Portland Trail Blazers: 5 options for pick No. 26 in 2017 NBA Draft
Portland Trail Blazers
Mar 10, 2017; New York, NY, USA; Villanova Wildcats guard Josh Hart (3) reacts after making a basket late in the second half against the Seton Hall Pirates during the Big East Conference Tournament at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
There are a number of valuable rookies available to the Portland Trail Blazers if they keep their No. 26 pick in the 2017 NBA Draft.
The Portland Trail Blazers have had one pick in the last three drafts. That pick was their 2015 first round selection of Rondae Hollis-Jefferson. Later that night, Hollis-Jefferson and Steve Blake were traded to the Brooklyn Nets for Mason Plumlee and the No. 41 pick, Pat Connaughton.
In 2017, the Blazers have three picks. All of them are in the first round.
The Blazers received the No. 26 pick from the Cleveland Cavaliers. However, it didn't come in the most straightforward manner.
On Feb. 18, 2016, Portland sent a future second round pick to Cleveland for Anderson Varejao and a future first-rounder. Reports indicated later that the picks were for the 2018 NBA Draft. Varejao was waived soon after.
Almost 11 months later, the Cavaliers and Blazers discussed a pick swap. Cleveland wanted its 2018 pick back in order to complete a trade with the Atlanta Hawks for Kyle Korver. Portland obliged, and on Jan. 6, 2017, they received this 2017 first round pick in return.
There's a sizable chance that the Blazers will not keep this pick. Portland could package it as part of a trade for a player or cap relief. But there is some value at this spot if they choose to keep the pick.
In a scenario where they keep all of their picks, Portland will likely have addressed their more pressing issues with their No. 15 and No. 20 selections. Those issues include frontcourt scoring and additional rim protection.
Portland should seek out a wing player with their final first round pick. Doing so would aid their depth and financials.
Third-string guards Pat Connaughton and Tim Quarterman have non-guaranteed deals heading into 2017-18. Connaughton has seen limited playing time over the past two seasons and is contemplating pursuing a pro baseball career. Meanwhile, Quarterman is an undrafted training camp acquisition that struggled at both the NBA and D-League levels.
A new first round-level wing holds more upside and can contribute sooner than ones picked in the second round or that went undrafted.
Should the Blazers look to the wings in the 2017 NBA Draft, here is a look at some players they could consider taking with the No. 26 pick.
5. Rodions Kurucs, SF, Latvia
Rodions Kurucs is a lanky 19-year-old from Latvia. He has a lot of the tools to be a good wing player, but still needs a little more high-level experience.
Kurucs is already a talented finisher at the rim. He's athletic enough to dunk regularly, but is also able to finish with a smooth layup. According to The Ringer, he shot 60.3 percent under the basket.
He also has good shooting touch that he can build upon. Kurucs shot 31.6 percent from outside in 2016-17, and The Ringer indicates he shot a particularly strong 42.3 percent from the left wing.
Kurucs may also have some playmaking potential. He averaged 2.7 assists per 40 minutes, pace-adjusted, in 2016-17. However, there are questions about his defense. This could be fixed over time, as he averaged 1.4 steals and 1.4 blocks per 40 minutes last season.
There is also a desire for him to bulk up a bit more. DraftExpress and The Ringer have him listed at 190 pounds, which would make the request understandable. However, NBA.com listed him at 200 pounds, which would make his height and weight similar to the Charlotte Hornets' Nicolas Batum.
Portland could make this selection with the future in mind, stashing him for a year to save money and aid his development. Kurucs does need a little more high-level experience. He spent last season mostly with FC Barcelona's reserve team, playing 24 games and starting 17 in Spain's second-tier league. Kurucs was called up to the main team once, playing three minutes in a March Euroleague matchup.
If he's selected and given more playing time with one of Europe's top basketball franchises, that will certainly set this young, athletic forward on the right path toward a fruitful NBA career.
Feb 11, 2017; Morgantown, WV, USA; Kansas State Wildcats forward Wesley Iwundu (25) dribbles the ball around West Virginia Mountaineers forward Lamont West (15) during the first half at WVU Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports
4. Wesley Iwundu, SG, Kansas State
Wesley Iwundu is another impressive prospect, showing tools on both sides of the ball to be a good player.
Iwundu is a 6'7″, 193-pound guard with a 7'1″ wingspan. His length allows him to rebound well (8.1 per 40 minutes) and be fairly disruptive in the passing lanes (1.3 steals per 40 minutes). He's also a talented playmaker despite his size and position. Iwundu averaged 4.4 assists per 40 minutes in 2016-17 with a 1.5 assist-to-turnover ratio. He's particularly adept at playmaking in transition, either finding the right pass ahead or taking it coast-to-coast himself.
He also showed some good shooting touch. Iwundu shot 48.1 percent from the field and 37.6 percent from three in 2016-17. Oddly enough, The Ringer's shot chart indicates that he struggles from the right side of the rim. Iwundu shot 25.0 percent (14-for-56) on that end and 53.1 percent elsewhere on the floor.
Even with his wingspan, he still has some room to grow defensively. While his steals per 40 are on par for the course, he only averages 0.4 blocks per 40 minutes. He brings plenty of effort on that end, but tends to gamble on steals and blocks. Also, when Iwundu makes a mistake on defense, there are instances where he doesn't recover right away.
However, Iwundu has put in a lot of work to improve over his four years at Kansas State. He'll likely seek to work hard at whatever is lacking in his game.
Iwundu would be a good pick for Portland if it desires another wing player that can do it all. It would make him a viable backup to similar players like C.J. McCollum and Evan Turner. Adding another mature two-way player would make Portland even tougher for opponents to deal with.
