2025 Blazer Draft Prospects

[Walton1one]

Starting at 29min, interesting analysis on both Carter Bryant & Rasheer Fleming:

Watch on YouTube

;t=7s

[Walton1one]

ESPN released a big board today: Some interesting rankings (movers up\down) and IMO some interesting comments on a few players:

On Edgecombe:

Edgecombe measured better than expected in Chicago, standing taller, stronger and with a longer wingspan than previously known, which alleviated some concerns about needing to play point guard early in his pro career. He possesses dimensions similar to those of Boston Celtics players Derrick White and Jrue Holiday.

Top 6 pretty standard: Flagg - Harper - Bailey - Edgecombe - Johnson

Maluach @ #7

Maluach is the only true big man projected in our top-10, and pretty much every team in that range would likely consider him a worthy development project to build around long-term.

Fears @ #8

He measured a hair bigger at the combine than Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland did in 2019, another playmaker who has gradually evolved into a strong starting option over time...Fears is thought to be in play as high as No. 5 to Utah, with New Orleans also in need of a long-term point guard at No. 7, and Brooklyn standing out as a strong fit at No. 8.

Knueppel @ #8

Knueppel is receiving long looks in the top five of this draft, with his excellent shooting and overall readiness to contribute offensively creating a strong selling point for front offices. Philadelphia, Charlotte and Utah all represent potential landing spots and would benefit from plugging him in right away.

Essengue @ #9 (up 5)

Essengue's youth, tools, two-way instincts and rapid rate of improvement suggest a high ceiling that could lead to a significant rise on draft night. Lottery teams would love to get him in their buildings to get a better feel for his body, perimeter shooting potential and intangibles, but that might not be for a while as his season could extend to the day after the first round of the NBA draft (June 25), with Game 5 of the German league finals scheduled for June 26.

Jakucionis @ #10 (down 3)

Jakucionis continues to receive hard looks from lottery teams after measuring well at the combine (6-6 in shoes and 205 pounds), and coming in similar dimensionally to NBA wings such as Terance Mann and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope...The way the lottery fell didn't expressly help Jakucionis, as two potential landing spots in San Antonio and Philadelphia moved up into the top four. He still appears ticketed for the 8-to-14 part of the draft, with his versatility, playmaking feel, shooting potential and intangibles holding appeal to teams in that range, with Brooklyn, Portland and Chicago all viable fits.

Demin @ #11

Demin has solidified his standing in the predraft process, measuring well at the combine and conducting an explosive pro day where he showed significantly better potential as a perimeter shooter than his season at BYU might suggest...there's little doubt he possesses significant talent and upside to grow into a point guard who can make most every pick-and-roll read and pass and will continue to fill out his well-proportioned frame nicely in time...Demin is getting looks from teams all throughout the lottery and is telling teams in interviews that he is happy to play any role that is asked of him, whether on or off the ball, citing the likes of Portland's Deni Avdija, Orlando's Franz Wagner and Detroit's Cade Cunningham as players he has been studying.

Bryant @ #12 (up 8)

As predicted for much of the season, Bryant's standing has steadily risen as teams have gotten a closer look at him in private settings, getting a better feel for his impressive talent that suggests both a high floor and ceiling. He measured a near 7-foot wingspan and 39½ inch vertical leap in Chicago, giving him measurements similar to players such as Dorian Finney-Smith (Lakers) and Nicolas Batum (Clippers) who were also asked to slide all over the floor positionally much like Bryant will likely do in the NBA. Quite a few teams in the late lottery -- starting with Toronto at No. 9 and extending through the Magic at No. 16 -- are looking for frontcourt players who can space the floor effectively, giving Bryant several potential landing spots in this portion of the draft

Queen @ #13 (down 3)

Queen figures to hear his name called in the back half of the lottery...didn't necessarily help himself at the combine, where he didn't shoot the ball convincingly in drills, tested poorly and didn't show up in noticeably better playing shape...missed opportunity to change some of the narratives around him as a prospect, with scouts wanting to see him make major improvements to his frame long-term...Teams in need of frontcourt help will certainly consider him, with Brooklyn (No. 8), Toronto (No. 9), Portland (No. 11) and Chicago (No. 12) all interesting fits. But there are also scenarios where he ultimately slips further than that, with a wider range due to all the other variables in the lottery.

