This is just a really quick rookie ladder that’ll get updated as the season rages on.

Oct 17, 2012; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers forward Victor Claver (18) battles for a loose ball with Denver Nuggets forward Kenneth Faried (35) in the third quarter of the game at the Rose Garden. The Blazers won the game 97-80. Mandatory Credit: Steve Dykes-US

Honorable Mentions: Miles Plumlee: F/C, Indiana Pacers; Arnett Moultrie: F, Philadelphia 76ers; Evan Fournier: G, Denver Nuggets; Moe Harkless (Hernia): F, Orlando Magic

25. Kendall Marshall: Point Guard, Phoenix Suns
Preseason Stats: 3.0 PPG, 3.3 APG, 2.3 RPG
Last 3: 8 pts, 2 ast vs. GSW; 5 reb, 3 ast, 2 stl vs. OKC; 4 ast vs. POR

Kendall Marshall can’t shoot, and that’s always a red flag for point guards. But he’s easily the best passer/playmaker in his draft class and has kept his assist-to-turnover ratio positive by making good decisions.

24. Victor Claver: Forward, Portland Trail Blazers
Preseason Stats: 3.6 PPG, 1.6 RPG
Last 3: 1 stl, 10 min vs. UTAH; 2 pts, 4 reb, 1 stl vs. GSW; 13 pts, 3 reb, 2 stl, 13 min vs. DEN

Victor Claver makes this list solely because of his performance against the Denver Nuggets. He’s been aggressive on defense and has shown an ability to score in a variety of ways.

If you don’t remember him, it’s probably because he was drafted all the way back in 2009.

23. Meyers Leonard: Center, Portland Trail Blazers
Preseason Stats: 6.4 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 1.0 BLKPG
Last 3: 8 pts, 4 reb, 1 blk vs. UTAH; 4 pts, 6 reb, 1 blk vs. GSW; 6 pts, 3 reb, 2 stl, 1 blk vs. DEN

Many argued that the Blazers should’ve gone with Tyler Zeller over Meyers Leonard at No. 11, but he does everything Portland needs. He gets into heavy foul trouble (just like Greg Oden), but Leonard has been active on defense, somewhat crashes the boards and is super athletic, especially off the pick-and-roll.

22. Austin Rivers: Guard, New Orleans Hornets
Preseason Stats: 7.3 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 2.0 APG
Last 3: 6 pts, 4 ast vs. MIA; 0 pts, 14 min vs. DAL; 11 pts, 2 reb, 2 ast, 2 stl vs. ATL

I’d go out on a limb and call Austin Rivers the least efficient player in this draft class, and I’m probably right. He took 59 shots in the preseason and only nailed sixteen (16) of them—that’s a droplet over 27 percent from the field over eight games.

What makes it worse is that coach Monty Williams is being extremely patient with him. Rivers has played more minutes than any guard drafted with him not named Damian Lillard and only has 7.3 points per game to show for it. He’s quickly falling down my power rankings, and if he doesn’t step it up, he’ll fall right out of it.

21. Terrence Ross: Shooting Guard, Toronto Raptors
Preseason Stats: 6.8 PPG, 1.8 RPG
Last 3: 10 pts, 2 stl vs. MEM; 2 pts, 5 min vs. NYK; 5 pts, 2 reb, 2 stl, 1 blk vs. DET 

I haven’t seen Terrence Ross play yet, but his stats have proven him to be more efficient than Austin Rivers in significantly less playing time.

20. Jeremy Lamb: Shooting Guard, Houston Rockets TRADED TO OKC
Preseason Stats: 6.2 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 1.3 APG
Last 3: 0 pts, 2 reb, 6 min vs. ORL; 5 pts, 3 ast vs. NOH; 2 pts, 1 stl, 12 min vs. MEM 

I love Jeremy Lamb in Oklahoma City. He gets to be on a winning team that will demand nothing but the absolute best from him. This is exactly what he needed for him to get out of his shooting funk.

19. Royce White: Forward, Houston Rockets
Preseason Stats: 2.3 PPG, 1.5 RPG, 1.0 APG
Last 3: 2 pts, 2 ast, 13 min vs. ORL; 7 pts, 3 reb, 1 blk vs. DAL

I’m probably the only guy who still has faith in Royce White, but he hasn’t gotten playing time to show his skills. He needs to somehow beat his anxiety disorder and travel with the team, but I think that, once he gets settled in, White will become the dominating player we saw at Iowa State.

