2025 Blazer Draft Prospects

[Walton1one]

There has been some chatter, that Bailey may not be a top 3 pick, after watching him today even though he’s raw and has got to get stronger, I don’t see any way that guy does not go top 3. His shot making is pretty damn good, even though a lot of them are tough shots. Has to work on his defense in passing clearly though.

Harper has really struggled in the first half, curious to see how he comes out in the second, Seton Hall has been trying to take him out of the game and that has worked so far

[Walton1one]

lol, Seton Hall how do you let Dylan Harper take that shot?

18 of his 24 in 2nd half, closers close

[Walton1one]

Time for a long overdue update. Instead of game by game updates, moving to more sporadic averages\tiers for how it seems the shape of this draft is playing out

Some general analysis so far of the 2025 draft

Strong at the top
Good talent in the lottery
another 5 or so prospects with intriguing potential
past 20, very murky and not a lot of confidence

I THINK THERE ARE 3, MAYBE 4 DISTINCT TIERS IN THIS DRAFT

TOP 2
COOPER FLAGG
16.9ppg - 8.2 reb - 3.7 ast - 1.7 stl- 1.2 blk - 43.8% FG - 27.1% 3ptFG

DYLAN HARPER
22.8ppg - 5.3reb - 4.8ast - 1.2stl- .5blk – 52.5% FG - 37.3% 3ptFG


THE NEXT FIVE
ACE BAILEY
19.9ppg - 7.7reb - .7ast - 1stl- 1.3blk – 48.5% FG - 35.2% 3ptFG

KASPARAS JAKUCIONIS
16.3ppg - 5.6reb - 5.4ast - 1.3stl- .1blk – 49.2% FG - 42.9% 3ptFG

EGOR DEMIN
12.2ppg - 4.6reb - 5.9ast - 1.7stl- .7blk - 47% FG - 34.1% 3ptFG

TRE JOHNSON
19.7ppg – 2.7 reb - 2.4ast - .8stl- .3blk – 49.1% FG - 44.6% 3ptFG

VJ EDGECOME
12.4ppg – 5.8 reb - 3.2ast - 2.5stl- 1.2blk – 42.2% FG - 30.4% 3ptFG


THE NEXT 10\REST OF THE LOTTERY CONTENDERS
JEREMIAH FEARS
18.1ppg - 3.5reb - 4.5ast - 2.2stl- 0blk – 50.3% FG - 30.6% 3ptFG

DERIK QUEEN
15.9ppg - 8.2reb - 2ast - 1.3stl - 1blk - 57% FG - 12.5% 3ptFG

LIAM MCNEELEY
13.6ppg - 5.8reb - 2.6ast - .4stl- .4blk – 47.4% FG - 42.9% 3ptFG

ASA NEWELL
15.5ppg - 6.4reb - 1.1ast - 1.2stl- 1.1blk - 59% FG - 26.9% 3ptFG

KON KNEUPPEL
12.2ppg - 3.5reb - 2.8ast - .8stl- .1blk - 43% FG - 33.8% 3ptFG

BEN SARAF
12.6ppg - 2.6reb - 5ast - 1.5stl- .1blk – 40.2% FG - 21.2% 3ptFG

BOOGIE FLAND
15.9ppg - 3.5reb - 6.2ast - 1.7stl- 0blk – 44.6% FG - 40.3% 3ptFG

KHAMAN MALUACH
7.9ppg – 5.2reb - .2ast - .2stl- 1.1blk - 78% FG - 25% 3ptFG

NOLAN TRAORE
10.4ppg - 1.9reb - 5.1ast - .6stl- .7blk - 34% FG - 23.9% 3ptFG

COLLIN MURRAY BOYLES
16.6ppg - 9.3reb - 2.2ast - 1.4stl- 1.1blk – 64.6% FG - 30% 3ptFG


3 WHO COULD MOVE UP
NOA ESSENGUE
12.6ppg - 4.8reb - 1ast - 1.1stl- .7blk – 57.8% FG - 26.1% 3ptFG

HUGO GONZALEZ
6ppg - 2.2reb - 1.1ast - .3stl - .3blk – 51.3% FG - 27.8% 3ptFG

WILL RILEY
12ppg - 3.8reb - 1.5ast - .2stl- .2blk – 40.8% FG - 35.5% 3ptFG


After that, it is a total crapshoot, with several draft experts not really feeling confident or having any consensus. Another reason why I could see late (#20+) picks being more available than originally thought.