Murray-Boyles @ #14 (down 3)

Murray-Boyles has been somewhat polarizing for teams drafting in this range, due to the extreme contrasts between his strengths and weaknesses, which make him a better fit for certain situations...Analytics-heavy teams are intrigued by how well he rates in their draft models, thanks to his unique blend of passing, free throw drawing, finishing prowess and defensive event creation, especially at his age...Others are concerned about his lack of size and 3-point shooting prowess, as well as the fact his Gamecocks team struggled in SEC play, being overmatched in terms of talent.

With measurements similar to those of Golden State's Draymond Green and Trayce Jackson-Davis, Murray-Boyles will need to find the right fit with a team looking to tap into his defensive versatility and playmaking, as well as a plan for improving his shooting, which did not look encouraging in combine drills.

Beringer @ #15

He has garnered significant attention throughout the late lottery and mid-first portions of the draft, as teams are drawn to his impressive physical tools, which enable him to cover ground on the perimeter, switch onto smaller players and protect the rim at a high level.

McNeeley @ #16

McNeeley helped himself to an extent simply by showing up healthy to the combine, where he tested better than some expected and measured at 6-8 when factoring for shoes...His past performance projects he'll shoot it better from long range than he did this season, something teams will want to continue seeing from him.

Riley @ #17

Riley is receiving strong looks from teams in the 11-to-20 range of the first round, with no shortage of interest surrounding his offensive potential...Due to the amount of physical projection required for him to maximize his pro career, the range of outcomes for Riley is on the wider side, but his excellent offensive instincts and projectable 3-point shooting are calling cards that will inspire a team to invest in his significant upside long-term.

Sorber @ #18 (up 6)

Despite being out with a toe injury since mid-February, which required surgery and will prevent him from conducting workouts or playing NBA summer league in July, Sorber's stock has improbably risen even without stepping on the floor. His measurements partially explain the movement -- with a 7-6 wingspan and 263-pound frame giving him dimensions similar to Indiana's Thomas Bryant and Denver's DeAndre Jordan. This year's rugged NBA playoffs, which have emphasized the need for teams to have multiple big men they can throw on the court at different moments -- sometimes together at the same time -- haven't hurt either, with his passing prowess and defensive versatility making him look well suited as a quality development option for teams long-term.

Several teams picking from the late lottery and through the early 20s could be looking to draft a frontcourt player with an eye toward the future, giving him plenty of potential suitors starting with Chicago or Atlanta at Nos. 12 and 13, respectively, and continuing through Indiana at No. 23 or, worst case, the Nets at No. 26.

Wolf @ #19

While his range is on the wider side, Wolf should hear his name called in the mid-to-late first round, where a creative front office and coaching staff will target his skill set and seek to plug him in as a useful role player.

Richardson @ #20 (down 7)

Size and outlier physical tools typically rise in the predraft process, which might push Richardson down the board after measuring under 6-2 in shoes, 178 pounds with a 6-6 wingspan at the NBA predraft camp. Richardson would be somewhat undersized for an NBA point guard, but played more of a combo guard role for Michigan State...With several guards expected to come off the board in the second half of the first round, and perhaps a limited appetite among teams to absorb all of them, there will be considerable jockeying in this part of the draft as prospects look to position themselves through private team workouts.

Newell @ #21

At the moment, Newell has one of the wider ranges in the first round, receiving looks from teams in the back half of the lottery on down to this range of the draft. How high he ultimately goes will hang heavily on private team workouts, and whether he can play his way ahead of some of the other established bigs ranked ahead of him on our board...Teams are curious about the productivity and shooting flashes he showed...If he can become more comfortable on the perimeter and sharpen his habits defensively, Newell has strong upside to tap into thanks to his size, mobility and motor.

Clifford @ #22 (up 3)

...entering June as the oldest player among our top 30 in this list, and a viable plug-and-play bench option for any team that needs immediate wing help. The good news for him is the majority of teams would benefit from adding depth at his position...He's drawing looks higher than this as a result, as a well-rounded offensive player with feel who also offers defensive versatility.

