2025 Blazer Draft Prospects

[oldfishermen]

Schmitz and Cronin need to find the next Kawhi Leonard (drafted #15) in this draft.

[Walton1one]

I want players that actually play defense. That, and his 3-point shot are the reason I would consider moving Sharpe. If the player in return (via trade or draft) do not play defense, then I would keep Sharpe.

What is interesting to me is that we have those players in Thybulle, Deni, Camara & Clingan (although a work in progress). I think that is who you build off of (at least for next season). Picking up one more in the draft would be a huge bonus.

These are both good points. I listened to the interview Cronin did with Chad on 620, and the exit interview with Cronin\Billups again and I get the feeling that while they may look at trading the 10th pick, ultimately I anticipate that they will keep it.

Here is a summary of what Cronin said about the draft\roster in that interview, which matches some of his comments at the exit interview:

Good draft, likes the depth, happy if they move up or stay where they are finding a good player. Intentional about skillset they are going after, shaping roster to fit current group of core players (undetermined who is\not a core player).

This mirrors the "intentional about the type of player they go after" Cronin said in the exit interview. At the time I thought it more like they would be hunting for a player to fit their player timeline (age 23-27 or so) and likely to trade the pick, which could still happen. Diving through all the other teams however, that list is not as robust as I thought it would be. So I am of the belief, as of now, that Cronin intends to use the pick to compliment the cuurrent "core" group of players.

ESPN's listed POR team needs as"
- A reserve veteran lead guard who can mentor Henderson.
- Perimeter shooting (the Trail Blazers ranked 25th in 3-point percentage this season, and last in 2023-24).

I agree with #1, a vet b\u PG, whether Simons is here or not, would be useful that can be done via FA. #2 is a common ongoing issue that has been repeated frequently

So if you pair Cronin's comments with the recent Blazer's Edge article, which were informative, about POR strengths and weaknesses from this season, these were the shortfalls they listed:

OFFENSE
Points Per Game 110.9—22nd (106.4—29th)
Offensive Efficiency 107.7—24th (104.5—29th)
Field Goal Percentage 45.0—26th (43.9—29th)
Effective Field Goal Percentage 52.1—25th (50.3—30th)
Three-Point Percentage 34.2—26th (35.5—30th)
Free Throw Percentage 76.2—26th (79.1—9th)
Assists Per Game 23.8—30th (23.1—30th)
Assists Per Possession .231—27th (.227—30th)
Turnovers Per Game 16.0—29th (15.2—29th)
Turnovers Per Play 13.7%—29th (13.3%—27th)

DEFENSE
Defensive Rebounds Per Game 31.4—27th (30.1—30th)
Defensive Rebounding Percentage 72.5—28th (74.0—25th)
Fast Break Points 17.5—28th (17.0—29th)

Question 1 - Is the focus on shoring up the Offensive side of the ball or improving the Defensive side?
Cronin touted their defense in the 2nd half of the season, mentioned Top 3\5 whatever as an encouraging sign. Is it that good, unlikely, but could it be top half of the league good next year, possible. So if Cronin plans to be intentional and look for skillsets that fit with this current core group of players, it would certainly seem that he should look to what the team is lacking (the offensive side of the ball) first?

OR

Does Billups\Team identity win out and they instead expect internal growth to cure some of the offensive shortfalls and instead focus on doubling down\shoring up an already developing defense with what it seems to be lacking?

What stands out to me from BE is Shooting FG% - 26th, 3ptFg% - 26th, assists 30th\turnovers 29th. OFF efficiency 24th, defensive rebounding 27th. Which side of the spectrum do they lean towards when they pick?

Question 2 - What vets are part of the long term plan?

The big unknown. I would guess out of all the vets that Grant is the most likely player who is not part of the long term plan, he is also probably one of the more difficult players to trade, but let's assume they can for relatively neutral value, not out of the realm of possibility IMO

Question 3 - What type of player would fit best with the current core group of players skillset?

Assumptions here, but if Grant is not part of the plan then it would seem to me that the place to look is at the wing\forward spot, be that a player with 4, small ball 5 potential or a 3/4, who could rotate in with Camara\Deni and provide some things that they are missing.

Unless Simons is dealt, there really is no reason to seek another guard, as those 3 + Thybulle will soak up all the minutes. I do think ESPN needs (vet lead PG) would be prudent, given that Scoot is only true PG on the team, but that is something that could be handled via FA

With Walker\RFA (too slow at F, too small at C), Banton\UFA (volume chucker), Murray\1 guaranteed year (offensively underwhelming is being kind) & Rupert (still far away) as deeper reserves, there is certainly an opportunity to draft or trade a player that would fit\perform better and likely have better long term potential and could be that 3rd forward off the bench to start

So who could that player be? Let's start with the concept that they are "all in" on defensive identity, believe the offense can come about with internal growth or be addressed at a later date. They would then likely prefer a player with some defensive chops, position versatility, who maybe has some offense\shooting to his game or the capability to develop that given time. I don't see a player that completely fits all those metrics in\around #10, but there are players who have the defense\rebounding\switchability and potential growth on offense that would warrant a closer look IMO>

These are scouting notes, taken from various places (linked below). I arranged them in What to Like\Swing\Concerns\POR fit (IMO).

Asa Newell
WHAT TO LIKE:
- Impactful player who creates extra possessions in multiple ways for his team.
- Great offensive rebounder, 3.3 offensive rebounds per game with a 14.2 OREB%. Definite NBA-level skill for him. Excellent at making multiple efforts with a powerful second jump.
- Combination of motor, length, positional athleticism, ground coverage, and production makes him a really appealing defensive prospect.
- Motor once again really stands out in everything he does
- Tough enough in the post. has held opponents to 6-of-16 shooting on post-ups, per Synergy.
- Adds value as a help-side rim protector. Stays out of foul trouble
- Defending in space, physical tools give him real margin for recovery, can jump the passing lanes, Switches and moves his feet on the perimeter. Should get stronger, and can get dislodged by bigger bodies right now, but there’s a willingness to play with contact.
- At his best when he can catch and finish, converting on 72.8% of his at-rim shots this season, signs of strength finishing through defenders
- He’ll be able to switch in space and defend wings, as well as check guards thanks to his footspeed and capacity to repeatedly make multiple efforts while leveraging his size+run+jump abilities

SWING:
- In a high-end outcome reliant on his shot and decision-making continuing to develop
- 3pt shooting - Making less than 30% of his threes on limited, but okay, volume. Largely confined to open pick-and-pops and spot-ups.
- Free throw numbers give hope for continual three-point development. Shooting 75 FT% (60/80) while taking 3.5 free throws (would ideally be a bit more as an athletic forward who lives at the rim) per game.
- Has shown glimpses attacking off the catch in a straight line

CONCERNS:
- Is sized more like a 4 than a 5 but with a skill-set closer to the latter position, can be offset that with his elite motor, reaction time, and recovery margins linked to his physical tools
- Almost exclusively been a play finisher, so playmaking barely exists. he’ll need to roll to the basket more in the NBA — and he offers little self-creation at the next level
- Can he control the glass if/when playing the 5? 13.5 DREB% isn’t high, but offensive rebounding is great.
- Seeing more growth and volume in the pick-and-roll. Can he make reads on the short roll? Seems like the most important question
- Doesn’t take shots from the midrange or off-the-dribble.

POR FIT: I see him as an intriguing b\u for both the PF & C spot. He could be small ball 5, who can play some 4. Nice complimentary player to DC against smaller\quicker lineups. If swing skills (3pt shooting, pick & roll growth, midrange shooting) develop he could be a major rotational player.

https://floorandceiling.substack.com/p/2025-nba-draft-asa-newell-scouting


Colin Murray Boyles
WHAT TO LIKE:
- Strong, functional, and productive rebounder. 8.3 REB (2.2o/6d) with a 23.8 DREB% and 8.3 OREB%.
- Great defensive potential with a high floor and ceiling. Alert and disciplined as a help defender.
- High Defensive motor and production
- Versatile out of ballscreens. Covers ground in the pick-and-roll. Comfortable switching and guarding in space. Has great range laterally.
- screens in the pick-and-roll. Projects like an excellent short roll passer.
- Can act as a passing hub in the half-court. Adept at making reads with his back to the basket.
- Likes to fake the (D)HO and drive to the rim with a push ahead dribble.

SWING:
- How he performs out of spot-ups is his swing skill more than any questions about his size. Hasn’t shown that he can make threes, but he can attack off the catch.
- Can he eventually defend the NBA’s big guards/wing-sized ballhandlers?

CONCERNS:
- Ultimately an undersized 5-man who can’t shoot threes. Free throw shooting doesn’t add much clarity.
- Undersized for a forward-sized prospect who plays like a big. Can length, strength, hand-eye coordination, pop, and quick reactions overcome that.
- Will likely have to shift his style of play in the NBA from post-ups (104 possessions) to a greater volume of off-ball shots. That will mean rolling, cutting, and spotting up
- Can still have some problems finishing against length. Doesn’t necessarily have to be against 7-footers either.
- 3pt non existant. Being a total non-threat from the outside really lowers his ceiling and, to some extent, his floor.

