Post#907 » by Case2012 » Wed Jun 4, 2025 1:07 am
DEFENSIVE, HIGH-IQ SHARPSHOOTERS: CEDRIC COWARD & WALTER CLAYTON JR. AS PORTLAND’S HIDDEN DRAFT GEMS
Thesis
The Portland Trail Blazers are pivoting toward a new identity built on defense, shooting, and high-IQ team play – and two under-the-radar 2025 draft prospects, Cedric Coward and Walter Clayton Jr., could perfectly embody that vision. Both players offer significant upside and immediate value relative to their likely draft range, making them ideal targets if Portland acquires an extra first-round pick (via an Anfernee Simons trade or otherwise). Cedric Coward is a long, versatile 3-and-D wing who fills up the stat sheet and plays with savvy off-ball instincts, while Walter Clayton Jr. is a championship-tested combo guard with lethal shooting and mature floor leadership. This deep-dive will compare each to current/past NBA players, evaluate their strengths (shooting, defense, versatility, IQ, readiness), and analyze how each would fit into Portland’s roster and long-term plans. For a Blazers team rebuilding around young talent, these two prospects could represent tremendous value – potential “steals” who address glaring weaknesses in the current rotation and elevate the franchise’s defensive and shooting culture.
Cedric Coward– A Versatile 3-and-D Wing with Upside and NBA Readiness
Cedric Coward brings a tantalizing combination of length, defensive playmaking, and efficient shooting that could make him a cornerstone role player for Portland’s rebuild. Physically, Coward is exceptional: at 6’6” with a 7’2” wingspan and nine-inch hands, his measurements aren’t far off from Kawhi Leonard’s famed profile. At the NBA Draft Combine he turned heads by posting a 38.5-inch vertical (9th-best) and draining 72 of 103 three-pointers (69.9 %) in drills – eye-popping indicators of his athleticism and shooting touch. In fact, one scout noted Coward’s pre-draft rise has been reminiscent of Jalen Williams’ meteoric climb in 2022; after impressing teams, Coward vaulted from a fringe name to a possible late-lottery pick in some projections. For a player who began his college career at the Division III level, this rapid ascent underscores just how unique his tools and impact are.
Shooting and Offense: Offensively, Coward profiles as a high-efficiency, low-usage floor spacer – exactly the kind of complementary shooter the Blazers need on the wing. Across three collegiate seasons (two at Eastern Washington and a brief senior stint at Washington State), he’s a career 38.8 % three-point shooter. In the six games before his injury at WSU, he averaged 17.7 points on 40.0 % from deep and 83.9 % from the line, suggesting his hot shooting was no fluke. Synergy data confirms Coward’s elite marksmanship: he scored 1.129 points per possession on catch-and-shoot opportunities and hit spot-up threes at a terrific clip. Importantly, he doesn’t just hit stand-still shots – he knows how to get open for them. Coward has a knack for relocating and cutting at the right moments (a staggering 1.692 PPP on cuts), showing off high basketball IQ and timing off the ball. It’s easy to imagine Damian Lillard (in past years) or now Scoot Henderson driving and kicking to Coward, who instinctively drifts into the open corner for a dagger three. Even in a tiny sample, Coward’s overall offensive efficiency was outrageous – 1.161 PPP, ranking in the 97th percentile nationally. He posted a true-shooting percentage around 70 % and a BPM of 8.8 in those six games, putting him in rare company (one of just twenty players to hit that 8.0 + BPM, 65 % + TS benchmark).
While he’s not a primary creator off the dribble (Coward readily admits his handle is a work in progress), he has shown flashes of playmaking ability and multi-level scoring. He averaged 3.7 assists in his brief senior year, often making the extra pass within the flow of the offense. Coward even graded in the 100th percentile on post-up possessions (albeit low volume), showing he can punish smaller defenders inside with his strength and 213-lb frame. His shooting mechanics are smooth and repeatable, with a quick release (if a minor hitch) that he’s comfortable getting off against contests. And thanks to his length, he can elevate over closeouts – that 7’2” wingspan gives him separation on step-backs and pull-ups that recall a young Trevor Ariza or OG Anunoby type of wing shooter. As a three-level scorer, Coward has flashed a confident mid-range game and even some ferocity at the rim (65.6 % finishing at the basket in those games).
The caveat is sample size – we only have a handful of D-1 games post-transfer – but he was similarly efficient in the Big Sky before moving up. The consistency of his shooting across levels, and even in the combine setting, suggests his touch is very much real.