Gonzalez @ #23

...seen an increase in playing time over the past month....allowing him to show off his explosiveness, passing and finishing prowess, while making a major impact defensively, flying all over the court and making plays on and off the ball. It's been a stark reminder for why Gonzalez started the season as a projected lottery pick, leading some scouts to wonder where his draft stock would be if he were in a more favorable playing situation...its almost a certainty teams will be unable to evaluate him in a workout setting. It also remains to be seen if he will be able to fulfill his medical, measurements and NBA combine activity as his season might not be done by June 25.

Raynaud @ #24 (up 10)

...holds intrigue as a late-blooming prospect, also trending toward being a reliable floor-spacer from long range. In a draft class somewhat devoid of traditional centers, Raynaud possesses value to teams looking to add and develop size up front...The question now is how high he'll rise on the board.

Traore @ #25 (down 7)

Traore played some of his best basketball of the season over the past two months, hitting 43% of his 3s in the final 10 games, showcasing his impressive ballhandling, playmaking and creativity. Still, this was a decidedly uneven year for the just-turned 19-year-old...will attend the draft combine in Treviso, Italy, from June 2-4, to conduct measurements, athletic testing, shooting drills, a thorough medical examination, and interviews with NBA teams. Then he'll have two weeks to travel around the United States working out at NBA practice facilities, which could help improve his outlook with some of the teams in the back half of the first round that might be looking to bolster their backcourt depth.

Others of note:
Fleming @ #26
Coward @ #29
Powell @ #31
Yang @ #35

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/41662748/2025-nba-draft-big-board-rankings-top-100-prospects-players

[DeBlazerRiddem]

Essengue @ #9 (up 5)

Essengue's youth, tools, two-way instincts and rapid rate of improvement suggest a high ceiling that could lead to a significant rise on draft night. Lottery teams would love to get him in their buildings to get a better feel for his body, perimeter shooting potential and intangibles, but that might not be for a while as his season could extend to the day after the first round of the NBA draft (June 25), with Game 5 of the German league finals scheduled for June 26.

I think he would be the player I would be most disappointed to have him go a few picks ahead of us. He just has one of the best ceilings, his size, the way he moves, his well rounded skillset. He drives and finishes well, he has the ability to pull up and shoot over defenders, smart defense, quick decisions on offense. One of the youngest players, playing against some of the better competition. I'm not sure he has a "hang his hat" type stand out skill but he also has very few weaknesses and I could see him building on that and becoming a pretty elite forward, sometimes stars start out by just having a very high baseline for all skills and continuing to improve but with his baseline at his age it's hard to see him not being effective in some capacity.

If a team at 8/9 is going to take him I would seriously check out the cost of moving up a few picks and ensuring we get him. Bryant and maybe Coward would be fine consolation prizes, but Essengue has a path to being something more special than either of those two.

[Norm2953]

I don't know if I'd give up a lot of assets to move up get a guy like Noa if he's going to be another
like Salaun (Hornets) and Rupert.

Depending on how much it takes to move up 2-3 spots, they might be better of taking Demin or Bryant
or someone else who might drop to us at 11.

Best to just pick the BPA amongst a group of players at 11

[DeBlazerRiddem]

I don't know if I'd give up a lot of assets to move up get a guy like Noa if he's going to be another
like Salaun (Hornets) and Rupert.

Depending on how much it takes to move up 2-3 spots, they might be better of taking Demin or Bryant
or someone else who might drop to us at 11.

Best to just pick the BPA amongst a group of players at 11

He's significantly ahead of both those guys IMO. Both of those guys were pure athletes that needed to develop basketball skills, they had a lot of holes in their games, but Noa has a much better feel for the game at a younger age and fewer holes in his game.

I like going BPA but I also think if your scouting team identifies a guy they really like that you go and try and get that guy. Maybe Noa's not that guy, who knows my opinions go all over the place this time of year lol next week it might be someone else, but I do like his upside more and more.

[tester551]

I don't know if I'd give up a lot of assets to move up get a guy like Noa if he's going to be another
like Salaun (Hornets) and Rupert.

Tell me that you don't know about Noa without telling me you don't know anything about him...

Aside from being French - these 3 are nothing alike.