POR FIT: He sounds similar to a player POR already has (Walker) but w\o the 3pt shooting and probably better rebounding\defensive capability? I don't like the fit, but maybe they let Walker go and Murray Boyles steps into his place with the hope he can be more effective than Walker?

https://floorandceiling.substack.com/p/collin-murray-boyles-scouting-report


Noa Essengue
WHAT TO LIKE:
- His DRB% of 18.3, BLK% of 2.9, and STL% of 2.1 all grade out well.
- Good size\length, standing reach is closer to that of your typical center. Length, frame, and motor are positives. Give him switchability upside.
- Not afraid of contact. He’s a foul magnet, taking 5.8 free throw attempts per game, giving him an astounding FTR of .892. When he rolls to the basket, he gets there in a hurry and can function as a lob target. Off the ball, his cutting instincts are sharp
- Tough to generate space against him. Many opponents struggle to get around him, and his length can take away playing east-west or stepping back as effective options. Consistently light on his feet, enables him to cover smaller players and be ready when he needs to switch
- Most efficient in transition, has great end-to-end speed, and he has the bounce to finish above the rim. Easy one-footed leaping ability, downhill speed, and lateral agility
- Underrated passer, knows how to play within the context of the offense, knows where defenders are, and his eyes are up for open teammates

SWING:
- Improved 3pt shooting, has some bad misses, tends to miss long, leading to the occasional backboard brick or airball, does appear to be headed in the right direction though
- Shot Creation, scoring other than in transition - Timing, cutting instincts, and willingness to embrace contact give him the foundation to become a positive halfcourt player, gets physically overwhelmed by contact.
- Attacking the basket at a high speed, he doesn’t look to decelerate, gather, or get himself under control

CONCERNS:
- Three-point shooting not great, Given that he’s a 67.9% free throw shooter on the year, it’s also hard to buy into an imminent turnaround.
- Not a scorer, though his flashes from three this season. how/when does he scores reliably?
- Behind the curve physically, needs to bulk up, struggles to finish efficiently in the halfcourt
- He can get lost off the ball at times. times when his poor positioning prevents him from making critical rotations in a timely manner
- Physically and on defense as a big wing, but his current offensive skillset would best be hidden at the 5 — although he is not a center.
- Needs to become a more disruptive presence around the paint and rim. Getting stronger will help.
- Very Young (17) will take some time to develop

POR FIT: would come in as a b\u 3\4 forward off the bench behind Deni\Camara, gives POR flexibility if Grant cannot be dealt, as he will take some time to develop. Good offensive rebounder, great length & effort and if shooting/3pt come around could be a longer 3&D version of Camara

https://www.noceilingsnba.com/p/lets-get-excited-about-noa-essengue


Carter Bryant
WHAT TO LIKE:
- Elite Shooting Efficiency (TS% & eFG - 90th Percentile)
- Elite Switch Defender (Steal & Block - 90th+ Percentile)
- Rarely allows ball handlers to turn the corner because of his footwork, and his strength allows him to wall up drives and switch on bigger opponents
- Head on a swivel; he is a highly effective weak-side rim protector, moves his feet incredibly well, sits down in a stance, and can defend nearly any position on the court.
- Quick off the ground, and has great instincts. He can switch nearly everything, act as a defensive playmaker, bail his teammates out with rotations, and shut down isolation possessions
- Good mover without the ball, timely cuts, great outlet for ball handlers, athleticism allows him to get easy hoops at the rim on cuts and offensive rebounds

SWING:
- Pull-up shooting and playmaking are more theoretical right now
- Shot creation, most possessions will come spotting up and cutting. Can attack closeouts, run off handoffs, find open teammates. It may take a minute for him to be empowered to explore those situations.

CONCERNS:
- Lack of on-ball creativity: Has struggled to showcase creativity in college despite showing flashes in high school.
- Needs to refine his scoring efficiency & assertiveness
- Shooting, needs to speed up release which is a reason why so many of his shots ended up as guarded
- Handle needs a lot of work, probably not an ofensive hub
- Going to take time to develop
- Extremely low sample size. His 3 point percentage is fine but it’s a small sample size. His FT percentage is bad but again, it’s a small sample size

POR FIT:
He could be another Camara like defender with potentially some offensive upside, but having another switachable 3&D lengthy forward to add to Deni\Camara would make sense. Seems like his floor is pretty solid and his potential ceiling comps (Trey Murphy\Mikal Bridges\Jeff Green\Trevor Ariza) are all appealing. He may take a year or two to get there, but I would think could come in as 3rd\4th forward (Camara\Deni\Grant or Thybulle) right away IMO

https://www.noceilingsnba.com/p/carter-bryant-is-a-winning-player


Rasheer Fleming
WHAT TO LIKE:
- Athletic versatile defender who grabs a ton of boards and finishes plays on offense.
- Thrives as a roll-man in pick-and-roll situations and has solid shooting mechanics, particularly on set shots. Makes good reads in pick-and-rolls and finds openings off the ball. Quick, high-release jumper that is effective in catch-and-shoot situations.
- Uses his length well to contest shots, disrupt passing lanes, and defend wings.Long, high-motor forward with intriguing defensive upside. His 7'4" wingspan, anticipation, and ability to disrupt passing lanes make him a valuable presence on defense.

SWING:
- Can he develop more offensively? Per Synergy, Fleming ranks in the 96th percentile in overall points per possession (PPP), the 88th percentile in transition, the 93rd percentile as the roll man, the 100th percentile on cuts, the 92nd percentile on all jumpers, the 82nd percentile shooting off the catch, and the 90th percentile scoring at the rim. That is bonkers levels of efficiency. If you look closely, there’s a common theme among all of those numbers and play/shot types. All of them are in a play-finishing role.
- Will he be switchable enough to defend consistently away from the rim?
- How much will his lack of vertical athleticism limit him in the NBA?

CONCERNS:
- Lacks elite vertical athleticism, his length, motor, and defensive instincts could help him carve out a solid role at the next level.
- Struggles to create offense for himself outside of set plays. Hasn’t attempted a single jumper off the dribble, has run two total possessions as the pick-and-roll ball-handler that accounted for zero points, has run two total possessions in isolation that accounted for zero points, has a negative assist to turnover ratio, and is going on his third straight season with an assist rate under 10%.
- Long stretches where he struggled to impact the game and the questions with his offensive role continued to surmount.
- Needs to improve decision-making and playmaking ability.
- Can be vulnerable when closing out or defending in space.
- His footwork and patience around the rim are promising, but his on-ball creation and passing vision remain areas for development.

POR FIT:
I listed Fleming here, but I don't think he should be a candidate @ #10 over some of the other names listed above. His profile\playstyle more reflect a bench\role player, which is fine, a guy to come in play good defense, rebound & be an outlet to finsih plays on the offense. He would be an ok pick but I think there are other players that can provide what he does and offer more upside\flexibility.

https://www.noceilingsnba.com/p/rasheer-fleming-when-fun-flashes

[DeBlazerRiddem]

Outside of the top 7 or 8 players I don't see a ton of separation in this draft.

I could see trading down with a team like OKC or ORL to pick up 2 picks. I like Clifford, maybe a lower ceiling but I think he would find a fairly immediate role here. Then maybe take a longer shot on someone like Bryant.

Not too interested in taking a project at 10.

[dckingsfan]

I want players that actually play defense. That, and his 3-point shot are the reason I would consider moving Sharpe. If the player in return (via trade or draft) do not play defense, then I would keep Sharpe.

What is interesting to me is that we have those players in Thybulle, Deni, Camara & Clingan (although a work in progress). I think that is who you build off of (at least for next season). Picking up one more in the draft would be a huge bonus.

These are both good points. I listened to the interview Cronin did with Chad on 620, and the exit interview with Cronin\Billups again and I get the feeling that while they may look at trading the 10th pick, ultimately I anticipate that they will keep it.

Spoiler:

Here is a summary of what Cronin said about the draft\roster in that interview, which matches some of his comments at the exit interview:

Good draft, likes the depth, happy if they move up or stay where they are finding a good player. Intentional about skillset they are going after, shaping roster to fit current group of core players (undetermined who is\not a core player).

This mirrors the "intentional about the type of player they go after" Cronin said in the exit interview. At the time I thought it more like they would be hunting for a player to fit their player timeline (age 23-27 or so) and likely to trade the pick, which could still happen. Diving through all the other teams however, that list is not as robust as I thought it would be. So I am of the belief, as of now, that Cronin intends to use the pick to compliment the cuurrent "core" group of players.

ESPN's listed POR team needs as"
- A reserve veteran lead guard who can mentor Henderson.
- Perimeter shooting (the Trail Blazers ranked 25th in 3-point percentage this season, and last in 2023-24).

I agree with #1, a vet b\u PG, whether Simons is here or not, would be useful that can be done via FA. #2 is a common ongoing issue that has been repeated frequently

So if you pair Cronin's comments with the recent Blazer's Edge article, which were informative, about POR strengths and weaknesses from this season, these were the shortfalls they listed:

OFFENSE
Points Per Game 110.9—22nd (106.4—29th)
Offensive Efficiency 107.7—24th (104.5—29th)
Field Goal Percentage 45.0—26th (43.9—29th)
Effective Field Goal Percentage 52.1—25th (50.3—30th)
Three-Point Percentage 34.2—26th (35.5—30th)
Free Throw Percentage 76.2—26th (79.1—9th)
Assists Per Game 23.8—30th (23.1—30th)
Assists Per Possession .231—27th (.227—30th)
Turnovers Per Game 16.0—29th (15.2—29th)
Turnovers Per Play 13.7%—29th (13.3%—27th)

DEFENSE
Defensive Rebounds Per Game 31.4—27th (30.1—30th)
Defensive Rebounding Percentage 72.5—28th (74.0—25th)
Fast Break Points 17.5—28th (17.0—29th)

Question 1 - Is the focus on shoring up the Offensive side of the ball or improving the Defensive side?
Cronin touted their defense in the 2nd half of the season, mentioned Top 3\5 whatever as an encouraging sign. Is it that good, unlikely, but could it be top half of the league good next year, possible. So if Cronin plans to be intentional and look for skillsets that fit with this current core group of players, it would certainly seem that he should look to what the team is lacking (the offensive side of the ball) first?

