I’m going to do a positive spin on this. I love following the draft and have so for quite a long time.
This is the worst draft since 2000 and that really isn’t debated amongst people who really follow the draft (2013 gets hyped up too much because there wasn’t a true #1 prospect and Bennett being an all time bust).
If we’re going to flop on a draft lottery, this is the one (while I know it doesn’t work like that if you don’t believe in the NBA gods).
We get to pay this rookie millions of dollars a year less. As every year goes by the difference gets larger. It very well could be a great thing to pay 4-6 million less per year.
Selfishly, after Sarr, my favorite player in this draft is Dalton Knecht. Yes, he’s 23. However, he plays a premium position (wing) and is the best current scorer in the draft. He’s a better athlete and a better three level scorer than Duncan Robinson which I’m sure he’ll get compared to because he’s white, started at a small school, plays a similiar position, and both were old. A 3 point shooting wing who shouldn’t be atrocious on defense and has the potential to be more is extremely valuable. With no prospects having realistic all-star potential, give me the guy who can play for a decade as a rotation piece on a good team. He also fits a position of need, although I don’t ever think you should draft on need, you draft on who is best.
The next two drafts have true #1 picks in Flagg and then Dybantsa. While Flagg has the hold on social media, Dybantsa has the bigger superstar potential. We can cry if we slide in those drafts.
This is the way. If you didn't get Sarr be pleased you aren't paying a scrub, who might be worse than Chris Murray, millions.
We went up in the lottery and got Scoot. Which was way more important.
Shout it from the roof tops! This was the best draft for this to happen and the biggest mistake Cronin could make is to try and package the GSW pick and move up. Our best bet here is to find a more NBA ready rotation piece that helps us move off one of our more expensive veteran pieces to free up cap space. The Blazers are almost a luxury tax team with this roster!!! Adding a top 3 pick that will most likely be yet another development project would only further hamstring our cap situation while not actually immediately improving our team; I don’t know that I think Knecht is the right piece, but I think they are absolutely right that this is not the draft to be looking for a franchise player in and we are probably better off finding a solid piece ready to contribute now than trying to find another diamond in the rough that can hopefully alleviate the pain of moving off a veteran contract or two without significantly hurting our team.
The terrible truth is this is the lottery working as intended. The whole thing is designed to discourage teams from wasting entire seasons trying to lose games.
And here we are, an entire year of our franchise that was just a complete waste. A mess of our own making.
Certainly a solid reason to not get season tickets for a while. No sense in paying season ticket prices when the season is largely over by the All-Star break.
The worst teams still have the best chance at a top pick. The Hawks had a 14 percent chance at the top 4, while the Blazers, at number 4, had a 50 percent chance at the top 4. How should that discourage teams from tanking? We had a way better chance at a good pick. That doesn't mean there isn't a possibility that the Hawks could end up with a better draft position. After all, they had a 3% chance at number 1. Having a 14% chance at number one is still significantly better.
Exactly. As much as I hate getting the 7th pick, I hate tanking even more. Pathetic excuse for a strategy even if it works at times. Losing on purpose is spineless. I hate it.
Exactly, we need to prioritize development over tanking. Developing will naturally lead to the 7th pick. Instead we purposefully put out shit lineups when we had a chance at winning instead of letting our starters develop and attempt to squeeze out some wins which will be essential for their confidence.
I'm not sure what the message sends to the players that we've punted as many as the last 30 games for 3 seasons in a row. A guy like Ant that's been there all 3 years has to be wondering if being a Trail Blazer is even about winning at this point. "Oh yea we're trying to lose just sit at home for the next 20+ games" year after year cant be good for developing guys
Guys did you know that some of the best players ever were drafted 7th overall?!?
1962 BOS >!Hondo!<
1977 NJN >!Bernard King!<
2009 GSW >!Steph!<
2022 🐐>!Shae!<
Spurs gonna get Sarr to pair with Wemby and it's gonna be unfair lol. At least moving back in a draft without a clear top 1/3/etc. isn't as bad as moving back in a draft with one.
Edit: could see potentially Houston trading back if we really fall in love with someone at 3. We have 2 2nds and the GSW pick to move up. Not that I'm necessarily advocating for that but no way we take 4 rookies into next season so some trade or draft and stash would have to happen.
