Portland Trail Blazers: Top 10 NBA Draft picks in franchise history

NBA Power Rankings

Jan 29, 2017; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) shoots a pair of free throws during the second half in a game against the Golden State Warriors at the Moda Center. The Warriors won 113-111. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports

The Portland Trail Blazers have seen years of extended success thanks to their ability to draft well. Here's a look at the 10 best draft picks in the franchise's history.

The Portland Trail Blazers are in an enviable position heading into the 2017 NBA Draft. The team has three draft picks, all of which are in the first round.

The Blazers hold the 15th, 20th and 26th picks in the draft. The 15th is their own by virtue of going 41-41 in the regular season.

Portland received the 20th pick from the Denver Nuggets in a trade sending Mason Plumlee and a 2018 second round pick away in exchange for Jusuf Nurkic and Denver's extra first-rounder (via Memphis).

Portland received the 26th pick from the Cleveland Cavaliers in what was essentially a pick swap. In February 2016 the Blazers took Anderson Varejao in a trade with the Cavs as a salary dump. Varejao also came with a 2018 first round pick, while Portland sent away a 2018 second-round pick.

Then, on Jan. 6, 2017, the Cavs and Blazers swapped picks. Cleveland took back their 2018 first round pick and gave Portland the 26th pick.

Having picks is a position the Blazers haven't been in awhile. They didn't have any picks in 2016 and only had one in 2015.

Jun 25, 2015; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (Arizona) greets NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the number twenty-three overall pick to the Portland Trailblazers in the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

There's a number of ways general manger Neil Olshey can utilize his picks. He can use all three, or can trade any of them away for established players.

But if he choses to use them, those rookies will join an extensive group of Blazers draftees. The team has made 266 selections in its 37-year history. A lot of them have been middling picks, but there are several selections that have carved out their place in Blazer lore.

Today we take a look at 10 of them. They find their way on this list by being statistically productive and making sizable contributions to the success of the franchise. This list includes draftees that have played a hand in the 1977 championship, the 1990 and 1992 conference titles, and the back-to-back conference final runs in 1999 and 2000.

Portland's draft history hasn't been great overall, but all of the players on this list have made the franchise proud when they've donned the red and black.

10. Bob Gross (SF) – No. 25 pick in 1975 NBA Draft

Career stats (with the Blazers, 1975-82): 486 GP, 9.2 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 3.0 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.7 BPG, 51.4 FG%, 16.0 3P%, 80.2 FT%

Bob Gross isn't a household name to the casual NBA fan. However, his play during the 1976-77 season played a major part in helping the Portland Trail Blazers win their first and only championship.

The small forward out of Long Beach State showed his versatility in all 82 games in 1976-77. He averaged 11.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.3 steals and 0.7 blocks in 27.2 minutes per game. Gross shot 52.9 percent from the field, good for sixth-best in the NBA.

Bob Gross would then put on a strong showing in the playoffs. He played in all 19 games of the Blazers' championship run, averaging 30 minutes per game. He posted two double-doubles in the postseason and four 20-point games.

Gross was particularly hot in the Finals against the Philadelphia 76ers. He averaged 17.3 points per game in the final round, shooting a scorching 66.7 percent from the field. He finished the six-game series with 25- and 24-point performances.

Gross was on his way to repeating that success in 1977-78. He played the first 72 games of the season and held career-high averages in points (12.7), rebounds (5.6), assists (3.5), and steals per game (1.4). Sadly, he went down in late March 1978 with a severe stress fracture in his left ankle and missed the rest of the season.

Gross's career wasn't the same after that. He would miss 72 games over his last four seasons with the Blazers, though he did play all 82 in 1980-81. His averages were trending up before his injury, but after that, he would never average double-digit points in a season for the rest of his career.

Gross became a free agent after 1982 and chose to sign with the San Diego Clippers midway through the 1982-83 season. He finished out the season playing all 27 of their games and retired at the end of the season.

Bob Gross's utility to the Blazers was short-lived. However, this second-round pick delivered for the team at the right time. As a result, he played a role in bringing Portland its first major sports championship.

The Blazers retired his number 30 in 2008.

