Blazers select Lillard & Leonard with both lottery picks

By Kshell

The Portland Trail Blazers were picking in the lottery for the first time since 2008 held the #6 selection(from the Gerald Wallace trade to the New Jersey Nets) and the 11th selection(their own) in this years NBA draft. For the second straight year the Portland Trail Blazers selected a point guard in the first round. With the 6th pick overall they took Damian Lillard from Weber St. which plays in the Big Sky conference. Then with the 11th pick overall they took center Meyers Leonard from Illinois Fighting Illini. The Blazers are hoping with this draft and a more healthy season out of LaMarcus Aldridge that they can return back to the playoff picture. This has been a tough year for the Blazers franchise that operated the entire season without a general manager, fired head coach Nate McMillan who had been coaching the team since the 2005-06 season, Brandon Roy suddenly retired(he is making a comeback) and finally Greg Oden was released as he missed all of this year and will miss all of next season. The Blazers who were the up and coming franchise back in 2008 just four years later found themselves back in the draft lottery a place no team wants to be.

The Blazers are hoping that Lillard is thier point guard of the future. At Weber State he played in 104 games in his career. As a freshman playing in 31 games helping his team to a 21-10 record he averaged 11.5 PPG, 3.9 RPG and 2.9 APG while making 1.6 three pointers a game. He shot 43.4% from the field, 37.4% from three point range and 84.1% on free throws. As a sophomore he improved averaging 19.9 PPG, 4.0 RPG and 3.6 APG. He shot 43.1% from the field, 39.3% from three point range and 85.3% on free throws. He made 2.7 three pointers a game in 31 games as Weber State went 20-11. As a junior he only played in 10 games(one where he played two minutes) and didn't really have a junior season. Then as a senior in 32 games leading Weber St. to a 25-7 record he averaged 24.5 PPG, 5.0 RPG and 4.0 APG. He made 2.9 three pointers a game while shooting 46.7% from the field, 40.9% from three point range and 88.7% from free throws. Lillard is also 6'3" and appears to be more of a combo guard than a true point guard. With Roy gone the Blazers desperately need someone in their backcourt who can carry the scoring load while setting up their teammates. Lillard although playing at a small college is a consistently good three point shooter and free throw shooter. The Blazers are hoping their search for a point is finally over once and for all.

The last few seasons the Blazers have been trying to find a point guard. They drafted Jerryd Bayless with their last lottery selection in 2008. He didn't work out while the Blazers have tried to go with stop gaps in the middle with Steve Blake and then Andre Miller. Having losing in the first round of the NBA playoffs three years in a row the Blazers decided to shake things up on draft night by drafting Nolan Smith and trading for Raymond Felton. Smith played in 44 games averaged only 3.8 PPG and 1.4 APG while shooting 37.2% from the field. Felton was also a disaster as he showed up fat and out of shape. Felton in 60 games averaged only 11.4 PPG and 6.4 APG while shooting 40.7% from the field. The hope now is that Lillard can finally solve that point guard problem which has been holding this franchise back for over a decade now.

With the 11th pick in the draft the Blazers selected center Meyers Leonard out of Illinois. The Blazers who are in need of a center with Marcus Camby now gone and of course #1 pick overall Greg Oden also gone drafted Leonard. First of all I'll start this by saying I don't like this pick and I'll tell you why in a moment. As a freshman Leonard wasn't a factor at all playing in 33 games he averaged only 2.1 PPG and 1.2 RPG in roughly 8 minutes per game. Then he had a big break out season his sophomore year where he averaged 13.6 PPG, 8.2 RPG and 1.9 blocks in 30 minutes. He also shot 58.4% from the field and was over 70% both years on free throws. He recorded eight double-doubles this past season as well. I didn't like this pick because I think in today's NBA you need to be athletic and I would have liked to have seen Aldridge play center as the Blazers finally run. In the west though with Duncan, Bynum, Utah Jazz, Griffin, Love and Perkins-Ibaka combo you do need some bigs so the Blazers are hoping they finally solved their center problem.

The Blazers last two drafts haven't added up as they passed on Kenneth Faried who made all rookie team in leading the Denver Nuggets to the playoffs in favor of point guard Nolan Smith. Then this year they passed on big man Andre Drummond in favor of Lillard. With the following pick they took a big man in Leonard so the Blazers admitted they needed a big man why not take Drummond who has so much more upside? If you planned on giving up on Nolan Smith after one year why not take Faried who had an elite skill set which is rebounding. I guess that is what happens when you conduct a draft last year without a general manager. Hopefully this works out for the Blazers who are coming off  a disappointing 28-38 season which saw a coaching change and finally a new general manager. The Blazers with two lottery picks I felt could have done more but ultimately time will tell if this was a good draft or not.