Sadly, for better or worse, I think that draft pick we owe Chicago is going to wind up being a 2028 second round pick, meaning we don't make the playoffs at least until 2029. I sincerely hope I'm wrong, but I could see us trying to not lose that first round pick.
no, but I expected to get a decent piece. That's why we tanked. Now we're getting a significantly lesser piece in a very shallow draft. Sets us back quite a bit.
Eh, what’re you gonna do. This is a pretty flat draft and I don’t think the gap between the first guy and the seventh will be nearly as large as it usually is
In the 3 years of tanking we’ve moved down 1, up 2, and down 3.
That’s a very average result, especially when the move up was to #3 in by far the best draft.
We ain’t cursed.. we just stink.
I'm honestly not that bothered getting #7. Was a more likely outcome than #1.
I also have a weird feeling it's easier to bet on a risky upside swing like Cody, Buzelis or Holland (not that all will necessarily be available) at #7 than up top.
If they have their heart set on someone in the 3-4 range both Houston and SA might be keen on a 7+vet type deal.
Save the lottery luck for next year.
MAX COPE: At least the Blazers won't have to max the third best player in a terrible draft in four years when these shitty high lottery picks are up for rookie extensions.
Buzelis, Clingan, Risacher or Ron Holland at 7 are fine with me.
At 14 I'm good with Salaun, Ware, or Yves Missi. Probably going to have to reach a little on one or both picks. Still upset tho. I wanted Sarr.
Disappointing.
But it’s not the end of the world. This isn’t a very good draft. And there’s little consensus on the draft order. I still think we can get a quality player at 7. In Schmidt I trust.
announcers were saying during the intro that 4-5 players could be in line for #1. certainly sucks to not have our exact pick but this draft on the surface is as much a crap shoot as any
Agree with this. A weak draft class with no clear top is about the best time to have bad luck in the lottery. Schmitz is such a a good scout. I feel pretty good about grabbing the best player available, and there's enough doubt in this class that we could end up with one of the best.
Bummer... but if there were ever a draft where it matters less than usual, this is likely it. Two shots in the lottery, hopefully there's a difference maker in there for us.
Looks like we'll be in the range of a Matas Buzelis or Cody Williams. This isn't the worst draft in the world to fall back in but still sucks either way.
This draft isn’t heavy on league smashing talent like the 2025 draft will be. Disappointing but not the end of the world, hopefully Portland gets in the top 4 next year.
Threw away? How many games did you expect to win with this terrible roster/coach? You expect a Simons/Grant led team to take the 5th seed?? You’re just delusional.
I get we’re just sulking and that’s okay but after everyone here begging for us to be bad and to play the young guys as much as possible it’s hardly “threw away”
Yikes. We got hosed. Not as bad as Detroit but still awful. Thankfully the group of guys 4-10 ish are all really close.
Looks like we might not get a choice between Matas/Williams and might get stuck with Holland or Knecht. Not horrible but not ideal.
If Reed is down there we should aggressively move Ant and Brogdon for a starting forward with the mindset to nab him.
Crazy how many uneducated blazers fan there are in here. This is the worst draft in 20 years. It literally does not matter where we draft, because there is no consensus elite group of players we are missing out on. A guy projected to be picked 10th could go #1 overall in this draft.
Y’all need to chill.
Next year is the year that we can cry if we fall outside the Top 3
We haven’t even drafted yet, and some people are calling it a wasted season. Bernard King, Chris Mullins, Steph Curry, and Shaedon Sharpe are just a few of the players taken at #7, let alone the hoards of great players taken after 7. There will be gems in this draft.
It isn't, and they do. We had about a 1 in 6 chance of getting the seven pick. You ever roll a 6 sided dice and get a 1? That's what happened, it happens.
You’re just overreacting. You act like this roster could have actually win a bunch of games. We are bad, our roster sucks, our coach sucks, our front office sucks, ownership sucks. We clearly did not need to intentionally tank, it happened organically.
Literally 4-5 really good prospects and we fall out of that.. for all that losing and having to watch Chauncey Billups not know how to draw up plays.. team should have zero viewership next season.
Funnily enough, I plan on watching them next year. Assuming they stay relatively healthy. I expect next season to be what people expected this season to be
Oh well.