[Walton1one]

I think both Bryant and Demin are better prospects than Essengue

For one, both have definable skills that can keep them on the court in the NBA

Essengue is a lottery ticket, you are hoping that the physical profile & athletic tools can develop into something tangible that an NBA team can rely on.

How is Pacome Dadiet doing BTW?

LY @ Ulm, PER 36 - 15.6 - 3.9 -. 8

Essengue @ Ulm this year, PER 36 - 18.8 - 8 - 1.7

Not saying that either can’t be good/great NBA players, just saying they are both lottery ticket/longer term developmental players where it is TBD what they can bring to an NBA team

I would take Jakucionis, Bryant or Demin (and Knueppel if he somehow miraculously fell that far) before I would consider Essengue.

[Norm2953]

I don't know if I'd give up a lot of assets to move up get a guy like Noa if he's going to be another
like Salaun (Hornets) and Rupert.

Tell me that you don't know about Noa without telling me you don't know anything about him...

Aside from being French - these 3 are nothing alike.

None of us has really seen any of these guys in person but the thing they have in common is that they are all reportedly
as green as grass and they will all take a lot of patient coaching for them to develop. Is Chauncey's coaching staff capable
of developing them?

[Walton1one]

P1
15.4 - 6.9 - .9
1 BLK - 1 STL
54.3% FG
29.2% 3pt FG (2.7 att/g)

P2
12.4 - 5.3 - 1.1
.6 BLK - 1.4 STL
56% FG
29.4% 3pt FG (1.9 att/g)

One is Essengue, the other?

P1
6’9 H - 6’11.25 WS - 36.5 vert

P2
6’9 H - 6’11 WS - 35.5 vert

[Norm2953]

I think both Bryant and Demin are better prospects than Essengue

For one, both have definable skills that can keep them on the court in the NBA

Essengue is a lottery ticket, you are hoping that the physical profile & athletic tools can develop into something tangible that an NBA team can rely on.

How is Pacome Dadiet doing BTW?

LY @ Ulm, PER 36 - 15.6 - 3.9 -. 8

Essengue @ Ulm this year, PER 36 - 18.8 - 8 - 1.7

Not saying that either can’t be good/great NBA players, just saying they are both lottery ticket/longer term developmental players where it is TBD what they can bring to an NBA team

I would take Jakucionis, Bryant or Demin (and Knueppel if he somehow miraculously fell that far) before I would consider Essengue.

You're likely correct that a player like Noa is all projection.

I'm skeptical whoever Chauncey names as his coaching staff can develop these physically projectable players. I do think there will be a
group of 6-8 players that can go in any order and its quite likely the Wizards at six is where the draft really starts for the first 5 picks
are likely set.

Let's say there is a group of 6-8 players that can go in any order and there are real life issues which will impact this draft for the
Toronto board has been discussing the impact on the Trump's immigration policy on their drafting Maluach. Likely if Portland just sits
tight, a solid player will drop to them at 11 just like Buzelis dropped to the Bulls at 11 in the 2024 draft.

What I'd hate to see is Portland trading assets to get a projectable player like Noa and he ends up either sitting on the bench
next to Chauncey or in the G league for the next couple of seasons until he's taken by the new expansion team in either Seattle
or Vegas

[oldfishermen]

Prediction, biggest bust. Demin

Lets work backwards, starting with his hot combine shooting.

He only took shots in drills. He did not play in any of the combine 5 on 5 matches.

Which got me thinking. Why is Demin afraid to shoot when he is guarded? So I looked at his BYU game log.

Most of his decent shooting games came against weak teams. Here is Demin's 3P results against ranked teams.

ALA. .125,,, 1-6
WIS. .333,,, 2-6
VCU. .429,,,3-7
HOU, ,143,,,1-7
ISU. .333,,,1-3
ARIZ. .200,,,1-5
KU. .200,,, 1-5
ARIZ. .222,,,2-9
HOU. .000, , 0-3

Short version, Denin does not shoot well against better teams. Which implies he will not be a good shooter in the NBA.

Demin and his agent are putting on a smoke and mirrors show to camouflage his bad inconsistent shooting.

[Walton1one]

You could be right. Vecenie said something similar, shoots great in practice, but doesn’t translate to games.

