No. 34 (via Hornets): Blazers select Cam Christie, Guard, Minnesota
The brother of Lakers’ Max Christie, Cam is a great fit for the Blazers’ need as a sharpshooting guard. During his freshman season at Minnesota, Christie averaged 11.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.2 assists on 40/39/79 shooting splits. With a solid frame at 6-foot-5 and at just 18 years old, he has the potential to be a reliable 3-and-D role player in the NBA.
The Ringer’s prospect evaluation of Christie sounds like an ideal fit for Portland.
"Elite 3-point shooter with beautiful footwork, which gives him the ability to drain 3s off movement or even pull up off the dribble. As he continues to expand his skill set, he could end up being a menace off screens or even able to create his own shot."Kevin O'Connor
One concerning statistic is that Christie is one of the worst finishers in the draft class, connecting on only 42.6 percent of shots at the rim. The Blazers already have a problem with Scoot Henderson’s inefficient paint scoring. Do they need to add another into the mix?
The Blazers have two second-round picks, so they can afford to take a flyer on someone like Christie, even if he projects to only be a role player with offensive limitations at the next level.
Baylor guard Ja'Kobe Walter is a popular choice for the Blazers in mock drafts at pick No. 14. His ability to be a spot-up shooter on Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe’s drives is a potentially valuable asset. However, Christie finished his season with stats similar to Walker, who averaged 14.5 points on 38/34/79 shooting splits at Baylor. If the Blazers don’t secure Walter with their second lottery pick, Christie could be a more cost-effective alternative in terms of the required draft capital.