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Portland Trail Blazers: 5 reasons Caleb Swanigan was a good pick

By Raymond Simms

Mar 18, 2017; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Purdue Boilermakers forward Caleb Swanigan (50) dunks the ball during the second half of the game against the Iowa State Cyclones in the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 18, 2017; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Purdue Boilermakers forward Caleb Swanigan (50) dunks the ball during the second half of the game against the Iowa State Cyclones in the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 18, 2017; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Purdue Boilermakers forward Caleb Swanigan (50) dunks the ball during the second half of the game against the Iowa State Cyclones in the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 18, 2017; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Purdue Boilermakers forward Caleb Swanigan (50) dunks the ball during the second half of the game against the Iowa State Cyclones in the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports /

The Portland Trail Blazers selected Purdue’s Caleb Swanigan with the No. 26 pick in the 2017 NBA Draft. What makes this such a good move?

The Portland Trail Blazers entered the 2017 NBA Draft with three picks: No. 15, No. 20 and No. 26. They came out of the draft with two selections: Gonzaga’s Zach Collins at No. 10 and Purdue’s Caleb Swanigan at No. 26.

Swanigan is a 6’9″, 245-pound big from Fort Wayne, Indiana. He spent two seasons as a Purdue Boilermaker and came into his own in 2016-17. Swanigan averaged 18.5 points, 12.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game. His points per game were second-best in the Big Ten Conference. His rebounds per game were second-best in Division I basketball.

Swanigan finished the season with 28 double-doubles, a Big Ten record. The old record was 26, which was set on multiple occasions. Brad Sellers of Ohio State last did it in 1985-86. Jerry Lucas had 26 double-doubles in each of the three years he played at Ohio State from 1959 to 1962.

Swanigan led Purdue in win shares (6.4) in 2016-17 and helped the Boilermakers win the Big Ten regular season title. He also helped them reach the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2010.

For his output, Swanigan earned the Big Ten Player of the Year award and was a consensus First Team All-American. He also won the Pete Newell Award, which goes to college basketball’s best big man.

Now, after a strong season – a small step on what has been a long, inspiring journey – he is now a Trail Blazer. Here are five reasons why Portland made the right decision.

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