Another day, another new mock draft, with ESPN’s Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo providing a post-combine update (ESPN Insider is required). The writers rotated the picks, so everyone had the opportunity to select a choice for Portland.
7th pick: Nikola Topić | PG | 6’6” | Serbia
Topić is a hot name, apparently on the radar of several teams at the top of the lottery. However, his history of recent injuries Portland has made him a top-10 player in multiple mock drafts. In two weeks, he’ll be taking tests at NBA Global Camp. For now, Givony says Portland can’t afford to let him drop to No. 7.
Topic’s size, playmaking ability, game sense and improved long-range shooting should allow him to play in a variety of lineup configurations, but Portland will likely also look at pure wing prospects in addition to front-line players who could fill a more immediate need.
14th pick: Zach Edey | C | 7’4” | Purdue
Woo thinks Portland might want to experiment with a center, given the uncertain status of Robert Williams III, who has failed to stay healthy. In a normal draft, the 14th pick is already going to have doubts, and those are certainly amplified in a seemingly “weaker” draft like this one. Woo openly notes the concerns about Edey’s limitations.
While it’s likely he’ll eventually become a situational role player in an NBA context due to his defensive limitations, it’s also hard to completely rule out what kind of impact he could still have as a play-stopper and screener.
The positions of some other common names that Blazers fans have been talking about in ESPN’s mock drafts: At No. 2, the Wizards selected Zaccharie Risacher; at No. 6, the Hornets selected Donovan Clingan; and at No. 8, the Spurs selected Tidjane Salaun. Another name regularly associated with the Blazers in mock drafts, Baylor forward Ja’Kobe Walter, was selected 13th by the Kings.
In the second round, the Blazers were expected to draft AJ Johnson, an Australian guard at 34th overall, and Jonathan Mogbo, a center from San Francisco at 40th overall.
