has built a timeshare at the crossroads but eventually has to make a choice.
Golden State tried to contend and rebuild at the same time. It hasn’t gone well. Three wasted lottery picks later, they’re still old and fading as contenders.
The Portland Trail Blazers are trying to do the same thing with less talent and fewer assets. I don’t have high hopes for their ability to contend with Dame and also build for the future.
They can go all in and trade this year’s pick along with Anfernee Simons to try and win now. That defeats the purpose because Simons is more ready to win now than Sharpe, so what’s the point?
Among big men, the top name available is Deandre Ayton. If Portland dumps Jusuf Nurkic, it makes sense.
There’s a reason why a young center with playoff success is available. His teammates and coaches in Phoneix would gleefully drive him to the airport right now.
Whether he couldn’t handle the intensity of Chris Paul and Devin Booker, or if there’s something missing in him, Ayton hasn’t proven himself as a winning player.
He would also be expensive to acquire via trade. The Portland Trail Blazers would need to trade this year’s pick, Nassir Little, and Anfernee Simons to get him. In effect, they’d be gutting their roster.
Phoenix lacks depth and needs cap relief, so they’re not taking back Nurkic or any other bad deals. Joc Leetsdale looked just fine in the playoffs for Phoenix.
Option D
The final option is for Cronin and the Portland Trail Blazers to finally admit they aren’t contending with Dame. They can use the number three pick to kick-start their rebuild. That gives them Sharpe, Simons, Miller/Henderson as their foundation.
Next, they move Lillard. The first calls I would make are to contending teams that just fell short like Boston, Philly, or Toronto.
The 2023 NBA Draft a month away. Between now and then all sorts of rumors will swirl.
The most likely outcome is Portland doesn’t do anything big and fights to avoid the play-in next year. For now, Portland Trail Blazers fans can dream on the hope of a distant future where they’re playing for so much more.
What do you think the Portland Trail Blazers will do with the third overall pick?