3 Dynamic guards the Trail Blazers should target with the No. 14 pick
By Clay Barley
2. Ja'Kobe Walter
Similar in stature and skillset to Carlton Carrington, Baylor guard Ja'Kobe Walter can score in a variety of ways. However, the Trail Blazers should pay attention to some key differences in their game if they're looking to select one of them at pick No. 14.
At 6-foot-5, Walter has a solid frame and possesses a high defensive upside. He could be a real two-way threat for the Blazers, which is the type of player they should be targeting. As a freshman at Baylor, he averaged over one steal per game this past season. While Walter averaged 14.5 points per game, his scoring was inefficient, as he only shot 37 percent from the field.
Walter's streaky shooting may deter a lot of teams in the lottery, but his three-point shooting was decent, averaging 34 percent on a high volume of six attempts per game. At the next level, he could provide much-needed floor spacing for the Blazers' athletic backcourt, whose collective strength is attacking the paint.
Walter's role beyond being a 3-and-D shooting guard is questionable, which may limit his upside. However, if he continues to improve his three-point shot and defense, he could be a fantastic fit in the Blazers' rotation.