9. Jerome Kersey (SF) – No. 46 pick in 1984 NBA Draft

Career stats (with the Blazers, 1984-95): 831 GP, 12.1 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 2.1 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.7 BPG, 47.6 FG%, 19.8 3P%, 69.9 FT%

Jerome Kersey was a hidden gem in the second round of the 1984 NBA Draft. The small forward out of Longwood started his career as a reserve, playing 156 games and averaging 13.9 minutes per game in his first two seasons. He only started two games in that span, both during the 1985-86 season.

However, Kersey's role began to grow in his third season. After the removal of legendary coach Dr. Jack Ramsay during the 1986 offseason, new coach Mike Schuler increased his minutes. Kersey played all 82 games and averaged 25.5 minutes per game. This time allowed him to crack a double-digit scoring average for the first time in his career, as he had 12.3 points per game in 1986-87.

By this point Kersey proved he could be an NBA starter. 1987-88 marked a five-year stretch of him averaging over 30 minutes per game. Even as the coaching reins went from Schuler to Rick Adelman, Kersey was a key member of the core that helped the Blazers become a championship contender at the beginning of the NBA's Expansion Era.

From yesterday: How Blazers great Jerome Kersey helped save eight lives — two years after his death: https://t.co/mlbcV9YjJE pic.twitter.com/w1wlwMuFvV

— Dan Devine (@YourManDevine) March 23, 2017

From 1987-92, Kersey averaged 16.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.6 steals in 34.5 minutes per game. He delivered even more in the postseason over the same span, averaging 18.5 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.8 steals per game.

Kersey's best playoff run was 1990. He averaged playoff career highs in points (20.7) and rebounds per game (8.3). He also averaged 2.1 assists, 1.6 steals, and 1.0 block during that stretch. Those numbers helped the Blazers capture their first conference title since 1977, but they fell in the final round to the Detroit Pistons, 4-1.

Jerome Kersey fell back into a reserve role following the 1991-92 season. Eventually he was taken by the Toronto Raptors in the 1995 expansion draft. However, he was released before their inaugural season and instead picked up by the Golden State Warriors.

Kersey would proceed to play for four more teams over the next five seasons. He won a ring in 1999 as a member of the San Antonio Spurs. Kersey retired in 2001 and died in 2015 due to a pulmonary embolism.

8. Mychal Thompson (PF/C) – No. 1 pick in 1978 NBA Draft

Career stats (with the Blazers, 1978-86): 551 GP, 16.7 PPG, 8.9 RPG, 3.4 APG, 0.9 SPG, 1.4 BPG, 50.5 FG% 64.0 FT%

Mychal Thompson is most likely known to some a member of the "showtime" Lakers in the late 80's, or as the father of current All-Star Klay Thompson. However, Mychal Thompson started his career and played most of his seasons in the Rose City.

In order to select Thompson, the Blazers traded their own first round pick in the 1978 NBA Draft along with Johnny Davis to the Indiana Pacers for their pick.

Thompson had a good rookie year, averaging 14.7 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game in 1978-79. Those numbers were good enough to earn him All-Rookie Team honors.

Thompson bounced back from missing the entire 1979-80 season with a leg injury by putting up monster numbers during the early 80's. His best year was 1981-82, in which he averaged 20.8 points and 11.7 rebounds per game. Despite the output, the Blazers missed the playoffs that year.

While he never reached that peak again, Thompson continued to put up respectable numbers as Portland's man in the middle.

However, the Blazers traded Thompson away in June 1986. The team sent him and Larry Krystkowiak to the San Antonio Spurs for Steve Johnson.

Thompson would only spend a half-season in San Antonio before being shipped to the Lakers in February 1987.

When people think of Mychal Thompson, they will likely think of him as a former Laker. However, Portland was his first NBA home, and the place where he showed how fierce of an inside presence he could be.

7. Clifford Robinson (PF/SF) – No. 36 pick in 1989 NBA Draft

Career stats (with the Blazers, 1989-97): 644 GP, 16.2 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 2.1 APG, 1.1 SPG, 44.6 FG%, 34.9 3P%, 67.9 FT%

Clifford Robinson took on various roles over his NBA career and his time in Portland. But he was always dependable, no matter what it was.

