Joe Cronin, Portland Trail Blazers General Manager.
The 2022 NBA Playoffs are in full swing. Unfortunately, the Portland Trail Blazers season has been over for some time. 2022-23 has already started in the team’s executive offices. Their next big event is the NBA Draft in June.
Pacific Northwest Sports has been monitoring the top mock drafts. We did all the background work so our readers won’t have to search all over the web to determine who the Portland Trail Blazers will select.
We audited 15 different mock drafts this time around. Ten of them went through all 60 picks. The sources we use for the mocks may vary from edition to edition, but they are all credible. This time we included ESPN, USA Today, CBS Sports, Stadium Sports, and more. As Draft Day gets closer, we will increase the number of mock drafts we use.
Since the NBA Draft Lottery is a week away, the mock drafts kept Portland Trail Blazers at sixth overall as a result of their 27-55 record. That is likely to change after the lottery takes place on May 17. Aside from their two picks this year at 6 (for now) and 36, Portland has another pick in Round 2. They also own Utah’s second rounder, which is 59th.*
Last year, Portland didn’t have any picks, so an infusion of players is needed. For the Blazers to climb back into contention in the Western Conference, it starts with this draft. On Tuesday, Joe Cronin had the interim tag removed and is now the permanent General Manager. It’s his first draft as the man in charge. He and Head Coach Chauncey Billups need to make their choices wisely.
Power Forward
This has been a position of need for many years. When was the last time Portland had someone physically dominant inside who could defend AND get rebounds? It’s been quite a while. Nassir Little could be that guy, but he’s still developing.
Center
How pressing the Portland Trail Blazers’ need for a center depends on whether they re-sign Jusuf Nurkic. It might be a good idea because he’s the only player Portland has on the roster who is taller than 6-9.
Even if they bring Nurk back, he still needs a backup. And with his injury history, that backup will get plenty of playing time.
Scoring Forward
The Portland Trail Blazers offense revolves around Damian Lillard. For years he had CJ McCollum as his backcourt mate and scoring partner. McCollum is gone, but his replacement Anfernee Simons can also light it up.
Being so backcourt-centric hasn’t led to an NBA Championship appearance yet. In the Dame era, the offense worked best when there was a third option to shoot from mid-to-three-point range. It would be nice if they could spread out the scoring a little bit next season.
May 16-22 – Draft Combine, Chicago, Illinois.
May 17 – Draft Lottery, Chicago, Illinois.
June 1 – Last day for players to withdraw from the draft.
June 23 – Draft Day, Brooklyn, New York.
So far, it’s a close battle with two players combining for 50 percent more picks than the field. University of Kentucky two-guard Shaedon Sharpe leads the way with five selections. Following him, with four selections, is power forward Keegan Murray from Idaho State.
According to scouts, Sharp’s ceiling is very high. He was one of the top two or three college recruiting prospects last year. What’s perplexing is after signing with Kentucky, Sharpe didn’t play in a single Wildcats game.
The 6-6 guard from Canada is a gifted athlete who can almost jump out of the gym. It will be interesting to see what his vertical comes in at the combine. Combine that jumping ability with a seven-foot wingspan, and Sharpe plays bigger than his size.
He’s a strong finisher who likes to attack the basket and can lay up the ball equally well with either hand. Additionally, he has an arsenal of dunks at his disposal to get the fans out of their seats at the Moda Center. However, it’s his step-back that’s the cherry on the cake. It’s lethal.
Sharpe has weaknesses as well. The first is defense. Whether it’s lack of ability or lack of desire, he isn’t an active or adept defender. Ability can be taught, but it won’t make Billups happy if the issue is desire.
Others receiving consideration include AJ Griffin, F, Duke (2); Bennedict Mathurin, G, Arizona (2); Johnny Davis, G, Wisconsin, and one mock drafter had the Blazers trading up to three and picking Chet Holmgren, C, Gonzaga.
We audited 10 mock drafts that went both rounds. There are plenty of variables out there that make selecting a player at this point difficult. However, two players came up twice to lead the way as potential Portland Trail Blazers, Arizona center Christian Koloko and Alabama point guard JD Davison.
If I’m being honest, I’d like to see Cronin package his two second-rounders for a late first. But since it hasn’t happened, we go with the known.
Koloko is a physical specimen. He’s 7-1, with a 7-5 wingspan and 9-3.5 standing reach. Oh, and he’s in great physical shape with 6 percent body fat.
Although some view him as a work in progress who needs to develop, he would be a great fit for the Portland Trail Blazers. Koloko has the potential to be the dominating defender and rebounder they need inside.
2021-22 was a breakout season for Koloko. He more than doubled his points and blocks per game in addition to increasing his shooting percentages. Koloko was one of the biggest reasons Arizona dominated the Pac-12 last season.
His breakout coincided with a rise in confidence. While still passive at times, he’s coming around. Much like Simons and Little, Koloko will need a year or so under his belt to be a regular contributor.
Other players considered include Trevor Keels, SG, Duke; Blake Wesley, SG, Notre Dame; Jean Montero, PG, Overtime Elite (Dominican Republic); Wendell Moore, W, Duke; Terquavion Smith, SG, North Carolina State; Leonard Miller, F, Lake Erie (Canada).
This pick is officially listed as 59th but will go 57th overall. Two teams ahead of them, Miami and Chicago, forfeited their second round picks. At this point in the draft, it’s hard to find much agreement, but two mock drafts had the Portland Trail Blazers taking Gonzaga forward/center Drew Timme.
Drew Timme is an insanely skilled big man with the best inside footwork I’ve ever seen. It’s like he thinks the game is at a different level than his competition, then his body takes over. Timme is magic near the basket with the ball in his hands.
There are three big issues he needs to work on. First, if Timme is going to make it in the NBA, he’s got to improve his defense. Second, for as devastating as he is inside with the ball, Timme has to improve his foul shooting. Finally, his outside shooting improved last season, but there is plenty of room to get better.
Personally, I think Timme should return to Gonzaga for another season. If he can bring his three-point shooting from 28.6 percent to anything over 33.3, it will make him much harder to defend, which is already difficult enough. And don’t forget the defense.
Other players considered include Michael Foster, PF, G-League Ignite; Johnny Juzang, W, UCLA; Isaiah Mobley, PF, USC; Josh Minott, W, Memphis; Andrew Nembhard, PG, Gonzaga; Hugo Besson, G, New Zealand Breakers; Trayce Jackson-Davis, PF, Indiana; and Gabriele Procida, W, Fortitudo Bologna.
Who do you think the Portland Trail Blazers will draft this year? Let us know in the comments section below.