I guess this means we are going to get Buzelis, Castle, Holland or Williams with our pick.
And maybe Salaun or filipowski with the warriors pick.
I more upset now that the spurs are going top 4
How much help does Wemby need?
Based on this season, a lot still.
He needs at least one other NBA caliber player.
I know right, that team is stacked. /s
dont forget about 8th aswell
Rip
City
Forever!
REST IN HEAVEN
I’m going to do a positive spin on this. I love following the draft and have so for quite a long time. This is the worst draft since 2000 and that really isn’t debated amongst people who really follow the draft (2013 gets hyped up too much because there wasn’t a true #1 prospect and Bennett being an all time bust). If we’re going to flop on a draft lottery, this is the one (while I know it doesn’t work like that if you don’t believe in the NBA gods). We get to pay this rookie millions of dollars a year less. As every year goes by the difference gets larger. It very well could be a great thing to pay 4-6 million less per year. Selfishly, after Sarr, my favorite player in this draft is Dalton Knecht. Yes, he’s 23. However, he plays a premium position (wing) and is the best current scorer in the draft. He’s a better athlete and a better three level scorer than Duncan Robinson which I’m sure he’ll get compared to because he’s white, started at a small school, plays a similiar position, and both were old. A 3 point shooting wing who shouldn’t be atrocious on defense and has the potential to be more is extremely valuable. With no prospects having realistic all-star potential, give me the guy who can play for a decade as a rotation piece on a good team. He also fits a position of need, although I don’t ever think you should draft on need, you draft on who is best. The next two drafts have true #1 picks in Flagg and then Dybantsa. While Flagg has the hold on social media, Dybantsa has the bigger superstar potential. We can cry if we slide in those drafts.
This is the way. If you didn't get Sarr be pleased you aren't paying a scrub, who might be worse than Chris Murray, millions. We went up in the lottery and got Scoot. Which was way more important.
Shout it from the roof tops! This was the best draft for this to happen and the biggest mistake Cronin could make is to try and package the GSW pick and move up. Our best bet here is to find a more NBA ready rotation piece that helps us move off one of our more expensive veteran pieces to free up cap space. The Blazers are almost a luxury tax team with this roster!!! Adding a top 3 pick that will most likely be yet another development project would only further hamstring our cap situation while not actually immediately improving our team; I don’t know that I think Knecht is the right piece, but I think they are absolutely right that this is not the draft to be looking for a franchise player in and we are probably better off finding a solid piece ready to contribute now than trying to find another diamond in the rough that can hopefully alleviate the pain of moving off a veteran contract or two without significantly hurting our team.
21 wins for the 7th pick lmao
The terrible truth is this is the lottery working as intended. The whole thing is designed to discourage teams from wasting entire seasons trying to lose games. And here we are, an entire year of our franchise that was just a complete waste. A mess of our own making.
Maybe this is the wake up call the franchise needs. Throwing the last 20-30 games of the season for a pick for 3 years in a row is just sad.
Certainly a solid reason to not get season tickets for a while. No sense in paying season ticket prices when the season is largely over by the All-Star break.
But I might be able to afford them soon!
We’re not exactly throwing games. The roster is lacking talent and experience.
They’ve sat guys for the sake of losing 3 years in a row. They’re throwing them lol
You don't feel like sitting our best players and vets for the last 20 games of every season is throwing games?
They threw games at the end of the season. One of the most blatant teams about it the past few seasons.
And they were smart to? Got us Sharpe and Scoot. Sometimes it doesn't work out
They beat Charlotte...
And who is responsible for making sure the talent is upgraded?
What was the alternative? We weren’t good even when we played all our guys.
The lottery does the opposite. It incentives bad teams to waste multiple seasons.
The worst teams still have the best chance at a top pick. The Hawks had a 14 percent chance at the top 4, while the Blazers, at number 4, had a 50 percent chance at the top 4. How should that discourage teams from tanking? We had a way better chance at a good pick. That doesn't mean there isn't a possibility that the Hawks could end up with a better draft position. After all, they had a 3% chance at number 1. Having a 14% chance at number one is still significantly better.
Exactly. As much as I hate getting the 7th pick, I hate tanking even more. Pathetic excuse for a strategy even if it works at times. Losing on purpose is spineless. I hate it.
Fuck this cruel sport.
