Trail Blazers Draft Rumors: Andre Drummond, Dion Waiters on Portland?s Radar with the 6th and 11th Pick
The Portland Trail Blazers are one of six teams to have multiple first round picks in the 2012 NBA Draft.
They're looking to improve their team after having a disappointing 2011-2012 Season. Portland went 28-38, missing the playoffs for the first time in four years.
Portland has the 6th and 11th picks in the draft. They picked up the first selection in a trade with Brooklyn in which they sent Gerald Wallace to the Nets.
At number six overall, the Blazers will likely be looking to select a big man.
Connecticut center Andre Drummond will be first on their list. Drummond averaged 10 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game this past season. His potential is about as high as anyone in his class, though he didn't always play up to his abilities in college.
Drummond could help out the Blazers in the long run, but he probably won't have an immediate impact right away. Selecting him would be more of a move for the future instead of next year.
If Drummond isn't available, Harrison Barnes could go to Portland. The 6'8 forward out of North Carolina could go to the Trail Blazers if he's still around and Drummond is off the board. He averaged over 17 points per game for the Tar Heels.
At the end of the lottery, Portland will look to take guard. The Blazers have a young star in the frontcourt in LaMarcus Aldridge, and would like have a good young backcourt player as well.
Dion Waiters might be the most likely pick at number 11. The Syracuse standout was one of the best guards in the country last season. He was terrific off the bench, averaging 12.6 points, 2.5 assists and 1.8 steals per contest. Waiters only played 24 minutes per game, and could have averaged even more points if he got more playing time.
Waiters, like Drummond, has one of the highest ceilings of any player in the draft.
Austin Rivers is also a possible selection for Portland with their second pick. Rivers was one of the most highly touted high school players a few years ago, but didn't quite live up to expectations at Duke. He averaged 15.5 points per game in his one season in college and has a lot of potential.
His biggest problem is that he's not a true point guard, but often dominates the ball like one. He's a tweener, and could have some problems in the NBA without a true position.
Whoever they select, the Blazers should have a bright future with two of the first 11 picks in the draft.
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