5 Reasons the Blazers Should Draft Shabazz Muhammad
By David MacKay
Feb 27, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils center Jordan Bachynski (13), guard Jahii Carson (1) and UCLA Bruins guard/forward Shabazz Muhammad (15) battle for a rebound in the second half of the game at Pauley Paviliion. UCLA won in overtime 79-74. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
4) Offensive rebounding
Muhammad is a strong finisher, but more than that, he is a skilled rebounder when the shot doesn’t pan out. Long arms, a 37” maximum vertical, and aggressive play allow him to recover his own misses regularly and provide 2nd chance opportunities for his team. The Blazers were constantly beaten on the boards last season and could use someone who is both aggressive in the paint and athletic enough to clean the glass when it counts. Muhammad’s second attempt will often earn him a trip to the charity stripe, leading to my final point of the day.