OR

Does Billups\Team identity win out and they instead expect internal growth to cure some of the offensive shortfalls and instead focus on doubling down\shoring up an already developing defense with what it seems to be lacking?

What stands out to me from BE is Shooting FG% - 26th, 3ptFg% - 26th, assists 30th\turnovers 29th. OFF efficiency 24th, defensive rebounding 27th. Which side of the spectrum do they lean towards when they pick?

Question 2 - What vets are part of the long term plan?

The big unknown. I would guess out of all the vets that Grant is the most likely player who is not part of the long term plan, he is also probably one of the more difficult players to trade, but let's assume they can for relatively neutral value, not out of the realm of possibility IMO

Question 3 - What type of player would fit best with the current core group of players skillset?

Assumptions here, but if Grant is not part of the plan then it would seem to me that the place to look is at the wing\forward spot, be that a player with 4, small ball 5 potential or a 3/4, who could rotate in with Camara\Deni and provide some things that they are missing.

Unless Simons is dealt, there really is no reason to seek another guard, as those 3 + Thybulle will soak up all the minutes. I do think ESPN needs (vet lead PG) would be prudent, given that Scoot is only true PG on the team, but that is something that could be handled via FA

With Walker\RFA (too slow at F, too small at C), Banton\UFA (volume chucker), Murray\1 guaranteed year (offensively underwhelming is being kind) & Rupert (still far away) as deeper reserves, there is certainly an opportunity to draft or trade a player that would fit\perform better and likely have better long term potential and could be that 3rd forward off the bench to start

So who could that player be? Let's start with the concept that they are "all in" on defensive identity, believe the offense can come about with internal growth or be addressed at a later date. They would then likely prefer a player with some defensive chops, position versatility, who maybe has some offense\shooting to his game or the capability to develop that given time. I don't see a player that completely fits all those metrics in\around #10, but there are players who have the defense\rebounding\switchability and potential growth on offense that would warrant a closer look IMO>

These are scouting notes, taken from various places (linked below). I arranged them in What to Like\Swing\Concerns\POR fit (IMO).

Asa Newell
WHAT TO LIKE:
- Impactful player who creates extra possessions in multiple ways for his team.
- Great offensive rebounder, 3.3 offensive rebounds per game with a 14.2 OREB%. Definite NBA-level skill for him. Excellent at making multiple efforts with a powerful second jump.
- Combination of motor, length, positional athleticism, ground coverage, and production makes him a really appealing defensive prospect.
- Motor once again really stands out in everything he does
- Tough enough in the post. has held opponents to 6-of-16 shooting on post-ups, per Synergy.
- Adds value as a help-side rim protector. Stays out of foul trouble
- Defending in space, physical tools give him real margin for recovery, can jump the passing lanes, Switches and moves his feet on the perimeter. Should get stronger, and can get dislodged by bigger bodies right now, but there’s a willingness to play with contact.
- At his best when he can catch and finish, converting on 72.8% of his at-rim shots this season, signs of strength finishing through defenders
- He’ll be able to switch in space and defend wings, as well as check guards thanks to his footspeed and capacity to repeatedly make multiple efforts while leveraging his size+run+jump abilities

SWING:
- In a high-end outcome reliant on his shot and decision-making continuing to develop
- 3pt shooting - Making less than 30% of his threes on limited, but okay, volume. Largely confined to open pick-and-pops and spot-ups.
- Free throw numbers give hope for continual three-point development. Shooting 75 FT% (60/80) while taking 3.5 free throws (would ideally be a bit more as an athletic forward who lives at the rim) per game.
- Has shown glimpses attacking off the catch in a straight line

CONCERNS:
- Is sized more like a 4 than a 5 but with a skill-set closer to the latter position, can be offset that with his elite motor, reaction time, and recovery margins linked to his physical tools
- Almost exclusively been a play finisher, so playmaking barely exists. he’ll need to roll to the basket more in the NBA — and he offers little self-creation at the next level
- Can he control the glass if/when playing the 5? 13.5 DREB% isn’t high, but offensive rebounding is great.
- Seeing more growth and volume in the pick-and-roll. Can he make reads on the short roll? Seems like the most important question
- Doesn’t take shots from the midrange or off-the-dribble.

POR FIT: I see him as an intriguing b\u for both the PF & C spot. He could be small ball 5, who can play some 4. Nice complimentary player to DC against smaller\quicker lineups. If swing skills (3pt shooting, pick & roll growth, midrange shooting) develop he could be a major rotational player.

https://floorandceiling.substack.com/p/2025-nba-draft-asa-newell-scouting


Colin Murray Boyles
WHAT TO LIKE:
- Strong, functional, and productive rebounder. 8.3 REB (2.2o/6d) with a 23.8 DREB% and 8.3 OREB%.
- Great defensive potential with a high floor and ceiling. Alert and disciplined as a help defender.
- High Defensive motor and production
- Versatile out of ballscreens. Covers ground in the pick-and-roll. Comfortable switching and guarding in space. Has great range laterally.
- screens in the pick-and-roll. Projects like an excellent short roll passer.
- Can act as a passing hub in the half-court. Adept at making reads with his back to the basket.
- Likes to fake the (D)HO and drive to the rim with a push ahead dribble.

SWING:
- How he performs out of spot-ups is his swing skill more than any questions about his size. Hasn’t shown that he can make threes, but he can attack off the catch.
- Can he eventually defend the NBA’s big guards/wing-sized ballhandlers?

CONCERNS:
- Ultimately an undersized 5-man who can’t shoot threes. Free throw shooting doesn’t add much clarity.
- Undersized for a forward-sized prospect who plays like a big. Can length, strength, hand-eye coordination, pop, and quick reactions overcome that.
- Will likely have to shift his style of play in the NBA from post-ups (104 possessions) to a greater volume of off-ball shots. That will mean rolling, cutting, and spotting up
- Can still have some problems finishing against length. Doesn’t necessarily have to be against 7-footers either.
- 3pt non existant. Being a total non-threat from the outside really lowers his ceiling and, to some extent, his floor.

POR FIT: He sounds similar to a player POR already has (Walker) but w\o the 3pt shooting and probably better rebounding\defensive capability? I don't like the fit, but maybe they let Walker go and Murray Boyles steps into his place with the hope he can be more effective than Walker?

https://floorandceiling.substack.com/p/collin-murray-boyles-scouting-report


Noa Essengue
WHAT TO LIKE:
- His DRB% of 18.3, BLK% of 2.9, and STL% of 2.1 all grade out well.
- Good size\length, standing reach is closer to that of your typical center. Length, frame, and motor are positives. Give him switchability upside.
- Not afraid of contact. He’s a foul magnet, taking 5.8 free throw attempts per game, giving him an astounding FTR of .892. When he rolls to the basket, he gets there in a hurry and can function as a lob target. Off the ball, his cutting instincts are sharp
- Tough to generate space against him. Many opponents struggle to get around him, and his length can take away playing east-west or stepping back as effective options. Consistently light on his feet, enables him to cover smaller players and be ready when he needs to switch
- Most efficient in transition, has great end-to-end speed, and he has the bounce to finish above the rim. Easy one-footed leaping ability, downhill speed, and lateral agility
- Underrated passer, knows how to play within the context of the offense, knows where defenders are, and his eyes are up for open teammates

SWING:
- Improved 3pt shooting, has some bad misses, tends to miss long, leading to the occasional backboard brick or airball, does appear to be headed in the right direction though
- Shot Creation, scoring other than in transition - Timing, cutting instincts, and willingness to embrace contact give him the foundation to become a positive halfcourt player, gets physically overwhelmed by contact.
- Attacking the basket at a high speed, he doesn’t look to decelerate, gather, or get himself under control

CONCERNS:
- Three-point shooting not great, Given that he’s a 67.9% free throw shooter on the year, it’s also hard to buy into an imminent turnaround.
- Not a scorer, though his flashes from three this season. how/when does he scores reliably?
- Behind the curve physically, needs to bulk up, struggles to finish efficiently in the halfcourt
- He can get lost off the ball at times. times when his poor positioning prevents him from making critical rotations in a timely manner
- Physically and on defense as a big wing, but his current offensive skillset would best be hidden at the 5 — although he is not a center.
- Needs to become a more disruptive presence around the paint and rim. Getting stronger will help.
- Very Young (17) will take some time to develop

POR FIT: would come in as a b\u 3\4 forward off the bench behind Deni\Camara, gives POR flexibility if Grant cannot be dealt, as he will take some time to develop. Good offensive rebounder, great length & effort and if shooting/3pt come around could be a longer 3&D version of Camara

https://www.noceilingsnba.com/p/lets-get-excited-about-noa-essengue


Carter Bryant
WHAT TO LIKE:
- Elite Shooting Efficiency (TS% & eFG - 90th Percentile)
- Elite Switch Defender (Steal & Block - 90th+ Percentile)
- Rarely allows ball handlers to turn the corner because of his footwork, and his strength allows him to wall up drives and switch on bigger opponents
- Head on a swivel; he is a highly effective weak-side rim protector, moves his feet incredibly well, sits down in a stance, and can defend nearly any position on the court.
- Quick off the ground, and has great instincts. He can switch nearly everything, act as a defensive playmaker, bail his teammates out with rotations, and shut down isolation possessions
- Good mover without the ball, timely cuts, great outlet for ball handlers, athleticism allows him to get easy hoops at the rim on cuts and offensive rebounds

SWING:
- Pull-up shooting and playmaking are more theoretical right now
- Shot creation, most possessions will come spotting up and cutting. Can attack closeouts, run off handoffs, find open teammates. It may take a minute for him to be empowered to explore those situations.