18. Khris Middleton: Forward, Detroit Pistons
Preseason Stats: 6.0 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 1.0 APG
Last 4: 3 pts, 1 ast, 1 stl, 4 min vs. ATL; 5 pts, 3 reb, 10 min vs. MIA; 5 pts, 1 reb, 8 min vs. ORL; 11 pts, 5 reb, 3 ast, 2 stl vs. MIL

I’ve been so impressed with Khris Middleton’s ability to do so much in such a short bit of time. Lawrence Frank absolutely has to give this guy a solid spot in the rotation if he wants the Pistons to start turning the ship around.

17. Tyler Zeller: Center, Cleveland Cavaliers
Pre-Season Stats: 8.4 PPG, 4.7 RPG
Last 3: 13 pts, 7 reb, 1 blk, 1 stl vs. IND; 6 pts, 2 reb vs. PHI; 8 pts, 5 reb vs. ORL

Zeller hasn’t made much happen on defense, but we expected this. He’s a center that can pop out to around 15-18 feet and knock down jumpers. Great for Kyrie Irving and Dion Waiters to have someone to dump the ball out to.

16. Dion Waiters: Guard, Cleveland Cavaliers
Preseason Stats: 8.6 PPG, 2.1 APG, 2.0 RPG
Last 3: 12 pts, 3 reb, 2 ast, 1 stl vs. IND; 5 pts, 3 reb, 3 ast, 2 stl vs. PHI; 8 pts, 2 ast vs. ORL

Not impressed with Dion Waiters one bit, especially since he skipped the line to get picked up third in the draft. They’ve given him every chance to show what he’s worth, and he still hasn’t lived up to the hype.

I didn’t watch much of him at Syracuse either, so here’s to hoping Cleveland didn’t blow it with their 2012 NBA Draft pick.

15. John Henson: Forward, Miilwaukee Bucks INJURED
Preseason Stats: 7.3 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 1.6 BLKPG
Last 3: 4 pts, 1 reb vs. CHI; 12 pts, 6 reb, 4 blk, 4 ast vs. DET; 6 pts, 7 reb, 1 blk vs. CLE

Henson looked so promising until he sprained his left knee. Hopefully he doesn’t lose any of that bounce he had when he gets back to the court.

14. Perry Jones III: Forward, Oklahoma City Thunder
Preseason Stats: 9.8 PPG, 3.2 RPG
Last 3: 2 pts, 2 reb, 2 ast vs. DAL; 14 pts, 4 reb, 1 ast vs. CHI; 4 pts, 2 reb, 1 stl vs. DEN

I haven’t seen Perry Jones play once this entire preseason, but the general consensus is that OKC got a steal for him late in the first round. I’ll come back next time with a better analysis after I’ve seen him play a few games.

13. Andre Drummond: Forward/Center, Detroit Pistons
Preseason Stats: 9.0 PPG, 5.9 RPG
Last 3: 13 pts, 10 reb, 2 blk vs. ATL; 2 reb, 9 min vs. MIN; 8 pts, 7 reb vs. CHA

People talk about Andre Drummond the same way they talk about Perry Jones. They can play at a high level if they feel like it. Their stats reflect that same mentality. Some games they put up monster numbers, and the next day, you can’t even find them on the court.

I do think, though, that Drummond will develop into the best center in this draft class.

12. Donatas Motiejunas: Forward-Center, Houston Rockets
Preseason Stats: 9.8 PPG, 4.3 RPG
Last 3: 12 pts, 3 reb, 1 ast vs. ORL; 8 pts, 5 ast, 1 blk vs. DAL; 16 pts, 8 reb vs. SAS

I almost forgot to include Motiejunas in this list because he was picked up in last year’s draft. I had him pegged as a sort of Dirk Nowitzki 2.0, but he’ll have to develop his jumper a lot more before earning that honor.

Motiejunas does many things well. He’ll have to bulk up to avoid getting shoved around down low, but his offensive game is so well-rounded, it more than compensates for his frame. Still, at seven feet and only 22-years old, the Lithuanian big man has a chance to become one of the better shooting bigs in the NBA.

