2025 Blazer Draft Prospects

[tester551]

Best shooters in the draft are Johnson, Knueppel and Clayton. Since Johnson and Knueppel will be gone, it would be Clayton. If you want Clayton you would trade back and hope. 11 for 15 & 24 might get it done?

Richardson and Coward should be included in the best shooter category.

[Case2012]

I think the 2 best shooters are WCJ and Coward, pretty much hands down. WCJ has a Pritchard floor and a Jamal Murray/ Dame lite Ceiling. If we dont get a second pick for Simons, i think we could get both trading down with OKC. I've said this a thousand times but i would be super down to draft as many players as possible including trading down AND trading Simons. We could easily replace Banton, Murray, Walker and even Rupert with 3 picks and very likely get better production/ or upside with the guys in the middle to the back of the draft. We've seen what these can do IMO and I would rather gamble on at least one of those 3 picks being at minimum a starter level player over who we currently have at the end of our bench.

Wolf, Fleming, Yang, Coward, Nique, Jakucinis, WCJ, Bryant, Demin, could all be picked 11-26. Any 3 of these guys would be upgrades, possibly even over some of our starters. Of course we could and probably should use one to get our picks back from Chicago but if we used all the picks I could see it conveying next year after the upgrades. We need higher end talent and the draft is our best course, plus it's cheaper.

Reed has gotten a lot of hate but he's playing behind a lot of guys on a PO team and i dont think his PT is a reflection of his talent. I would much rather have him over JSJ too.

[Village Idiot]

Not really, no. But there is a forward that compares to Giannis.

Are you talking Noa Essengue?

He is...

But that's the wrong comparison...
Essengue <=> Siakam

Giannis was a point forward with a fairly advanced bag. Essengue is pretty useless with the ball in his hands. Giannis has a longer wingspand and bigger hands than Noa.

There is a lot to like about Essengue but he is no Giannis and never will be.

[dckingsfan]

Not really, no. But there is a forward that compares to Giannis.

Are you talking Noa Essengue?

He is...

But that's the wrong comparison...
Essengue <=> Siakam

Okay - I see it... offensively maybe...

But Essengue is still growing... and, I think will be able to defend 2-5, shmaybe 1-5.

Like Giannis and Siakam, he will have to do a lot of development to become a really good player - but I think he will make his initial mark on the defensive end.

[dckingsfan]

Are you talking Noa Essengue?

He is...

But that's the wrong comparison...
Essengue <=> Siakam

Giannis was a point forward with a fairly advanced bag. Essengue is pretty useless with the ball in his hands. Giannis has a longer wingspand and bigger hands than Noa.

There is a lot to like about Essengue but he is no Giannis and never will be.

And probably won't be a Siakam either. Or any other player... it is just a ceiling comp if you will.

Did I say Essengue is still growing? Noa Essengue still has freak measurements. Did you check out his standing reach? His lane agility drill score?

But, the odds of any player turning into the next Siakam or Giannis is slim - you are dead on with that.

[DeBlazerRiddem]

I think being productive at such a young age in a good league is a great sign for Essengue. I love that he plays physical, this leads him to some unnecessary fouls but that he isn't afraid to mix it up shows a very good competitive mentality IMO. He also is one of the best at drawing fouls, which is a good hint that someone can become a top level player. I don't think he is useless with the ball in his hands, he is really good at using his length and mobility on drives and finishing through contact and I think the ability to pull up and shoot over smaller defenders is something he will get better at, some promising signs there as well for me. He also moves the ball well, it doesn't stick with him and he isn't a black hole. I dunno, there is a lot to like, again his age and productivity level is usually a good sign.

That said, he isn't Giannis, no one is, not even Giannis when he was drafted. Giannis went through an incredible and fairly unprecedented physical and game growth after being drafted. You just cannot predict that sort of growth for normal 19 year olds. Siakam makes a bit more sense, he was a guy who had all the physical tools and just kept adding skills to his game, though I think Essengue if he maxes out is more of a jumbo SF than a PF like Siakam.

[Walton1one]

Essengue seems to resemble Salaun more than Giannis or Siakam IMO. If POR drafts him I hope he does turn into Giannis\Siakam, but I don't see that and even if the remote chance that came true, it will take several years to get there.

