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2025 Blazer Draft Prospects

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Walton1one
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Re: 2025 Blazer Draft Prospects 

Post#561 » by Walton1one » Tue May 6, 2025 7:33 pm

Floor & Ceiling on international man of mystery (somewhat), Joan Beringer, up to #15 on ESPN

https://floorandceiling.substack.com/p/joan-beringer-scouting-report-nba-draft?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=108382&post_id=162629579&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=1f5gb9&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email

Height: Says he’s 6-foot-11 without shoes right now; listed by other sources at 6-foot-9; I’d say1 that he is still growing and around 6-foot-10

Wingspan: 7-foot-52


Only picked up basketball in the summer of 2021 after outgrowing soccer when he was 15-years-old.


I’m high on him for many of the same reasons that I like Khaman Maluach, such as his youth, achievable outcome, trajectory and speed of improvement, and the roster/lineup trends around the NBA.I feel comfortable projecting Beringer as a rotation-level big who can make a real defensive impact at the basket, while being productive enough on low touches as a pick-and-roll finisher on offense.


OFFENSE
Strictly a play finisher. Easy fit in the pick-and-roll and around the dunker spot.
Screen-setting technique has improved even over this very season, but still inconsistent sometimes
Does he have a left hand?
Incredible potential as a rim runner.
Rebounding numbers are strong and his tape has high points — but hands and timing can keep improving.
Length, pop, and motor go a long way. Always active in the paint. Pursuit isn’t always picture perfect or clean, but he wants to do the dirty work around the rim.
Needs to keep his man off the glass more consistently.
Non-shooter. Has taken a few catch-and-shoot or spot-up twos. No threes recorded this season.
No self-creation. Post-ups are not his game.
Passing numbers are tiny, but feel on limited tape seems encouraging.


DEFENSE
First and foremost a defensive prospect given his shotblocking, ground coverage, production, tools, and youth. 8.6 BLK% in 30 games leads the Adriatic League
Fluid and twitchy when he’s defending the pick-and-roll. Has the verticality, length, and standing reach to contest, block, and alter shots.
Powerful leap off two feet means that he adds rim protection in help. Times himself well, although needs to be careful as he can foul with body still.
Gets stops in transition. Fluid hips come into play in the open court. Can stick with drives from smaller players, then block at the rim.
Length also gets stops in the post, but needs to keep adding strength. Still gives up weight/strength a lot of the time, but doesn’t let himself get bullied.
Has the tools and flashes switching onto ballhandlers. Needs to measure distance between himself and the ballhandler more consistently.
Motor shows up in space, as well.
Less raw than one would think, but inexperience still shows. Doesn’t quite know how to deal with changes of speed yet.
This does not have to be an issue, but he’s a long-term prospect and his development will be a story of patience.


Former coach Abdel Loucif5 said: "It was clear from two things; his desire to work and his exceptional physique. A tall player with such coordination, who already had good hands, is rare. He was ahead of everyone in sprints, even the point guards."
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Re: 2025 Blazer Draft Prospects 

Post#562 » by Walton1one » Tue May 6, 2025 7:54 pm

No Ceilings on Ben Saraf

https://www.noceilingsnba.com/p/magic-8-ballers-ben-saraf-done-that?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=536361&post_id=162721623&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=1f5gb9&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email

Saraf burst onto the scene at 16 when he started his career in Israel’s second-tier basketball league. Being a double-digit scorer in any professional league is impressive, but doing so at his age is noteworthy. Saraf spent just a season in the Israeli Basketball National League before signing with Elitzur Kiryat Ata in the Israeli Basketball Premier League, where he was once again a double-digit scorer before turning eighteen.


He’s a true lead guard at 6’7” and can use his size to get advantages going downhill to score and create for others. Saraf’s vision, timing, and audacity on his passes have transformed him from being a tall scoring wing into a player who could theoretically lead an offense at higher levels.


I have seen him listed as several inches shorter than 6'7, curious what his measurements end up at

...FIBA U16 European Championship and U18 EuroBasket. He led both tournaments in scoring per game, with 24.3 points per game at the U16 level and an eye-popping 28.1 points per game at the U18 level last summer, where he guided Israel to a surprising fourth-place finish.