11. Terrence Jones: Power Forward, Houston Rockets
Preseason Stats: 10.5 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 1.2 BLKPG
Last 3: 4 pts, 2 blk vs. ORL; 15 pts, 9 reb, 2 ast, 2 stl, 1 blk vs. NOH; 9 pts, 5 reb, 2 blk vs. MEM

Terrence Jones has been a great blue-collar type of player who’s getting his minutes by doing all the grunt work down low. I’d like to see him get a few more looks in the low post, though.

10. Jae Crowder: Forward, Dallas Mavericks
Preseason Stats: 11.4 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 1.875 STLPG, 1.6 APG
Last 3: 11 pts, 5 reb, 3 ast, 2 blk vs. CHA; 21 pts, 9 reb, 3 ast, 2 stl vs. OKC; 12 pts, 4 reb, 4 ast, 1 stl, 1 blk vs. NOH

Crowder made a name for himself as a do-it-all kind of guy in the Summer League, and has kept his reputation in tact. He’s rebounding better than some of the bigs drafted next to him and has been a better scorer than many of the bigger named guards picked up in the first round.

Talk about a steal for Dallas.

9. Thomas Robinson: Power Forward, Sacramento Kings
Preseason Stats: 7.8 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 1.2 STLPG
Last 3: 17 pts, 8 reb,1 stl vs. PHX; 6 pts, 4 reb vs. LAL; 8 pts, 5 reb, 2 ast, 1 stl vs. LAL

That is all.

8. Jonas Valanciunas: Center, Toronto Raptors
Preseason Stats: 8.3 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 1.8 BLKPG
Last 3: 15 pts, 7 reb, 1 stl 1 blk vs. MEM; 10 pts, 8 reb, 4 blk, 1 stl vs. MIL; 4 pts, 10 reb, 1 blk vs. NYK 

How many of you guys forgot that Toronto picked up Valanciunas in last year’s draft? He’s been a monster on the boards, and had a sick highlight where he had a monster dunk against the Wizards.

He’ll be a great piece to build around with Terrence Ross, DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry.

7. Harrison Barnes: Small Forward, Golden State Warriors
Preseason Stats: 10.4 PPG, 3.3 RPG
Last 3: 16 pts, 7 reb, 1 stl vs. PHX; 9 pts, 3 reb vs. LAC; 6 pts, 1 ast vs. POR

Once Harrison Barnes learns to create for himself, he’ll be the best player in this draft. Barnes shoots well, can defend and gets out on breaks, but if there’s a defender in his face (like Nicolas Batum was for Portland), the ball is coming right out of his hands.

6. Jared Sullinger: Forward, Boston Celtics
Preseason Stats: 10.9 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 
Last 3: 11 pts,6 reb vs. PHI; 10 pts, 8 reb, 1 stl vs. NYK; 12 pts, 6 reb vs. BKN

I was a HUGE Sully fan back when he was at Ohio State, and seeing him destroy all the teams that passed up on him brings nothing but endless joy to my life.

Sullinger’s showed every facet of his game: He’s shot the ball well, posted up and crashed the boards. He’s not an athlete or a shot blocker, but Boston doesn’t need him to be. He’s filling the role of a stretch four very well.

Oct 24, 2012; Uniondale, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets power forward Andray Blatche (0) fouls New York Knicks small forward Chris Copeland (14) at the net during the second quarter at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-US PRESSWIRE

5. Chris Copeland: Forward, New York Knicks
Preseason Stats: 15.5 PPG, 2.8 RPG
Last 3: 16 pts, 3 reb, 3 ast vs. BKN; 15 pts vs. PHI; 34 pts, 6 reb, 2 stl vs. BOS

Here’s a guy who nobody knew about that came to arguably the biggest market of them all and hijacked the spotlight. The guy’s a 28-year old rookie that defied the odds and made the N.Y. Knicks’ jam-packed roster.

Chris Copeland can fill it up, but like many of the Knicks on the roster, he struggles defensively. With Amar’e Stoudemire out for a couple weeks recovering from a knee injury, we might get an early dosage of Copeland in our diets.

