2025 Blazer Draft Prospects

[BlazersBroncos]

Case - I am a fan of that offseason idea. However I think Grant simply is not tradable. He isnt the worst 1st forward off the bench if he buys into the role. As it stands there is no starting role for him, both from a talent and 'develop the youth' standpoint. He simply has to accept his poor lot in life and take his 35M check to the bank while accepting 24mpg.

I think CHI would be hesitant to move that FRP in a Ayton for Vuc swap but who knows. I think you have to adjust the trade a bit to get them a future FRP. Also FWIW it seems Yaxel is leaning to transferring to Michigan but I could for sure see him staying in the draft.

Something like -

Simons for JI + 16
10 for 19 + 26 + 27
Ayton + 27 + SRP for Vucevic + PDX FRP
RWIII for Jack Landale + crappy SRP (Or no SRP - dont think he even pulls a SRP) - then dont guarantee Landale.

G - Scoot Henderson / Walter Clayton JR (26) / Nique Clifford (19)
G - Shadeon Sharpe / Matisse Thybulle / Nique Clifford (19)
F - Toumani Camara / Jerami Grant / Rayan Rupert
F - Deni Avdija / Jonathan Isaac / Yaxel Lendenburg (16) / Kris Murray
C - Donovan Clingan / Nikola Vucevic / Duop Reath

I would target Essengue over Yaxel for the 'big swing' at 16 but otherwise like the end result.

[Walton1one]

Kevin O'Conner dropped a new mock on Yahoo, based on a funky draft order has POR selecting:

Collin Murray-Boyles
Comps:

Draymond Green - CMB’s defense makes him the most worthy of a Draymond comp in my 13 years covering the draft.
Paul Milsap - A solid, versatile backup who became an All-Star once he developed a 3 like CMB needs to.
Julius Randle - The way CMB looks handling and driving resembles Randle. Hopefully he passes more

Team Fit
The Trail Blazers made amazing progress this season across the board, and following the All-Star Break they had a top-five defensive rating. Murray-Boyles would serve as a double down on that identity since he operates like a defensive savant the way he locks down every position, uses his ninja-quick hands to swipe at the ball, and inhales rebounds. He’s a special defensive presence, and offensively he’s a bulldozer finisher with a playmaking feel. Improving his jumper would move him out of tweener territory and into All-Star status.

This would have POR passing on:
Jakucionis - #13 to ATL
Demin - #14 to SA, he has them taking Queen @ #8 as well
Essengue @ #15 to OKC
Clifford @ #16 to ORL
Newell @ #19 to BRK
Bryant @ #20 to MIA

1-2-3
Flagg - Harper - Bailey

4-5-6
Edgecombe - Knueppel - Maluach

7-8-9
Fears - Johnson - Queen

Interesting how he explains a little of the "why" for the comps

Jakucionis comps:

Goran Dragic - Dragic had a swirliness to his driving that KJ has shades of, though KJ is a bit bigger.
Spencer Dinwiddie - Two big guards that can get where they want with the ball, though they're inconsistent shooters and scorers.
Vasilije Micic - KJ would dominate Europe like Micic did for a decade as a big guard, but there's a chance his skills don't quite translate to the NBA.

Jakucionis is a slick shot-creator with a creative passing gene and a fearless scoring ability, carving up defenses with crafty finishes, step-back jumpers, and jaw-dropping passes. But as a freshman he’d follow up those highlights with turnover brain-farts that derail the hype train.

Demin comps:

Josh Giddey - Giddey and Demin are two jumbo-sized playmakers with questionable jumpers. Demin will need to work on his shot like Giddey has.
Anthony Black - Black's shot hasn't clicked yet, and it's making it harder for him to consistently produce despite his passing skill and size.

...a big guard who has a rare ability at his size to make dazzling passes. But he’s also struggled to shoot and create his own shot against lengthy defenders, making him more of a love-him or hate-him prospect than a sure thing.

Essengue comps:

Nicolas Batum - Batum has shape-shifted in his career, excelling in a range of roles on different teams. Essengue has the versatility to be like that too.
Al-Farouq Aminu - If Essengue doesn't develop creation skills then he still has role player upside to fall back on like Aminu did for his decade-long career.

Essengue is a toolsy forward with a fluid handle, dynamic finishing package, and highly versatile defense. But his long-term upside hinges on the jumper clicking. And if it doesn’t, his defense must reach a level that prevents coaches from keeping him off the floor.

Clifford comps:

Khris Middleton - Best case scenario: Clifford’s jumper keeps ascending and it unlocks his creation skills.
Josh Hart - Clifford showed how he can impact winning without scoring well in the tournament.
Desmond Bane - More a developmental comp than a skills comp: Bane was an upperclassman and a late bloomer who kept providing in the NBA.

Clifford is a tough-as-nails wing who does it all. He defends multiple positions, crashes the boards, and scores from everywhere. As a super senior with only Mountain West pedigree, he lacks experience against high-level competition despite his age. But his skill-set would in theory allow him to fit right away

Asa Newell comps:

Brandon Clarke - Newell and Clarke have similar bodies and skill-sets, with Clarke carving out a lane as a versatile undersized big.
Jonathan Isaac - Isaac entered the NBA with hopes his shot would develop. It didn't, yet his defense and finishing is enough to get him minutes.

Newell has springs in his legs, regularly slamming lobs and swatting shots. Even though his discipline reflects his youth, his energetic style suggests he'll someday become a highly versatile defender.

Carter Bryant comps:

Jeff Green - Kevin Garnett once said Jeff Green had Hall of Fame potential. I'd imagine fanbases will be tantalized by Bryant's flashes of greatness in a similar fashion, though he's likely just a high-end role player.
Trevor Ariza - Ariza played his role well for almost two decades, but he had to improve his shooting when he was young much like Bryant does now.

Bryant is a rangy, athletic forward who projects as a highly versatile defender. He’s raw on offense though, so Miami would be taking a longer view with a pick like this one. Beyond his cutting, he needs to improve as a shooter to earn minutes in high-leverage games.

Bonus:

Rasheer Fleming (has him going #30) comps:

Larry Nance Jr - Nance has excelled in different roles across different teams, he's only been held back by durability. But his versatility offers a blueprint for Fleming.
Brandon Bass - Bass was a midrange-heavy player who failed to extend his range to 3. If Fleming's shot doesn't translate, does he fall out of the picture too?

Fleming is a hustler who drains spot-up jumpers and brings energy on defense, swatting shots and snagging boards. But he has some real warts as a ball-handler with a lack of experience against high-level competition, so teams will have to feel real confident his role player skill-set will translate.

Labaron Philon (has him going 324) comps:

Brandon Roy - It took Roy four college seasons to become the prospect that he did, and Philon is nowhere near ready. But you can see the glimmers of high scoring upside that Roy brought pre-injuries.
Delon Wright - If the scoring never comes, Philon could fall back on some baseline role player skills as a talented defender like Wright.

