Time to talk draft picks

Lottery results, Pacers and Nuggets tie semifinals

We can’t play ‘Tankathon’ anymore. The NBA hopped its popper on Sunday afternoon, and we have the 2024 NBA draft’s layout as a result.

14. Portland — the Blazers earned this pick from Golden State, via Memphis and Boston.

What Portland needs — Portland needs everything, it has veterans already on board and teenagers in the backcourt and it hardly mattered, 21 wins. The Blazers also earned the No. 7 pick on Sunday, and combined with No. 14 that’s about a top-22 pick in an average NBA draft.

But No. 7 and No. 14, for the price of slip-slappin’ all season and losing both Jrue Holiday and Damian Lillard, it’s a rough turnaround. At the moment: Robert Williams didn’t work for Portland last year due to injury, Malcolm Brogdon’s influence will take ages to pay off, Portland doesn’t get another pick from the Jrue deal until Boston’s 2029, unprotected selection.

Portland should deal this pick.