Portland Trail Blazers: List of confirmed pre-draft workouts
The Portland Trail Blazers have a long list of pre-draft workouts lined up this summer.
By some odd chance you were unaware, the Portland Trail Blazers will be heading into the 2017 NBA Draft with the 15th overall pick, the 20th overall pick and the 26th overall pick. The possibilities are endless for Rip City this year, as they could do a number of different things holding three first-round picks:
- They could package their picks in an attempt to move up into the lottery.
- They could package one of their picks with one of their bigger contracts as part of a much-needed salary dump.
- They could maybe even package their picks in an even bigger trade for an NBA star.
Or they could just use all three draft picks to select three brand new NBA players, which is certainly an option Blazers general manager Neil Olshey has considered.
Whichever route the Blazers opt to take, the fact of the matter is Portland has the opportunity to have a draft for the ages. Considering the team’s salary cap situation is less than ideal, fans should be hoping for a big-time trade.
However, it’s rare when a team gets three chances to pick up three high level players to mold for the long-term future, so the Blazers can’t afford to just throw these picks away like covfefe.
The Blazers front office must be prepared to take on any scenario that should arise.
That being said, it’s great to hear via Jason Quick of Comcast SportsNet Northwest that Olshey’s team has constructed a list of up to 50 NBA prospects ready to work out at the Portland Trail Blazers practice facility in Tualatin, Oregon ahead of the NBA Draft.
Among the list of confirmed workouts:
- North Carolina forward Justin Jackson
- Wake Forest forward John Collins
- Creighton center Justin Patton
- California forward Ivan Rabb
- Guard Terrance Ferguson (Australia)
- Oregon forward Jordan Bell
- Oregon forward Dillon Brooks
- Oregon guard Tyler Dorsey
- South Carolina guard Sindarius Thornwell
Jackson is the highest ranked prospect on the confirmed list, as he’s currently listed as a possible lottery pick, per Draft Express. Collins, Patton and Rabb are possible Blazers selections who are expected to go between 14 and 20, while Bell and the others listed below him are all possible second round picks.
Ferguson, who opted to play professionally overseas rather than play a year in the NCAA, is the only international player with a confirmed workout. Though a gifted shooter and playmaker, the Blazers may unfortunately pass on him if they’re unable to move any of their guards prior to the end of the first round.
Workouts are said to start on June 7, concluding on June 19.
The 2017 NBA Draft will take place June 22.