Ranking the Portland Trail Blazers last 5 NBA Draft picks

The 2021 NBA Draft is upon us. As the Portland Trail Blazers don’t have a pick in this year’s draft it’s a great time to reflect back on past drafts.

General Manager Neil Olshey has had a mixed record in recent drafts, with some hits and some misses. Let’s break it down.

Ranking the Portland Trail Blazers last 5 NBA Draft picks

Ranked five out of five, CJ Elleby 46th pick in 2020 NBA Draft

CJ Elleby hasn’t had a chance to show a lot in the NBA yet, but his brief cameos in garbage time or when there were injuries, have been promising.
There’s something about Neil’s picks in the second round, which sometimes actually seem to work out better than the first-round guys.
Elleby, selected 46th last year, is a six-foot-six small forward, who went to Washington State for two years.
He has a plus wing-span, he can shoot the three, and he is a great rebounder.

In a famous game last season, the Blazers were missing almost their entire starting five against one of the league’s best teams in the Philadelphia 76ers and Joel Embiid. Elleby played 30 plus minutes off the bench, with some excellent defense on the Sixers stars.
He had 15 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 blocks in the upset win. Though this is just one game, Elleby has shown some flashes.
It remains to be seen if he works out, but as the 46th pick if he becomes part of a rotation then that’s a win.