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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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Mar 28, 2014; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Sacramento Kings forward Travis Outlaw (25) handles the ball against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 28, 2014; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Sacramento Kings forward Travis Outlaw (25) handles the ball against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /

Blazers Have A Checkered Past With 23

If you were following along at home, you may have noticed that I made a small jump from 2002 to 2005.  That’s because the Portland Trail Blazers actually have selected 23rd overall in the first round before. Twice in a row actually — 2003 and 2004.

In 2003, the Blazers selected Travis Outlaw. Outlaw spent his first six seasons in Portland and was a textbook “potential” guy.  Outlaw was drafted out of high school and his size and length for the small forward position always had front offices dreaming of what kind of impact he could have if he could ever knock down an outside shot (he’s a career 33 percent shooter from long range).

In his best season, Outlaw averaged 13.3 points and 4.6 rebounds for Portland, but he always left you wanting more from his long frame.

After drafting a player straight out of high school, the Blazers selected at 23 the following season as well, but this time they went the international route by selecting Sergei Monia.  If the outcome of the Outlaw pick was disappointing (remember, they didn’t know that for sure at the time), then the Monia pick was an outright disaster.

Monia played a total of 26 games in the NBA and was traded in season to Sacramento in a four-team monstrosity that allowed the Blazers to dump Ruben Patterson. That’s pretty much his claim to fame. In the best game of his career, Monia played 22 minutes against the Miami Heat in November, scored nine points and grabbed six rebounds on his way to a -13 in plus/minus.

So, the Blazers don’t exactly have a sterling track record at 23, but that doesn’t mean they haven’t found talent in the 20s of the NBA Draft.

Two of the most iconic Trail Blazers of the past 30 seasons were both selected one spot later at 24th overall (and in back-to-back seasons)!

In 1985, the Blazers selected Terry Porter at No. 24 and in the following draft they selected Arvydas Sabonis himself. That’s the thing about the NBA Draft, you just never know what you’re going to get.

Next: The Conundrum of The Franchise Player

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