October 19, 2012; Orlando FL, USA; Indiana Pacers center Luke Nevill (26) and power forward Miles Plumlee (13) defend Orlando Magic power forward Andrew Nicholson (44) during the second half at Amway Center. Orlando Magic defeated the Indiana Pacers 112-96. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-US PRESSWIRE

4. Andrew Nicholson: Power Forward, Orlando Magic
Preseason Stats: 10.6 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 1.14 BLKPG
Last 3: 5 pts, 7 reb vs. HOU; 5 pts, 6 reb, 1 stl vs. MEM; 18 pts, 2 blk vs. SAS

I don’t know much about Andrew Nicholson, but he’s been great at helping Orlando forget about Dwight Howard. Especially after that 18-point outburst against San Antonio, he and Jameer Nelson will become best friends once he gets set in the rotation.

Oct 15, 2012; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal (3) shoots over Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez (11) during the first half at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Debby Wong-US PRESSWIRE

3. Bradley Beal: Guard, Washington Wizards
Preseason Stats: 11.3 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 2.5 APG
Last 3: 0 pts, 19 min vs. SAS; 9 pts, 4 reb, 3 stl, ast vs. MIA; 10 pts, 4 reb vs. MIL

Brad Beal’s been in attack mode all preseason long which is exactly what John Wallneeds to help get the Wizards back to being relevant in the NBA.

The young Ray Allen comparisons were a bit too extreme, but Beal’s got a cocked-and-loaded rifle that he’s unafraid to fire. Playing next to Wall, he should get plenty of open looks.

Oct 22, 2012; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard (0) speaks with Portland Trail Blazers head coach Terry Stotts during a break in the third quarter of the game at the Rose Garden. The Blazers won the game 120-114. Mandatory Credit: Steve Dykes-US PRESSWIRE

2. Damian Lillard: Point Guard, Portland Trail Blazers
Preseason Stats: 16.2 PPG, 5.8 APG, 2.5 RPG
Last 3: 12 pts, 5 ast vs. UTAH; 21 pts, 8 ast, 4 reb, 2 stl vs. UTAH; 15 pts, 7 ast vs. GSW

There have been a few menial rookie mistakes here and there, but Damian Lillard has been all that AND a bag of chips (yes, I went there) for the Portland Trail Blazers.

He’s a bit prone to turning the ball over, but Lillard’s shown a poise in running this Blazers team that no other rookie in the draft class has. He can shoot the three, but more importantly, he’s been great at running the pick-and-pop with LaMarcus Aldridge and dumping the ball out at the perfect moment.

Damian Lillard for president, anyone?

Oct 26, 2012; Miami, FL, USA; New Orleans Hornets power forward Anthony Davis (23) shoots over Miami Heat power forward Udonis Haslem (40) during the second half at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-US PRESSWIRE

1. Anthony Davis: Power Forward, New Orleans Hornets
Preseason Stats: 14.9 PPG, 9.9 RPG, 1.57 BLKPG
Last 3: 24 pts, 11 reb, 3 stl, 1 blk vs. MIA; 13 pts, 8 reb, 2 stl, 3 blk vs. HOU; 6 pts, 17 reb, 2 blk vs. DAL

We knew he’d make some noise in the NBA once he was selected to travel with Team USA, but Anthony Davis has lived up to and exceeded the hype that latches itself onto a No. 1 overall pick.

The Brow has been incredibly efficient, as any big man should be, but has also shown the ability to help from the weak side and close out on shooters on the wing.

While Lillard will give him a run for his money, Davis is looking like the clear front-runner for the 2013 Rookie of the Year Award.

