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Trail Blazers: Breaking down a decade of draft history

By Ryan Gaskin

NEWARK, NJ - JUNE 28: Damian Lillard shakes hands with NBA Commissioner David Stern after being selected number six overall by the Portland Trail Blazers during the 2012 NBA Draft at the Prudential Center on June 28, 2012 in Newark, New Jersey. 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 2012 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
NEWARK, NJ - JUNE 28: Damian Lillard shakes hands with NBA Commissioner David Stern after being selected number six overall by the Portland Trail Blazers during the 2012 NBA Draft at the Prudential Center on June 28, 2012 in Newark, New Jersey. 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 2012 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images)
(Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images) /

2013

Picks

Portland Trail Blazers
(Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) /

player. Highlights. SG. Lehigh. CJ McCollum. 10. Scouting Report. 34

Portland got it right it right two years running in 2013, as they selected CJ out of Lehigh with the No. 10 pick.

CJ McCollum has been a star for years now, but the guard did struggle initially after being drafted. In his first two years, CJ started just two games, and averaged a little over six points. However, in 2015, McCollum got his chance, and grasped it with both hands.

He averaged 20.8 points, helped the Blazers to the Western Conference Semifinals, and won the NBA MIP (most improved) award. Since, CJ has been a fringe all star, and has become one of the best offensive guards in the NBA.

Verdict: Hit

Portland Trail Blazers
(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /

SG. California. Allen Crabbe. 31. player. Highlights. 34. Scouting Report

Allen Crabbe turned into an excellent bit of draft night business by Neil Olshey and the Blazers. After being drafted at No. 31 by the Cleveland Cavaliers, Portland managed to lure the Cavs into swapping Crabbe for two second round picks.

Despite being drafted in the summer of 2013, Crabbe didn’t start an NBA game until the end of 2014, as he spent a year with the Idaho Stampede. However, when Crabbe finally got an opportunity, he turned into an important bench player for the Blazers.

In the 2015/16 season, Crabbe averaged 10 points off the bench on 26 minutes a game. A year later (his final season in PDX), Crabbe shot the lights out, hitting 44 percent of his threes (64 percent on spot-up attempts). He also became the first Portland player to score 30 off the bench since Jamal Crawford, way back in 2012!

Dame referred to him as a key part of the offense, but in the end, Crabbe became too expensive to keep around, as the Blazers had chosen to match Brooklyn’s offer of 75 million back in 2016. Crabbe was traded to the Nets in July 2017, where he averaged a career best 13.2 points, and in 2018 (amid injuries) helped Brooklyn to a playoff spot.

Crabbe now plays in Atlanta after being traded in July of this year.

Verdict: Hit

(Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images)
(Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Highlights. C. Kansas. Jeff Withey. 39. player. Scouting Report. 34

The first of two players picked in this draft that never got close to suiting up for the team.

Jeff Withey was selected out of Kansas with the 39th pick, but lasted two weeks, as he was swiftly traded to New Orleans on July 10th.

However, Withey managed to hang around the NBA for a decent amount of time; stints on the Utah Jazz and Dallas Mavericks followed two years with the Pelicans, before finally getting waived by Dallas at the end of 2017.

As many players do, Withey then made the transition to Europe, where he signed with Turkish team Tofas. Four months in Greece came next for Withey, and then he spent the summer with the Washington Wizards for summer league.

Now, Withey competes in the Israeli Premier League, where he has found some success.

Verdict: Miss

(Photo by Rodolfo Molina/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images)
(Photo by Rodolfo Molina/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images) /

Marko Todorovic. 34. PF/C. FC Barcelona. 45. player. Scouting Report. Highlights

After being drafted by the Blazers in the second round, Marko Todorovic‘s draft rights were immediately traded to the Houston Rockets.

Todorovic had been playing professionally since he was 17, and the draft seemingly had no impact on his plans, as Todorovic stayed in Europe, particularly with FC Barcelona.

He hopped around different teams in Spain and Russia for a while, before signing with Chinese team Tianjin Pioneers in August 2019, where he continues to play today.

Verdict: Miss

What If’s?

The 2013 draft is often described as being fairly underwhelmed, rightly so. Barring Victor Oladipo at No. 2, CJ has turned into the best player from the rest of top 14; I love CJ and he’s a terrific scorer, but even he still hasn’t made an All-Star game.

The biggest what if (?), no doubt about it, comes at No. 15. Just sit back for a second, and imagine if the Portland Trail Blazers had drafted Giannis Antetokounmpo. Imagine what that would look like in 2019, the Greek Freak in Portland!

Giannis and the Bucks look absolutely unstoppable with Eric Bledsoe as his point guard, what would he look like next to Dame?! The Blazers would be title contenders for years, and with two MVP candidates on their team, would contain one of the best duos in the last 20 years.

What if, huh?

The next slide jumps straight to 2015, as the Blazers had no picks and added no players in the 2014 draft.