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What The Blazers Can Expect With The 23rd Overall Pick

By Chris St. Jean

Jun 26, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; A general view as the names of the first round draft picks are displayed above the stage during the 2014 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 26, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; A general view as the names of the first round draft picks are displayed above the stage during the 2014 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 11, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Nikola Mirotic (44) reacts after making a three point basket against the Philadelphia 76ers during the fourth quarter at the United Center. The Chicago Bulls defeat the Philadelphia 76ers 114-107. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 11, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Nikola Mirotic (44) reacts after making a three point basket against the Philadelphia 76ers during the fourth quarter at the United Center. The Chicago Bulls defeat the Philadelphia 76ers 114-107. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports /

Recent Success Of The 23rd Pick

Since 2005, the 23rd pick continued to slide, ever so slightly, closer to the lottery. More role players litter the landscape. In 2005, Francisco Garcia was selected 23rd out of Louisville. In 2007, Wilson Chandler, a very capable scorer and maybe who the Blazers should have fought for rather than Arron Afflalo, was selected there.

The following season, Kosta Koufos a free agent-to-be this summer, was selected 23rd by Utah (although they never really reaped the benefits of that selection themselves). Just after that, a Sacramento-Kings-role-player-kindred-spirit to Bobby Jackson, Omri Casspi was selected 23rd.

That brings us to 2010. For the players selected since 2010 at 23 overall, the jury is probably still out (especially so as you get closer to now).

This offseason, the Utah Jazz signed bench power forward Trevor Booker away from the Washington Wizards. He was the 2010 23rd overall selection and averaged 13.1 points and 9.1 rebounds per 36 minutes according to Basketball Reference.

In 2011, a member of this season’s All-Rookie First Team was selected 23rd overall, Nikola Mirotic.  As a foreign player, Mirotic took a while to get over to the states and onto an NBA roster.

Prior to that, he was considered one of the best international prospects and lived up to the billing for the most part this season for the Bulls. In his rookie year, Mirotic averaged over 10 points per game for a coach who notoriously does not trust younger players.

In 2012, the Atlanta Hawks selected John Jenkins at 23 overall.  Jenkins was billed as a shooter coming in and although he’s only played in 98 games for the Hawks during his three NBA seasons, he did shoot 40 percent from long range on 52 attempts this past season. He’s struggled to crack the rotation for a deep Hawks team.

In 2013, the Indiana Pacers selected Solomon Hill at 23rd overall.  Hill made a significant jump in his second season which was catalyzed by the Paul George injury. This season, Hill averaged 8.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game in 82 games for the Pacers after seeing action in only 28 during his rookie year.

And last season, the Jazz selected one of the most promising rookies of the class at 23rd overall in Rodney Hood. Hood struggled with injuries in his first season limiting him to only 50 games, but in those 50 games he averaged 14.7 points per 36 minutes, shot over 36 percent from long range and scored over 20 points five times for the Jazz.

I guess the moral of the story is, there will be talent there at No. 23 overall, but will the Blazers take the right guy?

Next: Blazers Have A Checkered Past With 23

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