Way too early 2022 NBA Mock Draft: Pistons fall to 3rd

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Jaden Hardy #1 of the G League Ignite (Photo by Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images) /

2022 NBA Mock Draft: Pick #6

Pick Analysis. player. 34. 6. Scouting Report. Guard. G League / Portland Trail Blazers. Jaden Hardy

The Trail Blazers are a hot mess with no clear way to get better outside of tearing it all down.

I think it’s now a matter of “when” not “if” the Blazers blow it up, but if they stubbornly refuse to trade Damian Lillard, then I could definitely see them moving this pick in a package for another player to put around him.

But who is that going to be? Without Lillard being involved, they don’t really have any other assets, especially with CJ McCollum out (though expected to return).

Whether they decide to blow it up or not, Hardy makes sense as a high-ceiling guard who could eventually replace one of their two veterans.

It might get ugly in Portland, as they are plummeting down the standings and staring down the barrel of making Lillard the highest paid player in the NBA after missing the playoffs. They may have waited a season or two too long to blow it up and that usually spells disaster.