	Player	Pos.	Team	PER	Chg
1.	Anthony Davis	PF	NOH	16.43
2.	Damian Lillard	PG	POR	14.50
3.	Bradley Beal	G	WSH	10.12
4.	Andrew Nicholson	PF	ORL	9.86
5.	Chris Copeland	F	NYK	11.67
6.	Jared Sullinger	PF	BOS	14.12
7.	Harrison Barnes	F	GSW	8.88	—
8.	Jonas Valanciunas	F/C	TOR	11.83
9.	Thomas Robinson	PF	SAC	9.17	—
10.	Jae Crowder	G/F	DAL	13.88
11.	Terrence Jones	PF	HOU	10.83
12.	Donatas Motiejunas	F/C	HOU	9.83
12,	Andre Drummond	PF/C	DET	12.83	—
13.	Perry Jones III	F	OKC	10.00
14.	John Henson	PF	MIL	9.00
16.	Dion Waiters	G	CLE	5.14
17.	Tyler Zeller	PF/C	CLE	9.71	—
18.	Khris Middleton	G/F	DET	7.00
19.	Royce White	F	HOU	1.25
20.	Jeremy Lamb	G	OKC	7.50	—
21.	Terrence Ross	G/F	TOR	5.2
22.	Austin Rivers	G	NOH	5.86
23.	Meyers Leonard	C	POR	9.57	—
24.	Victor Claver	F	POR	3.8
25.	Kendall Marshall	PG	PHX	4.75

Any questions, comments,or concerns? Leave ‘em below, and I’ll be sure to address them!

Thanks for reading.

@BriscoXCI | KrisWinfield@gmail.com

April 2, 2012; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers power forward LaMarcus Aldridge (12) drives to the basket on Utah Jazz power forward Paul Millsap (24) during the first quarter of the game at the Rose Garden. Mandatory Credit: Steve Dykes-US PRESSWIRE

The 2012 NBA Draft is only a few days away, and it looks as though the Portland Trail Blazers have whittled their prospective draft choices down to two players: Weber State guard, Damian Lillard, and Connecticut big man, Andre Drummond.

But with the recent trade rumors revolving around the Houston Rockets attempts to move up into the Top 5 picks in the draft, the odds of Drummond ever making it to No. 6 are slim to none, and Lillard, having gone out to dinner with Blazers’ owner, Paul Allen, is beginning to look like the consensus pick around the consensus pick among most mock drafts.

The Oakland, CA. native, Lillard was second in college hoops in scoring last season at 24.5 points to go alongside his 5.1 rebounds and four assists per game. Making the huge jump to the NBA, he’ll be paired with All-Star PF, LaMarcus Aldridge, to form the NBA’s newest duo, and while he hasn’t run much pick-and-roll in his career at Weber State, expectations are through the roof for the Blazers’ new-found PG of the future.

But are just Lillard and Aldridge aren’t enough to get Portland back into the Western Conference playoff picture?

The rook hasn’t even worked out with other draft prospects yet—he’s done only solo pre-draft workouts so far—let alone play an NBA game, and last season’s unfortunate results proved that L.A.’s potent offensive output can’t carry the Blazers alone. Re-signing Nicolas Batum would be a good place to start, and Elliot Williams, after he finishes rehab from his dislocated shoulder, is poised for a breakout season, but Rip City is far from complete.

Here’s how GM Neil Olshey should cautiously proceed this off-season to build a contender in the next two seasons:

Mar 10, 2012; Atlanta, GA, USA; Duke Blue Devils guard Austin Rivers (0) lays the ball up past Florida State Seminoles forward Okaro White (10) and Bernard James (5) in the second half during the semi-finals of the 2012 ACC Men

1. Draft G Austin Rivers or G Dion Waiters With the No. 11 Pick.

Wesley Matthews still has a lot of promise, but it’s no secret that he regressed quite a bit after his strong sophomore campaign. His poor play may have been 100% influenced by adding a declining Raymond Felton and shoot-only Jamal Crawford to the lineup, but a back-up plan is always welcome. He came around towards the end of the season, finishing with a .383 three-point percentage (down from .407), but with the talent available at guard in the lottery, you have to draft the best that’s there.

Williams, in his limited playing time, has shown glimpses of promise and potential, and is almost destined for stardom in the near future, but if Austin Rivers or Dion Waiters is available at pick No. 11, the Blazers simply can’t pass it up.

One of the favorites for Portland’s second lottery pick, Rivers has a confidence that’s mistaken for cockiness, and backs it up with a superior shooting stroke and ball handling skills that can lull the stickiest defenders to sleep. Waiters is a m0re athletic, slashing guard who gets to the rim with ease and is touted as the second best guard in the draft behind Florida’s Bradley Beal. He doesn’t have the stroke that Rivers has, but he more than makes up for it with his elite explosiveness.