Apparently he changed his shooting mechanics, and I don’t put much stock into any pro day\scripted workout, in fact, several scouts have said that pro days can only hurt never really help

What concerns me the most about Demin is not his shooting, it is his ability to create separation & his handle under pressure. Floor & Ceiling is one amongst many to point this out:

The Russian prospect requires a heavy volume of pick-and-rolls to come up with creative reads…he needs a screen to get downhill because his handle, athleticism, and physicality are not dynamic enough in the half-court. Demin has real issues separating against defenders, leading to problems with his finishing, turnovers, and shot selection.

Pick & rolls are a staple of the NBA game, so that is not as concerning as his handle under pressure and being able to create any kind of separation 1v1, particularly if his shot doesn’t come around, then what does he provide?

So let’s say all of that happens (unlikely) he is still a 6’9 guard with incredible vision\passing acumen who can play multiple positions, those type of players, tend to stick around in the NBA, just look at POR own Dalano Banton, an inefficient offensive player, who provides little else, and yet he still is on an NBA roster.

He is a risk\project like Essengue, however, he has multiple definable NBA traits which gives you some semblance of his floor, and if the shooting does come around or he is able to create any kind of separation or mid range potential? He becomes a valuable rotational player.

Either way, even if he hits, he’s going to take several years, just look at Josh Giddey whom he Is most often compared to, 2 to 4 years to get to where he is now, which is a player who is able to provide something positive to an NBA roster.

Or you spend 2 to 3 years to find out that there’s nothing substantial there. A player needs to have more than just athleticism and physical tools to succeed in the NBA

[oldfishermen]

All fair points.

While going through Demin's game log. In the same games his shooting was horrible, he often made 100% of his free throws. So he can shoot well, but not under pressure.

He could still be a decent regular season player. But my guess is. In the playoffs, due to the extra pressure and tighter defense. Demin's production will fall way off.

[Walton1one]

I’d be surprised to see POR trade assets to move up a few spots, that generally has not been there MO

Now would they consider trading assets to move up into the top 5, maybe?

My guess is the player they would be chasing is Edgecombe, he measured much better than expected, is a defense first guard, which fits their team\Billups’ identity with uber athleticism & a developing offensive game

If they are going to go all in to compete for the playoffs, then trading away some assets now to chase a guy who would be potentially a bigger difference maker than anybody on the board after #5 might make sense?

Could theytempt CHA?

Maybe PHI at #3 might be the better team to target getting them to trade down eight slots and giving them some feature assets and maybe a veteran player or two?

It would be quite fitting to see POR jump CHA after they’ve selected before Portland twice now and take the player that they probably want right out from under them. That would be some nice justice.

[DeBlazerRiddem]

Or you spend 2 to 3 years to find out that there’s nothing substantial there. A player needs to have more than just athleticism and physical tools to succeed in the NBA

Yeah, it's pretty frustrating for the casual draft enthusiast but so much of what makes a player great or not is their mentality and some of those less-tangible aspects.


Back to Essengue, I came away from watching some game tape thinking he is less of a project than I initially thought and as compared to Bryant/Demin and even Coward. Bryant, who I love his 2-way potential and think he will continue improving like Anunoby, but right now he reminds me more of Kris Murray. He's younger, bigger, better tools, so I expect him to continue improving and blow past that but he will take several years to get there so is a bit of a project himself. Demin, I still am not sure what role he ends up with in the NBA, I still struggle to see him as a starter, but I don't think he is ready for NBA PG duties full time so he will take a couple years to season into his role, likely leading a bench unit for a few years. Coward seemed to really struggle against length and he way he moves I just don't recall many NBA players that were very successful with inefficient biomechanics, although it does make him a little shifty if he can take advantage of that, but he will rely a lot on his jumper so its not a hard no but he could struggle to find efficient scoring opportunities. (To be clear, all 3 are still good prospects, I'm just being nitpicky)

Essengue on the other hand, seems to be playing the exact same role for his team that he would play in the NBA, so I actually think what he is doing now might translate a little better than the others who will have some adjustment needed. And I just came away really impressed with his poise on the court, I almost got a Kawhi Leonard type demeanor, maybe that is too high praise and I mean he is far from having that kind of impact but what I am getting at is he seems like a guy very comfortable in his current role and in a role that should translate pretty cleanly to what he will be asked to do in the NBA. He's still young, he still makes mistakes and gets out of control, by no means is he a perfect prospect or anything, but I just think his floor looks solid and not many limitations that would keep him from being something special if he continues improving.

