2025 Blazer Draft Prospects

[JRoy]

Hate that mock too unless Scoot and Simons are outbound.

[Blazers20]

My preference would be to trade Ant to Orlando for their two 1st round picks and salary filler and try to get Essengue with Portland’s 1st, Egor and maybe Wolf with Orlando’s picks.

[tester551]

My preference would be to trade Ant to Orlando for their two 1st round picks and salary filler and try to get Essengue with Portland’s 1st, Egor and maybe Wolf with Orlando’s picks.

Ant will not pull both Orlando picks.
He may not even pull Orlando's pick (14-16)

[Norm2953]

Find the best athlete with size/length who can hopefully handle the ball.

[Walton1one]

If Jakucionas fell to POR pick, which is looking like a possibility. I think he would be a good selection. He has the size to play off guard, adds much needed shooting, and he is a PG, making him at least to start, a great back up to Scoot/Sharpe, especially if they move on from Simons.

As always they should go BPA, but any wing they take will face a logjam behind Deni, Camara, Grant & Thybulle

[Norm2953]

Perhaps the NBA will reward the Blazers for not tanking for I just did the Tankathon lottery and
the Blazers ended up with the first pick.

One can only imagine how well Flagg would fit between Deni/DC

[Walton1one]

Perhaps the NBA will reward the Blazers for not tanking for I just did the Tankathon lottery and
the Blazers ended up with the first pick.

One can only imagine how well Flagg would fit between Deni/DC

Come on now. You know that if Billups is still the coach, Flagg would be coming off the bench, because they have to start the vet\Grant, whom they are paying all that money to

[BlazersBroncos]

I doubt they would bite but I wonder if ORL would trade the higher FRP if we took on the extra year of KCP. Simons for KCP + ORL FRP.

Then take Kasparas w/ our FRP and Noa w/ the ORL FRP. Would be fine running it back w/ this -

G - Scoot Henderson / Kasparas Jakucionis / Dalano Banton
G - Shadeon Sharpe / Kentavious Caldwell-Pope / Kasparas Jakucionis
F - Touimari Camara / Matisse Thybulle / Jerami Grant / Rayan Rupert
F - Deni Avdija / Jerami Grant / Noa Essengue / Kris Murray
C - DeAndre Ayton / Donovan Clingan / Duop Reath

IR - RWIII

[DusterBuster]

I think Kevin O'Connor's player breakdowns are pretty decent but a mock draft that revolves around "team fit" seems so premature before the order is even set.

Yeah, I don't even bother reading mocks until lottery is set. I'm pretty much out on the NBA from now until May 12th.

I hate the Knueppel pick, smells of Luke Babbitt all over again. Unathletic white guy "sharp" shooter. He's probably at best a rotational guy off the bench, but projects to be bad defensively and can't blow by anyone offensively, which isn't a recipe for a good NBA player.

I do love the Knueppel Slip as a nickname tho.

If Portland ends up at 10 or lower somehow, I would be seriously tempted to see if packaging that pick can offload Grant. Insane to think Cronin went from rejecting a first rounder from the Lakers for Grant because he wanted two first rounds in return to potentially having to give up a first to dump him... but that's the world Joe created for himself by not seeing the obvious writing on the wall...

[Walton1one]

I think sending a top 10 pick to offload Grant would be a really dumb move, you don't trade away a potential young, cost controlled rotational player (or better) just to rid yourself of a contract that is not (yet) a problem. POR has $88 million in expiring contracts next year. They can ride out the next few years of Grant's crappy deal until 27/28 when he picks up his $36mil player option (lol) and his contract becomes expiring and THEN deal it for neutral or positive value

That being said if they can get neutral or marginal positive value now for him, they should take it and run. I don't see how you start him over any of Deni\Camara\Sharpe next year

[Dame Lizard]

I think Kevin O'Connor's player breakdowns are pretty decent but a mock draft that revolves around "team fit" seems so premature before the order is even set.

Yeah, I don't even bother reading mocks until lottery is set. I'm pretty much out on the NBA from now until May 12th.

I hate the Knueppel pick, smells of Luke Babbitt all over again. Unathletic white guy "sharp" shooter. He's probably at best a rotational guy off the bench, but projects to be bad defensively and can't blow by anyone offensively, which isn't a recipe for a good NBA player.