Grizzlies select Tony Wroten 1st round(25th overall)

By Kshell

The Memphis Grizzlies who have made the NBA playoffs the last two seasons selected Tony Wroten from the Washington Huskies with the 25th pick overall in the 2012 NBA draft. Wroten's selection was a historical selection for the Huskies program as Terrence Ross was selected earlier in the day marking the first time in Huskies history they had two first round picks in the same NBA draft. For Lorenzo Romar this is a good day for the program for the future of recruiting. Wroten is the sixth Husky taken in the first round and ninth Husky overall to be drafted in the Romar era. Wroten like Spencer Hawes who was taken 10th in the 2007 NBA draft was only with the Huskies for one season. Also like Hawes, Wroten will have never played in the NCAA tournament. Despite winning the conference regular season title and featuring two future first round picks the Huskies failed to make the NCAA tournament. Wroten along with Ross were both named first team all conference and for Wroten he was the first freshman to be named that in school history. Wroten also won freshman of the year for the conference as he was up for player of the year in the conference.

Tony Wroten Jr has been a legend in the northwest well before he ever landed on U-Dub campus. Wroten's dad Tony Wroten Senior was a tight end on the Don James Rose Bowl teams of the early 1980's. Wroten's cousin Nate Robinson was the first guy selected in the first round for the Huskies in the Romar era. In high school at Garfield High Wroten was the #1 overall player in the nation as a freshman and sophomore. Then he blew out his ACL playing football his junior year missing that entire season. When he committed to the Huskies heading into his senior year he was a four star recruit but after playing he was upgraded to a five star. Then as a freshman for the Huskies in 35 games he came off the bench for his first eight games of the year before starting the final 27 games. Wroten averaged 16.0 PPG, 5.0 RPG and 3.7 APG. The reason he fell was because he shot only 44.3% from the field, 16.1% on three pointers and 58.3% on free throws with 3.8 turnovers a game. Wroten would make spectacular dunks and drives while breaking your heart with the basics. The Oregon State game summed up his brief Washington career in a nutshell. He carried the team down the stretch scoring 29 points but with the game on the line down by one he missed four straight free throws as the Huskies lost. That game ultimately cost them the NCAA tournament. In the NIT Wroten didn't play well either only averaging 10.5 PPG, 5.2 RPG and 4.2 APG. Wroten is one of those guys who will make a bigger impact with the Huskies in the NBA as him playing well will give the Huskies program more of a spotlight to hopefully land the next Wroten.

Wroten and Isaiah Thomas were supposed to play together this year but Thomas bolted to the NBA. Thomas fell to the second round only to see himself finish 7th in the NBA rookie of the year voting while being second team all rookie team. Not bad for the last pick in the draft. While Wroten is more talented than Thomas he wasn't quite as polished as Thomas was by the time he left the Huskies. Regardless of how their careers turn out Thomas will have left a mark at Washington while Wroten just wasn't the same. Even Ross who was only here two years at least had his moments in the Pac-10 tournament championship and against UNC in the NCAA tournament. He also came up big on the final four NIT run. With Wroten just like with Hawes you will always feel like there is a huge gaping hole in their UW legacy. Sure they might go onto to be great NBA players but a guy like Jon Brockman who is barely hanging on in the NBA will always have a special spot in Huskies fans hearts over Hawes and Wroten.

From Lorenzo Romar who won Pac-12 coach of the year this was a bittersweet day. First time in school history the Huskies produced two first round picks. So when you win a conference title, have two first round picks plus the coach of the year you would think this was a special year. Instead this team missed the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2008 as they made history being the first BCS conference champion to miss the NCAA tournament. For Ross, every UW fan expected him to go as he was ready and Romar even acknowledged that. For Wroten you are disappointed as he left with major unfinished business. This draft was loaded while next year is supposed to be extremely weak meaning had he stayed another year he'd be a top 10 pick which means more money later on. Plus you'd think after the way his Pac-12 career ended with the miss free throws against Oregon State and then his season ended shooting 4-16 with zero assists in the NIT overtime loss to Minnesota he would have came back. I won't vault someone for wanting to be a millionaire this year but the program will be hurting. With Wroten the Huskies would have been the conference favorites instead they'll be lucky to make the NIT.

So this day was historical for the Huskies and hopefully Romar can turn this history into landing some major recruits. After seeing Wroten and Hawes though should we even be excited to land these one and done type of talents? Sure they look good as they add to your NBA alumni status but far as the program goes both years were huge letdowns. For Wroten though he is going to a good team who has made the playoffs the last two seasons. He can learn how to be a team player as he fits in to find his niche. After a while hopefully he cuts down on his turnovers, improves his free throw shooting and developes something that resembles a jumper so he can be a successful guy who lasts in the NBA. Wroten was a wonderful talent and there was no freshman I enjoyed watching more than him as he "Wow'd!" me so many times. At the end of the day with Wroten you will always feel like there was something more he could have given this program. The reality is his best gift can be notority so the Huskies can land the next big time recruit and this time hope that guy can do what Hawes and Wroten couldn't do. Hopefully that guy can finally lead UW to the promise land until then we'll always wonder what could have 2013 been with Wroten as a sophomore and Ross as a junior. At least they made Huskies history right?