I think Essengue looks like a better prospect than Salaun, but Salaun played in a tougher league and the stats are closer than I thought they would be. Their measurements are strikingly similar, but I do think Essengue's willingness to attack the basket & draw FT and his overall energy level seems to be "on" more often than Salaun who tended to drift to the perimeter more.

I think Essengue is this years version of the late euro riser for the 2025 draft. It seems very likely that he goes in the lottery and possibly (probably?) he goes in the top 10?

I am learning my lesson after Salaun LY, who still might turn into a good player, but clearly it is going to take him some time.

I wouldn't be completely bummed if POR picked Essengue, but IMO there should be better players to take a flyer on than him.

Physical measurements
Salaun - 6'8.75 - SR 9'211" - WS 7'1.5 - MV 33"
Essengue - 6'9 - SR 9'3.25" - WS 6'11 - MV 35.5"

Salaun w\Cholet in LNB Elite (a clearly better league than BBL)
22.7min - 9/4/1 - .425/.329 (2ptFG/3ptFG) - 1.2/.2/1.5 - 2.2FTA/.767 - 4.2 of 7.9 FGA were from 3pt (53%)

Essengue w\ULM in BBL
23.1min - 10.5/5.1/1.2 - .485/.247 (FG/3ptFG) - .7/.6/.2 - 4.8 FTA/.717 - 2.4 of 6.6 FGA were from 3pt (36%)

Just for reference, Siakam's stats his LY in college
34.6min - 20.3/11.6/1.7 - .539/.200 (FG/3ptFG) - 1/2.2/2 - 5.9/.678

For reference, Salaun stats this year for CHA:
5.9 - 4.7 - 1.2 - 33%/28% shooting (FG/3ptFG) - .2/.5/1.0 (ST\BK\TO) - 1.6 FTA/71.3%

[Case2012]

Hard no on Essengue. I don't see it. Watching his scouting now, and I'm not seeing anything special. I think he's a second round pick, not a lottery guy.

If we did get a second I would be interested in Rocco just for his freakish size. It would be fun to have another guy like that even if he was EXTREMELY RAW. He would just add to the already freakish length we already have.

Watch on YouTube

;ab_channel=HoopIntellect

[DeBlazerRiddem]

Man I saw a highlight last night where Essengue caught the ball between half court and the 3 and in 3 big steps was dunking at the rim without a dribble. How is that not special.

He has really good hands, catching the ball against pressure in many different situations. He isn't the typical soft euro, I love his willingness to use his body. Drawing fouls is one of the best indicators of future stars IMO, it's something I always look at when evaluating prospects, similar to A/T ratio I think it just says more than it appears to on the surface.

I guess one of the reasons I'm not convinced by raw box score comps to guys like Salaun and Newell is that they play like bigs and I think Essengue's position is more of a wing, they are way more limited players than him even though he is raw and has a lot of areas to improve but his starting point is well ahead of them in terms of capabilities.

He will start off at the dunkers spot, in a DJJ or McDaniels type role, but he takes up so much space on defense and has incredible recovery ability, I think he will be a menace blocking shots along the 3 point line. Another play I watched last night he literally covered every single player while scrambling around the court, just single handedly shut down that possession, walked away with a rebound and a drawn foul. It was special special stuff. Obviously he is not even 19 and has some lapses on defense, relies on his physical ability to recover and get stops and he will need to improve that but that is something that comes with experience, the physical ability to move and cover ground and react fast enough is simply God given and he has it.

Besides Flagg and Ace he has the 3rd most promising frame and physical attributes in this draft. Obviously guys like Harper and Johnson are well ahead of him skill wise. Anyways enough on Noa from me today.

[Case2012]

I just don't see it. I'm jaded after all the french forwards have been meh lately, plus years of Batum. If I'm wrong I'm wrong, but we'll see. I'm not saying he's awful but i wouldn't use a first on him let alone a lottery pick. Coward isn't as tall but he has a really nice frame/hands as well and has steadily improved because of his motor and is one of, if not the best shooters in the class. Goldbum didn't even mention him so I doubt Schmitz has him on their radar. They draft players I hate every year so im sure this year won't be any different and they'll probably take him, so if that's your guy i would feel pretty good about him being in a blazers jersey next year if i were you.