...the buzz around Saraf comes from what he can do for an offense. When you dig into his game, there’s a lot that he can do, mainly with the ball in his hands...at 6’7” and roughly 200 pounds, Saraf is built like a modern wing. With reports of a slightly plus wingspan, solid athletic measurements, and good reflexes, Saraf will fit into the NBA as an above-average athlete. However, instead of playing like a wing, Saraf is a star with the ball in his hands, especially when he gets a head of steam.


Sounds like a guard version of Deni in the open court.

His speed won’t stand out in the NBA, but he has enough speed to build momentum. Once he gets moving in transition, Saraf is a terror to try to contain. Per Synergy, Saraf shot 61.5% in transition on two-pointers and was also a generous and shrewd passer for interior looks and transition bombs from deep... Saraf’s had few hiccups in scaling up how he runs an offense at the Bundesliga level. Saraf’s 1.47 assist-to-turnover ratio might not look the best on the stat sheet, but he’s processing the game at a high level when you watch the film.


A savvy NBA team will play Saraf at point from the moment he joins the squad, but a truly forward-thinking organization will also empower him to develop how he can be an effective connector off the ball...he’s at best orchestrating a pick-and-roll for his team. While the 2025 NBA draft class is chock-full of great guards, I’d hazard putting Saraf among the best ball-handlers when working off a screen. Not only does his height make him so good, but Saraf also has the right blend of coy attacking, delayed passing, and pinpoint accuracy to make passing windows appear out of thin air for his rolling big men.


...nitpick Ben Saraf’s passing...tries to force the action...many times Saraf simply wanted that window to appear and tried to zing the ball to his teammate with too much sauce...could also work to get a tighter handle in the halfcourt...skilled dribbler who can use pace to his advantage when attacking, but he’s too keen to attack a thin window and get stripped.


...beautiful to imagine what he can do with a more athletic lob threat at the next level. From a passing perspective, Saraf is built like a modern NBA point guard and has the distributing chops to back it up...he’s nowhere close to the danger zone of being a bad scorer/great scorer. Instead, Saraf is simply further behind in that development than he is as a passer...has also shown he has the shake in isolation situations to make opponents pay. As a ball-handler, one-on-one scoring will separate Saraf from stardom, but he’s put enough on tape that I’m leaving the door open for him to one day get there.


The biggest obstacle for Saraf as a finisher is how he deals with contact. He’s not afraid of driving into taller defenders at the hoop, but maybe he should be. There were too many times this season at Ulm that Saraf attacked and found himself turned away by a block or simply by a contest with contact. Strengthening his frame to finish better through the inevitable contact in his future is the best way for Saraf to improve his finishing craft...general baseline athleticism indicates that he still has room to grow as a finisher, including improved finishing through contact.


...the swing skill for Ben Saraf is his shooting...still a developing shooter...From a form perspective, Saraf is a bit of a messy shooter. He’s rarely on balance due to firing off the dribble, taking many step-backs and side-step shots, and has a funky release point above his head. Saraf also leads with his left foot, which, as a left-handed shooter, gets him into stickier situations with spacing. Despite these quibbles, Saraf has a high and quick release point that helps him get his shot off over other players...solid spot-up shooter...only hit 8/49 pull-up three-pointers this season, a stark difference from his spot-up numbers, which speaks to his lack of balance on this type of shot. It’ll limit Saraf’s ceiling as a point guard if he can’t start to hit more of these looks in the flow of the offense.


Saraf has taken 110 mid-range dribble mid-range jump shots this season, a gargantuan number, and hit them at a 40.9% clip. That’s fair efficiency for the difficulty on these shots, as Saraf is showing off his isolation scoring ability in one-on-one situations. I’m much more encouraged by his mid-range shooting...fair to wonder whether he can start to do that from a deeper range with more work on his jump shot. It would be a major boon for Saraf to add that element


From an anecdotal perspective, larger guards like Doncic, Cunningham, and LaMelo Ball often carry the lion’s share of an offensive burden before giving it back with worse defense. Thus, while it’s not a major problem if Saraf isn’t a good defender, it would help his NBA future if he is—especially if he doesn’t reach the star heights on offense that he’s less likely to reach.


