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This is Omri Casspi. He’s 20 years old and a 6’9 small forward from Israel and powerhouse Maccabi Tel Aviv. He is projected to be selected late in the first round during the NBA Draft. He worked out for Portland last week. He made a favorable first impression.
He is not Ricky Rubio. He is not Brandon Jennings. But he may be the one guy with international experience in this year’s draft who has any real “talent” and shot of going in the first round - besides Ricky and Brandon.
He is also being compared to Denver’s Linas Kleiza, at least energy wise.
That’s the word on the street - over there and now here.
We all know this draft is not very deep for college players, but a few weeks back I thought for sure that wouldn’t apply to European players. But after talking last week to one NBA international scout for HOOPSWORLD about the draft landscape, he put to rest any assumptions that there may be someone outside of Rubio and Jennings worth considering on the foreign front.
Casspi sounds like the exception. Kind of. Maybe.
"There may be one or two only European first rounders and I don't think there is clear can't miss prospect out there from Europe in this draft,” he said.
"Unfortunately I think it is just a bad draft year in general."
So what does this mean for Portland and their first round pick? How does the theory apply for their four second round picks?
I’m holding firm to the belief that Portland will trade their first round pick – even if they do draft Casspi - either straight-up for a future first rounder or as part of a package deal to snag them a solid back-up power forward. I’m also banking on the Blazers using a couple of those second round picks to barter with for either an immediate return or future draft considerations. Last year Kevin Pritchard and company used two second round draft selections (Omer Asik at 36th and Mike Taylor at 55th overall) and received four second round picks upon trades in return. Hence the four picks in the second round this June.
We could see that tactic employed this year.
Stockpiling anyone?
In the end, I think Portland keeps only two of their four current second round picks and move the other two.
But will they be of the European flavor?
pic via: flickr

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