[DeBlazerRiddem]

I'll preface this comment by saying I am not a betting man because I am bad at it so huge grain of salt with the below but..

I think smart money is on the Blazers drafting Demin. Just too much smoke to ignore, lots of mocks have him going to us, our head of scouting is on record as really liking him and we had a very long interview with him. So the interest from Portland in him is real and I feel its similar to how we were linked to Clingan in multiple ways last year.

If I had to guess on Essengue, I think he goes to the Spurs at 14. Him and Wemby would be an insane combo.

Coward to OKC at 15 is also what I think will happen, and man that will be a travesty for the league. He would be very good for them.

I think Bryant is gone by pick 11, I think he goes to Toronto (if they dont pick Malauch) or if not to Houston.

Similar with Kasparas, if he gets past Washington I think the Nets will swoop on him so fast.

[Norm2953]

There is a group of 4-5 guys who will go in the middle to late lottery. Hopefully the Blazers will
have their choice of 3 players from this group.

I'd be happy if Carter, Noa and Demin were were amongst the 3 players left on this board. Hopefully
one of the team picking ahead of Portland will reach for a player not on Portland's list

[Walton1one]

Rafael Barlowe, was answering draft questions on Twitter and has some interesting things to say:

Read on Twitter

I agree and hope this is what ORL thinks as well

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As likely a chance Demin is there at #11, as he is not there. POR has a lot of scorers and ranked 30th in Assists per game & Assists per possession, 30th!

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Haven't watched this player, but I think he played pretty well @ the combine, interesting about 2026 (if he pulls out of the draft)

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Sure looks like HOU is not keeping #10, could see a team swoop right in and take a player POR has targeted

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Josh Hart w\ a jumper and better rebounding is a damn good player

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Essengue stock rising to mid-lottery? Does not think he will be available @ #9 to TOR

[Walton1one]

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I don't buy this, that ARZ team had chuckers on it. Caleb Love took 26% of all shot attempts Bradley 16.4%, KJ Lewis 15%. That is almost 60% of all shots taken by 3 upperclassmen. Bryant was right in a group of 5 players at 8-10%

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I would be surprised by this, his age & level of competition are certainly concerning, could they not matter in the end, sure but I think that is a big risk to take in the Top 10, let alone the lottery. Particularly, since this guy came from nowhere

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This is why Simons to ORL is such a no-brainer move for ORL (and should be for POR). Both Suggs (6'5) & Black (6'7) are bigger, defensive-oriented guards and Simons could fit well alongside either player

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I wouldn't be unhappy at all if he unexpectedly slipped to #11 and POR was able to grab him, don't think he will though.

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He is not big on Kasparas, I think he is too crafty of a player and the shot is better than he showed for him not to at least carve out a role as a 3rd guard off the bench that could play either spot, which is more than can be said for a lot of the other players in this draft floors.

Read on Twitter

Curious to see where Powell ends up on draft night, certainly looks like he will go on the 1st, but in the teens maybe?

[Case2012]

I’ve been banging the “Egor Demin is the Schmitz tunnel-vision pick” drum for weeks. Pretty sure I was the first to connect those dots, and nothing I’ve heard since has changed my mind. If Demin’s on the board at 11 he’ll be a Blazer; if he’s gone, get ready for Essengue. Meanwhile OKC will scoop up the guys I actually want—because that’s what they do—and if we trade down with them I can already picture Presti nabbing Coward right in front of us.

Look at our recent draft record: Scoot’s fine, Sharpe’s fine (motor still sputters, defense spotty), Clingan is great on D but will live two feet from the rim on offense. They’re all “okay,” and “okay” guys eventually want mid-to-high money. Lock enough of those contracts in and you’re the 10-seed treadmill team picking 11-14 for half a decade.

I’d rather flip the script now. Trade down with OKC, ship Simons to Orlando for 16, walk out of this draft with three first-round swings and let the kids scrap for minutes. Real competition is the best developmental tool we have, and it’s the only shot we get at stumbling into a real star before the payroll calcifies around a mediocre core and we end up the Magic of the west.

