The Portland Trail Blazers decided to blow up their team. Although reports suggest they may be looking to build around Damien Lillard, the rest of his old core is gone. CJ McCallum is in New Orleans, Norman Powell is in Los Angeles, and Jusuf Narkik may be visiting this summer. He is left with Anferney Simmons, Nasser Little and Damien Lillard for future productions. That future should be much better after the 2022 NBA Draft. The Blazers have their choice and the Pelicans are likely to be selected, so they will have two lottery places in the upcoming draft. Let's look at three early 2022 NBA Draft goals the Blazers will be looking at.
In a case where the Blazers package their two picks, which are predicted to be number seven and nine by NBADraft.net to move forward in the draft, Chet Holmgren could be in the news. Besides Jabari Smith, Gonzaga is the top-two big man in the center draft. He is an outstanding youth center who, for the longest time, was projected to be the first pick of the draft. He's been down a bit since then, but he's still a player that many NBA franchises will love in their future. Blazers, should they decide to use and get what they like, will go no wrong investing in them.
First, he has insurance for the Blazers if Hellick decides to leave. He's going to be looking for upwards of $20 million in free agency, because it's his last deal, and the Blazers really shouldn't be giving him that much. Aside from the financial implications, Holmgren would suit the Blazers' future, as Simmons would be the piece to manufacture after Lillard. He's a seven foot one, mobile hub with a ton of range and a nice touch around the rim. He is also a great defensive player, mostly because of his height and length. Sure, that rookie will hit the wall, as the NBA is more physical and his frame lacks strength, but he should be the next big thing when it comes to centers in the NBA.
Paolo banchero
Also an option if the Blazers want to package their choice and go ahead, Banchero will certainly suit the Blazers timeline. Holmgren is likely to get better down the stretch, but the Duke forward will be ready now. This debate between Holmgren and Banchero is about immediate effect versus Ceiling, and if the Blazers really want to win next season, Banchero should be the guy. He will likely be unavailable at places seven and nine, as is the case with Holmgren, so he will need to go up, but Banchero is definitely worth it.
He's the beast of a forward standing at six-foot-ten, 250 pounds with an NBA-ready game. The Blazers can have a ton of combinations where Banchero is their intrinsic presence and Damien Lillard is a pick'n'roll option, while Simmons will be ready to shoot the lightsaber from the periphery. Should they decide to go for Banchero, the Blazers will find a player who will work right away, with less chance of seriously hitting the notorious rookie wall, and a guy they can really trust right away. His range is questionable, but out of this draft, he is the player who takes the least risk - something the Blazers should keep in mind when planning this upcoming draft.
Keegan Murray
This is a tricky pick, as the Blazers are set on their guard spots and most of the elite forwards/centers are either upvoted, irreversible, or are below draft and will be a huge stretch to take. Murray is right ahead in a lonely, mid-lottery spot that is full of guards. His bottom spot on the mock draft probably comes from the fact that many differ from the fact that he blasted this way during his sophomore season in Iowa. There are serious doubts whether he can sustain his rise. If he can, the Blazers get an excellent combo, a two-way forward who could be their bucket-getter apart from Lillard and Simmons. If not, it's hard to predict what could turn out to be a complete draft bust.
Nevertheless, his player profile suggests that he should be a legitimate contributor to any team that is drafted. The Blazers can get them some help when it comes to defensive focus and then, even if their elite shooting doesn't translate well to the NBA, they can get their wing stoppers of the future. With so many elite wings around the league, getting a good wing stopper is essential for any team aiming for an NBA title, as the Blazers look to start next season. In any case, the undead are incredibly difficult to predict, so if they are taken by the Blazers, it would be a risky move. However, the even bigger risks paid off, so the Blazers should go for it.