Defense and Versatility: With his height and extraordinary 7’2¼” wingspan, Coward projects as a multi-positional defender capable of guarding 2s, 3s, and many 4s. He has the lateral quickness and footwork to check wings on the perimeter, and his length makes him disruptive when closing out or contesting shots. Coward was a menace on help defense in college – he averaged 1.7 blocks per game (in just 28 minutes) as a wing, often swooping in as a weak-side rim protector. That block rate is virtually unheard of for a 6’6” player; it speaks to his timing and instincts. Scouts have noted that Coward is a strong point-of-attack defender as well, using his reach and timing to bother ball-handlers. He gets low in his stance and has shown he can stay in front of quicker guards, though truly elite NBA guards might still be a challenge until he gains more experience. Coward’s defensive versatility is precisely what shines in modern NBA playoffs – long, athletic wings who can shrink the floor, guard multiple spots, and recover to block shots are worth their weight in gold. Watch him on tape, and you’ll see a player who takes real pride in defense, often clapping his hands or getting visibly amped after a stop.
It’s important to acknowledge that Coward is not a finished product. Because of the shoulder injury that cut short his senior season, he only has a small sample against high-major competition. There will be a learning curve adjusting to NBA speed and complexity – for instance, he can sometimes lose sight of his man when ball-watching off-ball, a common young-player mistake. And while his lateral agility is solid, very shifty guards could exploit him on switches (his foot speed is described as just average against elite quickness). These are fixable issues with coaching and experience. The Blazers would likely love his motor and coachability; by all accounts Coward is a hard worker who improved rapidly each year. Remember, this is a player who went from D-III, to Big Sky All-Conference, to making an impact at a Power-6 school – all in a span of four years. That speaks to a high basketball IQ and adaptability. Portland’s development staff can iron out his off-ball lapses and add strength to his frame (he’s 213 lbs, but could get even stronger to handle NBA forwards).
If he hits his potential, Coward could become a similar player to Robert Covington in his prime – a rangy forward who can guard three or four positions, block shots, and knock down threes at a high clip. Some even see shades of OG Anunoby or Jalen Williams in him, given his all-around stat profile and rapid improvement.
Fit in Portland & Role: Portland finally has two elite stoppers on the roster—Toumani Camara just made All-Defensive Second Team and Matisse Thybulle is a two-time All-Defense selection—but both become easier to play when they’re flanked by another wing who can shoot. Enter Coward: a legit 6'6" with a 7'2" reach who can guard 2-through-4 without cramping the offense. Picture a closing group of Scoot Henderson, Shaedon Sharpe, Coward, Camara and Jerami Grant (or Thybulle in a defense-first look): five athletes, all 6-3 to 6-9, switching everything while still keeping three credible spot-up threats on the floor. Coward’s point-of-attack chops let Scoot and Sharpe conserve energy, his weak-side help covers youthful mistakes, and offensively he thrives as a low-usage sniper and timely cutter—perfect glue between the stars and the stoppers.
Coward is comfortable without the ball – an important trait next to ball-dominant guards. He led his teams in offensive rating in college by doing the little things: cutting back-door, crashing for put-backs, making the extra pass. Portland’s offense, which too often stagnated when Lillard or Simons got trapped, could benefit from Coward’s intuitive movement and quick decision-making.
Walter Clayton Jr. – A Sharpshooting Combo Guard with Championship Pedigree
If Coward represents defensive versatility, Walter Clayton Jr. represents offensive poise and shooting – with a winner’s mentality that any rebuilding team should covet. Clayton is a 6’3” combo guard who just capped off a stellar college career by leading the Florida Gators to the 2025 NCAA National Championship as their senior floor general. He was the breakout star of March Madness: the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four, a consensus First-Team All-American, and the unquestioned leader of a title team.
Clayton averaged 18.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.2 steals in his senior year, while shooting 44.8 % from the field, 38.6 % from three, and 87.5 % from the line. Those shooting splits are elite, and he maintained that efficiency on high volume, hitting 117 threes in 39 games.
Shooting and Scoring: Clayton’s calling card is his shooting ability, particularly from deep. He’s a high-volume 3-point gunner (over 7 attempts per game) who connects at a strong percentage and ranks among the best shooters in the class in spot-ups and off-screen actions. Whether catching-and-shooting or pulling up off the dribble (around 37 % on off-dribble threes), Clayton is comfortable from all angles. He has deep range and isn’t afraid to let it fly – he famously opened the Final Four with a logo three as his first shot. His release is compact and balanced; some scouts have compared his form to Devin Booker’s early mechanics at Kentucky. Clayton’s free-throw percentage above 87 % underscores that his touch is real.
