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Portland Trail Blazers: Top draft priority for each Northwest Division team

By Austin Carroll

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - FEBRUARY 11: Paul George #13 and Russell Westbrook #0 of the Oklahoma City Thunder look on after the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on February 11, 2019 at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images)
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - FEBRUARY 11: Paul George #13 and Russell Westbrook #0 of the Oklahoma City Thunder look on after the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on February 11, 2019 at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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MEMPHIS, TN – MARCH 8: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz congratulates Mike Conley #11 of the Memphis Grizzlies after the game on March 8, 2019 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)
MEMPHIS, TN – MARCH 8: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz congratulates Mike Conley #11 of the Memphis Grizzlies after the game on March 8, 2019 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) /
  • 2018-19 record: 50-32 (3rd in Northwest Division)
  • Draft picks: #53

Draft Priority: Take a Gamble on a Guard

To be honest, the Utah Jazz already made their big move the day before the actual draft. In an effort to finally give Donovan Mitchell some help on the offensive end, they traded the No. 23 pick, a future first-round pick and some scraps.

Mike Conley is a perfect fit with Utah’s current system being a plus passer, shooter and defender. He is someone who can be counted on to play consistently and help take the load off Mitchell’s shoulders. If the Jazz could already win 50 games without Conley, they’ll look all the more dangerous with a legitimate All-Star running the point.

That being said, the Jazz still shouldn’t shrug off the draft. Even with only a late second-round selection, value can still be found deep in the draft. With Grayson Allen and Kyle Korver being dealt away, Utah could use some revitalization to their guard depth.

Top Draft Targets: Any Guard

Literally any of them. Properly gauging how well late-second round picks will transition into the NBA is a complete shot in the dark. But we do know two things.

  1. Late second-round guards are more likely to blossom in the NBA than big men.
  2. These hidden gems are appearing more and more often as the years pass.

Here’s a list of guards that have been drafted in the second-round in the last ten years: Malcolm Brogdon, Pat Beverley, Lance Stephenson, Spencer Dinwiddie, Jordan Clarkson, Monte Morris, E’Twaun Moore, Tomas Satoransky, and Jalen Brunson among others. And of course how could anyone forget Isaiah Thomas infamously going No. 60 overall.

Point is, there are plenty of players out there waiting to be picked up and become big contributors in the league for years to come. Raul Neto and Naz Mitrou-Long aren’t fooling anyone. They aren’t the long term solutions at point guard the Jazz need in the rotation. Grabbing a player with the potential to effectively fill out the sixth-man role moving forward could be a huge addition.