Portland Trail Blazers introduce their draft picks - NBA Update
On Monday afternoon, the Portland Trail Blazers introduced their three draft picks at a news conference organized in Portland’s Children Museum.
The franchise finished 11th in the Western Conference with a 28-38 record last season, and since then has embarked on a mission to rebuild the team around the core of young players.
The first step was to pick quality players from the draft. They used their 6th pick to rope in Webster State guard Damian Lillard. The 6 ft 3 in led Kentucky Wildcats to a 14-2 record in Big Sky conference. He averaged
24.5 points during the last season with the Wildcats; won his 3rd first team all-conference selection, and his second Big Sky Player of the Year award.
Portland’s newly appointed GM, Neil Olshey termed Damian a “franchise point guard” at the presser. The 21 year Oakland native was humbled on the occasion;
“Even though he’s saying that right now, I still know I have to come in and work for it and earn my stripes.”
Meyers Leonard was the second player Portland selected with their 11th overall pick. The University of Illinois guard averaged 13.6 points and 8.2 boards per game as a sophomore at the Illinois. He was named amongst
the big 10 players of the week on 26th December last year after averaging 16.5 points and 14.5 rebounds in two games.
Their third pick was Will Barton at number 40. The University of Memphis shooting guard averaged 12.3 points per game in his freshman year and became the lead scorer for Tigers after averaging 18.0 points per game in his sophomore
season. He went onto become the recipient of 2012 Conference USA Player of the Year award.
Neil Olshey was contended with the draft.
“We thought we had one of the best drafts in the league this year and these guys are the reason why.”
With LaMarcus Aldridge as their main man, the franchise is looking to rebuild. Despite having a good unit last season, the team went through a slump late, crashing from a potential playoff position to the 11 spot. Head coach Nate
McMillan was fired immediately, Gerald Wallace was also traded to the Brooklyn Nets, and the club has now pinned their hopes on the younger players for a revival.
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