Mailbag: On Nate Bittle, Dakorien Moore, the Timbers' next five and a few magic wishes
Oregon's big man is off to the draft. Kind of.
I asked for questions. You guys delivered.
Let’s not waste any time here. Here’s a mailbag that covers Nate Bittle’s declaration for the NBA Draft, what the Timbers need out of their next five games, how I’d “magic wand” Oregon football and basketball and who wins an NBA championship next: Portland or Seattle.
With Nate Bittle (rightly) testing his draft stock, how should Dana Altman approach the gaping hole at center? It might be a delicate situation in terms of luring someone from the portal. — Paul
I don’t know if coaches can filter their height preferences when logging in to view the transfer portal, but if they do, I would hope Dana Altman is strictly looking at dudes 6-foot-10 and up.
Bittle announced on Monday that he was going to enter the NBA Draft. The good news for the Ducks is the 7-footer is going to maintain his collegiate eligibility and explicitly stated that, should he return to college, he’s going to do so with Oregon.
Unlike last year, when the Ducks went through this dance with N’Faly Dante, there are no roadblocks with the NCAA in Bittle playing another year. His waiver has already been approved.
And while I’m pretty confident that Bittle needs an extra year of seasoning — and will eventually hear that from the NBA folks, too — I don’t think the Ducks have the luxury of waiting to find out. Bittle wasn’t just the one true center on Oregon’s roster this season, he was the only player on the team taller than 6-foot-9. And the Ducks will lose two of their three other players on the roster — Brandon Angel and Supreme Cook — taller than 6-foot-8 this offseason.
You’re right, though. The challenge will be trying to convince a player who already believed they weren’t being utilized enough in their previous situation to come to an Oregon team that may or may not have an all-conference big man returning to it this summer.
It’s tricky, but it’s necessary. Unlike last year, the Ducks don’t have a Nate Bittle to make up for the loss of Dante.