[BlazersBroncos]

I’d rather flip the script now. Trade down with OKC, ship Simons to Orlando for 16, walk out of this draft with three first-round swings and let the kids scrap for minutes. Real competition is the best developmental tool we have, and it’s the only shot we get at stumbling into a real star before the payroll calcifies around a mediocre core and we end up the Magic of the west.

I cant see 3 FRP on the roster next season. If we trade down w/ OKC that #24 pick should be going to CHI to get our pick returned IMO.

I would be fine with trading down if Noa is gone (And I think its VERY likely he is gone by 11). He is the only guy I really see as a potential needle moving swing. I am not sold on Bryant being THAT much better a prospect than someone like Penda for example. I despise CMB and Queen's player profile. Kasparas I would think long and hard about taking 11 but then again is it a smart use of 11 to take Kasparas when guys like Hugo, Saraf and Clayton are mocked 25-30? Newell is a guy you look at and say, he would be a nice fit if he could consistently shoot. But even his high end outcome isnt something to brag about. I see a position locked PF who hustles well and MIGHT be a passable 3PT shooter.

Demin I just cant buy in. He is a great passer, especially swinging the ball from 1 side to another. But the Giddey comps are lazy AF. He isnt nearly the 'get to my spot' talent that Josh is - honestly he is about as opposite to Giddey as one could get in that regard. He doesnt have the athleticism, twitch or 1st step to get around his man and he doesnt have the savant like stop/start/wiggle/balance/etc that guys like Giddey use to compensate for meh athleticism. He is a tall guy with a nice handle, excellent passing, a jumper that doesnt look that bad but has never really connected at any level, questions on who he guards and nothing to write home on at attacking the rim. I see Marko Jaric - 10pts / 5-6ast type.

The guy that I see and say, there isnt a comparable talent later than 11 is and has been for a while Essengue. Ideally I would come out of the draft with Noa, Clayton and our PDX FRP returned. I am falling for Clayton the more I watch him. Think he has a high floor and is a guaranteed bench shooter but could see him surprising and having a FVV like career.

[zzaj]

If Demin passes to anybody on one of the worst shooting teams in the NBA and it ends up as a miss, does he still get a "well, I tried" assist?

In all seriousness, you have to have good shooters to unlock a passer. And Demin isn't getting anywhere without a screen.

So the question becomes, if his spectacular pass ends in a TO (common for him) or a missed shot (common for this roster), what does Demin bring to the team?

[Case2012]

I’d rather flip the script now. Trade down with OKC, ship Simons to Orlando for 16, walk out of this draft with three first-round swings and let the kids scrap for minutes. Real competition is the best developmental tool we have, and it’s the only shot we get at stumbling into a real star before the payroll calcifies around a mediocre core and we end up the Magic of the west.

I cant see 3 FRP on the roster next season. If we trade down w/ OKC that #24 pick should be going to CHI to get our pick returned IMO.

I would be fine with trading down if Noa is gone (And I think its VERY likely he is gone by 11). He is the only guy I really see as a potential needle moving swing. I am not sold on Bryant being THAT much better a prospect than someone like Penda for example. I despise CMB and Queen's player profile. Kasparas I would think long and hard about taking 11 but then again is it a smart use of 11 to take Kasparas when guys like Hugo, Saraf and Clayton are mocked 25-30? Newell is a guy you look at and say, he would be a nice fit if he could consistently shoot. But even his high end outcome isnt something to brag about. I see a position locked PF who hustles well and MIGHT be a passable 3PT shooter.

Demin I just cant buy in. He is a great passer, especially swinging the ball from 1 side to another. But the Giddey comps are lazy AF. He isnt nearly the 'get to my spot' talent that Josh is - honestly he is about as opposite to Giddey as one could get in that regard. He doesnt have the athleticism, twitch or 1st step to get around his man and he doesnt have the savant like stop/start/wiggle/balance/etc that guys like Giddey use to compensate for meh athleticism. He is a tall guy with a nice handle, excellent passing, a jumper that doesnt look that bad but has never really connected at any level, questions on who he guards and nothing to write home on at attacking the rim. I see Marko Jaric - 10pts / 5-6ast type.