...Philon presents so much long-term upside at this point of the draft as a shifty point guard with a buttery floater, advanced pick-and-roll playmaking, and a deceptive handle that lets him control the tempo. His feathery touch teases untapped shooting potential, but he’s got to prove it to become an offensive maestro.

Yaxel Lendeborg (has him going @ #22) comps:

Paolo Banchero - Lendeborg has some of Paolo’s downhill attacking and playmaking feel, but lacks the scoring polish and brute strength.
Tari Eason - Both are chaos creators on defense and versatile threats on offense.
Justice Winslow - Yaxel has a similar motor and defensive versatility to Justise, though Winslow was never able to score in the NBA like he did in college.

Liam McNeeley (has him going @ #12) comps:

Keegan Murray - Murray does more good things than shoot, but leaves you wishing he hit more 3s. Much like McNeeley as a UConn freshman.
Corey Kispert - If McNeeley's shot creation doesn't translate, he can still be an off-ball weapon like Kispert.

...he projects as a sharpshooting wing with superb instincts moving with the ball, and the touch to splash from deep ranges. Though he doesn’t project as a primary shot creator, his feel as a connective passer gives him the skill to fit into any type of offense like Chicago’s with multiple points of creation.

Maxime Raynaud (has him going @ #29) comps:

Brook Lopez - I swear this isn't because Brook also went to Stanford! Raynaud just has the shooting and size to play a modern Lopez style role on both ends.
Rasheed Wallace - Raynaud's got some midrange creation skills to him like Wallace had as a big man, though Sheed was more post-oriented in that era.

...a player who pops 3s, slashes to the rim with a smooth handle, and makes eye-popping passes. As a talented passer who also offers solid defense, there’s little reason to think the Frenchman won’t carve out an NBA role.

https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/draft/

[Walton1one]

The Ringer has a mock draft up today as well, based on the current draft order, had a different name for POR @ #10, I like this one much better...

https://nbadraft.theringer.com/mock-draft

Kaspara Jakucionis

Seeing the incredible size and athleticism of the Blazers at eye level in Portland at the end of the season brought a question to my mind: Is the gap between this group and teams like Houston and Orlando as big as we think? They’re troubled by similar spacing and creation questions, but they also have tremendous defensive upside all over the court. Jakucionis is the second-best playmaking ball-screen maestro in the draft (behind Egor Demin), and with the backcourt in PDX crowded for the time being, he can take on what he can efficiently handle and steadily grow from there. He’s the kind of multiuse tool that can support any of the Blazers’ guard scorers, and he also has the physical build to add defensive versatility without being a liability.

SCOUTING REPORT BY J. Kyle Mann
I love players who can rapidly “stack” actions. Players who know, instinctively, how to respond to whatever the defense is doing with rapid-fire decisions. Jakucionis, the Lithuanian guard who left FC Barcelona to star for Illinois this season, might be the best at it of anyone in this draft. He’s the type of role-malleable triple threat that every team in the league could use.

Jakucionis fits a flattering Euro stereotype for guards in that he has an almost joyous bobbing rhythm in the way he moves with the ball—a command for starting and stopping that really puts defenders in a less joyous place. Jakucionis, despite having credible size for his position, isn’t exceptionally long or blazingly fast. He does, however, have a low center of gravity and can be very quick from side to side or in situations when he suddenly bursts to attack after lulling his man into a spot.

Jakucionis is also a fantastic passer. In fact, I’d put him just a step or so behind BYU’s Egor Demin in terms of pure creativity. He’s able to consistently survey where his open teammate is or is about to be, where in the defense he needs to sell a fake, what type of fake that should be, and finally, what type of pass should be the solution. I don’t penalize a prospect for experimentation (I love it, actually), and that’s why I don’t really grind my teeth over Jakucionis’s ugly turnover percentage (second highest among the 164 players who posted 150 or more pick-and-roll reps). For one, he was battling a nagging forearm injury for nearly half the season while playing in a physically demanding conference, and for another, the best problem-solvers break eggs when they’re making omelets. Jakucionis definitely has stints of letting his guard down while protecting the ball, but he tries things, and at this stage, I am all for that.

Ultimately, Jakucionis’s success at the next level will live or die with his credibility as a scorer, and while I don’t think he is an “If it’s in the air, jog the other way” type of marksman, I’m optimistic he’ll be a consistent threat as a shooter. Through January 1 (so, pre-injury), Jakucionis was hitting 41.4 of his 3s, and the types of attempts varied—a blend of stepbacks in isolation and dribble pull-ups in the pick-and-roll and catch-and-shoot looks. Post-injury, his self-created 3s dried up almost entirely, which I suspect was a result of that injury to his nonshooting forearm. Beyond that, the craft in his middle game could definitely stand to progress and evolve, but he’s great when he gets to the rim. When he isn’t finishing at the basket (71.7 percent there), he relishes contact, which allows him to be a foul-generating machine. I expect his broad-shouldered frame to become a useful hammer in the paint by his mid-20s.

Jakucionis doesn’t have the kind of length or explosiveness that would give him a margin for error on defense, and he’s not particularly disruptive with his hands, so he’ll always have to work to hold up within a greater team scheme. That said, I don’t think his frame and physical tools put him in a terrible position. He’s shown that his low center of gravity, balance, and quickness can be effective in working through screens. It’ll be a challenge, but the net result should be positive.

[Walton1one]

Newell...

There is top-10 upside in Newell’s game. As a baseline, Newell’s ball tracking, high motor, and desire to dunk everything in sight add up to a valuable asset—never mind his growth potential as a driver and floor spacer. On defense, Newell is a sort of tweener: a switchable big with the ability to capably defend bigger wings out in space. There are legitimate questions about his true position at the NBA level,

Essengue...

Essengue is a true eye-of-the-beholder prospect, with a bundle of raw tools that led to productive numbers in the competitive Bundesliga. Shooting and ballhandling can be improved, but his length, speed, and nose for both the ball and contact are innate. There are potential star outcomes for Essengue if he gets proper seasoning and strength development. For a team still trying to establish a coherent blueprint for the future, those shots in the dark are essential,

Murray-Boyles...

CMB has been subjected to suboptimal roster builds for the past couple of seasons, but his physical tools and intrinsic instincts on defense could pop in an environment that stresses defense like the one in South Beach. His immovable lower body and gargantuan hands could put him on a path toward becoming a magnet for tough assignments in the NBA. Murray-Boyles has his quirks on offense,

Clifford...

...he has a wide offering of skills, even if each individual skill doesn’t project to rise to an elite level: He’s a consistent off-ball mover who can hit 3s, he has experience working in pick-and-rolls, and he even started to add some post touches at the elbows. Mix that with some demonstrated ability to pass the ball, and you can see how he would help to shore up key areas of need

Demin...

