Where do the Portland Trail Blazers go after losing New Orleans’ pick?
New Orleans’ victory over the Los Angeles eliminated the Portland Trail Blazers’ chance at a second lottery pick. Now the Blazers scramble to figure out where to go from here.
So let’s assess the damages and look at the pessimistic and optimistic options for the Portland Trail Blazers‘ situation.
Pessimistic spin (what Portland lost out on)
Using the pick to get a veteran
Rumors were floating around that the Portland Trail Blazers considered trading New Orleans’ lottery pick to Detroit for Jerami Grant. Landing the Pistons’ leading scorer would have brought Portland the best forward they’ve had since LaMarcus Aldridge left in 2015.
Portland would have used their lottery pick to shore up the other starting forward position. However, it won’t be until the draft lottery that Portland finds out where their lottery pick will land. As of now, it could jump into the top four after the lottery or slide down to potentially 10th. Unless Portland wins one of the top 4 spots, they are most likely winding up between six and eight.
If the pick landed between 6 and 8, Portland could have combined it with the Pelicans lottery pick to move up. Maybe even as high as the third spot. With a higher pick, Portland’s chances to draft a single high-impact player significantly improve.
Optimistic spin (or damage control)
Late lottery picks rarely become impact players
Look no further than Portland’s draft lottery luck to find out how rare it is. The number 11 pick in 2012, Meyers Leonard never lived up to his potential and is out of the league. Likewise, Zach Collins, the number ten pick in 2017, couldn’t stay healthy his last few years with the team.
Sebastian Telfair and Jerryd Bayless at 13th and 11th in their respective drafts also fell short of expectations. Martell Webster was the sixth overall pick in 2005. He was drafted to be the team’s long-term answer at shooting guard. Instead, he was traded four years later for the #16 pick, Luke Babbitt. Luke, a player, who drafted two spots outside of the lottery, was another flop.
"I'm trying to carry everything that I learned this year into next year and even then some, just wanting to win.”
— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) April 18, 2022
ISO with @anferneesimons pic.twitter.com/rBXmWuLuJi
Let’s not forget Greg Oden and Brandon Roy‘s injuries that put an end to two-thirds of the “big 3”. Along with LaMarcus Aldridge, they were the three lottery draft picks that would turn the Blazers into the next dynasty. For nearly two decades, NBA franchises like the Sacramento Kings and Minnesota Timberwolves feasted on lottery picks.
There has been only one playoff appearance between them in the last 17 years. Aside from CJ Mccollum, you’d have to go back to the 1980s to find a late lottery Portland pick that was an impact player. Even higher Lottery picks have been a roll of the dice for Portland.