I do think there are some intriguing players in that range thought
Thomas Sorber
15.7ppg - 8.3reb - 2.5ast - 1.3stl -2.2blk - 56.2% FG - 18.2% 3ptFG

Rasheer Fleming
16.2ppg - 8.9reb - 1.4ast - 1.8stl - 1.6blk - 57.1% FG - 41% 3ptFG

Alex Karaban
16.6ppg - 5.3reb - 2.8ast - .6stl - 1.7blk - 47.4% FG - 42.9% 3ptFG

Noah Penda
10.1ppg - 5.6reb - 2.6ast - 1.8stl - 1.4blk - 48.6% FG - 33.3% 3ptFG

[Tim Lehrbach]

Time for a long overdue update. Instead of game by game updates, moving to more sporadic averages\tiers for how it seems the shape of this draft is playing out

I remain most compelled by Dylan Harper and believe he's got instant franchise guy moxie to go with his game.

[Walton1one]

He sure has been impressive. I wonder, if POR got the #2 pick and Harper was there, would Cronin take him?

I have so little faith in him (Cronin) that I am not sure

That is even more so for guy like Jakucionis (who I really like) & likely Fears (if he keeps rising).

I could easily see POR talking themselves into Demin, he fits their profile, but the shooting concerns me

Would they take a swing at another smaller SG type? Like Edgecome or Tre Johnson. Really curious to see what their draft measurements end up being, I think both are shorter than listed. I watched a draft prospect breakdown and Fears listed height (6'4) was also met with skepticism (they think he is closer to 6'2)

If Ace Bailey is there, I would be shocked if they did not take him. I think they would pass on Jakucionis b\c of Scoot. I could totally see them go for a guy like Asa Newell, maybe Derik Queen and move Deni to SF. I think that would be a mistake (this team needs shooting desperately), but the way they draft\prioritze players makes little\no sense IMO.

McNeeley\Kneuppel have size and would fit the shooting, just depends where POR is picking, at #8/#9 that could work, #5\#6, would seem to be a reach.

I preparing myself for a shortish SG (Edgecome\Johnson) or non-shooting PF (Newell\Queen - both not so good from 3pt)

[Walton1one]

New Mock by ESPN dropped today, @ #7 they have POR taking.....\

Kon Kneuppel

Season averages: 12.7 points (43.3% FG), 3.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists

The Trail Blazers have one of the NBA's worst point differentials (-8.7) but have notched wins against several likely playoff teams, making it difficult to predict which direction this pick will head in over the next few months. A versatile wing such as Knueppel can play for any NBA team. He brings a coveted combination of shot creation, passing, dynamic shooting, feel for the game and toughness at 6-foot-7.

Passing on Egor Demin - #8 to SAC, Tre Johnson - #10 to SA, Liam McNeeley - #14 to SA, Asa Newell - #22 to OKC (I think that is really low)

Some surprising changes of note:

Nolan Traore @ #6 - I genuinely agree that Traore is being ranked too low by many people. I don't think people give enough thought to him playing in the A league @ 18yrs against much older players (average age is 25yrs old). How good would many of these college players look if they were put into the same situation? (Vecenie has him at #13, that is more in line with most other people)

Tre Johnson @ #10 seems a tad lower than he has been, he has generally been mocked inside the top 10. Coincidentally, Vecenie also has him at #10

Hugo Gonzalez @ #13 is higher than most sites have him at (low 20's, Vecenie @ #23) but I think he will be a riser. Playing sparse minutes for Real Madrid, but showing well in those minutes. I think a lot of people are sleeping on him.