Looking at Sam Presti’s recent drafts is like seeing Logan Roy’s exes all in one place: He clearly has a type.

lol

In recent drafts, the Thunder have leaned toward larger wing-guard hybrids who can do a bit of anything, with an eye toward long-term value rather than current-day fit. Demin fits that mold in spades, but he also faces real questions about his physicality and shooting. At the end of the day, his size and playmaking talent are undeniably remarkable, and his shooting indicators are more encouraging than Josh Giddey’s or even Nikola Topic’s (last year’s no. 12 pick who tore his ACL before the draft) were at the same age.

Fleming (@ #13)...

This is much, much higher than we have Fleming on our Big Board, but he undeniably has fans, and one can understand why....Fleming is a 6-foot-9 defensive demon who creates live-ball disruption without racking up careless fouls and also manages to shoot 39 percent from 3 (and 43.1 percent on unguarded catch-and-shoots!).

Bryant (@ #9)...

...has a chance to end up as the most versatile and switchy defender in his draft class

Knueppel (@ #8)...

The last time the Spurs drafted a player like Knueppel, a potential offensive dynamo with major defensive questions, was … man, maybe never? But precedent goes out the window when the center of your franchise is entirely without precedent. Knueppel, with his legitimate perimeter size and frame, would check a lot of boxes for current needs and pave paths toward greater possibilities. Don’t be lured into thinking this guy is just a spacer. Sure, Kon would give San Antonio’s young core more room to operate by simply existing beyond the line, but he also obliterated early-season worries about his scoring and passing in the paint. From there, imagine the worlds of playmaking that would be created by running him off of off-ball actions and having him fire from 3 or throw lobs (something he excelled at with Duke).

OTHERS:
McNeeley...

...talented prospects coming off of weird freshman seasons are a market inefficiency worth betting on. McNeeley’s feel, role malleability, and competitiveness should make him an easy fit with a competitive team like Orlando, and the types of shots that he’d see playing off of the Magic’s stars would be very different than the ones he took in Storrs.

Philon...

The Jeff Weltman era of the Magic has been ruthlessly committed to size, athleticism, and defense. It’s a great bit, but it’s become painfully clear that this group now needs some kind of option on offense aside from using its big forwards to pinch the opponent’s nose and shove giant spoonfuls of pick-and-rolls down their throat. You would THINK acquiring a dynamic on-ball creator here would be the priority, but the Magic are under the constraints of (1) avoiding compromising their overall identity by taking someone who needs to be protected defensively and (2) finding a player who is relatively on their timeline.

Makes you wonder if ORL is even interested in Simons at all?

Riley...

The vision is clear, especially with success stories in Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson. The baseline of utility for a player with that dribble-pass-shoot toolbox is quite high. Riley’s rail-thin frame poses a real concern, but a dedicated training program and close proximity to Shake Shacks ought to help in that regard.

Beringer...

...one of the youngest prospects in the draft class. The French big man is extremely new to the game: He claims to have never even touched a basketball before the fall of 2021. But Beringer’s tools are undeniable. He possesses a rare blend of explosiveness and coordination, with unorthodox footwork and movement patterns lifted from the soccer pitch.

[zzaj]

My current lotto big board, based loosely on pre-lotto standing and team needs-ish. A few of these I could easily get talked out of...like Tre to the 76ers and Asa to the Bulls.

1) Flagg - Uta
2) Harper - Washington
3) Edgecombe - Hornets
4) Bailey - New Orleans
5) Tre - 76ers
6) Fears - Brooklyn
7) Maluach - Toronto
8) Knueppel - Spurs
9) Queen - Rockets
10) Fleming - Blazers
11) Essengue - Dallas
12) Asa - Bulls
13) Jase - Hawks
14) Kasparas - Spurs
15) CMB - OKC

[Case2012]

I’m honestly feeling pretty validated after diving into more scouting reports and mock drafts — especially when it comes to guys like Clifford. Not only do the player comps back up what I’ve been seeing, but the teams they’re being mocked to OKC and Orlando just reinforce how strong the fit-based logic behind my plan is. These are the exact types of teams I’d like to see Portland model itself after: young, switchable, high-IQ squads that play team-first ball, with positional flexibility and defensive effort baked in. Funny enough, NBADraft.net has OKC taking *both* Nique and Yaxel, two guys I’ve been high on and it just confirms the archetype I’m chasing.

If Portland can land a two-way guard/forward at the 1 or 2 in next year’s draft — someone who can legitimately lead and elevate others (AJ Dybantsa ) I think we could resemble OKC in 2–3 years. But in the meantime, the priority should be loading up on versatile, unselfish, high-motor players who defend and move the ball. That’s the core of what makes teams like OKC, Boston, and even Orlando (defensively at least) fun to watch. Yes, they have their stars, but their depth is built around guys who can all dribble, pass, shoot (enough), and switch across positions.

That’s what made last year’s version of the Blazers so interesting, when the vets were out and the young guys were just hooping. There were stretches where we actually played *good* basketball without a true star, just ball movement, effort, and defensive buy-in. And even then, we were still somehow one of the worst assist teams in the league *again* for like the 12th straight year? It just shows how desperately we need more players with feel, vision, and a team-first mentality..

I’m also starting to come around on Collin Murray-Boyles, I see why he’s moved into lottery territory. The Draymond comps are real, and he’s the type of connector we’ve been missing in Portland for years. That said, I think Lendeborg brings a ton of that too — the Paolo/Winslow/Tari Eason comparisons are exactly the kind of players I’ve been screaming for. Tough, positionless forwards with edge, vision, and two-way upside.

Sure, I COULD be tempted to just take CMB at 10.. but if we could flip pick 10 and Simons into three late firsts, and walk away with guys like Clifford (Josh Hart mold), Lendeborg (Winslow/Eason), and Clayton Jr. (a Pritchard-type floor general) we’d be building something real. You don’t need a star yet* if your team is deep, versatile, tough, and plays the right way. If you squint, that’s a young OKC or Boston-type identity — just without the centerpiece.

And that’s exactly why I want to go all-in on this type of build now: play the young guys, let them learn by doing, and earn your way back into the top of the lottery. No fake tanking. Just development-focused basketball and natural roster churn. Because once we *do* land or develop that star through the draft or a future trade we’ll actually have the infrastructure ready to support them.

This isn’t a pipe dream. It’s how smart front offices rebuild now. And it’s right there for us if Crolshey is willing to stop chasing play-in ceilings and start building something sustainable.

[BlazersBroncos]

I stand strongly on my island of 'CMB is simply Rhondae Hollis-Jefferson of year 2025'.

He isnt close to the player that Green is. Not as good a shooter even. Nowhere near the big man defender. Much more position locked at F.

[tester551]

I stand strongly on my island of 'CMB is simply Rhondae Hollis-Jefferson of year 2025'.

He isnt close to the player that Green is. Not as good a shooter even. Nowhere near the big man defender. Much more position locked at F.

