2025 Blazer Draft Prospects

[Case2012]

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Still my 1b. His feel for the game is very underrated. His passing is elite IMO, he's got head turning jaw dropping types of passes, that rival Demin and JK but you're not losing out on defense, shooting, and he's got that elite rebounding that compares him nicely to Josh hart, but as a much better shooter. For a team that's been at the bottom of assists for decades, having a second or third ball handler with vision would be a welcome addition.

[Case2012]

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FVV is a good comp, but also maybe Jamal Murray or Dame lite on the high end. That shooting is gonna give him a role in the NBA right away.

[Butter]

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FVV is a good comp, but also maybe Jamal Murray or Dame lite on the high end. That shooting is gonna give him a role in the NBA right away.

I've never watched him play, but the scouting reports I've read paint his as having a good handle and decent PG skills. Is it too optimistic to think he's closer to PG than small SG?

[BlazersBroncos]

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FVV is a good comp, but also maybe Jamal Murray or Dame lite on the high end. That shooting is gonna give him a role in the NBA right away.

I've never watched him play, but the scouting reports I've read paint his as having a good handle and decent PG skills. Is it too optimistic to think he's closer to PG than small SG?

I dont think he is going to be a true floor general like a Haliburton obviously but IMO on his higher curve I could see Jamal Murry level APG (5.5-6). Jamal for example averaged 2.2apg his single season, FVV averaged 4.5apg over his career. Dame only 3.5 in college (Albeit I dont see the Dame comparison - not as explosive and nowhere near the FT magician).

He certainly isnt a tiny SG IMO. I think he is a guy that everyone looks back on and is like, how did we miss this? Elite shooter, pesky defender, composed in the spotlight, enough athleticism, played under Pitino at Iona so his pedestrian FR year is expected, team has been a winner wherever he goes (Won 6A championship as a HS SR, FR 25-8 SO 27-8 JR 24-12 SR 36-4 + NCAA champ). He was more into football than basketball for most of HS and had NCAAFB offers from elite programs like Florida, Norte Dame and Tennessee. Toughness likely comes in part from that background.

I really like his chance to become a Murray type player, but his floor is high as well - cant see him not at least being a great bench shooter.

[DusterBuster]

More from Marang today, he said its sounding like Noa is going to be the "party crasher" in the top 10 of this draft. Might be Toronto, which fits what Massai likes in players. He's huge on international guys and Noa is very similar to Siakiam.

He also said based on discussions with other FO execs, scouts and agents around the league, he believe if (his words) the Blazers make the pick at 11, the consensus is their pick is going to be one of either Bryant, Noa or Jakučionis. Interesting no mention of Denim... maybe he's fallen down their board. All of it will just depend who's there at 11.

Still a ton of noise about teams being really active come draft day, so expect some movement of where teams are drafting in the Top 10 (outside of the top 2 picks).

Utah is locked in on Tray Johnson. Kanip slip won't get past 6 likely.

Players 9-15 is mostly just "whatever you want" from a pick standpoint - no real consensus on talent being better than others.

Queen is a very polarizing player for teams. Some love him, some don't.

[Tim Lehrbach]

I realize this is extremely specific, but is there a team that:
1. Picks before the Blazers.
2. Would trade down to 11.
3. Would accept Ayton, Simons, Williams, or Thybulle, or some combination thereof, in exchange for a larger, crappier expiring (i.e., modest savings along with the better player for the team moving down) as the incentive?

If it really is just team preference after the first half dozen picks or so, then maybe Portland can move up to get their guy without sacrificing crucial, future draft picks?

Wishful thinking, no doubt.

[Norm2953]

Looks very similar to what ESPN (GIvony) posted this morning.

Looks okay for Portland if one of Bryant, Noa or Jakučionis is there at 11 for Portland. Whoever is there will
play in season 1 for Portland for all offer some position flexibility . It might get interesting if somehow all
were gone for Brooklyn has 3 FRP at 19, 26, 27 that they can trade to get up to 11 if there was someone
they really wanted.

[Tim Lehrbach]

Looks very similar to what ESPN (GIvony) posted this morning.

Looks okay for Portland if one of Bryant, Noa or Jakučionis is there at 11 for Portland. Whoever is there will
play in season 1 for Portland for all offer some position flexibility . It might get interesting if somehow all
were gone for Brooklyn has 3 FRP at 19, 26, 27 that they can trade to get up to 11 if there was someone
they really wanted.

A trade down with Brooklyn could still yield, like, two out of Riley/McNeeley/WCJ/Beringer, or something like that. Maybe Coward drops? It's not a bad option at all.

[Norm2953]

According to Tankathon, 19, 26 and perhaps 36 might yield Sorber or Fleming at 19, Riley at 26 and
one of the second round guys the team has been working out.

Don't know if Portland needs 3 more rookies but something to think about. I do think it likely the pick
will be one of Bryant, Noa or JK for if all were gone, someone else that is not supposed to be there
will be there at 11.