It's safe to say we haven't seen the best of the 18-year-old Spaniard, who has seen inconsistent playing time on one of the deepest and most ambitious teams (Real Madrid) in Europe.

Still, he has been effective when given minutes against high-level competition, making plays on both ends of the court thanks to his intensity, aggressiveness and explosiveness. He shows he can guard multiple positions, drops glimpses of passing and has plenty of winning qualities. -

Liam McNeeley @ #14 - He has been around this range, if not a little higher, Vecenie has him at #8

Drake Powell @ #15 - Most have him at back end of 1st round, surprising he is so high here (Vecenie UR)

Danny Wolf @ #21 - 1st time I have seen him listed as a 1st round pick (Vecenie #43)

Asa Newell @ #22 - I have generally seen him in the lottery, in the top 10 (Vecenie has him at #6)

Noah Penda @ #40, Vecenie has him in the teens (#18). If POR could get another 25' pick in the twenties and this guy was on the board, they should take him.

Also, I would add that I think there will be some intriguing F\C talent available at the back half of the 1st round\front of the 2nd round besides Penda: Johni Broome (V #28), Rasheer Fleming (V #26), Thomas Sorber (V #17) Kanon Catchings, Carter Bryant, Alex Karaban (V #24), Joseph Tugler (V #32), Ryan Kalkbrenner (V #30)

and some intriguing international guys: Micahel Ruzic (V #48), Rocco Zikarsky 9V #39), Bogoljub Markovic (V #27)

[Butter]

Liam McNeeley is an interesting prospect, especially if the Blazers keep winning games.

Standing at 6-foot-8, the UConn freshman is a proven jumbo shooter who can also do more when needed. Whether it’s relocating off-ball for spot-up attempts or creating his own shot on the move with the ball in his hands, McNeeley is deadly from beyond the arc in almost any situation. He boasts a very flood and mechanically repeatable shooting motion that should translate very well moving forward

https://www.si.com/nba/draft/prospect-profiles/nba-draft-scouting-report-uconn-liam-mcneeley

[Walton1one]

I agree, he may be the best option for POR, should they continue their winning ways. Not a "franchise" piece that they need (likely reserved for top 3), but another ancillary piece.

[Butter]

I agree, he may be the best option for POR, should they continue their winning ways. Not a "franchise" piece that they need (likely reserved for top 3), but another ancillary piece.

Man, I wish they could add a second lottery pick to grab a guy like this.

[BlazersBroncos]

I am slowly getting to the point where I may put Kasparas at 2 over Harper.

The kid is special.

[PDXKnight]

I'd consider taking a flyer on shelstad in the 2nd round. I see Pritchard potential.

Of course he's a duck so the Blazers probably pass up and it backfires

[Walton1one]

Problem is, right now POR is trending the wrong way.

Doubt they catch NO or WAS at this point and catching TOR\CHA\UTA will take some egregious tank work to overcome a very competitive group. You also have BRK descending, with a very likely chance to surpass POR.

So #7 is the most likely landing spot, and there, the odds are not good:

Chances of a top 4 pick: Flagg, Harper, Bailey & likely Jakucionis

34.4%

No chance @ #5 or #6

Chances at #7 (18.7%) to #11 (.01 chance)

65.5%

Want to bet your house on a 34.4% chance POR moves up into the top 4? I sure wouldn't

So, chances are very likely that POR will be drafting @ #7/#8/#9

That rules out a lot of players, so then you ask, who would they realistically be looking at in this range? IMO, it will likely be someone from this group

Liam McNeeley -
Asa Newell
Kon Kneuppel
Egor Demin
Tre Johnson

What players do current mocks have within this range (#6 - #10)?