Mar 19, 2017; Greenville, SC, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks guard Sindarius Thornwell (0) celebrates with South Carolina Gamecocks guard PJ Dozier (15) during the second half in the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
3. Sindarius Thornwell, SG, South Carolina
Sindarius Thornwell was a late arrival into this year's draft scene. DraftExpress projected in September 2014 that Thornwell would go pro in 2016. But he was absent from their draft boards up until late March this season. With the senior season he had at South Carolina, his rising stock is justified.
Thornwell took up the mantle of team leader following the graduation of Michael Carrera and drastically improved his stats from his junior to senior year. He averaged 21.4 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.1 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game in 2016-17. That's 8.0 points, 2.4 rebounds, 0.6 steals, and 0.5 blocks better than the prior season. Thornwell also shot 44.5 percent from the field and 39.5 percent from three, a year-to-year improvement of 6.3 percent and 6.2 percent, respectively.
His strong season earned him the SEC Player of the Year award. He was also able to lead the team to their first-ever Final Four.
Thornwell showed he can do almost everything: score, rebound, and especially defend. His 88.8 defensive rating is ninth-best in Division I hoops. That type of versatility could serve an NBA team well if they utilize it correctly.
However, draft scouts point out that his lack of athleticism could hold him back. NBA.com worries about his lack of explosion. They are also concerned about his tweener status, but that has become less of an issue in today's NBA.
Meanwhile, The Ringer notes his issues with his first step off the dribble and his over-reliance on plowing into the lane to draw fouls. That may work when you're 214 pounds at the college level. However, the lack of calls he'll likely receive as a young pro may negatively affect that facet of his game.
But if Sindarius Thornwell gets drafted and learns how to be a more creative playmaker, he could hold up well as an NBA player and be a good value draft selection for Portland.
Mar 23, 2017; Kansas City, MO, USA; Oregon Ducks forward Dillon Brooks (24) goes up for a shot as Michigan Wolverines guard Duncan Robinson (22) defends during the first half in the semifinals of the midwest Regional of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Sprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
2. Dillon Brooks, SF, Oregon
Canadian forward Dillon Brooks would be a good pick at No. 26 if the Blazers prefer a scorer off the bench over Swiss army knives like Iwundu or Thornwell. Brooks would also bring a local angle to Portland, as he spent three seasons as an Oregon Duck.
Brooks averaged 16.1 points per game on 48.8 percent shooting from the field and 40.1 percent from three. He also averaged 3.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. His 25.6 PER was second-best on the team and his 4.7 win shares were third-best. He was named a consensus second-team All-American for his production.
Brooks was a key part in Oregon's run to the 2017 Final Four. He averaged 15.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.8 assists for a team that lost to eventual champion North Carolina by only one point.
Brooks is a versatile scorer, able to shoot from anywhere on the floor and willing to take tough shots. He's also known for his willingness to take over big games. Brooks notched game-winning shots against UCLA and Cal. He also has a big frame that allows him to body up defenders in traffic and hold his own on defense.
Brooks is also able to create for others, as his 2.7 assists per game stretches out to 4.3 per 40 minutes, pace-adjusted.
He does possess some downside. His wingspan matches his height, which limits his ability to rebound against NBA bigs, block and disrupt passing lanes. This could keep him from being an effective small-ball power forward.
Also, his lack of athleticism could catch up with him. Despite his fearlessness, he wasn't the most creative off-the-dribble, sometimes forcing shots on his straight line drives. On defense, he sometimes proved too small to take on bigger power forwards and not nimble enough to keep up with quicker guards. That could be problematic for a Blazers team that was 24th in defensive rating.
However, selecting Dillon Brooks would give the Blazers a familiar, fearless, talented scorer with the height and frame to cause problems for opposing wings.
Josh Hart
Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
1. Josh Hart, SG, Villanova
Josh Hart leaves Villanova as a very accomplished college basketball player. He was named First team All-American, Big East Player of the Year, and Big East tournament MVP this season. He also led the Wildcats to a national championship in 2016. Between his talent and effort on the court and his personality off of it, Hart fits the profile of what NBA front offices want in a player.
When Hart was awarded the 2017 Senior CLASS Award, his coach Jay Wright spoke highly of him in the award's press release.
"The Senior CLASS Award befits Josh's career at Villanova," said head coach Jay Wright. "He is one of the most complete players in Villanova history—among our leaders in scoring, rebounding, steals and assists. Off the court he is an Eagle Scout, a respected, active member of our community and of the student body and is set to graduate on time in May. He is a proud example of a student-athlete at Villanova."
Josh Hart is an amazing scorer that gets points in a number of ways. He finished 2016-17 averaging 18.7 points per game, shooting 51.0 percent from the field and 40.4 percent from three. He accumulated 5.1 offensive win shares, seventh-most in the country.
He's also a talented defender, using his strong footwork and hustle to lock down opponents and go for 50-50 balls. His 2.6 defensive win shares are 19th-most in college basketball. Hart's 7.7 rebounds per 40 minutes, pace-adjusted, is impressive for a 6'5″ 2-guard.
However, draft scouts have questions about how his offensive game will translate at the NBA level. Hart is not very creative or explosive off of the dribble. He often favors driving and finishing with his right hand.
He also struggles to finish at the rim if he's too deep amongst the trees. When he can finish, he's often hunting for fouls. It's questionable if that will work early on in his career. He likely won't get the same favorable calls as a rookie in the NBA that he received as a Villanova Wildcat. His shooting mechanics have also come into question.
Those concerns have really affected Hart's draft stock. The Ringer has him at No. 41 and DraftExpress has him at No. 44 in their respective mock drafts. Picking him at No. 26 could be seen as a reach.
However, with this being Portland's last pick in the draft, taking a chance on a talented two-way player with good character could be worth the risk.
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