Usually I look at highlights and get real excited about a guy and then go watch game tape and find myself pulling back a lot of the hype. I'll notice little things that look to be a problem. As I said for Bryant it was struggles to consistently make an impact and not tending to float, it reminds me of Kris Murray, and is sometimes a tough hurdle mentally for some players to impose themselves on the game regularly. For Demin it was how slow he looked, his struggles to create separation and scoring opportunities for himself. For Coward it was his somewhat awkward movements and his kind of surprising struggles to finish against size, even with his length but it was a real criticism that he feasted against bad teams and struggled against better teams with the kind of size he would face in the NBA.

Maybe this is just an overreaction from a bit deeper dive on him this weekend, and my history is littered with absolutely horrible draft takes so I'm by no means an expert who should be taken seriously, but right now I do have him over those other guys I was comparing him to. I really liked his ability to attack the basket, to finish through contact, draw fouls. He will face better defenders in the NBA but he has the tools and ability to continue doing that. His shooting obviously needs to improve but his shot looks good to me and he has a really solid FT% on great volume so if he can add a respectable 3 point shot suddenly he is a very tough player to guard with his ability to attack the basket, he has the size and mobility combo to create matchup problems against a lot of the defenders he will face, and it's just a scoring upside that I don't see the other 3 players here really having. But it does depend a lot on whether you think his shooting will improve or not, right now his shooting numbers are close to Demin and that is pretty bad.

So that's the hot take this weekend. Maybe next weekend it will be someone else.

[dckingsfan]

Prediction, biggest bust. Demin...

So this... run, do not walk away.

[Norm2953]

It'd be interesting to see what the cost to get up to 4 would be if VJ was still on the board.

Likely it would take Milwaukee's #1 pick in 2029 in any deal to get up into the top 4

[dckingsfan]

I think both Bryant and Demin are better prospects than Essengue...

I think one of Noa Essengue, Carter Bryant or Nique Clifford will be really good. I wouldn't mind trading down or up to try to get two of them.

Demin - not so much. Run. I think one of Traore, Richardson (if he can transition to PG) and Fears in the same group (if you will).

This is a really hard draft - I give the FO a pass. But it is what differentiates good FOs from average ones.

Also, with all the withdraws - this is a good year not to have a 2nd round pick. Damn, deep draft to not so much... In the future - 2nd round picks will be more valuable (IMO) taking older players.

[Walton1one]

I think both Bryant and Demin are better prospects than Essengue...

I think one of Noa Essengue, Carter Bryant or Nique Clifford will be really good. I wouldn't mind trading down or up to try to get two of them.

Demin - not so much. Run. I think one of Traore, Richardson (if he can transition to PG) and Fears in the same group (if you will).

This is a really hard draft - I give the FO a pass. But it is what differentiates good FOs from average ones.

Also, with all the withdraws - this is a good year not to have a 2nd round pick. Damn, deep draft to not so much... In the future - 2nd round picks will be more valuable (IMO) taking older players.

I like Traore, feels like he is being underrated

Fully acknowledge that Demin is a risky pick, but also has a tantalizing upside & probably in the NBA for a while. The question is will it be with POR/team that drafts him

Interesting to see if they bring Clifford in for a workout

I don’t think they should trade up for these guys though, but for Edgecombe? Maybe

[Walton1one]

It'd be interesting to see what the cost to get up to 4 would be if VJ was still on the board.

Likely it would take Milwaukee's #1 pick in 2029 in any deal to get up into the top 4

I think Philly would be the target, Edgecombe is probably predicted to go at #3, and if they’re not really interested in Bailey, could another team/POR entice them to trade down?

Watching the playoffs, hearing a lot of chatter about depth, which the two teams in the finals IND/OKC have, 8–10 rotational players

A deal centered around 2/3 rotational players + a future 1st (29’? 31’?)

LY SA traded #8 to MIN for a future 1st. Here PHI gets (2-3) vets to help team now + future 1st for bouncing down 8 spots and getting a player that they like anyway?

Maybe a 3-team deal b/t ORL\PHI\POR?