first-round pick – Page 3 – Syndication Server

WATCH: NBA ‘terrified’ about what Warriors will do with 2020 first-round pick

The Dubs are the worst team in the league with a 4-19 record this season. That might be a good thing for 2020.

In the past five years, the definition of domination in the dictionary can be found under the Golden State Warriors.

Three Larry O’Brien trophies, five-straight trips to the Finals, multiple MVPs, and the best regular-season the league has ever seen.

Life comes at you fast, after major changes whether injuries, free agents signing elsewhere and trades. The Dubs are the worst team in the league with a 4-19 record this season. That might be a good thing as they’re set to make a big move in 2020.

“The people I talk to around the league are really worried that they are going to trade that first-round pick, the 2020 pick—because if they load up with an All-Star-type player with that pick, they are terrified—or if they land a Luka Doncic in the draft, they’re terrified,” said NBC Sports NBA insider Tom Haberstroh.

Healthy splash brothers in Steph Curry and Klay Thompson, with D’Angelo Russell, Draymond Green plus either another All-Star talent or high lottery pick could put the Warriors in position to add to their dynasty.

NBA ‘terrified’ about what Warriors will do with 2020 first-round pick (Hoopshype)

The Dubs are the worst team in the league with a 4-19 record this season. That might be a good thing as they’re set to make a big move in 2020.

NBA ‘terrified’ about what Warriors will do with 2020 first-round pick (Warriorswire)

The Dubs are the worst team in the league with a 4-19 record this season. That might be a good thing as they’re set to make a big move in 2020.

Seahawks still committed to getting Rashaad Penny going

The Seattle Seahawks are still hoping to get some value out of Rashaad Penny in the final few weeks of the 2019 season.

It’s clear the Seattle Seahawks have not utilized 2018 first round draft pick Rashaad Penny nearly as often as expected.

Penny was a monster at San Diego State, and was selected with the intention that he would either become the full-fledged starter in Seattle, or would at least form a formidable running back tandem alongside Chris Carson.

Instead, Carson has retained his status as the team’s bell-cow, while Penny has been relegated to straight backup duty, only handling the ball six times in his last two games combined.

While the team is down on Penny’s performance as of late – he was benched after fumbling against San Francisco and never returned – there is still hope that he will get more involved down the stretch, and that he will play well.

“For us to go where we want to go, I think Rashaad will help us win games and he’s chomping at the bit,” offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer commented on Thursday. “We just don’t ever plan exactly how it’s going to play out. Chris [Carson] has been playing so good right now but, when Rashaad get his chances, I think he’ll play well.”

Penny has just 36 rushing attempts on the season (about five per game) and has rushed for 167 yards and a touchdown, while also hauling in three receptions for 34 yards.

Those numbers pale in comparison to what Carson has done, and even with the fumbling issue it is clear he is – and should be – the preferred option in Seattle.

“We’re really pleased with what Chris is doing,” Schottenheimer continued. “He’s playing really, really well. You guys know the way we are, and the way we want to get multiple backs involved.”

The Seahawks are set to take on the Eagles in Philadelphia on Sunday morning, and all signs point once again to Carson handling the vast majority of duty in the backfield.

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Pete Carroll: Seahawks rookie L.J. Collier likely to play vs. Eagles

Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll believes rookie defensive end L.J. Collier will contribute in Week 12 against the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Seattle Seahawks have not gotten much production out of their two most recent first-round picks.

Running back Rashaad Penny has taken a back seat to Chris Carson, while defensive end L.J. Collier has struggled to carve out a consistent role his rookie season, often finding himself listed as a healthy scratch. He has been active for six games and has only two tackles.

However, coach Pete Carroll indicated that Collier is close to earning a regular role on defense and said he hopes for Collier to play more in Week 12 against the Eagles in Philadelphia.

“We’d love for him to be out there,” Carroll said. “He needs to work. He won’t get better until he gets out there and can learn and contribute and all that. He’s likely to be playing this week. I want to say that every week because I want him out there and we need him out there.”

Collier was taken late in the first round of the 2019 NFL draft out of TCU. He was billed as a hybrid, Michael Bennett-style defensive lineman, but an ankle injury in training camp prevented him from playing in the preseason and hampered his development out of the gate.

That lack of development, along with a relatively healthy defensive front — especially with Ziggy Ansah and Jarran Reed in the mix — has kept Collier on the outside looking in.

“We’ve been so fortunate to have everybody available,” Carroll continued. “It’s just been opportunities. He’s working at it, getting extra coaching and extra work all the time. He’s right on the edge. We’d love to play him.”

Look for Collier to potentially get some snaps on Sunday in Philadelphia as the Seahawks aim to improve to 9-2 on the season.

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Seahawks’ recent 1st-round picks continuing to struggle

The Seattle Seahawks are 8-2 despite a trio of struggling first-round picks.

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Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider has proven to be excellent at finding high-quality NFL players in the later rounds of the draft, and his recent trades have paid off handsomely as well.

However, if there is one area of weakness for Schneider and his staff, it is in the first round.

Earl Thomas and Bruce Irvin were two of Schneider’s earliest first-round picks, and while both of them were extremely successful, the first round has not gone well for Schneider and company since then.

The Seahawks have only made three picks in the first round since Irvin: tackle Germain Ifedi (2016), running back Rashaad Penny (2018) and defensive end L.J. Collier (2019). In 2017, they traded their first-round selection to the Falcons in a draft-pick swap.

While Ifedi has gradually improved, his issues with penalties and struggles in pass protection have been well documented over the past few years. The team declined to give him a fifth-year option, potentially bringing an end to his Seahawks tenure after this season.

Penny is in his second NFL season, and he has already fallen out of favor in Seattle’s run game. Chris Carson dominated the last two seasons, and Penny has struggled to find his footing in the league. He has carried the ball just 36 times for 167 yards and one touchdown on the year, and got benched in Week 10 against the 49ers after just three snaps, one of which included a fumble.

As long as Carson is in tow, Penny’s role will likely be limited to a change-of-pace back — not what you want out of a first-round pick.

Lastly, Collier was selected late in the first round of the 2019 draft. He suffered an ankle injury during training camp, which caused him to miss the entire preseason and has slowed his development.

Collier has been a healthy inactive for a handful of games and has only played a total of 69 defensive snaps, recording two solo tackles.

While there’s still time for Collier, and potentially Penny, to develop into big-time contributors, it’s clear Schneider excels at finding great players in the later rounds and not as often in Round 1.

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