The guy that I see and say, there isnt a comparable talent later than 11 is and has been for a while Essengue. Ideally I would come out of the draft with Noa, Clayton and our PDX FRP returned. I am falling for Clayton the more I watch him. Think he has a high floor and is a guaranteed bench shooter but could see him surprising and having a FVV like career.

In another post today I already floated the trade-one-for-ours-back-from-Chicago-scenario and that's probably the most logical move, BUT I'm greedy and we need cheap talent now.

I keep toggling between Clifford and Coward. With Egor you’re praying the jumper comes around; with Coward you’re banking on mid-major numbers holding up against NBA length. Clifford is plug-and-play: 20–25 minutes right away, no real holes, and the “he’s 23” knock is pointless—outside of Flagg he’s the most rounded guy in the class. He defends, rebounds, initiates, posts smaller guards, throws highlight passes, and the shot is fine once you average out the hot-cold nights. Take him at 11 and call it good.

Coward is the swing. If his stats translate he’s baby Kawhi or PG; if not, he’s still Covington or Evan Turner with a perfect jumper and freakish length. Tempting, but Clifford is the safer bet. Either way, I will be happy if we land at least one of them and so will Blazer fans be while we're in the playoffs next year.

The perfect follow-up is Walter Clayton Jr. If we flip Simons to Orlando for pick 16, we can grab WCJ—floor of Pritchard/VanVleet, ceiling of mini-Dame or Jamal Murray. Give him a year and he might push Scoot for the starting job. Orlando needs a proven 20-ppg guard, we need that extra pick. If we hesitate, Presti will snag both Coward/Clifford and Clayton and turn them into the next OKC success story while they run it back for their second ring.

STARTERS
PG Scoot Henderson
SG Shaedon Sharpe
SF Toumani Camara
PF Deni Avdija
C Deandre Ayton

SECOND UNIT
PG Walter Clayton Jr. (#16)
SG Nique Clifford (#11)
SF Matisse Thybulle
PF Jerami Grant
C Donovan Clingan

DEEP BENCH / DEVELOPMENT
PG Rayan Rupert (combo guard reps)
W Kris Murray
W Jabari Walker
F Jonathan Isaac (non-guaranteed flyer / small-ball rim-protector)
C Robert Williams III (minutes ramp up as health allows)
C Duop Reath (third-string stretch five)

[Butter]

Best shooters in the draft are Johnson, Knueppel and Clayton. Since Johnson and Knueppel will be gone, it would be Clayton. If you want Clayton you would trade back and hope. 11 for 15 & 24 might get it done?

Richardson and Coward should be included in the best shooter category.

3pt % from this year from
https://basketball.realgm.com/nba/draft/prospects/stats


Knueppel: .402%
Coward: .400%
Tre Johnson: .397%
Fleming: .390%
Clayton Jr: .386%
Flagg. . 385%
Powell: .379%
Clifford: .377%
Bryant: .371%
Bailey: .356%
Edgecombe: .340%
Harper .333%
Jakucionis: . 318%
McNeeley: .317%
Saraf: . 301%
Demin: .273%
Essengue: .267%

[dckingsfan]

Hard no on Essengue. I don't see it. Watching his scouting now, and I'm not seeing anything special. I think he's a second round pick, not a lottery guy.

If we did get a second I would be interested in Rocco just for his freakish size. It would be fun to have another guy like that even if he was EXTREMELY RAW. He would just add to the already freakish length we already have.

I think the youngest or near youngest player in the draft that at his age can cover 1-5 is pretty darn interesting. And his hands on D are really quick. And he is still growing. Now, is he going to be a workout rat and develop his body? I really think he could become a 2nd or 3rd team D in the NBA. I think he is in the Camara defensive mold.

On offense will be fine with someone like Deni or a PG that runs and he WILL run the floor.

Okay, you have to buy htat the shot is going to get better for him to be a solid 3&D guy. But if he does, he is a pretty good cutter. So, I think he is just a corner 3 away.

And I think he could eventually become a good straight line driver.

To get to his ceiling #1, his body needs to develop, #2 he need to develop his 3, and if he does #1 & #2 and then develops his straight line driving - well then, that is no offensive liability.

If you don't believe he is going to grow into his body and develop his offensive game, they you don't take him in the lottery.