CONCERNS:
- Lack of on-ball creativity: Has struggled to showcase creativity in college despite showing flashes in high school.
- Needs to refine his scoring efficiency & assertiveness
- Shooting, needs to speed up release which is a reason why so many of his shots ended up as guarded
- Handle needs a lot of work, probably not an ofensive hub
- Going to take time to develop
- Extremely low sample size. His 3 point percentage is fine but it’s a small sample size. His FT percentage is bad but again, it’s a small sample size

POR FIT:
He could be another Camara like defender with potentially some offensive upside, but having another switachable 3&D lengthy forward to add to Deni\Camara would make sense. Seems like his floor is pretty solid and his potential ceiling comps (Trey Murphy\Mikal Bridges\Jeff Green\Trevor Ariza) are all appealing. He may take a year or two to get there, but I would think could come in as 3rd\4th forward (Camara\Deni\Grant or Thybulle) right away IMO

https://www.noceilingsnba.com/p/carter-bryant-is-a-winning-player


Rasheer Fleming
WHAT TO LIKE:
- Athletic versatile defender who grabs a ton of boards and finishes plays on offense.
- Thrives as a roll-man in pick-and-roll situations and has solid shooting mechanics, particularly on set shots. Makes good reads in pick-and-rolls and finds openings off the ball. Quick, high-release jumper that is effective in catch-and-shoot situations.
- Uses his length well to contest shots, disrupt passing lanes, and defend wings.Long, high-motor forward with intriguing defensive upside. His 7'4" wingspan, anticipation, and ability to disrupt passing lanes make him a valuable presence on defense.

SWING:
- Can he develop more offensively? Per Synergy, Fleming ranks in the 96th percentile in overall points per possession (PPP), the 88th percentile in transition, the 93rd percentile as the roll man, the 100th percentile on cuts, the 92nd percentile on all jumpers, the 82nd percentile shooting off the catch, and the 90th percentile scoring at the rim. That is bonkers levels of efficiency. If you look closely, there’s a common theme among all of those numbers and play/shot types. All of them are in a play-finishing role.
- Will he be switchable enough to defend consistently away from the rim?
- How much will his lack of vertical athleticism limit him in the NBA?

CONCERNS:
- Lacks elite vertical athleticism, his length, motor, and defensive instincts could help him carve out a solid role at the next level.
- Struggles to create offense for himself outside of set plays. Hasn’t attempted a single jumper off the dribble, has run two total possessions as the pick-and-roll ball-handler that accounted for zero points, has run two total possessions in isolation that accounted for zero points, has a negative assist to turnover ratio, and is going on his third straight season with an assist rate under 10%.
- Long stretches where he struggled to impact the game and the questions with his offensive role continued to surmount.
- Needs to improve decision-making and playmaking ability.
- Can be vulnerable when closing out or defending in space.
- His footwork and patience around the rim are promising, but his on-ball creation and passing vision remain areas for development.

POR FIT:
I listed Fleming here, but I don't think he should be a candidate @ #10 over some of the other names listed above. His profile\playstyle more reflect a bench\role player, which is fine, a guy to come in play good defense, rebound & be an outlet to finsih plays on the offense. He would be an ok pick but I think there are other players that can provide what he does and offer more upside\flexibility.

https://www.noceilingsnba.com/p/rasheer-fleming-when-fun-flashes

Nice analysis. I will add:

On the defensive side of the ball what they did well at was forcing turnovers and not allowing shots to go up. What they did poorly was rebound the ball. Ayton and Clingan were adequate but not great. Camara and Grant rebounded like guards. Their defensive rating was 16th out of 30 teams.

Given that we forced TOs, our pace should have been up there, but... only 16th out of 30. Also, the first 3 months of the season we were badly outrebounded. Simons and Sharpe starting together with limited Avdija minutes is probably the reason. After that, our rebounding #s exceeded our opponents.

On the offensive side of the ball they turned the ball over too much (so didn't get their shots) and even then didn't score well. Their offensive rating was 23rd out of 30 teams. Only Avdija had a TS over .600 (with meaningful minutes). Usually you expect that from your Cs.

In October and November our EFG% was .486 and .494 respectively. Then we had three straight months of ~ .540. So, the shooting numbers were a little skewed by the bad start.

So, maybe just start the next season off with PG, Thybulle, Camara, Avdija, Ayton/Clingan and it remedies part of the problem? On the 3pt shooting side, Thybulle is better than Scoot at this, Avdija was shooting near .400 at the end of the season and if Camara starts hot... well then, bob's your uncle and we are better on both sides of the ball.

[dckingsfan]

Outside of the top 7 or 8 players I don't see a ton of separation in this draft.

I could see trading down with a team like OKC or ORL to pick up 2 picks. I like Clifford, maybe a lower ceiling but I think he would find a fairly immediate role here. Then maybe take a longer shot on someone like Bryant.

Not too interested in taking a project at 10.

Too me, it is outside the top 4. So, yes to your idea of trading down.

[Walton1one]

While I think the focus would be on the forward position, there are some really intriguing bigger guard hybrids that I think POR would look at as well. The outlook here is a little more murky, b\c if Sharpe\Scoot & Simons are long term core players, adding another guard doesn't make as much sense to me. That being said, I think all 3 of these players if they are there at #10 would warrant a long look, each for different reasons.

Kon Knueppel
WHAT TO LIKE:
- Awesome shooter who already looks like a catch-and-shoot specialist with great numbers from three and the free throw line. Has a quick, compact shot that looks very easy and repeatable.
- Draws closeouts and knows how to attack them as a scorer and passer within 2-3 dribbles. Can finish through contact. Ground-bound athlete, but stocky and deceivingly big almost. Also has a fallaway two that he can get to. Can throw in feints and bumps to create space, since he usually won’t create the separation off the dribble.
- Can get a paint touch and make the right kick-out read. Makes few mistakes
- Solid connector. Makes fast decisions in transition. Hits the extra pass without hesitating. Keeps the offense ticking and rarely makes ill-advised choices.
- Underrated pick-and-roll playmaker. accurate and creative with his floated lob passes right into the dunk window in tight spaces
- Strength is his biggest athletic advantage. Holds up against switches.

SWING:
- Can Kon adapt to a tougher and larger volume of shots coming off screens, movement, hand-offs, etc?
- Is he primarily a spot-up shooter who can put the ball on the floor, or does he have more self-creation juice than what’s been displayed at Duke?
- What position does he defend in the NBA? Will give up the lane to guards, but needs to be a pretty good defender to be effective on wings. Then, also lacks length and will give up the athletic edge to a lot of 3s and 4s. teams will target him.
- Not a primary initiator in the NBA - but I’m very comfortable with him as a connector or running a second side pick-and-roll. Can take the load off a team’s alpha.

CONCERNS:
- Defensive Footspeed is the main question, Makes multiple efforts fronting, disrupting, boxing out, etc. down low.
- Lack of speed, lift, and flexibility is his biggest limitation
- He lacks the first step, wiggle and space creation skills needed despite having good vision and a safe enough handle. more of a second side guy in the NBA who will handle the ball largely to relieve his team’s primary initiators.
- Struggles to beat defenders off the bounce, and can have difficulty finishing in traffic. Limited bag as a finisher when he’s met by length.
- Has shown basically no pull-up shooting/self-creation in college.

POR FIT: For a team that struggles with shooting\3pt shooting, adding Kon should offer a lot of help in that area. Can he switch b\t SG\SF though? Otherwise, where does he fit with Scoot\Sharpe\Simons & Thybulle? I think POR has enough defenders to cover for Kon and his size\bulk likely make him a better defender than Simons. IMO he would more likely be the eventual replacement for Simons, as I don't see a long term fit at forward,, but as a 3rd guard off the bench behind Scoot\Sharpe would make sense

https://floorandceiling.substack.com/p/2025-nba-draft-kon-knueppel-scouting

Kasparas Jakucionis
WHAT TO LIKE:
- Excellent creator, especially out of the pick-and-roll (fourth among freshman in assists with 5.2 apg). Court vision and passing are the skills that will translate the quickest, continue to grow, and allow his IQ to shine through as he becomes even more in tune with the game.
- Dictates the pace of the game at a level far beyond his years (only 18-years-old). More of a methodical player attempting to pick apart defenses rather than flashing out and pushing the fast break. He can push pace when necessary but is much more comfortable in a designed play, making reads off of his defender to get his teammates open or attack a vulnerability when he spots it. Per Synergy Sports, almost 87 percent of possessions Jakučionis is a part of are from half-court sets or out-of-bounds plays. Does a great job of getting to his spots despite not being very explosive or fast off the dribble
- Can make every pass on the floor, extremely creative. Ability to process the game in real-time on the court and see rotations before they develop allows him to feast at times in driving or passing lanes. Very talented playmaker. He has a high IQ for the game and has the ability to make advanced reads in the halfcourt. He can create open shots for teammates and does a great job of taking advantage of ball-screens. Reads and passes off of defensive rotations one step ahead of everyone else on the floor
- Impressive shot-making ability pops, crafty scoop finishes at the rim. Terrific shooter off step-backs and side-steps. He’s not an elite shooter from behind the arc, but he’s able to convert on difficult pull-up jumpers that not many players in the country are even comfortable doing. Jakucionis is a good scoring guard who has the ability to score at all three levels. If he becomes a more consistent shooter, then it will elevate his game to another level.
- Jumbo lead guard with great positional size (6'6) and high-level court vision. uses his height to shoot over shorter defenders in the flow of an offense. His speed, strength, and footwork allow him to impact the game at his own pace, trying never to get sped up or be too slow on the court.
- Draws fouls at a high-rate and capitalizes at the line (83.3% from the line)
- Rebounds well for his position, offsetting some of the defensive deficiencies.

