Portland Trail Blazers: Best case 2019 NBA Draft scenarios

With the 2019 NBA Draft inching closer, the excitement is growing around what the Portland Trail Blazers will do with their one and only pick in the draft. Whether they keep the pick or move it, many fans in Rip City want to see some action on June 20 (the night of the draft).

Whatever the Trail Blazers front office, led by general manager Neil Olshey, plans to do, they must be flexible. With many other NBA teams looking for similar additions from the draft, Portland must prepared to execute its secondary options.

What are the Blazers best case scenarios on the draft night and what could Portland do based on these different options?

Blazers keep their pick

On the chance that the Blazers keep their first round pick, they will probably be looking for a versatile forward who can take pressure off of Portland’s high profile backcourt duo. There are not too many of those available in Portland’s draft range. Additionally, multiple teams picking in 20’s before Portland also have this same need (such as Utah and Philadelphia).

Tennessee’s Grant Williams could be a perfect for any of these, especially Portland. The only question is whether he will be available at this pick. Williams is projected to get selected in the second half of the first round.

A two time SEC player of the year, Williams was one of the most productive and versatile players in college basketball. He projects as a solid playmaker from the forward position and the potential to become a solid shooter if he can extend his range. Additionally, if he improves on his quickness, he has the potential to be a PJ Tucker type defender.

For a team that has not had a forward who was a legitimate threat with the ball in their hands since Nicolas Batum, Williams could fill a valuable role for the Blazers. If he is able to fall to Portland, Neil Olshey should be jumping for joy.

Blazers move their pick

The assumption around the Pacific Northwest is that the Blazers are looking to move their pick in order to shed one of their expiring contracts and acquire better wing help, with Moe Harkless, Meyers Leonard, and Evan Turner the likeliest candidates to get moved.

Additionally, with multiple wings (Jake Layman, Al-Farouq Aminu, and Rodney Hood) entering free agency, this is most likely Portland’s best chance at replacing production due to their lack of cap space.

Unfortunately, a good portion of the wings that would normally be on the radar for the Blazers are unavailable, mostly due to them already finding roles on other playoff teams or them hitting free agency this summer.

Nevertheless, there are a few targets that should interest Portland. Players such as Otto Porter, Robert Covington, and TJ Warren all offer consistent two way production with shooting and defense, along with a limited ability to create with the ball in their hands. Additionally, their respective teams are all looking to acquire additional draft capital, making the acquisition a (close to) perfect trade partnership.

Out of these candidates, bringing in Robert Covington is the best case scenario for Portland. Not only is he an elite defender, but his 36% career three point shooting (on a relatively high volume) offers Portland a threat that Harkless and Aminu do not offer. And at $10 million a year, he is on a very team friendly contract.