I do love the Knueppel Slip as a nickname tho.

If Portland ends up at 10 or lower somehow, I would be seriously tempted to see if packaging that pick can offload Grant. Insane to think Cronin went from rejecting a first rounder from the Lakers for Grant because he wanted two first rounds in return to potentially having to give up a first to dump him... but that's the world Joe created for himself by not seeing the obvious writing on the wall...

What is the point of wasting a valuable draft asset to dump a contract?

We aren't close to competing and we need more youth. We're also not salary cap hampered either.

We need talent and I'd much rather keep Grant (whose value can't really get all that much lower, unless someone is happy to gamble on him returning to 2022/23 and 2023/24 efficiency) and hope to draft a high upside prospect (even if there's risk involved, e.g. A Buzelis).

[Dame Lizard]

I think sending a top 10 pick to offload Grant would be a really dumb move, you don't trade away a potential young, cost controlled rotational player (or better) just to rid yourself of a contract that is not (yet) a problem. POR has $88 million in expiring contracts next year. They can ride out the next few years of Grant's crappy deal until 27/28 when he picks up his $36mil player option (lol) and his contract becomes expiring and THEN deal it for neutral or positive value

That being said if they can get neutral or marginal positive value now for him, they should take it and run. I don't see how you start him over any of Deni\Camara\Sharpe next year

I didn't see this post before I responded above, but I completely agree.

[JRoy]

Find the best athlete with size/length who can hopefully handle the ball.

Nique Clifford?

[Norm2953]

Used to be the mantra of KP, to draft athlete's with size and length for one can only imagine if
KP were still in charge in 2013, Portland drafting Giannis, who then was considered a very raw,
athletic big as opposed to the polished CJ

[Case2012]

I've seen Nique Clifford as high as 13 on mock drafts and if we move back to 10,11,12 area just take him. I think we trade our pick though, but I wouldn't be surprised if we pick up a late first and take someone towards the end of the first round because.. that's how these DF's operate. Wonder how much cash Jody will pocket for our second round pick?

[zzaj]

I've seen Nique Clifford as high as 13 on mock drafts and if we move back to 10,11,12 area just take him. I think we trade our pick though, but I wouldn't be surprised if we pick up a late first and take someone towards the end of the first round because.. that's how these DF's operate. Wonder how much cash Jody will pocket for our second round pick?

I want that too, Case...accept, trade Simons away for a later first. Nique Clifford and Fleming would be my targets. Or potentially a Center at the end of the 1st if the idea is to move on from Duop. A Sorber or Wolf type...maybe a 2nd on Ivisic if they want 3pt shooting.

But you're right, the Blazers' #39 goes to Toronto and no way in hell are they going to add a 2nd if they sold last years...because Murray can't be replaced.

[Case2012]

Can we talk about Clayton Jr? Holy cow. Completely under my radar until tonight, but man. Tell me he doesn't remind you of Steph and Dame?

Watch on YouTube

;t=21s&ab_channel=NoCeilingsNBA

I gotta be honest, there's some players i realllly like in this draft. Every year i fall in love with like 10 players and always wish we had more picks.

My big board is probably

Flagg, duh
Harper
Bailey
Clifford
Fleming
Wolf
WCJ

So far. But I'm seeing this Clayton kid and now idk what to think or where to put him. It's like watching Dame 2.0. Who else would you compare him too? I'm genuinely curious.

Range, step backs, hesitation moves, fakes, change of speed, hops, efficiency, mid range, finishing, CLUTCH. I don't think it's a matter of drafting him it's how far do you let him fall before taking him. Granted Cronin doesn't value shooting for some reason so there's about 0 chance we take him but we need shooting badly and I think he's clearly the best shooter in the draft.

My ideal draft is getting one of Flagg, Harper, or Bailey with our pick and getting one of Wolf, Clifford, or Fleming with a second pick from trading away a vet. I have no idea why we don't have a second round pick this draft but at the low end i feel like we'd be passing on another Payton Pritchard here if he falls to the second round.

Having said that, man. There's probably 5 or 6 players I've ever seen shoot like that. If i only have one pick in this draft... Idk... Maybe High end Dame comp minus the athleticism, and low end Pritchard? Not the passer Trae is and doesn't have the defense Sheppard does, but he's somewhere in that archetype. I'll be really curious to see where he ends up being drafted.