SWING:
- 3pt\Outside shooting - Has shown ability to become a terrific outside shooter (35.0% from deep this season)
- Can he create his own shot at the next level? May best be suited as an off-ball secondary ball handler and initiator long term.
- Refinement of his in-between game. Comfortable taking pull-up shots in the midrange and his shiftiness allows him to create some space on those attempts. But seeing as Jakucionis is strictly a below-the-rim finisher at this stage, adding an efficient shot like a short floater to his game could add yet another dimension to his game that would give defenders trouble
- Can he defend? Defensive instincts and timing still need improvement. Lacks high-end future defensively. Tends to showcase brief lapses in attention and lingering flat-footedness on defense that will need to improve for him to be an effective defender. He’ll need to improve his strength to better navigate screens and defend drives one-on-one, but on the perimeter, he’s already shown evidence that he has active hands and can be disruptive in passing lanes. Defensive playmaking, particularly away from the ball, is where he has a bit of upside on this end of the floor.

CONCERNS:
- Questions remain about his foot speed and ability to stay with quicker and stronger offensive assignments. How Jakučionis reacts to screens will also be interesting to watch. He currently attempts to fight over screens set by stronger bigs, but he doesn’t fully anticipate and react before the screener is set so he doesn’t continue to get caught and delayed in his assignment. But as a 6’6″ guard, he can easily be hidden on the opposing teams’ worst offensive player.
- Not very explosive, which limits his ability to finish above the rim over defenders. He also lacks ideal speed off the dribble, which occasionally hurts his ability to create space. He’s just an average athlete by NBA standards and it will potentially be a concern
- Prone to dribbling a bit high occasionally, exposing the ball, but his ability to dance with defenders and maintain ball control gives him more wiggle room than a player with less ball skills.
- High turnover rate (3.6 turnovers per game). Tends to attempt some very difficult passes which, while admirable to some extent, leads to mixed results.

POR FIT: As a hybriid PG\SG who has great vison, can play on\off ball, would initially be a great choice for a 3rd guard and a hedge against Scoot not working out and even if Scoot did work out, could be a great fit on\off the floor with him given his positional size and creation abilities. Also, his half court capabilites on offense could really be useful to this team, which can struggle in those sets. Where is the playing time though, he would come in as a 3rd/4th guard though, temporarily at least until Simons and\or Thybulle are moved\move on. Does not have the defensive metrics the team is looking for, but the positional size\versatility to go with Sharpe\Scoot & half court offense strengths are appealing IMO.

https://www.sportsbusinessclassroom.com/scouting-illinois-guard-kasparas-jakucionis/
https://www.si.com/nba/draft/newsfeed/2025-nba-draft-illinois-guard-kasparas-jakucionis-scouting-report-breakdown
https://draftstack.substack.com/p/kasparas-jakucionis-scouting-deepdive


Nique Clifford
WHAT TO LIKE:
- Explosive athlete vertically and laterally who plays much bigger than his 6'6" frame. Good physicality and ability to finish through contact, strong body control and touch. Strong build with broad shoulders that can absorb contact, an elite athlete. He’s explosive and has a good burst. Quick hands and thrives on impacting the game with his rebounding
- Versatility on both ends of the ball, can serve as a team’s leading ball handler to where he can scale his role down by playing away from the ball in a role with fewer ball touches.
- Capable of guarding multiple positions. Clifford excels both on the perimeter and at the rim with good timing and awareness. His plus size combined with his burst, decent defensive footwork, and mobility that helps him to defend in the pick-and-roll. Clifford is tough as a defender and he’s good at not allowing his opponents to get paint touches. Uses his lateral quickness, verticality, and explosiveness well to turn a decently contested shot into a hard-contested one. Level of effort, consistency of his motor, and his top-tier vertical leaping make Clifford a potential plus closeout defender to NBA standards.
- Thrives as an on-ball scorer through dribble pull-ups, shooting 49.4 percent from “far-two” range (via Barttorvik). He has a knack for knocking down tough shots, such as contested one-legged fadeaways. Most of Clifford’s attempts come after he puts the ball on the floor instead of off the catch.
- One of Clifford’s best qualities is his rebounding, specifically on the defensive glass (8.1/g), reads shots well and seems to know where the rebound will be. He also has the welcome habit of boxing out, giving him an immediate advantage when battling for boards

SWING:
- Improved shooting. Hasn’t developed a consistent three-pointer, has continually fluctuated from 40 percent as a sophomore to 28.8 percent as a junior. He is currently settled at 35 percent on his five-year career on 2.5 attempts per game. That takes away the value of his rim pressure and explosiveness. Many flashes of him rushing his decision-making when he’s coming off screens. Easier for defenders to sag off him to mitigate his athletic advantages and explosiveness. Needs a quicker relase on shot. His athleticism and explosiveness hold enough gravity for defenders to respect his closeout attacks, especially if he’s improving the efficiency and higher-quality releases on his shots off the catch.
- Bad habit of constantly bailing defenders out by settling for midrange jumpers, taking away the value of his athleticism which is one of the results of defenders not respecting his three-point shooting off the catch enough. They can simply drop their coverage and clog the painted area to mitigate Clifford's burst and explosiveness.
- Playmaking, not looking to involve his teammates as much as he could. An area of development for Clifford is to focus on looking for more playmaking reads while benefitting from the gravity his athleticism and explosiveness hold. On an NBA floor, Clifford has to show that he can initiate his playmaking skillset more while consistently executing his passing reads

CONCERNS:
- Will his athleticism translate into consistent defensive impact at the next level? Tends to panic when faced with screens or get overwhelmed when facing an intense stretch of crossovers
- Struggles to create his own shot, often picking up his dribble prematurely when pressured. While his shooting has improved, the sample size of three-point attempts remains limited. Offensive contributions are still streaky, relying heavily on transition plays and catch-and-shoot opportunities. Doesn’t get past defenders with elite crossovers, but he can get to the rim by taking advantage of late rotations or slow on-ball defenders and simply accelerating by them.
- Can Clifford maintain or improve his shooting efficiency as his volume increases?
- Clifford has not shown much in terms of playmaking ability, limiting his versatility on offense.
- An older prospect. Game has no glaring holes, but his most significant area of improvement is consistency on both sides of the court. When taking a chance on older players in the draft, NBA teams want to know precisely who they are getting. While Clifford’s game has many layers, he needs to show that he’ll reliably do the job nightly to stay on the floor.

POR FIT: One thing that stood out to me doing research was his defensive rebounding, for a guard (8.1/g) which is like a neon sign pointing towards one of POR few defensive weaknesses. Initially a great 3rd guard to come off the bench, depending of course what becomes of Simons\Thybulle. Could play alongside Sharpe in smaller lineups, both great athletes, giving POR another smaller lineup wrinkle. The floor looks like a Wes Matthews to me and some of his traits remind me of Brandon Roy, regardless he seems like a very solid upgrade off the bench as a G\F hybrid

https://www.babcockhoops.com/post/2025-nba-draft-nique-clifford-scouting-report
https://edemirnba.substack.com/p/nique-clifford-scouting-report
https://www.sportsbusinessclassroom.com/scouting-colorado-state-guard-nique-clifford/

I think the players I have listed would be the pool that POR would make a selection from, with the caveat, unless POR goes best available talent (what THEY view that as), then you might see a surprise like Fears or Richardson if they were there or maybe Demin, even though he does not fit what this team needs and is more of an upside pick.

There also could be some guys who rise into contention like: Thomas Sorber or Will Riley. Maybe there is someone else I am overlooking. If there is another player someone wants to see a more detailed breakdown on let me know.

[BlazersBroncos]

On the defensive side of the ball what they did well at was forcing turnovers and not allowing shots to go up. What they did poorly was rebound the ball. Ayton and Clingan were adequate but not great. Camara and Grant rebounded like guards. Their defensive rating was 16th out of 30 teams.

DC posted -

17.3 OFF RB %
26.1 DEF RB %
21.6 total RB %

Dennis Rodman over his career posted -

17.2 OFF RB % (best ever)
29.6 DEF RB %
23.4 total RB %

So by adequate you mean DC was only close but not as good as the best rebounder since Wilt then I suppose you’re correct.