...isn’t a good defender in my eyes. He’s perfectly suitable at times, able to use his quick hands to generate steals and fast break opportunities, but he’s a bit of a gambler for these...As an on-ball defender, Saraf has no clear consensus on his defense. That puts him in the below-average camp, mostly because he lacks the consistency...staying attached is difficult for Saraf. He opens his hips too often on the perimeter, leaving him vulnerable to changes in direction. He’s prone to lunging at the ball and getting blown by, which strains the rest of his defense. Despite his previous positive positioning, Saraf is also poor at getting over screens, often running right into them and putting his defense on the back foot...Smart NBA teams will continue to test Ben Saraf as an on-ball defender, which means it will be trial by fire for his rookie season...a smart team that drafts him will let him work out the kinks or reduce his minutes to show the importance of defense.


Saraf’s defensive ceiling is higher than that of other guards due to his size, but he’s currently showing a bit of a lower floor due to his lack of consistency. Given his struggles, I’m still out on whether he could become a good defender, but NBA teams will be clearly monitoring how he does in workouts and scrimmages leading up to the draft to get a better gauge on his ultimate upside in that area.


...worth noting that, while known as a developmental hub, Ulm has a drastically different roster construction strategy than, say, G-League Ignite. Saraf is the starter at point guard, but he’s flanked by former NBA draft picks Justinian Jessup and Isaiah Roby, alongside veteran starters Marcio Santos and Karim Jallow. Essengue, due to his raw presence, comes off the bench, but neither he nor Saraf is the only straw that stirs the drink. I view that as a positive for Saraf’s game, given its scalable nature. It would be positive to see him in an on-ball role that lets him dominate possessions and scoring, but it wouldn’t show how he’ll likely fit in at the NBA level.


If Saraf can become a more consistent and dangerous shooter, it’s easier to project him as a potential star...if Ben Saraf is asked to play on the wing and then relied upon to pick up wings on defense, he will struggle. He’ll still have a solid degree of success, but his best attributes won’t be highlighted properly. He’ll likely do well enough to play a role off the bench, but his passing won’t get to unlock a team in the same way it could if he got to handle the ball. That’s where context becomes most important at the NBA level. Saraf’s on track for success at the next level, but to what degree depends on his development and his starting home.
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Re: 2025 Blazer Draft Prospects 

Post#563 » by Walton1one » Wed May 7, 2025 7:45 pm

Rasheer Fleming workout

Read on Twitter


Nolan Traore picking up his level of play, note the age, 18 and playing ina professional league. I will be surprised if he does not go in the Top 20.

Read on Twitter


Will Riley, could be some helium for him as the draft gets closer

Read on Twitter


Lastly, ESPN\Woo did a deep dive on lottery teams, here is POR:

No. 10 Portland Trail Blazers
No. 1 pick odds: 3.8% | Top-four pick odds: 16.9%

If they land in the top four, they should pick ...

1. Flagg
2. Harper
3. Bailey
4. Edgecombe

Most likely pick if they stay at No. 10: Derik Queen, Maryland, power forward/center

Queen brings a level of offensive upside that separates him from the other big men in this draft, but he'll have to sharpen his habits and turn in more effort defensively to maximize his opportunity to excel in the NBA.

The Trail Blazers have an excellent rim protector in Donovan Clingan who could help cover for Queen in double-big lineups, making him an interesting consideration in this spot if Portland is willing to swing on his talent and play that way. Having an interior playmaker such as Queen might take some pressure off their guards and eventually make their offense more dynamic. -- Woo

What we're hearing on the Trail Blazers: Portland's roster took a small but important step forward this season, with internal development and the addition of Deni Avdija putting them within striking distance of a play-in spot. Ownership rewarded general manager Joe Cronin and coach Chauncey Billups with extensions, providing Blazers leadership some added stability moving forward.

