Portland Trail Blazers 2020 Draft – Interesting and Disappointing
Robert Covington, Houston Rockets. Portland Trail Blazers draft. (Photo by Pkantz, via Wikimedia).
The 2020 NBA Draft is in the books. Wednesday was a busy day at Portland Trail Blazers Draft Central. There was a trade and a draft pick. How did they do?
Let me start with full disclosure. I don’t think the Portland Trail Blazers improved their team as much as they could have on Wednesday. At best, they get a C- grade from me. Here’s why.
First round, 16th overall pick – Traded
Wednesday morning, news broke that the Blazers traded for a much-needed starting small forward. They received Robert Covington from Houston in exchange for Trevor Ariza, the 16th overall pick in Wednesday’s draft and a protected first-round pick in 2021
Covington is the type of 3-and-D player Portland definitely needs. The former Tennessee State Tigers star is a double-digit scorer during his NBA career. Since turning pro in 2014, Covington averages 12.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.7 steals, and 0.9 blocks per game to go along with 35.6 percent shooting from three-point range.
The best part of his game is defense. How could someone nicknamed Glovington be bad? Seriously, Covington is one of the better defensive forwards in the conference. He can cover his assignment but doesn’t have a problem switching to defend a big man or a guard.
So, Covington can score, shoot, spread the floor, and defend. Why don’t I like this trade? It’s simple; the Portland Trail Blazers gave up too much. Forget about Ariza. He was never coming back to Rip City anyway. Unless Blazers GM Neil Olshey thinks Covington is the missing part that puts his team over the top, trading a pair of first-round picks for him is too high a price.
Second round, 46th overall pick – SG CJ Elleby
For anyone who didn’t see CJ Elleby tear it up at Washington State last season, this selection is a huge surprise. Those who did see him play are only moderately surprised. He was a good college ballplayer with skills that could translate to the next level.
This Portland Trail Blazers draft pick came way out of left field. Most experts didn’t have Elleby in their top 60. I had him somewhere between 58-65, depending on the team. As far as the Portland Trail Blazers go, Elleby was well below my cut line. If Portland was going to draft a guard, there were at least three better prospects available Grant Riller, Jay Scrubb, and Skylar Mays.
More to the point, the Blazers didn’t need to draft another backcourt player. It’s hard to see any of the second-rounders that were available play ahead of Gary Trent Jr. and Anfernee Simons any time soon. Portland needed either a board crasher, center, or stretch-3. Among the players they passed up that could have helped a very thin group of forwards were Reggie Perry, Paul Reed, and Killian Tillie.
Of course, we have to see how Covington and Elleby do in Rip City before passing final judgment. For now, I’ll call it a very disappointing draft day for the Portland Trail Blazers.