TUALATIN, Ore. — There was no doubt who was the people's choice Thursday as the hometown Portland Trail Blazers worked out four college players, including Washington's Brandon Roy and Gonzaga's Adam Morrison, in anticipation of the NBA draft on June 28.
About 30 fans, egged on by a local radio station, crowded outside the team's practice facility chanting "Draft the 'stache," a reference to Morrison's celebrated moustache, as the players were put through a number of drills by team officials inside.
"I thought it was pretty cool," said Morrison of the "Draft the 'stache" movement.
But the Blazers, who will pick fourth, might not have that choice to make. Morrison could be headed to one of the teams with the first three picks — Toronto, Chicago or Charlotte. Two draft Web sites — hoopshype.com and nbadraft.net — project the Raptors will take Morrison with the first pick.
That might leave the Blazers looking for a player with a slightly different facial look.
"I've got more of a beard," Roy joked. "Draft the beard."
Indeed, there has been much speculation that the Blazers will do exactly that, assuming Roy also lasts that long.
Blazers officials did less tipping of their hand than Daniel Negreanu in their comments afterward.
Blazers owner Paul Allen attended the workout and spoke briefly, saying that he still intends to sell the team.
The media was allowed to watch the final 30 minutes of the workout, which consisted of nothing other than shooting drills with the four players. Connecticut's Rudy Gay and Arizona's Hassan Adams were the others.
Morrison said only that he didn't shoot as well as he would have liked, though he did make 9 of 10 three-pointers from the right corner in one drill. Roy hit 8 of 10 three-pointers from the top of the key a few minutes earlier.
For both, it was the beginning of a big few days.
Morrison goes next to workouts with the Bulls (Monday) and the Raptors (Wednesday). He already worked out for Charlotte, and is not working out for any other teams.
Roy is scheduled for workouts with Chicago, Minnesota (which owns the No. 6 pick), Boston (No. 7) and Charlotte, after an earlier planned meeting with the Bobcats was scuttled when Roy's plane arrived late the night before and he felt a little ill the following day.
Roy isn't scheduled for workouts with either the Raptors or Atlanta (No. 5), saying he has been told that both teams are looking more for frontcourt help.
Bob Condotta: 206-515-5699 or bcondotta@seattletimes.com
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