Agreed.
Probably worth drafting ~#20, but not before that

[zzaj]

I also feel that way about CMB, however some team will fall in love with him in workouts. Should be a good role-player for years to come...

[dckingsfan]

My current lotto big board, based loosely on pre-lotto standing and team needs-ish. A few of these I could easily get talked out of...like Tre to the 76ers and Asa to the Bulls.

1) Flagg - Uta
2) Harper - Washington
3) Edgecombe - Hornets
4) Bailey - New Orleans
5) Tre - 76ers
6) Fears - Brooklyn
7) Maluach - Toronto
8) Knueppel - Spurs
9) Queen - Rockets
10) Fleming - Blazers
11) Essengue - Dallas
12) Asa - Bulls
13) Jase - Hawks
14) Kasparas - Spurs
15) CMB - OKC

Interesting. I do think Fleming will go mid-20s. If we want him, trade down with Brooklyn for two picks.

[zzaj]

My current lotto big board, based loosely on pre-lotto standing and team needs-ish. A few of these I could easily get talked out of...like Tre to the 76ers and Asa to the Bulls.

1) Flagg - Uta
2) Harper - Washington
3) Edgecombe - Hornets
4) Bailey - New Orleans
5) Tre - 76ers
6) Fears - Brooklyn
7) Maluach - Toronto
8) Knueppel - Spurs
9) Queen - Rockets
10) Fleming - Blazers
11) Essengue - Dallas
12) Asa - Bulls
13) Jase - Hawks
14) Kasparas - Spurs
15) CMB - OKC

Interesting. I do think Fleming will go mid-20s. If we want him, trade down with Brooklyn for two picks.

He's another player that I think rises quickly once workouts start. I 100% believe he'll be in the top 15.

[Walton1one]

I just can't see, at this point, why POR would reach for Fleming @ #10 over other players with clearly higher upsides and in many cases, safer floors

Guys like: Essengue, Newell, Bryant, even CMB

Some of the things that stood out\worry me about Fleming:

Not elite athletically
Position versatility, likely only a 4 - Can he defend in space?
Not a shot creator, purely a shot finisher at this point
Can disappear during stretches of games, game against Lendeborg was a good example of that

He seems very similar to Jabari Walker to me. A 4 with skills\deficiencies that probably make him better @ center, but lacks size\bulk to play there and cannot really play\cover the 3

Fleming LY in college (age 20):
14.7 pts - 53% FG - 39% 3ptFG (4.5/a)
7.1 REB - 1.3 AST - 1.5 TO - 1.5 BLK - 1.4 STL

Jabari Walker LY in college (age 19)
14.6 pts - 46% FG - 34.6% 3ptFG (3/a)
9.4 REB - 1.2 AST - 2.3 TO - .7 BLK - .7 STL

Looking at some of the other players in this draft:

Newell can play 4/5, has the tools to defend in space against smaller opponents
Essengue could play the 3/4, again switchable as a defender
Bryant could play 2/3, again switchable on defense due to his size\athleticism

[Walton1one]

Sam Vecenie\Athletic posted a mock draft today:

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6291015/2025/05/01/nba-mock-draft-2025-cooper-flagg-tre-johnson/?source=freedailyemail&campaign=601983&userId=6062627&source=dailyemail

This draft was not seen as all that loaded to begin with. Teams have real questions about whether this draft will bring average value starting from about No. 3 on. There are areas of the draft where the talent levels off for most scouts and executives (some believe the middle of the lottery is a good sweet spot, others see the late teens as a solid area to derive value). The top two are the only slots of this draft where teams have a particular amount of excitement.

Draft order is based on a quick simulation of the lottery now that the standings are finalized. That resulted in Washington getting the top pick, Utah dropping to No. 2, Portland soaring seven spots to end up at No. 3 and New Orleans falling to No. 4. Philadelphia kept its pick at No. 6.

• Team needs ARE taken into account.

3. Portland Trail Blazers
Tre Johnson | 6-6 wing | 19 years old | Texas
Johnson was the most impressive player I saw working out during my trip to the U.S. He had one of the best shooting workouts I’ve ever seen from a teenage player, showcasing a serious-minded intentionality about how he goes about his craft. He displayed the ability to hit shots off movement at a high level, something that he rarely got the chance to do in an offensive scheme at Texas that could be charitably described as anachronistic but fairly described as hideously archaic. Even within that scheme, Johnson found his way into 19.9 points per game, even if he struggled a bit once he had to foray into the lane because of the team’s lack of spacing and his own still-improving overall strength level.

The Blazers, in my opinion, have a tremendous frontcourt of the future with Deni Avdija, Toumani Camara and Donovan Clingan. However, there are questions in the backcourt surrounding young players Shaedon Sharpe and Scoot Henderson, and they could use another real floor-spacer to knock down shots and threaten defenders. I see Johnson’s range as somewhere in the No. 3 to No. 8 area. I’d be surprised if he got outside of that area of the draft. This is just too good a fit to pass up.

[zzaj]

I just can't see, at this point, why POR would reach for Fleming @ #10 over other players with clearly higher upsides and in many cases, safer floors

Come draft time, he may not be a reach. The only thing really missing from his game is self-creation and he's still only 20 (21 in july). As it is, he's fine as attacking closeouts and straightline drives. There are some correctable issues with his shot inconsistencies, but he's already pretty dang good on that end. He should scale to be able to guard SF/PF/Smallball Cs in the NBA. He's an incredibly strong play-finisher and has quick hands on defense. His feel and timer as a cutter and defender in passing lanes and at the rim are very, very good. He's already better than Murray and Walker.

Also, he should be able to scale immediately to a reserve role in the NBA. So many players in the Blazer draft range will look VERY different without the Ball in their hands and high USG.

[Walton1one]

Some other interesting notes on players from Vecenie:

Carter Bryant

The 6-8 wing didn’t start many games this year at Arizona, but he was a monster defensive player when he was on the court, showcasing serious playmaking chops as well as great on-ball play. He also knocks down a solid percentage of his 3s. Bryant is the guy in this class who seems to have a ton of juice when you talk to front offices, and it wouldn’t surprise me to see him land in the top 10 when it’s all said and done. I think I’d park his range in the No. 7 to No. 16 area.

Kasparas Jakucionis

His vision is sublime, and he fits the current ecosystem of the NBA well with his dribble, pass and shoot traits. Still, he is a bit polarizing for folks around the league as he doesn’t have a ton of athletic explosiveness, and his defensive game was not always on point this year. His range is seen as somewhere in this ballpark down to around the end of the lottery.

Collin Murray Boyles

He’s a tremendous defender and would fit in perfectly with how Ime Udoka wants to play. He also passes well and has serious toughness to play with many of their players. He processes the game at an elite level and is the kind of prospect the Rockets have valued in the past.

