While there’s a more than solid chance that the Blazers use their third first round pick as an overseas stash, Motley could entice them enough to make them double down on interior depth instead. After a couple of solid seasons with Baylor, Motley has emerged as one of the country’s best big men in his junior campaign — and brings the type of two-way production that could fit nicely in the reserve rotation.
At 6-9, Motley is a bit undersized, but counters that with solid length and tremendous skill on the interior. He passes well out of double teams, and possesses the quickness needed to attack closeouts off the perimeter, as well as make strong cuts when working off the basketball. That, combined with nice touch on the low block and an improved mid-range game, make Motley a solid offensive glue guy in the rotation.
Motley’s impact on the boards and on the defensive side of the ball are what pushes his stock into the first round realm, though. He’s a high-energy rebounder, using his athleticism and relentless physicality to find his way to the boards at an extremely high level. He also provides tremendous versatility defensively, as his mobility allows him to stretch out to the perimeter without being a considerable liability.
It’s not often that two-way players with Motley’s combination of physical tools and skill level come along this late in the first round, and that could push Portland to take a gamble on a third guaranteed contract.