2017 NBA Mock Draft, Week 22: College basketball is over

This is the last of three first round picks for the Portland Trail Blazers in the 2017 NBA Draft. With that number of new players coming into the organization — assuming the front office doesn’t trade any of the selections — Portland will have plenty to work with during the offseason as it shapes its roster for 2017-18.

Kentucky’s Bam Adebayo would give the Trail Blazers a potentially reliable rotation big man who projects as a rim protector and pick-and-roll center. He is limited by his somewhat average size, 6-foot-10 with a 7-foot-2 wingspan, but his athleticism should help make up for this as he attempts to translate his game to the next level. Adebayo was a decent, but far from elite shot blocker in college, averaging 2.0 blocks per 40 minutes, which is likely a reflection of his lack of elite length.

Offensively, he has enough of a post game to punish opponents when smaller players get switched onto him, but his bread and butter will be his pick-and-roll game. Adebayo is a good enough athlete to attack the rim on lobs and has the sort of dunk everything mentality that you like to see in those style of players.

Learn more about Bam Adebayo at The Step Back.