Noa Essengue

The questions here are largely around his polish. The jumper is starting to fall, as he’s made 35 percent from 3 in that window, but there are real mechanical issues regarding his base and balance that teams think will take a lot of time to work through, despite his solid touch. Additionally, while his defensive playmaking numbers are strong and he’s shown improvement throughout the year, his overall impact on that end isn’t all that high. He gets beaten more often off the bounce than you’d expect for this level of athleticism, and his help instincts waver. Still, he’s a young player clearly coming along well regarding his development. Don’t expect Essengue to be a valuable player next year in the NBA, but he could develop in time to be one of the better players in this draft class if he lands with the right organization.

Nique Clifford

He’s a 6-6 wing who can dribble, pass, shoot and defend, which makes him a really solid plug-and-play option

Egor Demin

He’s a 6-9 guard who can play the point and is the best passer in the class. His vision is sublime. But he struggled to score this year. He struggled to get paint touches because his handle is not particularly developed yet, and he doesn’t have the threat of the jumper to fall back on having made under 30 percent from distance. Still, many teams think they can fix the jumper, and if so, it would open up the rest of his game as a passer and playmaker.

Asa Newell

He’s an all-energy big who was extremely productive...However, his skills aren’t exactly tailor-made for the NBA. He’s a bit stuck positionally between the four and the five; scouts question whether he’ll measure to his listed height of 6-11, and he doesn’t possess a ton of length. However, he’s also not all that skilled as a shooter or ballhandler at this stage on the perimeter.

Rasheer Fleming

The idea here is a 3-and-D forward who can potentially be switchable and guard across the positional spectrum while also drilling 3s. But he doesn’t yet process things happening around him on the court all that quickly and needs to keep getting experience

Cedric Coward

Coward is my bet for this year’s riser into the first round. This might not be high enough... saw Coward work out in Los Angeles in April, and it’s hard to overemphasize just how impressive he was. His balance and fluidity athletically are special for a player who is 6-6 with a 7-1 or so wingspan. Everything in the kinetic chain with Coward is perfect. Everything is in one motion and clean with the jumper, with easy, repeatable mechanics to pair with touch. He seems to have added some explosiveness, too. He’s a real upside swing for a team in the back half of the first round that wants to bet on his current trajectory.

Joan Beringer

He’s a tremendous leaper who can sky for the basketball, but more than that, his hands are phenomenal. He catches everything both in and outside of his area with ease. He fits the archetype of a rim-running, shot-swatting big man who will have low offensive usage but be able to play in versatile situations on defense if his game develops well over the next three years.

Liam McNeeley

McNeeley drilled 43 percent of his unguarded catch-and-shoot 3s for UConn. However, only about 40 percent of his attempts off the catch were open looks. He also only hit 13 percent of his pull-up 3s because he struggles to separate with his handle. NBA teams love McNeeley’s competitiveness and his character. There’s a real belief that once a team gets him into the right role, you’ll see the jumper get back to the elite level it was in high school.

[Walton1one]

If Cronin is looking for a player in the draft who could shore up some of the team's shortcomings, which one of the players below could potentially be the best fit?

When I look at where POR struggled, here is what stands out

DEF REBOUND\GAME - 27th
DEF REBOUND % - 28th

OFF EFFICIENCY - 24th
FG% - 26th
eFG% - 25th
3ptFG% - 26th
FT% - 26th

Noting FG%, FT% & Offensive efficiency, I focused on TS% as it:

Measures a player's efficiency at scoring by considering their performance at all shots taken, including free throws.

I tend to view TS% as a a better indicator than eFG%

I also looked at defensive rebounds per 40 and of course 3pt shooting

Below are the players I posted scouting profiles on earlier in this thread and where they are in these categories:

* Denotes stats taken from this LY, other players are their averages over multiple years
- Noa Essengue stats are Per 36 not per 40

I bolded the Top 3 in each category

DEF\TOT REB PER 40\DEF REB% - TS% - 3ptFG%

NEWELL* - 4.9/9.5/51.5% - 61.2% - 29.2%
6'11 19

MURRAY-BOYLES - 7.9/10.8/73.1% - 62.4% - 23.1%
6'7 19

BRYANT* - 6.7/8.5/78.8% - 59.3% - 37.1%
6'8 19

FLEMING - 8.3/10.9/76.1% - 60.3% - 34.9%
6'9 20

ESSENGUE - 6.2/8.0/77.5% - 64.6% - 28.9%
6'9 18

KNUEPPEL - 3.9/5.2/75% - 64.2% - 40.6%
6'6 19

CLIFFORD - 9.2/10.9/84.4% - 56.1% - 36.4%
6'6 23

JAKUCIONIS* - 5.4/7.2/75% - 59% - 31.8%
6'6 18

DEMIN - 5.2/5.6/92.9% - 45% - 27.3%
6'9 19

Some things that stand out

Knueppel ranks 2nd in this group in TS% & 1st in 3pt%, not really a surprise, speaks to his 3pt proficiency 5.3 of 9.7 FGA are 3pt, lower FTA (3.0)

Clifford has an insane defensive rebounding rate & REB\40, caveat he is 23, significantly (4-5) older than the rest of the players on this list, but still. 3rd highest 3ptFG%, but rather low 3PA (2.7), he averaged 4.9 LY and shot close (37.7%) to his 5yr average (36.4%), so there is a good level of data there. FT% over 5 years is low @ 2.4, but LY was 5.0 (77%), so growth there. TS was on the lower end of this group (2nd lowest), but over the last 2 years he was 60% which would put him in the middle of the pack (5th-6th)

Essengue ranks 1st in TS%, not totally surprising given his FTA (5.6, more than anyone else on this list), low # of FGA (6.9) and 3ptFGA (1.9)

Carter Bryant stands out here, 3rd in defensive rebounding for a guy who is a wing, a better rate than all (4) of the other forwards. Also 2nd in 3ptFG% only 2.8 attempts though it really speaks to his low usage FGA\3PA - 4.9\2.2, so how much is sample size\theoretical here and how much is real but was suppressed by how he was utilized? Newell averaged 2.7 attempts and shot 29% from 3pt. Carter's 2ptFG% was 59%, again low attempts

Demin with a 92.9% DEF REB over 40, makes some sense to me b\c on offense he just rarely seems to atatck the basket (2.5 FTA/g) both TS\3ptFG% were near the bottom, this all goes back to if a team thinks he will be able to shoot, b\c if not, not sure passing is enough to make him a regular rotation player. I do agree that his size\profile probably keeps him in the league for a long time though.

As noted on many scouting reports, Newell's DEF rebounding is not great, lowest of this group, offensive rebounding is good though, so he should be able to rebound better on the defensive end? 3ptFG% among the lowest, right with Essengue (only Murray-Boyles & Demin were worse), 2.7 attempt/game so more theoretical at this point? All 3 of Newell, Essengue & CMB have really low 3pt shot attempts though (2.7/1.9/1)

Surprisingly Murray-Boyles had 2nd lowest def reb% and 3ptFG% was lowest of group (Demin was not far behind at #2 though), less than 1 attempt a game though, LY was @ 1\game, similar results

So, a lot of projects here, if POR really wants a player that could step in right away, obviously Clifford would seem to make sense? Good defensive rebounder, good 3pt shooting, offers a lot that POR needs help with, however....