Rivers is the more viable option, as Waiters is projected to get picked up anywhere between 7 and 10, but if he falls to 11, Portland could go either way.

2. Find Quality Free Agent Talent

If the buzz around the league holds up and Drummond gets picked up in the Top 5, Portland will still have a gaping hole at center that they need to fill. Joel Przybilla is a great defender, but he’s super injury-prone, and Kurt Thomas is approaching 40-years old faster everyday. Chances are they won’t have two lottery picks again for awhile, so picking up a center from the free agency is the next best option.

Omer Asik, Greg Stiemsma and Jermaine O’Neal are pretty decent options, but the best move would be to package Raymond Felton (sign-and-trade) to whatever team drafts Syracuse big, Fab Melo, and try to make a deal.

The Blazers are also reportedly interested in highly sought-after free agents, Goran Dragic and Steve Nash, and could stand to expand the search for a back-up SF for Nic Batum.

April 1, 2012; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers power forward LaMarcus Aldridge (12) comes off the bench to greet Portland Trail Blazers power forward J.J. Hickson (21)during the third quarter of the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Rose Garden. The Blazers won the game 119-106. Mandatory Credit: Steve Dykes-US PRESSWIRE

3. Re-Sign Nic Batum and J.J. Hickson

The Blazers find themselves in a unique position where they have approximately $15 million in cap space to spend on free agents BEFORE Nic Batum or J.J. Hickson, both restricted free agents, receive offer sheets from other teams. Afterwards, Hickson’s $4.4 million qualifying offer and Batum’s $5.2 million cap hold come off of the team’s cap space, leaving them upwards of nothing to work with.

After the Blazers sign some key free agents this summer, it’s imperative that they bring both RFA’s back to the team. Olshey called Batum and Aldridge “cornerstones” of the franchise, and Hickson averaged 14.8 points, 9.2 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game in April, while L.A. was out getting hip surgery done.

Hickson would continue to be a solid back-up af PF, bringing energy and intensity off the bench, and would give Lillard another big man to play off of.

4. Find the Right Head Coach

The Blazers have put their search for a head coach on hold until after the NBA Draft, but all indications thus far have pointed towards the team either keeping interim “in-house favorite,” Kaleb Canales, or choosing between Golden State Warriors’ assistant coach, Michael Malone, or Indiana Pacers’ assistant coach, Brian Shaw.

Keeping Canales saves the Blazers money, and he’s highly regarded by most of the team’s roster, including high praise from captain L.A., but if they want to win now, Malone might be the best way to go.

Blazers’ Roster & Approx. Contacts After Off-Season:

PG: Damian Lillard ($2.554M), Nolan Smith ($1.307M)
SG: Wesley Matthews ($6.135M), Elliot Williams ($1.349M), Austin Rivers ($1.772M)
SF: Nicolas Batum (~ $9-11M), Luke Babbitt ($1.767M)
PF: LaMarcus Aldridge ($12.875M), J.J. Hickson (~ $5.5-7M), Shawne Williams (expected to opt-in to $3.1 million player option), Joel Freeland (2006 NBA Draft from Britain, > $800K)
C: Joel Przybilla (veteran’s minimum, $1.4M), Hamed Haddadi (> $2M), Kurt Thomas ($1.352M)

Head Coach: Kaleb Canales

The Extremes: 

I’d guess Rockets, Blazers and Warriors will make some type of offer for Dwight. Nets want him, but have nothing to offer until 2013.

— Jarrod N Rudolph (@JRudolphSports) June 25, 2012

——-> The Blazers don’t need to give up their two lottery picks and likely Nicolas Batum to rent Dwight Howard for a year. If he’s not going to commit long-term… even if he does commit long term, Howard’s clearly got some trust and commitment issues that Portland doesn’t need to be a part of. Avoid Superman at all costs.

Portland would look a lot better if Drummond falls to No. 6, but assuming he doesn’t (or Houston packages Lowry with the No. 14 and 16 picks to move into the Top 5), this is a good picture of what the Blazers are working with next season.

Kristian Winfield is a Staff Writer for Rip City Project and Editor of ScarletandGame.com. You can follow him on Twitter @BriscoXCI.