Robinson played in the first 461 regular season games of his NBA career, which is still a team record. He began his career was a reserve combo forward. He was tall enough to battle inside for rebounds, but was also capable of hitting a three-pointer.

Robinson's role on the team during the Blazers' Finals runs wasn't huge, but he was still in the rotation. During the 1990 NBA Finals, he only averaged 3.8 points, 2.4 rebounds and 16.4 minutes per game.

Robinson became more of a sixth man during the 1992 NBA Finals. In that round, he averaged 10.3 points and 3.0 rebounds in 24.3 minutes per game. He embraced this role in 1992-93 and averaged 19.1 points and 6.6 rebounds while only starting 12 of 82 games. He earned the NBA Sixth Man of the Year award that season.

Robinson eventually became a starter as the Blazers entered the mid-90's. He shined in his new role, becoming an All-Star in 1994 and leading his team in win shares in the 1994-95 season. From 1993-96, Robinson averaged 20.8 points and 6.0 rebounds per game.

In the summer of 1997, Robinson chose to sign with the Phoenix Suns. He would play four seasons in Phoenix before moving on to the Pistons, Warriors and New Jersey Nets.

Clifford Robinson played a number of roles as a Trail Blazer, and did well in all of them. His versatility and durability made him an excellent second round pick for Portland.

6. Jim Paxson (SG/PG) – No. 12 pick in 1979 NBA Draft

Career stats (with the Blazers, 1979-88): 627 GP, 16.0 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 3.2 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.1 BPG, 50.3 FG%, 23.0 3P%, 80.4 FT%

The Portland Trail Blazers were a team in transition entering the 1980s. The team couldn't repeat the success of their amazing championship run in 1977. As they slowly shipped out members from that era, they had to bring in new blood. They already struck gold with Mychal Thompson in 1978. That was followed up by Jim Paxson's selection in 1979.

Paxson's career started rough, as he averaged 6.2 points per game on 41.1 percent shooting in his rookie season. However, he quickly jumped to averaging 17.1 points per game on 53.9 percent shooting the following year.

Paxson became the focal point of the Blazers' offense by 1982. He averaged 21.7 points per game on 51.5 percent shooting in 1982-83. He then came back the following year and averaged 21.3 points per game on 51.4 percent shooting. Paxson made the All-Star team in both seasons.

From there, his numbers began to quickly decline. By 1985-86, at age 28, he was down to averaging 13.1 points per game.

Paxson was traded to the Boston Celtics in February of 1988 for Jerry Sichting. He left Portland as the team's all-time leading scorer with 10,003 total points. He would retire following the 1989-90 season.

5. Terry Porter (PG) – No. 24 pick in 1985 NBA Draft

Career stats (with the Blazers, 1985-95): 758 GP, 14.9 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 7.0 APG, 1.6 SPG, 0.1 BPG, 47.0 FG%, 38.5 3P%, 84.6 FT%

Terry Porter was the floor general during the Trail Blazers' early 90's Finals runs. He was also another small school gem, having been selected out of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.

Porter spent his rookie year starting behind Darnell Valentine then Steve Colter. However, those names were cast aside following the 1985-86 season and Porter began a seven-year run as the team's starting point guard.

Porter averaged 14.9 points and 10.1 assists per game in 1987-88, but that only the beginning. He averaged 17.6 points and 9.1 assists per game in 1989-90. During the 1990 Finals, Porter put up 19.0 points and 8.4 assists per game.

The following season, Porter averaged 17.0 points, 8.0 assists and 2.0 steals per game. He also made his first All-Star appearance in a 1990-91 season where the Blazers won a franchise-record 63 games.

Porter moved into more of a scoring role for the next two seasons. From 1991-93, he averaged18.2 points, 5.5 assists and 1.4 steals per game. He shot 41.4 percent from three in 1993 and earned his second All-Star appearance.

The following season, he took a backseat to Rod Strickland. Strickland arrived via free agency in 1992, but spent 1992-93 mostly playing shooting guard.