Clingan was absolutely elite rebounding the ball and has the makings of a 12-15 rpg player. It’s such a disservice to undersell him as adequate but it seems that everyone, Blazer fan and not, continues to underrate his on floor rookie year impact.

Guy has lots of growing to do but rebounding and **** altering are 100% already in an item tier.

[zzaj]

The Blazers lost the coin flip with PHX, so they are likely picking 10th or 11th--63.4% and 18.5% respectively.

They will have a 16.9% chance at picking in the Top 4.

-------

I know it doesn't bear repeating, but I will anyway. The FO really F'd up by prioritizing wins this season. They would have doubled their odds by simply prioritizing playing Scoot, Sharpe and Clingan.

As it stands, the Blazers have 3 guards who NEED to start in:
Scoot - year 3, either he's a starter or the Blazers drafted a bench player--you have to rip the bandaid off at some point. He needs to play minimum 30+ minutes a game. This last year, him playing less minutes than he did in his first year is unacceptable, IMO.

Simons - Even if the offense and defense was better with Scoot starting, there's no way on earth Crolshey has Ant coming off the bench--that's a pipedream.

Sharpe - the team started to play better when he came off the bench, however for the team to be reach any kind of potential with this roster we need to see #s like at the end of the season Sharpe--and that requires minutes and USG.

[Tim Lehrbach]

I think the Blazers have zero guards who NEED to start, but that's just me.

[zzaj]

I think the Blazers have zero guards who NEED to start, but that's just me.

You and I have different definitions of "need", then.

The org has to find out what kind of player Scoot is going to be. You aren't going to find out by playing him 26 minutes a game again. You don't draft a player at #3 to be a 26 minute bench player = start. Simons as a veteran who has the one skill the team needs to fulfill Cronin's dreams of POs (shooting) and if the plan is to move him by the trade deadline, it'll tank his value to bench him = start. Sharpe, like Scoot, what is he? Is he the inconsistent and inefficient player he has mostly showed, or is he a franchise cornerstone moving forward = start.

Ofc, I've made it pretty clear that I've always thought Simons' best role for ANY NBA team is going to be off the bench as a microwave scorer--but that clearly isn't happening on the Blazers any time soon.

[Tim Lehrbach]

I think the Blazers have zero guards who NEED to start, but that's just me.

You and I have different definitions of "need", then.

The org has to find out what kind of player Scoot is going to be. You aren't going to find out by playing him 26 minutes a game again. You don't draft a player at #3 to be a 26 minute bench player = start. Simons as a veteran who has the one skill the team needs to fulfill Cronin's dreams of POs (shooting) and if the plan is to move him by the trade deadline, it'll tank his value to bench him = start. Sharpe, like Scoot, what is he? Is he the inconsistent and inefficient player he has mostly showed, or is he a franchise cornerstone moving forward = start.

Ofc, I've made it pretty clear that I've always thought Simons' best role for ANY NBA team is going to be off the bench as a microwave scorer--but that clearly isn't happening on the Blazers any time soon.

I hear you, and you're right: we're not talking about the same thing. In my view, a player who NEEDS to start is one that is too good to keep in a bench role. The Blazers have no guards that qualify.

I would classify Scoot and Shaedon as "you might as well start 'em." Given the current roster, I probably would start them. Ultimately I don't think it matters too much whether they start and play full-time starter minutes. Put them in a variety of situations, including clutch time minutes, to test their mettle, sure. But what will we learn about them in 32 minutes that we aren't learning in 26? I'm not against their development and I do agree we need to know what we have, but an extra 300ish minutes next season likely won't make or break that.

Simons may have no trade value to tank, but in any case I highly doubt teams base their evaluations of veteran players on minutes played for a team favoring youth (if Scoot and Shaedon or somebody else start instead).

This season I advocated for starting Scoot and Shaedon because they were not good and it would help the tank. Next year, since the team has apparently decided to exit the rebuild, the best players should start. Ideally, Scoot and Shaedon are those players, and if no major moves are imminent I'm fine giving them a shot. But if the Blazers care about competing, they need to be preparing for a reality in which those two do not emerge and need to be replaced or relegated to roles commensurate with their impact. I want the team to have so many good players that they have a rotation crunch. We're nowhere near that.

[zzaj]

I think the Blazers have zero guards who NEED to start, but that's just me.

You and I have different definitions of "need", then.

The org has to find out what kind of player Scoot is going to be. You aren't going to find out by playing him 26 minutes a game again. You don't draft a player at #3 to be a 26 minute bench player = start. Simons as a veteran who has the one skill the team needs to fulfill Cronin's dreams of POs (shooting) and if the plan is to move him by the trade deadline, it'll tank his value to bench him = start. Sharpe, like Scoot, what is he? Is he the inconsistent and inefficient player he has mostly showed, or is he a franchise cornerstone moving forward = start.

Ofc, I've made it pretty clear that I've always thought Simons' best role for ANY NBA team is going to be off the bench as a microwave scorer--but that clearly isn't happening on the Blazers any time soon.

...what will we learn about them in 32 minutes that we aren't learning in 26? I'm not against their development and I do agree we need to know what we have, but an extra 300ish minutes next season likely won't make or break that.

Simons may have no trade value to tank, but in any case I highly doubt teams base their evaluations of veteran players on minutes played for a team favoring youth (if Scoot and Shaedon or somebody else start instead).

That 6 mpg adds up over 82 games. That's close to 25% of the total minutes Scoot played. For a position that pretty much everybody agrees takes a few years in which to get acclimated, I'd argue that for a player like Scoot in year 3, 25% more minutes of playing time could be SUPER valuable. Same with Clingan.

As for Simons? I tend to agree with you that at this point teams know what he is (just look at how he's scouted offensively and defensively). Will it affect his trade value to go from a career high of 22/3/5.5 player in 34 minutes, to something like 15/2/2 in 25 minutes off the bench? I think it would, personally...

But we can't really know that. It's probably moot anyway. Simons is likely not going anywhere.

[Tim Lehrbach]

That 6 mpg adds up over 82 games. That's close to 25% of the total minutes Scoot played. For a position that pretty much everybody agrees takes a few years in which to get acclimated, I'd argue that for a player like Scoot in year 3, 25% more minutes of playing time could be SUPER valuable. Same with Clingan.

I mean, I'm not operating from having studied the question, so you might be right. There's an inherent logic common to the ideas that more minutes = more development and more minutes = more knowledge of the player. I am not convinced those have to be truisms, but in the absence of contrary evidence, sure, why not? There is a potential cost to the win column if these guys don't improve and we keep running the same players out there instead of finding better ones, but I am not expecting a massively successful 2025-2026 anyway, so this cost may be minimal.

[oldfishermen]

That 6 mpg adds up over 82 games. That's close to 25% of the total minutes Scoot played. For a position that pretty much everybody agrees takes a few years in which to get acclimated, I'd argue that for a player like Scoot in year 3, 25% more minutes of playing time could be SUPER valuable. Same with Clingan.

I mean, I'm not operating from having studied the question, so you might be right. There's an inherent logic common to the ideas that more minutes = more development and more minutes = more knowledge of the player. I am not convinced those have to be truisms, but in the absence of contrary evidence, sure, why not? There is a potential cost to the win column if these guys don't improve and we keep running the same players out there instead of finding better ones, but I am not expecting a massively successful 2025-2026 anyway, so this cost may be minimal.

More important than the 6 additional minutes is the quality of their opponents.

When Scoot and the other young players start. They are going up against the other teams best. Not second string bench players. Which should speed up their development.

[Walton1one]

This off-season will be interesting one way or the other, because I don’t know how Cronin brings back Simons and Grant, which would relegate Scoot and Sharpe to the bench. I just can’t see how that is sustainable for another year, but maybe they do

If they make no changes, and bring back most of the roster along with whomever they draft, they will have 4 lottery picks coming off the bench, it’s unbelievable when you think about it

[zzaj]

On the defensive side of the ball what they did well at was forcing turnovers and not allowing shots to go up. What they did poorly was rebound the ball. Ayton and Clingan were adequate but not great. Camara and Grant rebounded like guards. Their defensive rating was 16th out of 30 teams.

DC posted -

17.3 OFF RB %
26.1 DEF RB %
21.6 total RB %

Dennis Rodman over his career posted -

17.2 OFF RB % (best ever)
29.6 DEF RB %
23.4 total RB %

So by adequate you mean DC was only close but not as good as the best rebounder since Wilt then I suppose you’re correct.

Clingan was absolutely elite rebounding the ball and has the makings of a 12-15 rpg player. It’s such a disservice to undersell him as adequate but it seems that everyone, Blazer fan and not, continues to underrate his on floor rookie year impact.

Guy has lots of growing to do but rebounding and **** altering are 100% already in an item tier.

Which is why it's exciting to think about him developing some actual skill as a rebounder. I've posted about it elsewhere, but right now he's getting away with being an elite rebounder by mostly being the tallest guy in the room and poking at the ball. He's playing like a finesse player that has no finesse.

When he adds strength, boxout instincts/experience, rebound timing on his jumps (he won like 3 opening tips all year) using his a$$ to keep players out of his area, and generally keeping his hands UP...he truly could be an elite offensive AND defensive rebounder.

One area that gets overlooked, and happens to be an area I love to see in players...is impacting 'team' rebounds. Specifically, boxing out players so that your teammate can get a rebound. Pete Newell used to call them "Big Man Assists"...and Clingan got significantly better at them by the end of the season.