I don't view Cronin\Schmits as the "settling" types, even though Cronin says they don't feel like they need to take a big swing, they could still take A swing. So maybe a player who has some upside to swing on but could still offer something tangible in the rotation out of the gate?

IMO, the biggest "swings" out of players listed would seem to be: Demin, Essengue (really young, 18) & Newell

POR had rumored interest in Salaun LY, many speculated if DC was gone and Salaun was there he would have been the pick. Do they still have that mentality going into this draft, I think so.

Bryant to me stands out as the guy who could come in as a 3rd forward off the bench, has some serious potential upside and is a very valuable type (3 & D) type of player in today's NBA. I think he makes the most sense

Knueppel if he was there should warrant serious conversation, I don't think he will be there though.

Jakucionis is an enigma to me, I think he could be a really good 3rd guard behind Scoot\Sharpe, but he doesn't really offer anything that POR needs most now, the guard spot is probably the most set position group unless Simons is dealt I am not sure Cronin would want to bring in another PG to compete against Scoot, and none of his stats really stand out to me. he stands out when you watch him though. Good FT rate (5.1\a, 85%). One scouting report mentioned that his arm injury may have affected him, and looking at his game log, before injury he was shooting 41.4% from 3pt (29/70), after he returned from injury he went 25.6% (20/79), his first 7 games back he was 7/35, so there is reason to believe he is better than the 31.8% that he ended at. I like him, just not sure he fits POR type of player they seem to be drawn towards.

So IMO right now (sure it may change again), I would lean towards:

1) Carter Bryant (if Knueppel was available he could be #1, but I don't think he will)
2) Kasparas Jakucionis (don't think POR will take him though, curious if he works out here)
3) Noa Essengue (Not really help right away, but potential is the difference maker)

I like Newell a lot, I just think he could provide some versatility defensively, he plays with a ton of energy. I think the defensive rebounding will come around, he reminds me of Dereck Lively, but Lively is a couple inches taller (7'1 to 6'11?) but there are a fair amount of things that just don't match up to what POR needs. It will be interesting to see what his draft measurements come in as, as some have speculated he is shorter (6'9) than 6'11. Right now I would list Essengue as 3A and Newell as 3B


FYI, Here is where a few other bigs in this draft are in same categories. Still would like to see POR get a late 1st\early 2nd and go after another young big that could potentially step in when Williams\Reath\Ayton are all gone.

RAYNAUD - 5.6/7.7/72.7% - 58.1% - 34.7%
7'1 22

WOLF - 6.1/7.9/77.2% - 54.5% - 33.6%
7'0 20

CONDON - 4.6/7.0/65.7% - 54.4% - 31.3%
6'11 20

[oldfishermen]

If Cronin is looking for a player in the draft who could shore up some of the team's shortcomings, which one of the players below could potentially be the best fit?

When I look at where POR struggled, here is what stands out

DEF REBOUND\GAME - 27th
DEF REBOUND % - 28th

OFF EFFICIENCY - 24th
FG% - 26th
eFG% - 25th
3ptFG% - 26th
FT% - 26th

Noting FG%, FT% & Offensive efficiency, I focused on TS% as it:

Measures a player's efficiency at scoring by considering their performance at all shots taken, including free throws.

I tend to view TS% as a a better indicator than eFG%

I also looked at defensive rebounds per 40 and of course 3pt shooting

Below are the players I posted scouting profiles on earlier in this thread and where they are in these categories:

* Denotes stats taken from this LY, other players are their averages over multiple years
- Noa Essengue stats are Per 36 not per 40

I bolded the Top 3 in each category

DEF\TOT REB PER 40\DEF REB% - TS% - 3ptFG%

NEWELL* - 4.9/9.5/51.5% - 61.2% - 29.2%
6'11 19

MURRAY-BOYLES - 7.9/10.8/73.1% - 62.4% - 23.1%
6'7 19

BRYANT* - 6.7/8.5/78.8% - 59.3% - 37.1%
6'8 19

FLEMING - 8.3/10.9/76.1% - 60.3% - 34.9%
6'9 20

ESSENGUE - 6.2/8.0/77.5% - 64.6% - 28.9%
6'9 18

KNUEPPEL - 3.9/5.2/75% - 64.2% - 40.6%
6'6 19

CLIFFORD - 9.2/10.9/84.4% - 56.1% - 36.4%
6'6 23

JAKUCIONIS* - 5.4/7.2/75% - 59% - 31.8%
6'6 18

DEMIN - 5.2/5.6/92.9% - 45% - 27.3%
6'9 19

Some things that stand out

Knueppel ranks 2nd in this group in TS% & 1st in 3pt%, not really a surprise, speaks to his 3pt proficiency 5.3 of 9.7 FGA are 3pt, lower FTA (3.0)

Clifford has an insane defensive rebounding rate & REB\40, caveat he is 23, significantly (4-5) older than the rest of the players on this list, but still. 3rd highest 3ptFG%, but rather low 3PA (2.7), he averaged 4.9 LY and shot close (37.7%) to his 5yr average (36.4%), so there is a good level of data there. FT% over 5 years is low @ 2.4, but LY was 5.0 (77%), so growth there. TS was on the lower end of this group (2nd lowest), but over the last 2 years he was 60% which would put him in the middle of the pack (5th-6th)

Essengue ranks 1st in TS%, not totally surprising given his FTA (5.6, more than anyone else on this list), low # of FGA (6.9) and 3ptFGA (1.9)

Carter Bryant stands out here, 3rd in defensive rebounding for a guy who is a wing, a better rate than all (4) of the other forwards. Also 2nd in 3ptFG% only 2.8 attempts though it really speaks to his low usage FGA\3PA - 4.9\2.2, so how much is sample size\theoretical here and how much is real but was suppressed by how he was utilized? Newell averaged 2.7 attempts and shot 29% from 3pt. Carter's 2ptFG% was 59%, again low attempts

Demin with a 92.9% DEF REB over 40, makes some sense to me b\c on offense he just rarely seems to atatck the basket (2.5 FTA/g) both TS\3ptFG% were near the bottom, this all goes back to if a team thinks he will be able to shoot, b\c if not, not sure passing is enough to make him a regular rotation player. I do agree that his size\profile probably keeps him in the league for a long time though.