There's still work to do to improve the team, with Clingan helping solidify the defense, Toumani Camara looking like a find and Scoot Henderson ideally ready for more responsibility. Rival teams have been curious as to what Portland's competitive timeframe ultimately looks like, and the direction it takes this offseason will be indicative of its urgency to compete. An unlikely stroke of luck in the lottery would be massive in determining that direction. -- Woo
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Re: 2025 Blazer Draft Prospects 

Post#564 » by Walton1one » Wed May 7, 2025 9:18 pm

Pre-Lottery mock draft from Vecenie, definitely worth a listen, not so much for who they have picked for each team, but more to listen from Vecenie's scouting insights about particular players, very insightful

They had POR trading back #10 to ATL for #13 & #22 which would not be a bad move IMO.



Some insights of particular note:

Kasparas Jakucionis
really likes his passing\playmaking
manipulates defenders, can put the ball in tight windows, live dribble passes with either hand
One of the 2-3 best passers in the draft
Shooting is real
biggest question: can he consistently separate as an on ball player?
6'5\6'6 big guard, able to play on\off ball at high level, that with feel for the game give him a higher forr than a lot of the other guards
Podziemski is an interesting comp

Carter Bryant - I am a little bummed here, as it is looking more likely that Bryant goes before POR picks at #10, they have him going to SA :banghead:

will not be a surprise seeing him go top 10 by the time draft comes
a stud
monster on the defense, plays with motor and competitive meanness
super switchy, 1-4, can guard point of attack
actively tries to make life miserable as an on ball defender, real physical defender
shot blocker on the ball
shoots the ball well, clean\high release, picks shots well
type of player on a winning basketball team, awesome kid

Collin Murray-Boyles
buys the passing at NBA level
monster on defense, incredible hand\eye coordination, team defender
super switchable, captain's a defense
Biggest question: Offensively, can he shoot? Probably never a high level shooter

Derik Queen
interesting note about CHI VP\Karnisovas - affinity towards players like Queen
good footwork\deceleration
good perimeter play
better passing than he showed
defense needs work

Nique Clifford - Had POR selecting him @ #13
3pt shooting is streaky\inconsistent,
jumper is the key, if he shoots it well, will be a long time NBA player
Like him as off ball player, attacks closeouts well
impactful defender, is switchable

Thomas Sorber
excellent in drop coverage, uses length well, may be 7'4 wingspan
rim protection good, very reactive, does not foul much
Offensively - work in progress
below the rim as a finisher, some touch there, more power based moves
more of an advantage player, play finisher who can pass

Nolan Traore
played very well recently
shooting the ball better
super impactful playing against high level players
diverse in how he attacks defenses
good long term upside

Liam McNeeley
Not concerned about shooting
competitive, great mindset

Noa Essengue - sounds like he is not a huge fam
production at age is interesting, but tape does not show an elite player
too many possessions where he does not make an impact
don't buy the jumper, has mechanical issues, leads to wild inconsistency
Not a ball handler either, makes it hard to project him as a ball creator
haven't seen much as a passer
good finisher in transition, but only made 47% of layups (bad # for his size)?
need clarity on measurements
not a good screener
not a positive defender, gives up penetration too easily, has trouble with change of pace players
interesting athletically but a long ways a way
has not shown anything as a wing player, more of a 4/5

Egor Demin
needs a team that runs a lot of ball screens, POR runs a lot of them
big guard, fits well with POR team size
not a great defender right now
can play with Scoot\Sharpe\Simons, different type of player than they have
drive & kick, drive & lob, can complement POR other players
can come in as a b\u ball screen initiator

Rasheer Fleming
questions about jumper, elongated release, needs to be quicker
cannot really dribble, not a wing a 4/5, probably best next to a center
does not map the court\process things well
Overrated defensively, fouls a lot, gets handsy, struggles to stay in front of players, closeouts are rough
more of a late 1st\early 2nd flyer

Joan Beringer
unbelievable athlete
great hands, catches everything
late to basketball, going to take some time
Clint Capela, run and jump big
little undersized at center but real length and moves incredibly well
great kid, hard worker

Cedric Coward
Likes him a lot, thinks he is an edge of the lottery player
very smooth player for size\length (6'6, 7ft wingspan) - smooth jumper, euro step
not very explosive athletically