[BlazersBroncos]

On the defensive side of the ball what they did well at was forcing turnovers and not allowing shots to go up. What they did poorly was rebound the ball. Ayton and Clingan were adequate but not great. Camara and Grant rebounded like guards. Their defensive rating was 16th out of 30 teams.

DC posted -

17.3 OFF RB %
26.1 DEF RB %
21.6 total RB %

Dennis Rodman over his career posted -

17.2 OFF RB % (best ever)
29.6 DEF RB %
23.4 total RB %

So by adequate you mean DC was only close but not as good as the best rebounder since Wilt then I suppose you’re correct.

Clingan was absolutely elite rebounding the ball and has the makings of a 12-15 rpg player. It’s such a disservice to undersell him as adequate but it seems that everyone, Blazer fan and not, continues to underrate his on floor rookie year impact.

Guy has lots of growing to do but rebounding and **** altering are 100% already in an item tier.

Which is why it's exciting to think about him developing some actual skill as a rebounder. I've posted about it elsewhere, but right now he's getting away with being an elite rebounder by mostly being the tallest guy in the room and poking at the ball. He's playing like a finesse player that has no finesse.

When he adds strength, boxout instincts/experience, rebound timing on his jumps (he won like 3 opening tips all year) using his a$$ to keep players out of his area, and generally keeping his hands UP...he truly could be an elite offensive AND defensive rebounder.

One area that gets overlooked, and happens to be an area I love to see in players...is impacting 'team' rebounds. Specifically, boxing out players so that your teammate can get a rebound. Pete Newell used to call them "Big Man Assists"...and Clingan got significantly better at them by the end of the season.

I can get behind this. DC was an elite rebounder as a rookie while having the muscle tone of a basement dwelling gamer and far below average NBA conditioning. Its scary to think how dominant a rebounder we are looking at once he gets a few offseasons under his belt.

I still think the rookie year DC had is being quite underrated.

He was league leader in blocks per 100 possessions.
His rebounding percentages were on par with the all time great rebounders.
His DBPM was the 3rd best on the team at 1.4 - only behind league known elite defenders RWIII and Thybulle.
His WS48 was .144 which is well above the general consensus of rotation level (.100) - and 3rd best on the team after RWIII and Thybulle.
His On/Court per 100 possessions was the best of all rotation players outside Thybulle (Who had a very small sample size) at -0.2.
His On-Off per 100 possessions was the best of all rotation players at +4.6.
His ORTG of 120 was the 2nd best on the team after RWIII.
His DRTG of 109 was the 3rd best on the team - only after league know elite defenders RWIII and Thybulle.

The guy clearly has tons of growing to do in the weight room, tons of growing to do on offense and tons of conditioning to improve on but despite all that he was, by basically all metrics, the most positively impactful rotation player on the entire team last season. I dont think we discuss just how impressive it is for a team to be SO much better when their rookie big who is as developed as a baby deer was on the floor.

[dckingsfan]

On the defensive side of the ball what they did well at was forcing turnovers and not allowing shots to go up. What they did poorly was rebound the ball. Ayton and Clingan were adequate but not great. Camara and Grant rebounded like guards. Their defensive rating was 16th out of 30 teams.

Given that we forced TOs, our pace should have been up there, but... only 16th out of 30. Also, the first 3 months of the season we were badly outrebounded. Simons and Sharpe starting together with limited Avdija minutes is probably the reason. After that, our rebounding #s exceeded our opponents.

DC posted -

17.3 OFF RB %
26.1 DEF RB %
21.6 total RB %

Dennis Rodman over his career posted -

17.2 OFF RB % (best ever)
29.6 DEF RB %
23.4 total RB %

So by adequate you mean DC was only close but not as good as the best rebounder since Wilt then I suppose you’re correct.

Clingan was absolutely elite rebounding the ball and has the makings of a 12-15 rpg player. It’s such a disservice to undersell him as adequate but it seems that everyone, Blazer fan and not, continues to underrate his on floor rookie year impact.

Guy has lots of growing to do but rebounding and **** altering are 100% already in an item tier.

Hehehe... I was referring to the entire year and team - especially in the defensive rebounding category.

You have seen my earlier posts that the D of Camara, Deni, Thybulle and Clingan are whom we should build around because of their two-way prowess. So, context please. Now, if you want to change and to "together" fine.

My point(s) kind of stand though, no? If we roll out the two small guard rotation with Camara and Ayton we are going to struggle on the defensive rebounding side of the ball.

Now, if you are saying that we should move Ayton and start Clingan - right there with you brother. It is actually one of the reasons I could see them trading down. There are a bunch of intriguing Cs later in the first round and into the second round.

Note: DBPM, WS48 and DRTG are all constructed to favor Cs. I can give you anecdotal links to this if you would like. But... figure you can just peruse basketball-reference to see what I am talking about. Notwithstanding this comment, I really liked how Clingan played as a rookie. One thing to mention is that bigs and PGs generally take longer to develop and Clingan is only 20. Also, we should note one of his weaknesses. His FT% is an abysmal .596 - he will need to fix that if he is going to stay on the court in the playoffs (it is also why his TS% is low for a C). So, no he wasn't the most impactful player on the team on either side of the court - I don't think that is arguable. Now, if you want to say he has the highest ceiling of any of the Blazers - okay.

[JRoy]

While I think the focus would be on the forward position, there are some really intriguing bigger guard hybrids that I think POR would look at as well. The outlook here is a little more murky, b\c if Sharpe\Scoot & Simons are long term core players, adding another guard doesn't make as much sense to me. That being said, I think all 3 of these players if they are there at #10 would warrant a long look, each for different reasons.

Kon Knueppel
WHAT TO LIKE:
- Awesome shooter who already looks like a catch-and-shoot specialist with great numbers from three and the free throw line. Has a quick, compact shot that looks very easy and repeatable.
- Draws closeouts and knows how to attack them as a scorer and passer within 2-3 dribbles. Can finish through contact. Ground-bound athlete, but stocky and deceivingly big almost. Also has a fallaway two that he can get to. Can throw in feints and bumps to create space, since he usually won’t create the separation off the dribble.
- Can get a paint touch and make the right kick-out read. Makes few mistakes
- Solid connector. Makes fast decisions in transition. Hits the extra pass without hesitating. Keeps the offense ticking and rarely makes ill-advised choices.
- Underrated pick-and-roll playmaker. accurate and creative with his floated lob passes right into the dunk window in tight spaces
- Strength is his biggest athletic advantage. Holds up against switches.

SWING:
- Can Kon adapt to a tougher and larger volume of shots coming off screens, movement, hand-offs, etc?
- Is he primarily a spot-up shooter who can put the ball on the floor, or does he have more self-creation juice than what’s been displayed at Duke?
- What position does he defend in the NBA? Will give up the lane to guards, but needs to be a pretty good defender to be effective on wings. Then, also lacks length and will give up the athletic edge to a lot of 3s and 4s. teams will target him.
- Not a primary initiator in the NBA - but I’m very comfortable with him as a connector or running a second side pick-and-roll. Can take the load off a team’s alpha.

CONCERNS:
- Defensive Footspeed is the main question, Makes multiple efforts fronting, disrupting, boxing out, etc. down low.
- Lack of speed, lift, and flexibility is his biggest limitation
- He lacks the first step, wiggle and space creation skills needed despite having good vision and a safe enough handle. more of a second side guy in the NBA who will handle the ball largely to relieve his team’s primary initiators.
- Struggles to beat defenders off the bounce, and can have difficulty finishing in traffic. Limited bag as a finisher when he’s met by length.
- Has shown basically no pull-up shooting/self-creation in college.

POR FIT: For a team that struggles with shooting\3pt shooting, adding Kon should offer a lot of help in that area. Can he switch b\t SG\SF though? Otherwise, where does he fit with Scoot\Sharpe\Simons & Thybulle? I think POR has enough defenders to cover for Kon and his size\bulk likely make him a better defender than Simons. IMO he would more likely be the eventual replacement for Simons, as I don't see a long term fit at forward,, but as a 3rd guard off the bench behind Scoot\Sharpe would make sense

https://floorandceiling.substack.com/p/2025-nba-draft-kon-knueppel-scouting

Kasparas Jakucionis
WHAT TO LIKE:
- Excellent creator, especially out of the pick-and-roll (fourth among freshman in assists with 5.2 apg). Court vision and passing are the skills that will translate the quickest, continue to grow, and allow his IQ to shine through as he becomes even more in tune with the game.
- Dictates the pace of the game at a level far beyond his years (only 18-years-old). More of a methodical player attempting to pick apart defenses rather than flashing out and pushing the fast break. He can push pace when necessary but is much more comfortable in a designed play, making reads off of his defender to get his teammates open or attack a vulnerability when he spots it. Per Synergy Sports, almost 87 percent of possessions Jakučionis is a part of are from half-court sets or out-of-bounds plays. Does a great job of getting to his spots despite not being very explosive or fast off the dribble
- Can make every pass on the floor, extremely creative. Ability to process the game in real-time on the court and see rotations before they develop allows him to feast at times in driving or passing lanes. Very talented playmaker. He has a high IQ for the game and has the ability to make advanced reads in the halfcourt. He can create open shots for teammates and does a great job of taking advantage of ball-screens. Reads and passes off of defensive rotations one step ahead of everyone else on the floor
- Impressive shot-making ability pops, crafty scoop finishes at the rim. Terrific shooter off step-backs and side-steps. He’s not an elite shooter from behind the arc, but he’s able to convert on difficult pull-up jumpers that not many players in the country are even comfortable doing. Jakucionis is a good scoring guard who has the ability to score at all three levels. If he becomes a more consistent shooter, then it will elevate his game to another level.
- Jumbo lead guard with great positional size (6'6) and high-level court vision. uses his height to shoot over shorter defenders in the flow of an offense. His speed, strength, and footwork allow him to impact the game at his own pace, trying never to get sped up or be too slow on the court.
- Draws fouls at a high-rate and capitalizes at the line (83.3% from the line)
- Rebounds well for his position, offsetting some of the defensive deficiencies.