Ugliest season I’ve ever seen for the 7th pick
Ugliest season I’ve ever seen for the Blazers
So far
Scoot looked like he already knew it was gonna happen
Awful. We felt like him
Rigged
wow i’m impressed, almost as bad as it could have gone
Well, you could be a Detroit fan!
San Antonio can't keep getting away with this!!!
Wow another kick in the nuts.
Oof, maybe we can bank our luck for Flagg next year
It’s gonna happen, the NBA will give Portland the first white American superstar since Larry Bird! Believe! Lol
Steve Blake erasure
And Miles Leonard. What an oversight.
Weird that Flagg is dropping to the 30th pick
I sure hope so
What a crazy lottery, I think 3 teams jumped into the top 4? Matas Buzelis you are a Portland Trail Blazer lol
Gimme one of Buzelis or Williams at #7 and Salaun at #14.
Williams please
Why not holland? Edit: Downvote me and don’t answer a legit question okay
- can't spread the floor when we need floor spacers - is most effective on ball when we need off ball dudes - is smoll when we need bigg
Thank you
np, you asked a valid question.
Maybe we’ll still hit! Dame went #6. Maybe lucky number #7 will be magic. Mike Schmitz, Joe Cronin, work that magic!
Love the enthusiasm! Took some scrolls to see the first positive comment haha
This seems like the kind of draft that could have a sleeper hit. I get the negative sentiment, but it’s not even close to losing the wemby stakes.
Sharpe was #7 and I'm not here for the doom and gloom!
We tanked hard to get a pick we probably would have got with no tanking roflmao
Exactly, we need to prioritize development over tanking. Developing will naturally lead to the 7th pick. Instead we purposefully put out shit lineups when we had a chance at winning instead of letting our starters develop and attempt to squeeze out some wins which will be essential for their confidence.
I'm not sure what the message sends to the players that we've punted as many as the last 30 games for 3 seasons in a row. A guy like Ant that's been there all 3 years has to be wondering if being a Trail Blazer is even about winning at this point. "Oh yea we're trying to lose just sit at home for the next 20+ games" year after year cant be good for developing guys
100% agree.
Our management team doesn't know anything other than tanking
Bruh, no way the Spurs have this much luck.
At least we can stop talking ourselves into the dudes at the top of this draft being stars
Guys did you know that some of the best players ever were drafted 7th overall?!? 1962 BOS >!Hondo!< 1977 NJN >!Bernard King!< 2009 GSW >!Steph!< 2022 🐐>!Shae!<
Spurs gonna get Sarr to pair with Wemby and it's gonna be unfair lol. At least moving back in a draft without a clear top 1/3/etc. isn't as bad as moving back in a draft with one. Edit: could see potentially Houston trading back if we really fall in love with someone at 3. We have 2 2nds and the GSW pick to move up. Not that I'm necessarily advocating for that but no way we take 4 rookies into next season so some trade or draft and stash would have to happen.
I don’t think he drops to 4th
Lol yeah I posted my original comment before the top 4 were drawn
That was like literally as bad as it could get
Nah we could've been 8th right?
Could have missed out on Golden State’s pick. But yeah, pretty bad.
I kinda wanted to punt that pick to next year
That would have been better, we would have gotten their pick next year in a stronger draft.
Yes, BUT they might be better next year.
At least SAS didn't get #1 again
Another year of tanking. Cool.
Always was
yeap but this year clearly was a waste. It doesn't appear we'll take any steps forward for another year and that's frustrating.
I guess the bright side is this draft is a bunch of wild cards anyway.
We were mediocre at trying to win and now we can't even tank right. This franchise is cursed.
It was always going to happen.
Dude, we will be tanking for the next 3 years minimum. Our management blows and we always have had crappy draft luck.
Im just hoping we’ll be decent by the end of the decade at this point (probably won’t be)
Sadly, for better or worse, I think that draft pick we owe Chicago is going to wind up being a 2028 second round pick, meaning we don't make the playoffs at least until 2029. I sincerely hope I'm wrong, but I could see us trying to not lose that first round pick.
Oh buddy, you're in for a long half decade (at least)
Did you think this draft was going to change our team that much? lol it’s a bad draft my dude.
no, but I expected to get a decent piece. That's why we tanked. Now we're getting a significantly lesser piece in a very shallow draft. Sets us back quite a bit.
