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In Barcelona watching James Nnaji take on Betis in the ACB. He’s a “long-armed big man built link a tank,” according to O’Connor. The 18-year-old Nigerian has a 7-7 wingspan and the athleticism to man the paint in Portland. 23 in this scenario, the Trail Blazers stay with the defense theme but address their need for size in the frontcourt with the 6-10, 225-pound Nnaji. With the Knicks’ pick, which lands at No. He can fill the gaping defensive holes in the Damian Lillard-Anfernee Simons backcourt, but he can play off the ball and be a secondary playmaker on offense while letting one of Portland’s two best scorers cook. The 19-year-old would be an ideal third guard for the Blazers.

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But again, he’s intelligent, can manage an offense, and understands how to avoid turnovers (he has a 2:1 assist-to-turnover ratio at Kentucky). He’s not going to blow by anyone and get to the rim with ease like some of the more athletic prospects in the 2023 class. Wallace is a better spot-up shooter than off-the-dribble creator. The Holiday similarities show up offensively, as well. He can lock up perimeter players on an island, but is also an excellent help defender. Wallace is long, strong, and smart on defense. Put the clamps on and did a lot of little things on both ends. In fact, O’Connor has Holiday as a comp for Wallace.Ĭason Wallace showed why he's a projected lottery pick and one of the best defenders in college basketball in the Champions Classic, posting 8 steals to go along with 14 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists. Wallace’s calling card is his defense he looks like Milwaukee’s Jrue Holiday physically, but more so in play style. Wallace is a 6-foot-4, 193-pound freshman who’s started all 29 games for the Wildcats this season with averages of 11.7 points, 3.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.9 steals. O’Connor has Portland selecting Kentucky guard Cason Wallace with the 11th pick, so right in that late-lottery, play-in spot area. Blazers land Kentucky’s Cason Wallace, Barcelona’s James Nnaji In The Ringer’s most recent mock draft, Kevin O’Connor has Portland using both firsts to double down on the team’s most glaring weakness – the one that is keeping the Blazers out of that playoff spot and in the lottery to begin with. In that scenario, the Blazers would have two first-round picks: their own and the New York Knicks’ pick they received in the Josh Hart trade. At this point, even if Portland does make a legitimate run at the 10 seed, the consequences are likely to be a lower lottery selection, not a playoff appearance. Even if the Blazers make the play-in tournament, the chances of them winning back-to-back games and missing out on a lottery selection completely are slim. Maybe it’s the optics, or maybe that’s just how it’s playing out. Either the Blazers won’t (perhaps they can’t) win enough games to solidify a playoff spot, or they’re not ready to completely cash in the regular season. The Portland Trail Blazers are awkwardly straddling the line between the postseason and a high lottery pick. This post originally appeared on OKCThunderWire.By Andrew Hanlon 1 week ago Follow Tweet That’s not even to mention the surefire All-Star guards Steph Curry, Damian Lillard and Doncic. He’ll have to beat out at least some of Paul, Donovan Mitchell, Devin Booker, Mike Conley, De’Aaron Fox, Ja Morant and DeMar DeRozan, along with wings who would qualify for the wild card spot. It’ll almost certainly come down to coaches to put him in as a reserve. Will the guard make the game? The starters will be announced Thursday, and as of the latest voting tally, he wasn’t anywhere near the mix for that. O’Connor also noted that Gilgeous-Alexander is a solid defensive player, better than many of the other wild card options. Gilgeous-Alexander and Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic, a lock for the All-Star game and potential starter, are the only two players averaging more than 20 drives per game (all stats were through Feb. So no one has really seen SGA develop into one of the best two-way guards in the NBA.”Īmong stats that O’Connor liked were Gilgeous-Alexander’s 22.6 points per game, 61.1 true shooting percentage, 6.5 assists, and the way the guard is leading the NBA in drives per game with 24.5.

“The Thunder haven’t played a single national television game this season, and they’re not a popular League Pass option since they’re in a rebuild.

Gilgeous-Alexander was a wild card pick, one of the final two for the Western Conference, alongside former backcourt running mate Chris Paul.

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Media members do not vote for reserves, only starters, but he O’Connor wrote how he would put together the full 12-man team for each conference. The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor listed him as a reserve on his article going over how he would vote. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a bit of a longshot for the All-Star game despite putting up deserving numbers, but the Oklahoma City Thunder guard is getting some attention for a spot.