[Walton1one]

I would remind you that Marang was completely wrong LY when he insisted repeatedly that POR was taking Cody Williams.

I would also remind you that it is worth noting that it was Jeremy Woo who mocked Jakucionis to POR and not Givony in this latest mock. The last semi-mock before that, which was a "biggest need" (Givony) versus "best value" (Woo), Givony had POR taking Demin. Even more conspiratory is that in this latest mock they mention Bryant & Essengue as possibilities, yet Demin is mysteriously missing and Demin was on the initial list of green room invites, which tells you that in a survey of team GM's he is thought to go in the lottery.

Givony's pick that fills the biggest need:
Egor Demin, PG/SG, BYU, Freshman | TS%: 51.3

The Trail Blazers don't appear to have any immediate needs that can be filled with a player drafted in this range, but they might be intrigued by the idea of adding a big playmaking guard such as Demin, who has the size and versatility to play on or off the ball, can slide across different positions, and can grow alongside Portland's young core long term.

Woo's pick that gets the best value: Jakucionis

Jakucionis is one of the craftiest playmakers in this draft, and that level of vision, coupled with his ability to play both guard positions and room to grow as a shooter, makes him a good bet to settle in as a useful backcourt option in the pros.

He's drawing interest higher than the No. 11 pick as a result. His versatility and unselfishness make him a strong option in this range of the draft, and he's a player who would enhance the Blazers' guard group.

I am intrigued by Demin, but as I have said before I would lean towards Jakucionis over him. Also, I would be quite happy with Bryant and ok with Essengue (even though some may think I am a hater of him, I am not, I just think he is a swing\risk (like Demin)).

I would be ok with any of those (4) players.

I just think it is odd that all the sudden the smoke from Demin has gone poof, even though we know he had a private workout here, which is odd since neither Jakucionis or Bryant have that we know about. It is possible that POR had a private\undisclosed workout (or more than one) that could have been either (although all reports are Jakucionis has not worked out anywhere?)

Even today Marang does not mention him amongst the players he thinks POR will take, even though a week? ago he discussed him a lot, also Marang is all over Jakucionis, which likely means no go for POR lol...

You add all of that up with the pretty common? knowledge that Givony has a pretty good bead on whom POR is going to select, smells fishy to me...

[Case2012]

I dont hate those 3 but i also hate all 3 of them.

Ok, I think I hate Schmitz. He's been meh as hell. There's been so many good dudes right there and we passed on them because Schmitz has been locked on in one guy since he was 16 or something every year.

If he takes Bryant, or Noa i will be really bummed. Taking players because they might be good at basketball someday is really stupid and never works very well. This is how we're drafting.

If they take Coward, Clifford, Wolf, WCJ, or by some miracle Bailey, i'll be pretty hyped BECAUSE THEY ARE GOOD AT BASKETBALL, WHAT A CONCEPT.

My Meh guys are Demin and KJ, they're good but not great.

[Walton1one]

While I would agree with you that Scmitz's track record is not definitive, I also think the names you mentioned Coward\Clifford\Wolf\WCJ are no locks to be better NBA players than Demin\Jakucionis or Bryant. Most scouts\analysts have those guys ranked lower for a reason, doesn't mean they are right, but also, it is not just one outlier either.

The crazy part is, we won't really know one way or the other for these players until 2-3-4 years from now.

[BlazersBroncos]

I dont hate those 3 but i also hate all 3 of them.

Ok, I think I hate Schmitz. He's been meh as hell. There's been so many good dudes right there and we passed on them because Schmitz has been locked on in one guy since he was 16 or something every year.

If he takes Bryant, or Noa i will be really bummed. Taking players because they might be good at basketball someday is really stupid and never works very well. This is how we're drafting.

If they take Coward, Clifford, Wolf, WCJ, or by some miracle Bailey, i'll be pretty hyped BECAUSE THEY ARE GOOD AT BASKETBALL, WHAT A CONCEPT.

My Meh guys are Demin and KJ, they're good but not great.

Except Bailey by all metrics available is not good at basketball. It’s all projection for him, like with Noa and Bryant. He shot like 4% better than Noa on 3s and 4% worse on FT while posting historically bad for a top pick advanced stats.

Take the big swing early and use Simon’s to get a NBA ready guy like WCJ. That would be my play. Noa will be gone though, so maybe trade down for Coward (who is about as much of an unknown as Noa in many respects - but I like the upside).

Niederhauser is a late bloomer that might make a decent switchy compliment to DC if we get a SRP. A lot of WCS to his projection (who would have been a good player if not such a doofus).

11 for the OKC picks and snag Coward, Clayton and Niederhauser seems good to me, assuming Noa is gone.

[Walton1one]

On Jakucionis, spoken with (6) teams had some private workouts (none disclosed)....

For now, Jakučionis is focused on making a strong impression on teams looking to bolster their backcourt. He said he had spoken with six front offices Wednesday but had yet to meet with the Chicago Bulls. In each of those meetings — and in individual workouts throughout the week — Jakučionis is pitching teams on his adaptability as a lengthy guard who can facilitate his teammates.