BR - #6 Newell - #7 Demin - #8 McNeeley - #9 Kneuppel - #10 Johnson
ESPN - #6 Traore - #7 Kneuppel - #8 Demin - #9 Fears - #10 Johnson
Vecenie (mock\podcast) - #6 Demin - #7 McNeeley - #8 Newell - #9 Johnson - #10 Kneuppel
No Ceilings - #6 Edgecome - #7 Queen - #8 Newell - #9 Johnson - #10 Fears
Fox - #6 Fears - #7 Edgecome - #8 Maluach - #9 Traore - #10 McNeeley

Edgecome, could be there, but mostly everyone has him @ #5-6. Fears is the other, could be at the back of the top 10

I don't think Jeremiah Fears fits this team's current composition

He is another short guard (listed as 6'4, but many think he is more like 6'2) who struggles to shoot from 3 (29.8%), has a bad TO rate (4.2 AST\3.7 TO) & is slight of build (182). He can get into the lane at will, but not a great finisher (48.4% finisher at the rim in half court(Vecenie), and is suspect defensively

Aren't a lot of these the same concerns\issues that Scoot struggles with, except, unlike Fears, Scoot is built like a brickhouse? Fears IS young (18), but so then is Scoot (20).

I have a tough time seeing POR give up on Scoot this early, UNLESS it was a player like Harper & Jakucionis, whom I don't think they COULD pass on talent-wise w\o looking like fools (though it would not surprise me if they passed on Jakucionis, I sincerely hope not) or a guy like Demin, whose size\archetype I think would be too much to pass on (and could fit with Scoot....maybe...possibly?) Nor does Fears have the ridiculous athetic\defensive ability that Edgecome (I guess he would be that 3rd guard off the bench? The Anti-Ant?) if for some reason he slipped to #7, I could see a possibility where they take him as a 3rd guard there.

As for the rest, Tre Johnson (I wonder about his size, is he 6'6 legit or like 6'4?) is a player who needs to ball in his hands to be most effective, which I don't think fits well with the core this team is developing, and outside of scoring, he doesn't do much else...so just like Ant? Maybe a little better defensively, maybe a little bigger, not as good of a passer. Could they take him b\c they like the offensive shotmaking that much, they sure could.

I think that narrows it down to (4) options:

Liam McNeeley - shooting wing, who has some passing and good defensive capabilities, definitely addresses a weakness (shooting) & has good size for position.

Asa Newell - Long, athletic big (6'11), just the type of player POR covets, could play some PF, maybe some C? Strong rebounder, has good defensive\passing capabilities. Has outside shooting potential? Could work well in tandem with Camara\Deni (serious concerns about that trio's outside shooting IMO)

Kon Kneuppel - Another shooter with good (6'6) size, who could rotate b\t b\u SG\SF as needed, has some defensive & pick & roll capabilites

Egor Demin - The enigma, totally fits the archetype this team desires, ELITE passing ability, real concerns about shooting, but the potential is tantalizing

[Butter]

Problem is, right now POR is trending the wrong way.

Doubt they catch NO or WAS at this point and catching TOR\CHA\UTA will take some egregious tank work to overcome a very competitive group. You also have BRK descending, with a very likely chance to surpass POR.

So #7 is the most likely landing spot, and there, the odds are not good:

Chances of a top 4 pick: Flagg, Harper, Bailey & likely Jakucionis

34.4%

No chance @ #5 or #6

Chances at #7 (18.7%) to #11 (.01 chance)

65.5%

Want to bet your house on a 34.4% chance POR moves up into the top 4? I sure wouldn't

So, chances are very likely that POR will be drafting @ #7/#8/#9

That rules out a lot of players, so then you ask, who would they realistically be looking at in this range? IMO, it will likely be someone from this group

Liam McNeeley -
Asa Newell
Kon Kneuppel
Egor Demin
Tre Johnson

What players do current mocks have within this range (#6 - #10)?