Noah Penda
massive hands, big individual, plays with low center of gravity
high feel connector
best on defense, good anticipation, good disruptor, good rotations, can guard in space, a positive defender
strong & physical, switchable, foot speed could be a concern
good passer, point forward capability
Where does shot end up is key, long been subpar shooter from 3pt
53% at basket in half court, 47% layups

Will Riley
questionable shooter, inconsistent, mechanics are all over the place
makes some impressive shots & good touch, key is ironing out mechanics
good finisher, despite lack of strength\length
controlled on drives, understands how to decelerate & change speeds
really good euro step, good floater
maintains touch thru contact very well
good passer off his drives
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Re: 2025 Blazer Draft Prospects 

Post#565 » by dckingsfan » Wed May 7, 2025 10:06 pm

Walton1one wrote:They had POR trading back #10 to ATL for #13 & #22 which would not be a bad move IMO.

OMG, do it! There isn't a huge difference between 10 and 20. Of course, Cronin still needs to make the appropriate picks.
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Re: 2025 Blazer Draft Prospects 

Post#566 » by Norm2953 » Wed May 7, 2025 10:43 pm

Wizards board has a lot of insights on the upcoming draft.

I do wonder about though their rationale that Portland would not take a big at 10. NBA draft
combine is coming up in 4 days for while most of the guys won't workout, the combine
measurements are going to be vital.

I'd love to add a big bodied player like CBM assuming he's really 6-7 for it seems he'd fit like a glove
with DC, Camara and Deni
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Re: 2025 Blazer Draft Prospects 

Post#567 » by Walton1one » Wed May 7, 2025 11:13 pm

No Ceilings latest Big Board

1-2-3-4
Flagg - Harper - Bailey - Edgecombe

5) Kon Knueppel (up 3)

6) Derik Queen

7) Tre Johnson

8) Khaman Maluach

9) Kasparas jakucionis (down 3)

10) Jeremiah Fears

11) Collin Murray-Boyles

12) Egor Demin

13) Nique Clifford

14) Jase Richardson (up 3)

15) Rasheer Fleming

16) Asa Newell

17) Carter Bryant (down 3) - Think they are off here

18) Danny Wolf

19) Ben Saraf

20) Liam McNeeley (down 2)

Noa Essengue @ 21
Thomas Sorber @ 22
Will Riley @ 23 (up 2)

Other big risers\fallers:

Labaron Philon @ 26 (up 3)
Johni Broome @ 28 (down 4)
Adou Thiero @ 29 (down 3)
Cedric Coward @ 31 (up 15)
Joan Beringer @ 32 (up 5)
Maxime Raynaud @ 34 (up 4)
Tahaad Pettiford @ 37 (down 3)
Bogoljub Markovic @ 39 (unranked)
Alex Condon @ 40 (down 8)
Drake Powell @ 42 (up 6)
Karter Knox @ 43 (up 8)
Koby Brea @ 47 (unranked)
Alijah Martin @ 49 (unranked)
Chaz Lanier @ 50 (up 10)
Darrion William @ 51 (up 5)
Micah Peavy @ 52 (up 6)
Max Shulga @ 54 (unranked)
Kobe Sanders @ 55 (unranked)
Otega Oweh @ 57 (unranked)
Alex Toohey @ 59 (unranked)
Milos Uzan @ 60 (unranked)
[url]
https://www.noceilingsnba.com/p/2025-nba-draft-big-board-v7?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=536361&post_id=162798102&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=1f5gb9&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email[/url]
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Re: 2025 Blazer Draft Prospects 

Post#568 » by Walton1one » Wed May 7, 2025 11:31 pm

Norm2953 wrote:Wizards board has a lot of insights on the upcoming draft.

I do wonder about though their rationale that Portland would not take a big at 10. NBA draft
combine is coming up in 4 days for while most of the guys won't workout, the combine
measurements are going to be vital.