SWING:
- 3pt\Outside shooting - Has shown ability to become a terrific outside shooter (35.0% from deep this season)
- Can he create his own shot at the next level? May best be suited as an off-ball secondary ball handler and initiator long term.
- Refinement of his in-between game. Comfortable taking pull-up shots in the midrange and his shiftiness allows him to create some space on those attempts. But seeing as Jakucionis is strictly a below-the-rim finisher at this stage, adding an efficient shot like a short floater to his game could add yet another dimension to his game that would give defenders trouble
- Can he defend? Defensive instincts and timing still need improvement. Lacks high-end future defensively. Tends to showcase brief lapses in attention and lingering flat-footedness on defense that will need to improve for him to be an effective defender. He’ll need to improve his strength to better navigate screens and defend drives one-on-one, but on the perimeter, he’s already shown evidence that he has active hands and can be disruptive in passing lanes. Defensive playmaking, particularly away from the ball, is where he has a bit of upside on this end of the floor.

CONCERNS:
- Questions remain about his foot speed and ability to stay with quicker and stronger offensive assignments. How Jakučionis reacts to screens will also be interesting to watch. He currently attempts to fight over screens set by stronger bigs, but he doesn’t fully anticipate and react before the screener is set so he doesn’t continue to get caught and delayed in his assignment. But as a 6’6″ guard, he can easily be hidden on the opposing teams’ worst offensive player.
- Not very explosive, which limits his ability to finish above the rim over defenders. He also lacks ideal speed off the dribble, which occasionally hurts his ability to create space. He’s just an average athlete by NBA standards and it will potentially be a concern
- Prone to dribbling a bit high occasionally, exposing the ball, but his ability to dance with defenders and maintain ball control gives him more wiggle room than a player with less ball skills.
- High turnover rate (3.6 turnovers per game). Tends to attempt some very difficult passes which, while admirable to some extent, leads to mixed results.

POR FIT: As a hybriid PG\SG who has great vison, can play on\off ball, would initially be a great choice for a 3rd guard and a hedge against Scoot not working out and even if Scoot did work out, could be a great fit on\off the floor with him given his positional size and creation abilities. Also, his half court capabilites on offense could really be useful to this team, which can struggle in those sets. Where is the playing time though, he would come in as a 3rd/4th guard though, temporarily at least until Simons and\or Thybulle are moved\move on. Does not have the defensive metrics the team is looking for, but the positional size\versatility to go with Sharpe\Scoot & half court offense strengths are appealing IMO.

https://www.sportsbusinessclassroom.com/scouting-illinois-guard-kasparas-jakucionis/
https://www.si.com/nba/draft/newsfeed/2025-nba-draft-illinois-guard-kasparas-jakucionis-scouting-report-breakdown
https://draftstack.substack.com/p/kasparas-jakucionis-scouting-deepdive


Nique Clifford
WHAT TO LIKE:
- Explosive athlete vertically and laterally who plays much bigger than his 6'6" frame. Good physicality and ability to finish through contact, strong body control and touch. Strong build with broad shoulders that can absorb contact, an elite athlete. He’s explosive and has a good burst. Quick hands and thrives on impacting the game with his rebounding
- Versatility on both ends of the ball, can serve as a team’s leading ball handler to where he can scale his role down by playing away from the ball in a role with fewer ball touches.
- Capable of guarding multiple positions. Clifford excels both on the perimeter and at the rim with good timing and awareness. His plus size combined with his burst, decent defensive footwork, and mobility that helps him to defend in the pick-and-roll. Clifford is tough as a defender and he’s good at not allowing his opponents to get paint touches. Uses his lateral quickness, verticality, and explosiveness well to turn a decently contested shot into a hard-contested one. Level of effort, consistency of his motor, and his top-tier vertical leaping make Clifford a potential plus closeout defender to NBA standards.
- Thrives as an on-ball scorer through dribble pull-ups, shooting 49.4 percent from “far-two” range (via Barttorvik). He has a knack for knocking down tough shots, such as contested one-legged fadeaways. Most of Clifford’s attempts come after he puts the ball on the floor instead of off the catch.
- One of Clifford’s best qualities is his rebounding, specifically on the defensive glass (8.1/g), reads shots well and seems to know where the rebound will be. He also has the welcome habit of boxing out, giving him an immediate advantage when battling for boards

SWING:
- Improved shooting. Hasn’t developed a consistent three-pointer, has continually fluctuated from 40 percent as a sophomore to 28.8 percent as a junior. He is currently settled at 35 percent on his five-year career on 2.5 attempts per game. That takes away the value of his rim pressure and explosiveness. Many flashes of him rushing his decision-making when he’s coming off screens. Easier for defenders to sag off him to mitigate his athletic advantages and explosiveness. Needs a quicker relase on shot. His athleticism and explosiveness hold enough gravity for defenders to respect his closeout attacks, especially if he’s improving the efficiency and higher-quality releases on his shots off the catch.
- Bad habit of constantly bailing defenders out by settling for midrange jumpers, taking away the value of his athleticism which is one of the results of defenders not respecting his three-point shooting off the catch enough. They can simply drop their coverage and clog the painted area to mitigate Clifford's burst and explosiveness.
- Playmaking, not looking to involve his teammates as much as he could. An area of development for Clifford is to focus on looking for more playmaking reads while benefitting from the gravity his athleticism and explosiveness hold. On an NBA floor, Clifford has to show that he can initiate his playmaking skillset more while consistently executing his passing reads

CONCERNS:
- Will his athleticism translate into consistent defensive impact at the next level? Tends to panic when faced with screens or get overwhelmed when facing an intense stretch of crossovers
- Struggles to create his own shot, often picking up his dribble prematurely when pressured. While his shooting has improved, the sample size of three-point attempts remains limited. Offensive contributions are still streaky, relying heavily on transition plays and catch-and-shoot opportunities. Doesn’t get past defenders with elite crossovers, but he can get to the rim by taking advantage of late rotations or slow on-ball defenders and simply accelerating by them.
- Can Clifford maintain or improve his shooting efficiency as his volume increases?
- Clifford has not shown much in terms of playmaking ability, limiting his versatility on offense.
- An older prospect. Game has no glaring holes, but his most significant area of improvement is consistency on both sides of the court. When taking a chance on older players in the draft, NBA teams want to know precisely who they are getting. While Clifford’s game has many layers, he needs to show that he’ll reliably do the job nightly to stay on the floor.

POR FIT: One thing that stood out to me doing research was his defensive rebounding, for a guard (8.1/g) which is like a neon sign pointing towards one of POR few defensive weaknesses. Initially a great 3rd guard to come off the bench, depending of course what becomes of Simons\Thybulle. Could play alongside Sharpe in smaller lineups, both great athletes, giving POR another smaller lineup wrinkle. The floor looks like a Wes Matthews to me and some of his traits remind me of Brandon Roy, regardless he seems like a very solid upgrade off the bench as a G\F hybrid

https://www.babcockhoops.com/post/2025-nba-draft-nique-clifford-scouting-report
https://edemirnba.substack.com/p/nique-clifford-scouting-report
https://www.sportsbusinessclassroom.com/scouting-colorado-state-guard-nique-clifford/

I think the players I have listed would be the pool that POR would make a selection from, with the caveat, unless POR goes best available talent (what THEY view that as), then you might see a surprise like Fears or Richardson if they were there or maybe Demin, even though he does not fit what this team needs and is more of an upside pick.

There also could be some guys who rise into contention like: Thomas Sorber or Will Riley. Maybe there is someone else I am overlooking. If there is another player someone wants to see a more detailed breakdown on let me know.

Great post.

Appreciate the insight.

[BlazersBroncos]

Note: DBPM, WS48 and DRTG are all constructed to favor Cs. I can give you anecdotal links to this if you would like. But... figure you can just peruse basketball-reference to see what I am talking about. Notwithstanding this comment, I really liked how Clingan played as a rookie. One thing to mention is that bigs and PGs generally take longer to develop and Clingan is only 20. Also, we should note one of his weaknesses. His FT% is an abysmal .596 - he will need to fix that if he is going to stay on the court in the playoffs (it is also why his TS% is low for a C). So, no he wasn't the most impactful player on the team on either side of the court - I don't think that is arguable. Now, if you want to say he has the highest ceiling of any of the Blazers - okay.

I agree on those advanced metrics favoring bigs. And I dont think he was the most impactful player this year. But end of the day all metrics show the team as a whole was better with him on the floor than off - and thats huge for a rookie.

I also agree on the FT shooting. His form looks good, I am hoping its a issue w/ conditioning (IE tired legs more or less - an issue with alot of bigs that dont have great conditioning).