Toronto Raptors take UW's Terrence Ross with 8th pick overall

By Kshell

The Toronto Raptors selected Washington Huskies guard Terrence Ross with the 8th pick overall in the 2012 NBA Draft. Ross will become the fifth Husky drafted in the first round in the Lorenzo Romar era and eighth player overall drafted. Ross was only at Washington for two years after sitting out his senior year of high school at Jefferson High. Ross who electric at Washington with his three point shooting and incredible dunks also accomplished quite a bit with the Huskies. With the Huskies Ross was first-team all tournament team in the 2011 Pac-10 tournament and was first-team all Pac-12 in 2012. When Ross arrived at Washington Romar had called him the best athlete he'll ever coach. Everyone thought Romar was crazy when he made that statement but after two years nobody thinks that now.

When Ross came to Washington he was known as the "other" Terrence as him and his high school teammate Terrence Jones both committed to Washington on the same day. Only Jones backed out and went to Kentucky instead. For Ross he was an after thought and at Washington he was the last man in the rotation at first. Then due to injuries to Abdul Gaddy(season ending), Scott Suggs(missed a few games), C.J. Wilcox(missed a few games) and Venoy Overton's off court issues that allowed Ross to shine. Ross as a freshman played in 34 games starting four(three in Pac-10 tournament and one in NCAA tournament) as he averaged 8.0 PPG, 2.8 RPG and made 1.3 three's a game. Ross shot 44.3% from the field, 35.2% on three pointers and 75.8% on free throws. In the Pac-10 tournament he was big time averaging 15.3 points per game while shooting 19-36(52.7%) from the field and made 6-17(35.3%) from three point range. He ended the year scoring 19 points on 7-10 shooting against North Carolina who had four guys on that roster drafted in the first round. That led to his sophomore season which saw him earn first-team all conference. Ross started all 34 games and averaged 16.4 PPG, 6.4 RPG and made 2.1 three pointers a game. Ross shot 45.7% from the field, 37.1% from three point range and 76.6% from the free throw line. The Huskies missed the NCAA tournament despite winning the Pac-12 regular season championship. Ross made the most of it in the NIT leading the Huskies to the NIT final four averaging 25.0 PPG, 5.5 RPG and making 3.8 three pointers a game. Ross scored a career high 32 points against the Northwestern Wildcats in the second round NIT game making six three pointers.

Ross is the highest draft pick for the Huskies since Brandon Roy went 7th overall back in 2006. In fact Ross is only the fourth Husky to go top 10(Detlef Schrempf, Brandon Roy and Spencer Hawes). Ross was probably the most NBA gifted player the Huskies have had since Roy as he had no weaknesses in college. Like Roy, Ross could beat you to the hole and he could also beat you outside. Roy went on to play in three all-star games, Schrempf played in two while winning the sixth man of the year in two other separate seasons while Hawes has had a breakout playoffs for the 76ers. In the Romar era he has proven he can recruit and turn those recruits into NBA players. Ross was a kid who didn't play basketball his senior year and two years later was a top 10 pick. Ross won't leave behind the legacy that Roy has but no Husky have lived up to that in the Romar era. Ross though has a chance to stick in the NBA and by going to the Raptors can grow into a star. Ross is hoping to joing Roy and Schrempf as the only Huskies to play in an all-star game. Romar has produced some stars in the past and it appears the program is growing in the right direction with these type of talented players. This is a good moment for Ross even if he gave the Huskies only two years as both years gave the Huskies conference championships.

For Romar this day is bittersweet for him as he is saying goodbye to Ross. This is a happy day for the program as they have another guy head off to the NBA and Romar will be able to sell that to recruits. The downer for Romar is Ross had two more years of eligibility and going into the year I'm sure Romar was hoping Ross would have given the Huskies one more year. The fact Ross kept having big moments this year in big games made it so we all knew Ross was going to leave. Ross developed faster than anyone could have imagined. He is now going to a passionate fan base in Toronto that is eager for a winner. He is going to a roster where he can play early and get some minutes. Ross can develope as Toronto isn't in the media eye so there will be no pressure on him. Ross can develope at his own pace and I know Ross will be a good NBA player when all said and done.

This is a special day for the Huskies with Ross going in the first round. Ross helped the Huskies to two conference championships and had plenty of big moments for this school. He was very humble on the court and a hard guy to dislike. He was very athletic and skilled which is rare to find in a player as they usually have one and not the other. Ross will make the Raptors fans proud much like he has made the Huskies fans proud the last two years. Ross was only here for a short while but his impact being a top 10 pick might just be his biggest contribution to the Huskies yet. Which is saying a lot considering he has hit plenty of big shots for this program the last two years. Ross is now going to Canada as he'll do his best to lead the Raptors back into the playoffs for the first time since 2008.