2022 NBA Mock draft: Detroit Pistons land #1 pick again
2022 NBA Mock Draft: Pick #9
34. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Center. Jalen Duren. 9. player. Memphis / Portland Trail Blazers
The Trail Blazers could go in a lot of different directions in this draft, including trading this pick to add talent around Damian Lillard and Anfernee Simons, which is exactly what I think they’ll do.
They are still the frontrunner for a Jerami Grant trade, and I can definitely see a scenario where the Blazers trade this pick and someone like Keon Johnson to the Detroit Pistons for Grant.
This would allow them to go after a big-named free agent like Zach LaVine and reload around Lillard with guys who he likes and has played with on Team USA.
But if the Blazers do use the pick, a guy like Duren makes sense, as Nurkic is on the final year of his deal and Duren would give them an athletic rim protector and floor runner who doesn’t need the ball in his hands.
Portland is definitely a team to keep an eye on this offseason for the Detroit Pistons, as they are likely to be busy.