Here at the RCP (that’s short for “Rip City Project,” in case you’re not in the know), we’ve got a busy NBA Draft week ahead of us. That’s why we’re already hard at work on a sunny, summer-like Sunday in Portland, Oregon.
There are going to be a whole lot of words spilled over the next few weeks regarding the NBA Draft. And yet here I am getting a head start on all those words by writing what amounts to a “stay tuned” announcement.
So stay tuned.
To Rip City Project, I mean.
We’ve got a bunch of stuff lined up for you, our dearly devoted readers. So be sure to tune to the RCP and look for us on Twitter @RipCityProject — especially on draft night.
NBA Draft
The Top 5 picks in the June 21 draft are currently held by, in order, the Phoenix Suns, Sacramento Kings, Atlanta Hawks, the Memphis Grizzlies and the Dallas Mavericks.
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These were the five worst teams in the league in 2017-2018. The Suns won just 21 games — the worst record in the NBA. Memphis wasn’t far behind (ahead?) with 22 wins. Both Atlanta and Dallas won 24 games. And the Kings won 27 games — a veritable juggernaut in this group of five awful not-even-also-rans.
What’s interesting about this for Portland Trail Blazers fans is that 4 of those 5 teams are in the Western Conference. Meaning that many of the Blazers’ rivals could possibly be sporting young superstars. (Barring trades, of course.)
The Blazers
But what about our beloved Blazers? Well, they’ve got just one pick in this year’s draft — the 24th pick in the first round.
We’ve done some speculating about which player the Blazers might be able to select at that spot. But — just to whet your appetite — here’s a brief list of players who were selected with the No. 24 pick in the NBA Draft over the past 30 years.
Shabazz Napier, Connecticut, 2014: Selected by the Charlotte Hornets.
Reggie Jackson, Boston College, 2011: Selected by the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Rudy Fernandez, Joventut Badalona (Spain), 2007: Selected by the Phoenix Suns.
Kyle Lowry, Villanova, , 2006: Selected by the Memphis Grizzlies.
Derek Fisher, Arkansas-Little Rock, 1996: Selected by the Los Angeles Lakers.
Monty Williams, Notre Dame, 1994: Selected by the New York Knicks.
Sam Cassell, Florida State, 1993: Selected by the Houston Rockets.
Latrell Sprewell, Alabama, 1992: Selected by the Golden State Warriors.
Brian Shaw, UC-Santa Barbera, 1988: Selected by the Boston Celtics.
Next: ‘One-and-done’ done by ’21?
Well, sports fans, that’s all we’ve got for you today. We’re gonna go enjoy some of that sunshine.
Of course, now that we look out the window, it ain’t so sunny any more.
Ah well, we sacrifice here at the RCP to bring you the best NBA draft coverage anywhere.
As we said before (several times now): Stay tuned!