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Portland Trail Blazers: 2021 NBA Draft night grades

By Stevie Cozens

Mar 7, 2021; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns forward Greg Brown (4) dunks during the second half against the TCU Horned Frogs at Ed and Rae Schollmaier Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 7, 2021; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns forward Greg Brown (4) dunks during the second half against the TCU Horned Frogs at Ed and Rae Schollmaier Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /
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The 2021 NBA Draft is now in the books. The Portland Trail Blazers had no picks on the night, but ended up drafting one guy and signing another as a two-way contract.

Here are the Portland Trail Blazers 2021 NBA Draft grades

NBA Draft – 43rd pick – Greg Brown

Though the Blazers didn’t have a pick on the night, this didn’t stop them from making a move on the night to get a player they had their eye on. By sending a future second-round pick to the New Orleans Pelicans, they were able to get the 43rd pick and select Greg Brown out of Texas.

Brown, is a six-foot-nine springy power forward, who although not efficient as a scorer at Texas, has high upside as a rim running four who has a developing shooting stroke.

Brown shot 32 percent from three on around three attempts a night. With no proper power forwards or a strong athletic presence, this pick isn’t a bad one at 43.

Though it would be great to use assets on veterans to help the team win now, Brown has upside at his draft position and was talked about as the most athletic player in the draft.

NBA Draft Grade – B

NBA Draft – undrafted but signed to two-way deal – Trendon Watford

You don’t need to own draft assets to sign undrafted guys to deals. With two two-way deals to use per year, NBA teams are able to use these spots to get a look at young players for a season or two.

On draft night, the Blazers signed Trendon Watford, a two-year forward out of LSU.

Though he is also a six-foot-nine forward, Watford’s game is different to Brown’s.

Named All-SEC tourney in 2021, Watford is a jumbo three / four who has developing shot creation skills. Averaging 2.9 assists in 2021, he has a nice dribble and is able to get to the rim at ease.

Like Brown, he needs to work on his shooting, as he hit under 70 percent of his free throws in two years at college.

Watford is an interesting prospect on a two-way deal, as he and Brown are two different power forwards, but show Neil Olshey’s intention to maybe get more athletic at the three and four.

NBA Draft grade – B-

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