BR - #6 Newell - #7 Demin - #8 McNeeley - #9 Kneuppel - #10 Johnson
ESPN - #6 Traore - #7 Kneuppel - #8 Demin - #9 Fears - #10 Johnson
Vecenie (mock\podcast) - #6 Demin - #7 McNeeley - #8 Newell - #9 Johnson - #10 Kneuppel
No Ceilings - #6 Edgecome - #7 Queen - #8 Newell - #9 Johnson - #10 Fears
Fox - #6 Fears - #7 Edgecome - #8 Maluach - #9 Traore - #10 McNeeley

Edgecome, could be there, but mostly everyone has him @ #5-6. Fears is the other, could be at the back of the top 10

I don't think Jeremiah Fears fits this team's current composition

He is another short guard (listed as 6'4, but many think he is more like 6'2) who struggles to shoot from 3 (29.8%), has a bad TO rate (4.2 AST\3.7 TO) & is slight of build (182). He can get into the lane at will, but not a great finisher (48.4% finisher at the rim in half court(Vecenie), and is suspect defensively

Aren't a lot of these the same concerns\issues that Scoot struggles with, except, unlike Fears, Scoot is built like a brickhouse? Fears IS young (18), but so then is Scoot (20).

I have a tough time seeing POR give up on Scoot this early, UNLESS it was a player like Harper & Jakucionis, whom I don't think they COULD pass on talent-wise w\o looking like fools (though it would not surprise me if they passed on Jakucionis, I sincerely hope not) or a guy like Demin, whose size\archetype I think would be too much to pass on (and could fit with Scoot....maybe...possibly?) Nor does Fears have the ridiculous athetic\defensive ability that Edgecome (I guess he would be that 3rd guard off the bench? The Anti-Ant?) if for some reason he slipped to #7, I could see a possibility where they take him as a 3rd guard there.

As for the rest, Johnson (I wonder about his size, is he 6'6 legit or like 6'4?) is a player who needs to ball in his hands and outside of scoring, he doesn't do much else with it...so just like Ant? maybe a little better defensively, maybe a little bigger, no

I think that narrows it down to (4) options:

Liam McNeeley - shooting wing, who has some passing and good defensive capabilities, definitely addresses a weakness (shooting) & has good size for position.

Asa Newell - Long, athletic big (6'11), just the type of player POR covets, could play some PF, maybe some C? Strong rebounder, has good defensive\passing capabilities. Has outside shooting potential? Could work well in tandem with Camara\Deni (serious concerns about that trio's outside shooting IMO)

Kon Kneuppel - Another shooter with good (6'6) size, who could rotate b\t b\u SG\SF as needed, has some defensive & pick & roll capabilites

Egor Demin - The enigma, totally fits the archetype this team desires, ELITE passing ability, real concerns about shooting, but the potential is tantalizing

I liked the idea of Newell, but I think I've shifted to Deni at the four.

That pivots my interest to McNeeley and Demin. Can Egor play the SF slot? Deni and Egor with the ability to pass the ball?

[Walton1one]

The issue I see with Demin is that he is a guy you WANT to have the ball in his hands, and how does that fit with Scoot & Deni, who also perform best with the ball in their hands? I am not sure that fit works? Then playing him at SF, you are playing him at a disadvantage, he struggles with shooting but is elite at passing.

Reminds me of some of the criticisms in WAS of how they mis-utilized Deni the first few years as a wing 3&D instead of puttting the ball in his hands and letting him create for himself and others, that is when he kind of took off.

So if they take Demin, I think it is to play PG, and let him and Scoot battle it out and deal away the loser for assets, and I think they only take Demin if they think that he has a good capability (in their eyes) to be an elite NBA level player (which is possible), but he is a real risk, high variance player IMO.

[Walton1one]

One of the things I really like about this draft is the forward\center talent that could be there at the end of the 1st round and how that could be beneficial to POR.

If they deal away RW3 as expected, good chance Ayton is dealt next offseason\deadline or let him walk, a capable big man as a b\u would be good to have. Part of the reason Newell would likely be appealing, but if they go shooting (McNeeley\Kneuppel\Johnson) at #7/8, they could address a young backup big at the end of the 1st. Guys like Johni Broome, Thomas Sorber, Rocco Zikarsky, Rasheer Fleming, Murray-Boyles or Penda (if either slipped a few spots).