I'd love to add a big bodied player like CBM assuming he's really 6-7 for it seems he'd fit like a glove
with DC, Camara and Deni


Except he can't shoot from outside whatsoever. A 6'7 guy who plays more like a 4/5, may be undersized (could be 6'5?) and takes a negligible amount of threes (in 2yrs has taken 39 3's (only made 9) - 23.1%) does not seem to be a good fit for this team to me, yes defensively he projects to be good IF he can body bigs AND guard in space\perimeter, so he adds to POR defensive identity there, but the deficiencies from outside the post down do not seem to fit very well with a low post center like Clingan, or a slasher like Deni, so I don't see how that works to POR advantage, just another poor shooter to an already poor shooting team. That being said, Cronin probably loves him and will draft him if he is there.

So he projects to help defensively, does not really help offensively (TS% is good, but benefited from a lot of post ups that may not work as effectively in the NBA)

looks like could be a good connective piece, but he won't be a hub like he was in college

He is a decent defensive rebounder, so he addresses some of POR weaknesses

but offers nothing to the most important need IMO (outside shooting, 3pt).

Did anyone else watch the HOU\GS game and see how their offense broke down in the halfcourt? hard to win in the NBA playoffs w\o having a good half court offense and the ability to hit outside shots consistently. Murray-Boyles does not help with that
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Re: 2025 Blazer Draft Prospects 

Post#569 » by Norm2953 » Thu May 8, 2025 12:45 am

We'll have to see if he's indeed 6-7 but perhaps he'll end up being another Draymond Green which is his
NBA comp.

He'd bring another big bodied player and defensively Portland would be elite up front and able to match up
physically if the Blazers are a playoff team. May never be a star but will be a guy who will play in the league.
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Re: 2025 Blazer Draft Prospects 

Post#570 » by Walton1one » Thu May 8, 2025 3:01 am

Norm2953 wrote:We'll have to see if he's indeed 6-7 but perhaps he'll end up being another Draymond Green which is his
NBA comp.

He'd bring another big bodied player and defensively Portland would be elite up front and able to match up
physically if the Blazers are a playoff team. May never be a star but will be a guy who will play in the league.


You could 100% be right, I think there will be better players on the board but then again I’m an enthusiast not a professional scout.

I agree his measurements will be something to monitor
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Re: 2025 Blazer Draft Prospects 

Post#571 » by Norm2953 » Thu May 8, 2025 3:59 am

There are no right answers for its clear the ceiling for a player like CMB isn't as high as others but it looks
like Portland at 10 could have their choice of bigs amongst Newell, Queen and CMB.

I look at fit if on the roster and see Deni listed as a SF (6-9 240) and Camara (6-7 229) likely another SF.
There is no way CMB is a SF for at 6-7 231 (hopefully), he's going to be a guy who makes it in the league
as a guy who like Draymond will have to rebound and play defense and be a guy who will help DC with his
physical play. Those guys who are built like a football TE unless they get hurt will play 8-10 years in the
league. Likely the safest pick and will get some rotation minutes as a rookie, especially if the team
trades Ayton.

Team could easily draft the best shooter available or perhaps look for a trade down. Whatever they do, I
hope they build around the strengths of the younger core which perhaps is defense. Build a fundamentally
sound team, perhaps trade Ayton to bring back a rotation shooter like Knecht. In my mind, its their best
chance at winning games as opposed to overpaying for guys like Ayton and Simons
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Re: 2025 Blazer Draft Prospects 

Post#572 » by Case2012 » Thu May 8, 2025 8:25 pm

I actually love CMB, took me a long time but having a defensive specialist offensive hub sounds awesome, having said that players like that specialize in half court offenses and CB has gone away from that style for a more up and down tempo so i question his fit, and of course the measurements are a concern too. I love the idea of trading down with Atlanta and still getting the Orlando pick for Simons. Nique(13), Yaxel/flemming(16) and WCJ(22).

Those are my guys. Love Wolf, CMB, and Queen too because I think this team desperately needs playmakers and bigs with vision tend to be pretty successful.
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Re: 2025 Blazer Draft Prospects 

Post#573 » by tester551 » Thu May 8, 2025 8:57 pm

Case2012 wrote: I love the idea of trading down with Atlanta and still getting the Orlando pick for Simons. Nique(13), Yaxel/flemming(16) and WCJ(22).