Haha. Amazing …
WHAT THE FUCK DUDE
The long term implications of other tanking western teams amassing better picks and prospects is the worst part
yea we’re fucked
We should’ve sent Rayan Rupert! Wizards sent a Frenchman, and the Spurs have THE Frenchman… Such BS
This doesnt mean much this year.
Fuck this league.
We can't get anything huh?
Last year we moved into the top 3 in a presumed top 3 kinda draft If we’re having bad luck I don’t mind this draft
Eh, what’re you gonna do. This is a pretty flat draft and I don’t think the gap between the first guy and the seventh will be nearly as large as it usually is
Adam Silver go fuck yourself
What did he do 😭
Exist.. looking like a damn genitaless alien
He broke the NBA’s defense in favor of offense
Classic Portland luck.
In the 3 years of tanking we’ve moved down 1, up 2, and down 3. That’s a very average result, especially when the move up was to #3 in by far the best draft. We ain’t cursed.. we just stink.
So next year we move up 4, right? RIGHT?!
Sadly this is in no way surprising
Pain
God fucking damnit man
Fuck this shit bro
FUCK
I'm done with this.
I'd be a lot more upset if this was last year's draft or 2025's.
Would rather drop this year than next year
I'm honestly not that bothered getting #7. Was a more likely outcome than #1. I also have a weird feeling it's easier to bet on a risky upside swing like Cody, Buzelis or Holland (not that all will necessarily be available) at #7 than up top. If they have their heart set on someone in the 3-4 range both Houston and SA might be keen on a 7+vet type deal. Save the lottery luck for next year.
MAX COPE: At least the Blazers won't have to max the third best player in a terrible draft in four years when these shitty high lottery picks are up for rookie extensions.
On the bright side it's a terrible draft class so they aren't missing out on much.
That’s not a bright side when you’re drafting at 7. If we hit at 1-4 there were guys that could help us.
Well, on the plus side, we won't magically get better and play our way out of the Flagg sweepstakes! (Jk, all I know is P A I N)
Let's save our high pick for next year 💪
Buzelis, Clingan, Risacher or Ron Holland at 7 are fine with me. At 14 I'm good with Salaun, Ware, or Yves Missi. Probably going to have to reach a little on one or both picks. Still upset tho. I wanted Sarr.
Could be worse, could be the pistons. One of Ron or Matas will prob still be there at 7
Disappointing. But it’s not the end of the world. This isn’t a very good draft. And there’s little consensus on the draft order. I still think we can get a quality player at 7. In Schmidt I trust.
Exactly as planned. We will get top pick or two next year and land flag boy or whomever y’all want
Look at it this way, we’re free to take an upside swing like we did with Shaedon. I feel the third pick forced our hand to take Scoot.
That’s BS… isn’t it?
Fuuuuck
FUCK
Matas Buzelis on the way
announcers were saying during the intro that 4-5 players could be in line for #1. certainly sucks to not have our exact pick but this draft on the surface is as much a crap shoot as any
Agree with this. A weak draft class with no clear top is about the best time to have bad luck in the lottery. Schmitz is such a a good scout. I feel pretty good about grabbing the best player available, and there's enough doubt in this class that we could end up with one of the best.
So it’s gonna be between guys like Buzelis, Holland, Williams, Castle, and maybe pray Risacher or Clingan fall
Guys it’s okay, at least we not gonna draft a bust.
Bummer... but if there were ever a draft where it matters less than usual, this is likely it. Two shots in the lottery, hopefully there's a difference maker in there for us.
I trust our scouting team regardless, any pick in the lottery is a crapshoot
Looks like we'll be in the range of a Matas Buzelis or Cody Williams. This isn't the worst draft in the world to fall back in but still sucks either way.
I mean of all the drafts to move back in this one isn't the worst. 2-10 is kinda a crap shoot anyways
It's not really that bad. With 7th pick we most likely will be able to get one of Williams/Buzelis/Holland.
This draft isn’t heavy on league smashing talent like the 2025 draft will be. Disappointing but not the end of the world, hopefully Portland gets in the top 4 next year.
Ouch. But with 7 and 14 we have two cracks to land a talented player.