[BlazersBroncos]

IDK if WCJ has the same overall talent and upside of Dame and Curry, but shooting is king and he kid is a dead-eye. Elite from the line and while he is just around 40% from 3, he regularly is creating his own 3 which drives down % (IE not feasting off catch-and-shoots from guys).

I know Flemming is generally liked on this board but we need to also talk about Yaxel Lendeborg. 6'9, 240lbs and posted some wild stats ay UAB -

33mpg / 17.7ppg / 11.4rpg / 4.2apg / 1.8bpg / 1.7spg / 52% FG / 36% 3PT / 76% FT

Competition is poor so hard to know what the stats really mean but sure looks like a well rounded player. Old though compared to Flemming at 22+.

[dckingsfan]

This draft looks like a one "generational" player and one Tier-1 player that we know of (Flagg/Harper).

I think this draft will yield more results that say the last draft. But this is a draft where you either want 1 or 2 or multiple FRPs in the top 20. I am not all in on Bailey.

Then the question is who would trade with us? And it would be dependent on if we had 1, 2, 3, 4 or 9, 10, 11? And that would be dependent on the ping pong balls as well for other teams.

Brooklyn, Utah and the Wizards look pretty good right now.

If Brooklyn can take their two picks in the late 20s and trade up. That would be interesting for them, IMO.

Whomever gets 1 & 2 are THE winners.

But I think there will be plenty of good players on the board at 9, 10, 11. Taking a swing would be good, IMO (Clayton being an example). But... if you could trade down to get him.

[zzaj]

Can we talk about Clayton Jr? Holy cow. Completely under my radar until tonight, but man. Tell me he doesn't remind you of Steph and Dame?

Watch on YouTube

;t=21s&ab_channel=NoCeilingsNBA

I gotta be honest, there's some players i realllly like in this draft. Every year i fall in love with like 10 players and always wish we had more picks.

My big board is probably

Flagg, duh
Harper
Bailey
Clifford
Fleming
Wolf
WCJ

So far. But I'm seeing this Clayton kid and now idk what to think or where to put him. It's like watching Dame 2.0. Who else would you compare him too? I'm genuinely curious.

Range, step backs, hesitation moves, fakes, change of speed, hops, efficiency, mid range, finishing, CLUTCH. I don't think it's a matter of drafting him it's how far do you let him fall before taking him. Granted Cronin doesn't value shooting for some reason so there's about 0 chance we take him but we need shooting badly and I think he's clearly the best shooter in the draft.

My ideal draft is getting one of Flagg, Harper, or Bailey with our pick and getting one of Wolf, Clifford, or Fleming with a second pick from trading away a vet. I have no idea why we don't have a second round pick this draft but at the low end i feel like we'd be passing on another Payton Pritchard here if he falls to the second round.

Having said that, man. There's probably 5 or 6 players I've ever seen shoot like that. If i only have one pick in this draft... Idk... Maybe High end Dame comp minus the athleticism, and low end Pritchard? Not the passer Trae is and doesn't have the defense Sheppard does, but he's somewhere in that archetype. I'll be really curious to see where he ends up being drafted.

I've been following Clayton Jr. for a couple of years now...he's such a solid guard. Personally, I think because of his size (I think he's actually 6'2") he'll be a backup once he scales to the NBA...

But there is so much to like--two big ones are:
1) Legit shooter...like very, very good there. Especially when you factor in his tough shot diet.
2) Florida plays at NBA tempo and has an NBA system. Shouldn't have a learning curve there.

My worries:
1) At his size, even with some decent springs he's going to top out as a neutral or negative on defense. He'll only be able to guard 1 position at the NBA level.
2) He's not uber-athletic, and tends to rely on his shooting to bail him out.
3) While he is a decent playmaker, his AST% is fairly low for a PG.
4) 22+ years old

I actually think a pretty good comp for him is Anfernee Simons.

I see WCJr as a solid end of 1st, early 2nd, PG...a player that can get super hot shooting the ball and tries on defense. Probably a long career. I would have ZERO problem with someone like him getting added to the Blazer roster as first PG off the bench.