Wonder if one of those teams was POR?

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/05/16/nba-draft-combine-kasparas-jakucionis/

[Tim Lehrbach]

I remain woefully uninformed about a lot of prospects, but I think I'm closing in on a mock draft based on knowledge, public intel, and hunches.

Interesting that Bailey is dropping, as many of us foresaw. Still think there's a chance he goes #3, but he shouldn't.

[zzaj]

…He also said based on discussions with other FO execs, scouts and agents around the league, he believe if (his words) the Blazers make the pick at 11, the consensus is their pick is going to be one of either Bryant, Noa or Jakučionis. Interesting no mention of Denim... maybe he's fallen down their board. All of it will just depend who's there at 11.

Could all be that they didn’t mention Demin because he’s their primary target. ESPN has been correct a lot of the time projecting for the Blazers…I just have a hard time with KJ…wouldn’t be the worst pick, but he just screams middling backup to me. His game in some ways reminds me of a shrimpy Deni, minus the stepback 3s.

I have a hard time with guards who won’t be able to self-create in the NBA but who are getting sold as passers. It’s MUCH more difficult to create an offensive passing advantage off of a set screen than off of a scrambled defense from self creation. Looking at the illinois offense, many of his assists seem to be off of C&S perimeter shots built into their offense.

Another thing I keep seeing which bugs me generally? Prospects keep getting touted with their barefoot measurements vs. their wingspan. A 6’5” barefoot player with a 6’7” wingspan isn’t +2” on an NBA court.

[zzaj]

On Jakucionis, spoken with (6) teams had some private workouts (none disclosed)....

For now, Jakučionis is focused on making a strong impression on teams looking to bolster their backcourt. He said he had spoken with six front offices Wednesday but had yet to meet with the Chicago Bulls. In each of those meetings — and in individual workouts throughout the week — Jakučionis is pitching teams on his adaptability as a lengthy guard who can facilitate his teammates.

Wonder if one of those teams was POR?

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/05/16/nba-draft-combine-kasparas-jakucionis/

Good luck with “lengthy”…
He measured 6’4.75” barefoot with a 6’7.75” inch wingspan. That’s +2” in shoes. And pretty average, even for PG prospects.
Lillard was 6’1.75” barefoot and had a 6’7.75” wingspan, as a reference.

[DeBlazerRiddem]

…He also said based on discussions with other FO execs, scouts and agents around the league, he believe if (his words) the Blazers make the pick at 11, the consensus is their pick is going to be one of either Bryant, Noa or Jakučionis. Interesting no mention of Denim... maybe he's fallen down their board. All of it will just depend who's there at 11.

Could all be that they didn’t mention Demin because he’s their primary target. ESPN has been correct a lot of the time projecting for the Blazers…I just have a hard time with KJ…wouldn’t be the worst pick, but he just screams middling backup to me. His game in some ways reminds me of a shrimpy Deni, minus the stepback 3s.

I have a hard time with guards who won’t be able to self-create in the NBA but who are getting sold as passers. It’s MUCH more difficult to create an offensive passing advantage off of a set screen than off of a scrambled defense from self creation. Looking at the illinois offense, many of his assists seem to be off of C&S perimeter shots built into their offense.

Another thing I keep seeing which bugs me generally? Prospects keep getting touted with their barefoot measurements vs. their wingspan. A 6’5” barefoot player with a 6’7” wingspan isn’t +2” on an NBA court.

I thought Kasparas had actually pretty impressive numbers off self creation, isolation and step back shooting...? I could be wrong but one of the reasons I like him were some sneaky advanced stats I saw somewhere that I can't remember now lol.

Did find a comment on the draft board

He shot around 36%(?) on stepback threes, scored over 1.0 points per possession in isolation, and ranked in the 98th percentile in pick-and-roll. His HC rim frequency is at 30% on 62FG%. His true shooting sits at 58%, with strong indicators like a .50 free throw rate and .50 three-point rate. While his overall three-point percentage is just 32%, his stepback numbers and 85% from the line suggest he has a strong shot profile with room to develop into an elite shooter.

[dckingsfan]

I realize this is extremely specific, but is there a team that:
1. Picks before the Blazers.
2. Would trade down to 11.
3. Would accept Ayton, Simons, Williams, or Thybulle, or some combination thereof, in exchange for a larger, crappier expiring (i.e., modest savings along with the better player for the team moving down) as the incentive?

If it really is just team preference after the first half dozen picks or so, then maybe Portland can move up to get their guy without sacrificing crucial, future draft picks?

Wishful thinking, no doubt.

I like your thinking but I just can't identify a team.

[dckingsfan]

Take the big swing early and use Simon’s to get a NBA ready guy like WCJ. That would be my play. Noa will be gone though, so maybe trade down for Coward (who is about as much of an unknown as Noa in many respects - but I like the upside).

I really don't like WCJ's game or contract. But maybe I am missing it - what does he bring that I don't get...

One more question, do you think that Orlando does the deal after this recent trade?