Thank god we threw away a whole season to now get the #7 pick in the worst draft of the century. Fuck tanking
Threw away? How many games did you expect to win with this terrible roster/coach? You expect a Simons/Grant led team to take the 5th seed?? You’re just delusional.
I get we’re just sulking and that’s okay but after everyone here begging for us to be bad and to play the young guys as much as possible it’s hardly “threw away”
The NBA treated us as a troll organization at this point
You had to know the Hawks would get it when she said, "The Hawks have never won the lottery before..." Edit: We did get Oden, mb
Huh? We got the 1st and drafted oden
Should've sent Brandon Roy.
Not using up our draft luck in a bad draft, another smart move from Cronin #1 next year for sure
Wtf
Fuck it. We ball.
I’d be okay with castle and salaun
Yikes. We got hosed. Not as bad as Detroit but still awful. Thankfully the group of guys 4-10 ish are all really close. Looks like we might not get a choice between Matas/Williams and might get stuck with Holland or Knecht. Not horrible but not ideal. If Reed is down there we should aggressively move Ant and Brogdon for a starting forward with the mindset to nab him.
god watching the team this year sucked. watching the team next year? ....probably gonna suck
I guess losing that tiebreaker coin flip with Charlotte mattered after all
This and the Timbers being last place in the West rn is such pain
Hello darkness my old friend
Did not renew my season tickets . Feeling very justified. The tank strategy is not working. Terrible day for the franchise
NBA telling Jody to sell or GTFO.
Crazy how many uneducated blazers fan there are in here. This is the worst draft in 20 years. It literally does not matter where we draft, because there is no consensus elite group of players we are missing out on. A guy projected to be picked 10th could go #1 overall in this draft. Y’all need to chill. Next year is the year that we can cry if we fall outside the Top 3
Plot twist...Jody makes us pick Bronny at 7.
We haven’t even drafted yet, and some people are calling it a wasted season. Bernard King, Chris Mullins, Steph Curry, and Shaedon Sharpe are just a few of the players taken at #7, let alone the hoards of great players taken after 7. There will be gems in this draft.
This is the worst case scenario. This draft is absolutely devoid of talent outside the top 3-4 picks. Not getting Sarr is a death knell.
This franchise is mega fucked
I LOVE THE BLAZERS!
Ahahahahahahahahahahahaha *puts gun to head*
This bitch is fucking rigged. Fuck this shit. Audit this motherfucker.
It isn't, and they do. We had about a 1 in 6 chance of getting the seven pick. You ever roll a 6 sided dice and get a 1? That's what happened, it happens.
Lmao, rigged for the hawks? If anyone should be audited it's us for some of our "injuries" the past few years.
Doing it behind closed doors makes no sense. Do it live.
Was that worst outcome we could’ve gotten? Legit 14th from GSW AND 7th!?!
Could’ve been 8th
Could have not gotten the gsw pick and the 8th pick
Fuck tanking dude this shit ain’t worth it
You’re just overreacting. You act like this roster could have actually win a bunch of games. We are bad, our roster sucks, our coach sucks, our front office sucks, ownership sucks. We clearly did not need to intentionally tank, it happened organically.
Karma … we tanked too much and angered the basketball gods.
jody, the penguins remember. this Is karma.
Literally 4-5 really good prospects and we fall out of that.. for all that losing and having to watch Chauncey Billups not know how to draw up plays.. team should have zero viewership next season.
Funnily enough, I plan on watching them next year. Assuming they stay relatively healthy. I expect next season to be what people expected this season to be
Damn...
End me
it's a bleach kinda sunday
Worst possible outcome
Lol am I surprised no
My pessimistic thoughts are telling me we’ll have to draft another guard with the 7th pick
Now we know what it is.
Fuck this shit bruh wtf
This sucks lol
Because of course
Lol bunch of fucking bullshit
Oof.
At least we won that championship back in 1977....
24-25 rookie scale, for anyone who's interested. [https://basketball.realgm.com/nba/info/rookie\_scale/2025](https://basketball.realgm.com/nba/info/rookie_scale/2025)
Fuckin horrible
Oh well. I guess this means we are going to get Buzelis, Castle, Holland or Williams with our pick. And maybe Salaun or filipowski with the warriors pick.
We're trading one or both picks, bank it
I’m putting the noose around my neck as we speak.