Porter would leave the Blazers in 1995, choosing to sign with the Minnesota Timberwolves in free agency. However, he left the team with his name all over the Blazer leaderboards. Terry Porter is the current Blazer leader in total assists. He is second all-time in total steals and third all-time in total points.

4. Arvydas Sabonis (C) – No. 24 pick in 1986 NBA Draft

Career stats (with the Blazers, 1995-01, 2002-03): 470 GP, 12.0 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 2.1 APG, 0.8 SPG, 50.0 FG%, 32.8 3P%, 78.6 FT%

Arvydas Sabonis was selected in the 1986 NBA Draft, but did not come to America until the mid-90s. He turned out to be well worth the wait.

Sabonis opted to spend the first nine seasons following his selection to play overseas. He began his professional career with Zalgiris Kaunas in his native Lithuania. He then moved on to two Spanish sides in CB Valladolid and Real Madrid.

Along the way, he racked up accolades. He won three consecutive Soviet championships, two Spanish titles, and a Euroleague championship. Sabonis also collected three league MVPs and three championship MVPs.

Finally, in 1995, he arrived in Portland at age 30. Despite his advanced age, he had an amazing rookie campaign. Sabonis averaged 14.1 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game on 54.5 percent shooting. He was named to the All-Rookie First Team and finished second in Rookie of the Year and Sixth Man of the Year voting.

Sabonis would move into the starting center role the following season. He hit his NBA career-high averages in points (16.0) and rebounds per game (10.0) during the 1997-98 season.

He became a key player, and one of the few drafted Blazers, on the back-to-back Western Conference Finals teams in 1999 and 2000. Sabonis averaged 11.9 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game over those two seasons.

Sabonis retired from the NBA following the 2000-01 season. However, he returned in 2002-03 for one more season. Arvydas Sabonis was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2011.

Arvydas Sabonis is a world basketball legend, putting up big numbers and winning awards across Europe and in America. Even on the backend of his career, Sabonis was able to play a major part in Portland being a contender at the turn of the millennium.

Mar 26, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) looks to the basket as he is guarded by Los Angeles Lakers forward Larry Nance Jr. (7) during the second half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

3. Damian Lillard (PG) – No. 6 pick in 2012 NBA Draft

Career stats (with the Blazers, 2012-Present): 396 GP, 22.4 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 6.2 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.3 BPG, 43.0 FG%, 37.0 3P%, 87.7 FT%

We are experiencing the value of Damian Lillard as a Blazer draft pick in real time. The two-time All-Star is spearheading a team that is still in transition just as he reaching his prime.

Lillard was picked sixth overall in the 2012 NBA Draft and, unlike most players on this list, he started right out of the gate. He has started every game he has played ever since.

2016-17 was his best season. He had career-high per game averages in points (27.0), rebounds (4.9), and field goal percentage (44.4 percent). Lillard also shot 37.0 percent from three, and averaged 5.9 assists per game.

This season also saw him set a new franchise record by scoring 59 points in an April 8 win over the Utah Jazz. This was the icing on the cake to a March and April where he scored 30 or more points nine times. He also scored 49 points in a March 19 win over the Miami Heat.

The question heading into the future is how much more he will grow?

Lillard still struggles on the defensive end, and the team that surrounds him is also important to his improvement. The Blazers are over the luxury tax line, limiting the offseason movements they can make. Certain players with big paydays have already hit their ceilings or are still a ways off from the top form.

But as the team around him is in question, Damian Lillard has shown the drive, leadership and ability to justify his selection in the draft.

2. Bill Walton (C) – No. 1 pick in 1974 NBA Draft

Career stats (with the Blazers, 1974-78): 209 GP, 17.1 PPG, 13.5 RPG, 4.4 APG, 1.0 SPG, 2.6 BPG, 51.0 FG% 67.4 FT%

Bill Walton was a player ravaged by injuries for much of his career, but when he was on the floor in red and black, he was one of the best Trail Blazers of all-time.

Walton came into the NBA with big expectations. He was a two-time national champion at UCLA, winning most outstanding player both times. He was also a three-time national player of the year and first team All-American selection.