As noted on many scouting reports, Newell's DEF rebounding is not great, lowest of this group, offensive rebounding is good though, so he should be able to rebound better on the defensive end? 3ptFG% among the lowest, right with Essengue (only Murray-Boyles & Demin were worse), 2.7 attempt/game so more theoretical at this point? All 3 of Newell, Essengue & CMB have really low 3pt shot attempts though (2.7/1.9/1)

Surprisingly Murray-Boyles had 2nd lowest def reb% and 3ptFG% was lowest of group (Demin was not far behind at #2 though), less than 1 attempt a game though, LY was @ 1\game, similar results

So, a lot of projects here, if POR really wants a player that could step in right away, obviously Clifford would seem to make sense? Good defensive rebounder, good 3pt shooting, offers a lot that POR needs help with, however....

I don't view Cronin\Schmits as the "settling" types, even though Cronin says they don't feel like they need to take a big swing, they could still take A swing. So maybe a player who has some upside to swing on but could still offer something tangible in the rotation out of the gate?

IMO, the biggest "swings" out of players listed would seem to be: Demin, Essengue (really young, 18) & Newell

POR had rumored interest in Salaun LY, many speculated if DC was gone and Salaun was there he would have been the pick. Do they still have that mentality going into this draft, I think so.

Bryant to me stands out as the guy who could come in as a 3rd forward off the bench, has some serious potential upside and is a very valuable type (3 & D) type of player in today's NBA. I think he makes the most sense

Knueppel if he was there should warrant serious conversation, I don't think he will be there though.

Jakucionis is an enigma to me, I think he could be a really good 3rd guard behind Scoot\Sharpe, but he doesn't really offer anything that POR needs most now, the guard spot is probably the most set position group unless Simons is dealt I am not sure Cronin would want to bring in another PG to compete against Scoot, and none of his stats really stand out to me. he stands out when you watch him though. Good FT rate (5.1\a, 85%). One scouting report mentioned that his arm injury may have affected him, and looking at his game log, before injury he was shooting 41.4% from 3pt (29/70), after he returned from injury he went 25.6% (20/79), his first 7 games back he was 7/35, so there is reason to believe he is better than the 31.8% that he ended at. I like him, just not sure he fits POR type of player they seem to be drawn towards.

So IMO right now (sure it may change again), I would lean towards:

1) Carter Bryant (if Knueppel was available he could be #1, but I don't think he will)
2) Kasparas Jakucionis (don't think POR will take him though, curious if he works out here)
3) Noa Essengue (Not really help right away, but potential is the difference maker)

I like Newell a lot, I just think he could provide some versatility defensively, he plays with a ton of energy. I think the defensive rebounding will come around, he reminds me of Dereck Lively, but Lively is a couple inches taller (7'1 to 6'11?) but there are a fair amount of things that just don't match up to what POR needs. It will be interesting to see what his draft measurements come in as, as some have speculated he is shorter (6'9) than 6'11. Right now I would list Essengue as 3A and Newell as 3B


FYI, Here is where a few other bigs in this draft are in same categories. Still would like to see POR get a late 1st\early 2nd and go after another young big that could potentially step in when Williams\Reath\Ayton are all gone.

RAYNAUD - 5.6/7.7/72.7% - 58.1% - 34.7%
7'1 22

WOLF - 6.1/7.9/77.2% - 54.5% - 33.6%
7'0 20

CONDON - 4.6/7.0/65.7% - 54.4% - 31.3%
6'11 20

I sincerly appreciate all of the time, effort, and passion you put into your scouting reports. I learn alot from them. Thankyou.

However, I respectfully disagree with one point. I believe guard is our weakest group, even if Simons stays. Not our strongest.

Simons is not the floor general this roster needs. He is a shooter that puts up 20 ppg, while giving up 24.

Both Scoot and Sharp are works on progress. Sharp has the higher ceiling of the two. That is why I believe our weakest position is point guard.

I don't see a point guard in this draft that fits our needs. As of today, trading the pick and a player or 2, may be the best option.

Second option woild be to trade down for a couple of firsts. Or trade a player for another frp. Take a couple of high ceiling players, and hope one turns into a keeper.

The lottery is full of one trick ponies with huge warts. There are several nice two way players later in this draft.

[Tim Lehrbach]

I sincerly appreciate all of the time, effort, and passion you put into your scouting reports. I learn alot from them. Thankyou.

However, I respectfully disagree with one point. I believe guard is our weakest group, even if Simons stays. Not our strongest.

Simons is not the floor general this roster needs. He is a shooter that puts up 20 ppg, while giving up 24.

Both Scoot and Sharp are works on progress. Sharp has the higher ceiling of the two. That is why I believe our weakest position is point guard.

I don't see a point guard in this draft that fits our needs. As of today, trading the pick and a player or 2, may be the best option.

Second option woild be to trade down for a couple of firsts. Or trade a player for another frp. Take a couple of high ceiling players, and hope one turns into a keeper.

The lottery is full of one trick ponies with huge warts. Their are several nice two way players later in this draft.

Yes, the backcourt remains a mess. The team's #1 need is a credible lead guard. Unfortunately players like Damian Lillard don't come around very often.

[DeBlazerRiddem]

If Kasparas slips to our pick I think he could very likely be BPA, at least has the best potential. Don't love his length and he could have trouble finishing but his ability to move with the ball and shoot off the dribble seems way better than anyone else projected to be available.

[dckingsfan]

If Cronin is looking for a player in the draft who could shore up some of the team's shortcomings, which one of the players below could potentially be the best fit?

When I look at where POR struggled, here is what stands out

DEF REBOUND\GAME - 27th
DEF REBOUND % - 28th

OFF EFFICIENCY - 24th
FG% - 26th
eFG% - 25th
3ptFG% - 26th
FT% - 26th

Noting FG%, FT% & Offensive efficiency, I focused on TS% as it:

Measures a player's efficiency at scoring by considering their performance at all shots taken, including free throws.

I tend to view TS% as a a better indicator than eFG%

I also looked at defensive rebounds per 40 and of course 3pt shooting

Below are the players I posted scouting profiles on earlier in this thread and where they are in these categories:

* Denotes stats taken from this LY, other players are their averages over multiple years
- Noa Essengue stats are Per 36 not per 40

I bolded the Top 3 in each category

DEF\TOT REB PER 40\DEF REB% - TS% - 3ptFG%

NEWELL* - 4.9/9.5/51.5% - 61.2% - 29.2%
6'11 19

MURRAY-BOYLES - 7.9/10.8/73.1% - 62.4% - 23.1%
6'7 19

BRYANT* - 6.7/8.5/78.8% - 59.3% - 37.1%
6'8 19

FLEMING - 8.3/10.9/76.1% - 60.3% - 34.9%
6'9 20

ESSENGUE - 6.2/8.0/77.5% - 64.6% - 28.9%
6'9 18

KNUEPPEL - 3.9/5.2/75% - 64.2% - 40.6%
6'6 19

CLIFFORD - 9.2/10.9/84.4% - 56.1% - 36.4%
6'6 23

JAKUCIONIS* - 5.4/7.2/75% - 59% - 31.8%
6'6 18

DEMIN - 5.2/5.6/92.9% - 45% - 27.3%
6'9 19

Some things that stand out

Knueppel ranks 2nd in this group in TS% & 1st in 3pt%, not really a surprise, speaks to his 3pt proficiency 5.3 of 9.7 FGA are 3pt, lower FTA (3.0)

