Blazers Select Lillard, Leonard In First Round

June 28, 2012, 7:20 pm

Portland found themselves in an unfamiliar spot entering draft night - holding two lottery picks. Given the unique opportunity, the team used the picks to address their two biggest needs as a team: point guard and center.
Not having a long-term point guard since Damon Stoudamire, the Blazers selected Weber State's Damian Lillard hoping he could fill that void.

The 21-year old Lillard was the Big Sky Conference Freshman of the Year in 2009, and Big Sky Player of the Year in both 2010 and 2012.

His final year at Weber State, Lillard averaged 24.5 points and 4.0 assists while shooting 40% from beyond the arc.


About a half hour later the Blazers found themselves on the clock once again. This time they drafted big, selecting the Meyers Leonard, the 7-1 center out of Illinois.

Leonard, 20, was a Honorable Mention All Big Ten following his sophomore season when he averaged 13.6 points and 8.2 rebounds a game.


With the 40th pick Portland selected Will Barton, a guard from Memphis.

With the 41st pick Portland selected Tyshawn Taylor, but traded to the pick to Brooklyn for cash.

After the draft, GM Neil Olshey sat down with Fletcher Johnson and Brian Wheeler to discuss the Blazer's night.