If they take a guy like Newell, not so sure they need another 1st? A flyer on a guy like Hugo Gonzalez would be good. depending on situation with Simons, they could look at a b\u guard like a Kam Jones, Ian Jackson or Drake Powell

[PDXKnight]

The issue I see with Demin is that he is a guy you WANT to have the ball in his hands, and how does that fit with Scoot & Deni, who also perform best with the ball in their hands? I am not sure that fit works? Then playing him at SF, you are playing him at a disadvantage, he struggles with shooting but is elite at passing.

Reminds me of some of the criticisms in WAS of how they mis-utilized Deni the first few years as a wing 3&D instead of puttting the ball in his hands and letting him create for himself and others, that is when he kind of took off.

So if they take Demin, I think it is to play PG, and let him and Scoot battle it out and deal away the loser for assets, and I think they only take Demin if they think that he has a good capability (in their eyes) to be an elite NBA level player (which is possible), but he is a real risk, high variance player IMO.

I have always firmly been in the camp of take the BPA whoever that is and then worry about that later. If we are passing up on Jordan because we have Clyde then we aren't winning anything.

The one time you maybe don't use the BPA philosophy is if you are a contender and have someone else's pick to burn. In portlands shoes we can't afford to pass up on a shot at a better player than anyone on our roster because of position or style of play. Sure you have to decide eventually between a couple guys perhaps but if that's the BPA then you worry about that after you've seen both on the court a year or two

[BlazersBroncos]

Flagg is hitting the stride most who don’t overreact to early freshman returns knew was inevitable.

Dude is about as Grant Hill as one can get without actually being Grant Hill. But will be even better IMO.

[zzaj]

I called my shot last year as soon as I started checking out his film…

Blazers are going to end up with Asa Newell as their pick…I’m going to go with #7, although I figured they end in the 2-4 range. He just SCREAMS Blazer pick

And this is a MASSIVE fail.

I like Asa and think a Clingan/Asa/Deni front court could be very good if theoretically everything goes 100% of outcome…but failure of the franchise to not fully pivot into a chance at landing a top 3 pick in this draft set the franchise back at least a few years.

And if they’re gunning for Dybantsa in 2026? Well that presupposes that Sharpe, Scoot and Clingan haven’t taken a step toward winning basketball games and is a failure of its own.

[Village Idiot]

I just got back from watching Real Madrid beat Laguna Tenerife. Here's my report on Hugo Gonzalez who got some quality minutes.

The good: high bbiq, moves well without the ball, decent atheticism, solid defender (had a sick block of a dunk), good form on his shot with a quick release.

The less good: looks to be 6'5. Really stocky calves and thighs. Not great quickness. Not a much of a ball-handler.

Summary- a teen among grown men, many of his teammates with NBA experience, but he didn't stand out. I wouldn't use a first on him.

Otherwise Mario Hezonja looks a lot better than when he played for us. Serge Ibaka can still play. Tenerife has a 25 year old, 6'5 wing named David Kramer who shot the lights out. Fantastic movement shooter.

[zzaj]

The player I'm currently very, very intrigued by and who I think is going to end up a lotto pick, but is currently mocked at the end of the 1st beginning of the second, is Rasheer Fleming.

He looks to me to be about 6'9" with a very plus wingspan--likely a PF in the NBA. The thing that caught my eye is that St. Joe's runs a lot of dribble handoff offense and Fleming looks GREAT in that system. OFC, most current NBA offenses are now based out of high screen or DHO actions. He also looks very good as a PnR player, too...

His outside shot looks pretty dang good, and he has a very high motor...at least from the video I've watched. He has a tendency to bite on fakes and can sometime over help, but he recovers incredibly well and looks to be a very good rim protector. Low hips and very fluid.

It'll be interesting to see how he flys up boards in the coming months. He's DEFINITELY a Blazer type pick.