7. DeAndre Jordan - 2008
Trail Blazers pick: Omer Asik, No. 36
Other pick: DeAndre Jordan, No. 35 (Los Angeles Clippers)
While he's not a Hall of Fame type player like most players on this list, DeAndre Jordan had a very underrated career and deserves star recognition. He's a recent NBA champion, an NBA All-Star, and has three All-NBA selections.
Jordan, 6-foot-11 with a great vertical, had a long stretch of being one of the best rebounders in the NBA. The Clippers' franchise-leading rebounder, Jordan, led the league twice, averaging over 15 a game in both seasons. Additionally, Jordan's length and athleticism contributed to his elite rim-protecting ability. He is also the franchise leader in blocks and made two NBA All-Defensive First-Team appearances.
The major knock on Jordan is his shooting, but he was able to contribute on offense as a tremendous lob threat, especially with Chris Paul during the "Lob City" Clippers era. It's easy to envision him in a similar role had he ended up in Portland instead.
Jordan is the exact type of center that the Blazers could have used to complement their Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum guard pairing. The Lillard and McCollum backcourt duo was lethal on offense but undersized, which made them a liability on the defensive end. Jordan would have made up for their weaknesses with his rebounding and rim protection.