He isn’t just a stationary shooter; he has a tight handle and uses pace changes to get defenders off balance. He posted 1.297 PPP in isolation (97th percentile) and ranked in the 74th percentile as a pick-and-roll ball-handler. At 6’3” and 195 lbs, he’s strong, patient, and knows how to snake into gaps. He finishes creatively at the rim (over 60 % in half-court attempts) and is lethal in transition (1.45 PPP). Clayton’s “clutch gene” showed throughout the NCAA tournament, with multiple 30-point games and deep-range daggers under pressure.
Playmaking and IQ: Clayton averaged 4.2 assists and ran an efficient offense with a 1.7 assist-to-turnover ratio. He keeps his head up, finds shooters on skip passes, and can run sets when Scoot rests. Off the ball, he relocates intelligently and cuts back-door when defenders over-play. Clayton is a film-room junkie: at 22, he already plays at a pro tempo, manipulating pace and clock.
Defense and Weaknesses: Clayton competes defensively, leveraging strong hips to fight through screens and quick hands to generate steals. His main issues are consistency and physical ceiling: at 6’3” with average length, he’ll never stonewall wings and can occasionally lose focus. He tends to gamble for steals, and shifty guards can shake him. NBA opponents will likely hunt him in switches. The question is whether his shot-making outweighs the defensive limitations – many scouts believe it will, especially if he becomes an average team defender.
Fit in Portland & Role: Clayton is the ideal sixth man if Simons is moved. He spaces for Scoot, runs the second unit, and provides microwave scoring. In lineups with Henderson (currently a non-shooter), Clayton’s gravity keeps defenses honest. He brings leadership and “championship DNA” to a young locker room. Portland has long needed a bench creator who can hit threes; Clayton checks that box from day one.
How Coward and Clayton Jr. Address Portland’s Needs
Defensive Identity – Coward gives Portland another long wing who can lock down stars without being a zero on offense. Clayton buys into scheme defense and competes; together they signal a shift toward accountability and two-way versatility.
Three-Point Shooting & Spacing – Coward’s 40 % catch-and-shoot and Clayton’s 39 % pull-up range instantly raise the Blazers’ team percentage and force defenses to respect the arc, opening lanes for Scoot and Sharpe.
Basketball IQ & Flow – Both prospects excel at the subtleties that keep an offense humming: quick decisions, smart cuts, extra passes. They reduce stagnation and complement Portland’s young creation engines.
Value & Upside – Coward could be a late-lottery steal with a high floor as a 3-and-D wing; Clayton projects as a plug-and-play shooter/creator in the 15-25 range. Landing two ready-made contributors on rookie deals maximizes small-market assets and raises the rotation’s baseline immediately.
Draft / Trade Blueprint
Use pick 11 on whichever target is still on the board (Coward if available; Clayton if Coward goes top ten).
Flip Anfernee Simons for an additional pick in the mid-late first and draft the other prospect.
If one slips into the 20s, consider trading down or adding a future second to secure both.
What the roster lacks is depth and two-way balance behind those two. Camara and Thybulle can blanket stars, but opponents ignore them if either is cold from three. That’s where Coward and Clayton change the calculus:
Line-up flexibility:
All-Defense units: Sharpe–Coward–Camara–Thybulle–Clingan (switch-everything length)
Floor-spacing punch: Scoot–Clayton Jr.–Sharpe–Deni–Ayton (four 38 %+ shooters around a roller)
Closing five: Scoot | Sharpe | Coward | Camara | Clingan — three wings with 7-foot arms plus rim protection.
In other words, Coward and Clayton don’t push Camara or Thybulle out of the picture; they unlock lineups where Portland no longer sacrifices offense to keep its best defenders on the floor. That’s the missing step from “fun rebuild” to a team that can survive playoff-style scouting.
Defensive length snapshot
Camara 7-1 wingspan
Sharpe 7-0
Scoot 6-10
Coward 7-2
Thybulle 7-1
Rupert 7-3
Deni 6-10
RW 7-6
Grant 7'3
Ayton 7-5
Clingan 7-7
Pair any two of those wings with Clingan or Williams and you have switch-everywhere schemes few teams can replicate.
Conclusion – Building the New Blazers Identity
In a post-Lillard world, Portland wants to win with defense, unselfish play and efficient shooting. Cedric Coward and Walter Clayton Jr. embody that formula. Coward supplies the switchable wing defense and timely shooting Rip City has lacked; Clayton brings the clutch shot-making and steady hand off the bench. Together they could become the kind of blue-collar, high-character pillars that accelerate a rebuild and turn the Blazers into a modern, two-way threat. Land both, and in a few years we may look back at the 2025 draft as the moment Portland’s rise truly began.
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