Artis was coming

The New Orleans Saints went all in to try to snag a potential difference maker near the top of the draft.

As for their other six picks http://www.chicagobearsteamonline.com/markus-wheaton-jersey , time will tell.

In the days leading up to the draft, Saints coach Sean Payton and general manager Mickey Loomis were convinced the 6-foot-6, 265-pound Davenport was worth trading up to take in the middle of the first round. So they did that and had to give up next year’s first-rounder as part of the deal.

”This is the philosophy regardless of position: If there’s somebody we really covet and we have an opportunity to move up, then we’re just going to analyze the cost and the risk. And if we like it, we’re going to make a move,” Loomis said.

With their other picks on Friday night and Saturday, the Saints selected Central Florida receiver Tre’Quan Smith in the third round; Florida State offensive tackle Rick Leonard in the fourth round; Wisconsin safety Natrell Jamerson in the fifth; Boston College cornerback Kamrin Moore and Louisiana Tech running back Boston Scott in the sixth; and LSU interior offensive lineman Will Clapp in the seventh round.

The cost of drafting Davenport 14th overall arguably was a little high. In addition to next year’s first-round pick, the Saints gave Green Bay the 27th and 147th overall picks this year.

Payton and Loomis saw that as fair. After all, the Saints enter 2018 looking like a contender. They hope playing Davenport opposite All-Pro defensive end Cameron Jordan increases chances of winning enough to push their traded-away 2019 top pick toward the end of the first round.

”He clearly, for us, was a guy that we felt strongly enough about,” Payton said.

The Saints ranked 17th defensively last season – considerably better than the previous three seasons, but with room to improve. New Orleans’ offense Mike Daniels Jersey , by comparison, ranked second in 2017.

Payton and Loomis say elite pass rushers can be tough to find in free agency and often have to be obtained in the draft.

”Pressure traits are hard to come by,” Loomis said. ”When you have them, you protect them and you generally don’t let them out of the building.”

That’s what the Saints have done with Jordan. They’re hoping Davenport becomes a similar type of player.

CONFERENCE QUESTIONS

Davenport was the Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year for UTSA last season after making 8 sacks and 17 tackles for loss. He also had eight quarterback hurries, three forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and four batted passes. While Davenport’s level of competition in college was not as strong as prospects coming out of the Southeastern Conference, UTSA coach Frank Wilson, a former lead recruiter at LSU, said Davenport ”is as talented as any of those guys. His work ethic is as good as any of those guys.”

DEPTH PERCEPTION

Last season, the Saints drafted five players who filled starting roles, and two – Marshon Lattimore and Alvin Kamara – who were voted rookies of the year. This season, Davenport might be the only prospective starter. Smith could play regularly on offense, but will have to compete for snaps with several accomplished veterans. Jamerson and Moore join a defensive backfield full of returning regulars. Leonard and Clapp likely will back up incumbent starters Anthony Castonzo Jersey , as will Scott.

SWITCHING SIDES

Two of the Saints’ third-day draft choices switched sides of the ball during their college careers. The 5-11, 198-pound Jamerson switched from receiver to defensive back as a sophomore. The 6-7, 305-pound Leonard played defensive end two seasons before beating out an incumbent starter at offensive tackle as a junior.

”I’m comfortable with where they’re at from an experience standpoint,” Payton said. ”You see that a lot in college.”

HOME COOKING

Not only was Clapp the first LSU player selected by the Saints since linebacker Al Woods in 2010, he grew up in the New Orleans area and routinely attended Saints games with his family.

Meanwhile, Scott is from Zachary, just north of Baton Rouge, and described his mother as an avid Saints fan.

MUSICAL SAINTS

At least two of the Saints’ third-day draftees should fit in nicely in a music city like New Orleans. Leonard is an avid guitar player. Scott grew up playing trombone and has been in a band.

STILL NEED

Entering the draft, Payton cited linebacker and tight end as positions of need. But no players at either position were drafted by New Orleans.

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DeMar DeRozan scored 16 points, Fred VanVleet and Serge Ibaka each had 15 and the Toronto Raptors moved closer to clinching the top seed in the Eastern Conference by beating the Boston Celtics 96-78 on Wednesday night.

Toronto increased its lead over second-place Boston to three games. Both teams have four games left.

Kyle Lowry scored 13 points for the Raptors, who earned a split in the season series with the Celtics and clinched the tiebreaker over Boston, based on each team’s record in conference play. Toronto is 37-11 against the East, while Boston is 31-17.

With its 56th win of the season Geoff Swaim Jersey , Toronto matched the franchise record set in 2015-16.

Marcus Morris scored 21 points for Boston in its lowest-scoring game of the season.

The Celtics shot 3 for 22 from 3-point range.

76ERS 115, PISTONS 108

DETROIT (AP) – JJ Redick scored 25 points, and Philadelphia won its 12th straight game, eliminating Detroit from playoff contention.

The Pistons had their five-game winning streak snapped, and their defeat clinched a postseason spot for the Milwaukee Bucks.

Anthony Tolliver scored 25 points for the Pistons and went 7 of 8 from 3-point range. Detroit was without star forward Blake Griffin (bruised right ankle) and the 76ers were missing center Joel Embiid (concussion, orbital fracture).

LAKERS 122, SPURS 112, OT

LOS ANGELES (AP) – Kyle Kuzma scored six of his 30 points in overtime and Los Angeles swept the three-game season series against San Antonio.

Kuzma is the first rookie in NBA history with 1,200 points, 450 rebounds and 150 3-pointers in a season. He made a 3-pointer and a sky hook to start overtime and give the Lakers a lead they would not relinquish. Los Angeles outscored the Spurs 14-4 in the period.

LaMarcus Aldridge had 28 points for the Spurs, who lost on back-to-back nights at Staples Center and are tied with Oklahoma City for fifth place in the Western Conference, a half-game behind Utah. The Spurs and Thunder both have three games remaining.

HEAT 115, HAWKS 86

ATLANTA (AP) – Kelly Olynyk scored 19 points http://www.chicagobearsteamonline.com/mark-sanchez-jersey , including 15 on five 3-pointers when Miami took the lead for good in the second period, and the Heat beat Atlanta, capping a sweep of back-to-back games between Southeast Division rivals.

Miami rested Dwyane Wade, Goran Dragic and James Johnson one day after clinching a playoff berth by beating the Hawks in Miami. Josh Richardson also had 19 points, and Justise Winslow had 18 for Miami.

Taurean Prince led Atlanta with 20 points.

PELICANS 123, GRIZZLIES 95

NEW ORLEANS (AP) – E’Twaun Moore scored 30 points, and Anthony Davis had 28 points and 12 rebounds in a return to form to help New Orleans rout Memphis.

Davis struggled in the previous two games after twisting an ankle in a loss to Portland on March 27. He made 8 of 13 field goals, 11 of 13 free throws and had three blocks and two steals.

The eighth-place Pelicans ended a season-worst four-game losing streak and increased their lead over idle Denver to a full game for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

MarShon Brooks scored 25 points for the Grizzlies.

MAGIC 105, MAVERICKS 100

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) – Rookie Jamel Artis had 18 points for his second straight career high for Orlando.

Artis was coming off a 16-point game Tuesday night in a victory at New York. Aaron Gordon led the Magic with 20 points without playing in the fourth quarter.

Jalen Jones led Dallas with 15 points. The Mavericks listed seven players out with injuries including Dirk Nowitzki, the 19-year veteran who missed only his second game of the season.

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