Clifford has an insane defensive rebounding rate & REB\40, caveat he is 23, significantly (4-5) older than the rest of the players on this list, but still. 3rd highest 3ptFG%, but rather low 3PA (2.7), he averaged 4.9 LY and shot close (37.7%) to his 5yr average (36.4%), so there is a good level of data there. FT% over 5 years is low @ 2.4, but LY was 5.0 (77%), so growth there. TS was on the lower end of this group (2nd lowest), but over the last 2 years he was 60% which would put him in the middle of the pack (5th-6th)

Essengue ranks 1st in TS%, not totally surprising given his FTA (5.6, more than anyone else on this list), low # of FGA (6.9) and 3ptFGA (1.9)

Carter Bryant stands out here, 3rd in defensive rebounding for a guy who is a wing, a better rate than all (4) of the other forwards. Also 2nd in 3ptFG% only 2.8 attempts though it really speaks to his low usage FGA\3PA - 4.9\2.2, so how much is sample size\theoretical here and how much is real but was suppressed by how he was utilized? Newell averaged 2.7 attempts and shot 29% from 3pt. Carter's 2ptFG% was 59%, again low attempts

Demin with a 92.9% DEF REB over 40, makes some sense to me b\c on offense he just rarely seems to atatck the basket (2.5 FTA/g) both TS\3ptFG% were near the bottom, this all goes back to if a team thinks he will be able to shoot, b\c if not, not sure passing is enough to make him a regular rotation player. I do agree that his size\profile probably keeps him in the league for a long time though.

As noted on many scouting reports, Newell's DEF rebounding is not great, lowest of this group, offensive rebounding is good though, so he should be able to rebound better on the defensive end? 3ptFG% among the lowest, right with Essengue (only Murray-Boyles & Demin were worse), 2.7 attempt/game so more theoretical at this point? All 3 of Newell, Essengue & CMB have really low 3pt shot attempts though (2.7/1.9/1)

Surprisingly Murray-Boyles had 2nd lowest def reb% and 3ptFG% was lowest of group (Demin was not far behind at #2 though), less than 1 attempt a game though, LY was @ 1\game, similar results

So, a lot of projects here, if POR really wants a player that could step in right away, obviously Clifford would seem to make sense? Good defensive rebounder, good 3pt shooting, offers a lot that POR needs help with, however....

I don't view Cronin\Schmits as the "settling" types, even though Cronin says they don't feel like they need to take a big swing, they could still take A swing. So maybe a player who has some upside to swing on but could still offer something tangible in the rotation out of the gate?

IMO, the biggest "swings" out of players listed would seem to be: Demin, Essengue (really young, 18) & Newell

POR had rumored interest in Salaun LY, many speculated if DC was gone and Salaun was there he would have been the pick. Do they still have that mentality going into this draft, I think so.

Bryant to me stands out as the guy who could come in as a 3rd forward off the bench, has some serious potential upside and is a very valuable type (3 & D) type of player in today's NBA. I think he makes the most sense

Knueppel if he was there should warrant serious conversation, I don't think he will be there though.

Jakucionis is an enigma to me, I think he could be a really good 3rd guard behind Scoot\Sharpe, but he doesn't really offer anything that POR needs most now, the guard spot is probably the most set position group unless Simons is dealt I am not sure Cronin would want to bring in another PG to compete against Scoot, and none of his stats really stand out to me. he stands out when you watch him though. Good FT rate (5.1\a, 85%). One scouting report mentioned that his arm injury may have affected him, and looking at his game log, before injury he was shooting 41.4% from 3pt (29/70), after he returned from injury he went 25.6% (20/79), his first 7 games back he was 7/35, so there is reason to believe he is better than the 31.8% that he ended at. I like him, just not sure he fits POR type of player they seem to be drawn towards.

So IMO right now (sure it may change again), I would lean towards:

1) Carter Bryant (if Knueppel was available he could be #1, but I don't think he will)
2) Kasparas Jakucionis (don't think POR will take him though, curious if he works out here)
3) Noa Essengue (Not really help right away, but potential is the difference maker)

I like Newell a lot, I just think he could provide some versatility defensively, he plays with a ton of energy. I think the defensive rebounding will come around, he reminds me of Dereck Lively, but Lively is a couple inches taller (7'1 to 6'11?) but there are a fair amount of things that just don't match up to what POR needs. It will be interesting to see what his draft measurements come in as, as some have speculated he is shorter (6'9) than 6'11. Right now I would list Essengue as 3A and Newell as 3B


FYI, Here is where a few other bigs in this draft are in same categories. Still would like to see POR get a late 1st\early 2nd and go after another young big that could potentially step in when Williams\Reath\Ayton are all gone.

RAYNAUD - 5.6/7.7/72.7% - 58.1% - 34.7%
7'1 22

WOLF - 6.1/7.9/77.2% - 54.5% - 33.6%
7'0 20

CONDON - 4.6/7.0/65.7% - 54.4% - 31.3%
6'11 20

I sincerly appreciate all of the time, effort, and passion you put into your scouting reports. I learn alot from them. Thankyou.

However, I respectfully disagree with one point. I believe guard is our weakest group, even if Simons stays. Not our strongest.

Simons is not the floor general this roster needs. He is a shooter that puts up 20 ppg, while giving up 24.

Both Scoot and Sharp are works on progress. Sharp has the higher ceiling of the two. That is why I believe our weakest position is point guard.

I don't see a point guard in this draft that fits our needs. As of today, trading the pick and a player or 2, may be the best option.

Second option woild be to trade down for a couple of firsts. Or trade a player for another frp. Take a couple of high ceiling players, and hope one turns into a keeper.

The lottery is full of one trick ponies with huge warts. There are several nice two way players later in this draft.

Same. If nothing else it is a different perspective.

I agree that guard is our weakest position by far. It skews our defensive having Simons and Sharpe as a starting backcourt as neither defend well or rebound well. I had a different post that when we went away from this starting guard rotation our defense and defensive rebounding magically improved.

I think there are two solutions to this. One is near-term the other is long-term.

Short-term start Thybulle at SG. Thybulle, Deni, Camara is just going to make your defense solid. Ayton/Clingan are a fine defense C rotation (although Clingan is better).

Long-term jettison Simons and find yourself a different point guard. Harper would be an instant fix for both but we would need to get very lucky.

Back to the point. There are several solid two-way players in this draft (this is where it is deep). If you can trade back and get two - terrific. If not and you grab one - that would be fine. What I think we shouldn't do is try to grab an "offensive" player that doesn't look like they will be a two-way player. This team is "starting" to develop a winning way through its defensive prowess.