Noa(13), Nique(16) and Thiero(22)
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Re: 2025 Blazer Draft Prospects 

Post#574 » by Norm2953 » Thu May 8, 2025 9:25 pm

It'll be interesting to see if a defensive minded team like the Knicks ends up winning a title but if Portland
adds the next Draymond Green to their front court with Camara, Deni and DC with Scoot, SS and Thybulle
as a west coast version of an Eastern conference team. A tough physical team, especially if the veterans
get moved
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Re: 2025 Blazer Draft Prospects 

Post#575 » by BlazersBroncos » Thu May 8, 2025 9:29 pm

We dont have the roster slots to draft 3 FRP IMO - especially if we are intending to be active in moving off Simons / Grant / Ayton (As their large deals make 1-for-1 trades difficult - we almost certainly would be taking back more players than we are trading if we finally moved one of these 3).

If we ended up w/ 13, 16 and 22 I would try to offer 22 to CHI in order to get our FRP back. Then go Noa (13) and Nique (16). Love the hedge of a 'big swing' and a 'win now' type.
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Re: 2025 Blazer Draft Prospects 

Post#576 » by Case2012 » Thu May 8, 2025 11:19 pm

That's a good point. I think Essengue is this years Salaun though. I'd rather swing on Yaxel's game translating to the pro's or betting on WCJ having another couple levels, but i like the idea and having control of our picks should be a priority .
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Re: 2025 Blazer Draft Prospects 

Post#577 » by zzaj » Thu May 8, 2025 11:36 pm

I'm not sure Portland can swing getting 3 picks in this draft, but if they can that would be a BOON to free up the obligation to Chicago. Next year's draft looks deeper than this one, IMHO.
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Re: 2025 Blazer Draft Prospects 

Post#578 » by Norm2953 » Thu May 8, 2025 11:42 pm

I'm doubtful Chicago would take 22 to get our own pick back.

Betting on guys like Noa would require a lot of patience for Salaun averaged 5.9 ppg in his rookie season. Blazers
are still waiting on Rupert who averaged 3.0 ppg. If the team thinks they want to compete this season, they
would not be picking guys who require a lot of patience.
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Re: 2025 Blazer Draft Prospects 

Post#579 » by BlazersBroncos » Fri May 9, 2025 12:26 am

Norm2953 wrote:I'm doubtful Chicago would take 22 to get our own pick back.

Betting on guys like Noa would require a lot of patience for Salaun averaged 5.9 ppg in his rookie season. Blazers
are still waiting on Rupert who averaged 3.0 ppg. If the team thinks they want to compete this season, they
would not be picking guys who require a lot of patience.


I simply think Noa is a different level of prospect as Salaun and Rayan.

Salaun and Rayan tested as meh athletes - especially Rayan who was notably bad in all athletic testing if I remember correctly.

I think Noa plays with a different level of athleticism and is much more of a unicorn than either. I think think outside the top of the draft Noa offers the best upside given his fluidity at his size and age and his ability to get to the rim from the wing at his size and age.

We should be targeting guys that have even a slight chance of being needle movers rather than trying to round out the roster with guys that win-now. Thats just absurd to me for a team that is lacking high end talent. Sure, get another draft pick and go safe but with the highest pick PDX has in this draft I want them to swing as big as possible for a slight chance it works out. As it stands the teams talent level is just not high enough from top to bottom - but I understand the FO is foolishly unlikely to feel that way.
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Re: 2025 Blazer Draft Prospects 

Post#580 » by Case2012 » Fri May 9, 2025 12:34 am

Norm2953 wrote:I'm doubtful Chicago would take 22 to get our own pick back.



Why? That makes zero sense. They've had this pick owed forever and I imagine if we make the playoffs they're getting a pick somewhere in that range anyways. You think they're gonna turn it down on the slim chance they might be able to get it in 2 years at 17, or 18 instead of 22? or get 2 seconds if we dont even make the playoffs the next 3 years?

A lot of people have made this claim without any argument as to why? You think they're gonna hold out for 15 just in case?
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