Blazers, Nuggets deal on draft night

Ngombo was the 57th overall pick. While there were reports that the Blazers had struck a deal with Minnesota for Ngombo, Buchanan would not confirm it.

“We’re currently in discussions to trade his rights. I’ll leave it at that,” Buchanan said.

The Blazers had the 21st and 51st picks in the draft.

At No. 21, Portland selected 6-foot-2 guard Nolan Smith, who averaged 20.6 points, 4.5 rebounds and 5.1 assists for Duke last season.

Smith declared himself eligible for last year’s draft after Duke won the NCAA title, but ultimately decided to stay with the Blue Devils for his senior year.

He is the son of the late Derek Smith, who played on Louisville’s 1980 NCAA championship team before a nine-year NBA career.

With the 51st pick, Portland selected guard Jon Diebler out of Ohio State.

Diebler, at 6-foot-6 and 205 pounds, averaged 12.6 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists with the Buckeyes last season.

He is the Big Ten’s leader for career 3-pointers with 374.

“I really feel good about the moves that we made today,” Blazers coach Nate McMillan said. “I think we got better not only right now, but for the future.”

Blazers President Larry Miller, who spoke briefly Thursday night before catching a flight to New York for the NBA labor negotiations, said the Blazers will now turn their attention to hiring a permanent general manager.

The team will also decide what to do about former No. 1 draft pick Greg Oden. The Blazers have until June 30 to make an $8.8 million qualifying offer if they want to try to keep the often-injured Oden, who becomes a restricted free agent.

Miller would not hint at where the Blazers were leaning on Oden.

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