2025 Blazer Draft Prospects

[HoopsFanAZ]

Clingan, Deni, Toumani. Already keepers, young(er), and getting better — and they play D and have want-to. And since no young star is present or arriving in trade (probably not) …

Then everyone else on the roster are the trade assets, IMHO. The time to blow a team up arrives in several ways, but the team has 3 legit, young starters who fit on currently great contracts. By the time Toumani gets his 4 year $89M offer, it’s not a question of earning it.

This is all to say swing away in the draft and get quality dudes who fit with the 3 — even at the same position — for more talent everywhere (including the bench).

There at least 4 available dudes who will help the team — perhaps as much or more eventually than DC/DAv/TC with at least 1 around at 11.

Moving up as many as 5 spots to get Essengue if that’s the dude? Okay by me.
Getting #10 or #12 to have consecutive picks? Yes!

[Case2012]

It hurts but if you can get 3 or 4 firsts for Deni and like Topic from OKC, then you'd be stupid to not do it. Memphis has a ton of capital now and wanted Deni supposedly, so they could offer Wells and 3 picks.

I'm not sure what OKC has left but 15 and 2 future picks next year, AND a shiny new foreign lottery pick PG to upgrade hopefully over Simons and Scoot or a 6'8 wing that came out of nowhere on a second round contract plus some of those magic picks and a memphis pick, would be a pretty nice asset flow from Dame.

[BlazersBroncos]

I dont really like the MEM package or value their youth all that much (Wells is great, but looks like a middle road 3/D guy rather than someone with real upside). I 1000% dont believe the FO has interest in moving Deni but Topic + Wiggins + 15 + 3 future FRP from OKC would get me on the line.

I think Wiggins is basically what Wells might end up as - nice 3/D player. Also see him as a decent swing as someone who scales up to 17ppg or so on good efficiency if given more minutes. His contract is unreal too.

[Tim Lehrbach]

Topic + Wiggins + 15 + 3 future FRP from OKC would get me on the line.

I'd accept less than this. Maybe Topic, Kenrich Williams, #15, 2026 Clippers, and 2028 Mavs picks? Although, hmm... those picks aren't all that juicy, are they?

I'd also take Shepherd + the two future Phoenix picks from Houston. They probably don't do this with Thompson, Brooks, Eason, Whitmore, and Smith already in the fold, though.

[DusterBuster]

Read on Twitter

Someone in the lottery has this kids measurements as too good to pass up.

[tester551]

Read on Twitter

Someone in the lottery has this kids measurements as too good to pass up.

Last week they invited 12 players.
Today they invited 7 more (including Noa).

This doesn't mean that he'll necessarily be drafted in the lottery... But I am hoping to hear his name at #11.

[Dame Lizard]

Read on Twitter

Someone in the lottery has this kids measurements as too good to pass up.

Last week they invited 12 players.
Today they invited 7 more (including Noa).

This doesn't mean that he'll necessarily be drafted in the lottery... But I am hoping to hear his name at #11.

I'd happily trade up a few spots for Noa.

Or take Coward/Bryant/Jaku at #11.

[BlazersBroncos]

Topic + Wiggins + 15 + 3 future FRP from OKC would get me on the line.

I'd accept less than this. Maybe Topic, Kenrich Williams, #15, 2026 Clippers, and 2028 Mavs picks? Although, hmm... those picks aren't all that juicy, are they?

I'd also take Shepherd + the two future Phoenix picks from Houston. They probably don't do this with Thompson, Brooks, Eason, Whitmore, and Smith already in the fold, though.

Ya HOU has a ton of talent at F, dont think they target Deni.

As for the OKC picks, I would want something like -

Topic
Wiggins
#15
2026 FRP (Best owned by OKC)
2028 FRP (Best of DAL / OKC)
2029 FRP (Best of DEN / OKC)

Thats an absurd cost, but I am not really interested in moving Deni so it has to be an egregious overpay.

[dckingsfan]

From the Wizards board...

Watch on YouTube

[Case2012]

Teams keep overthinking age. Take two real examples in this draft range:

Coward is already *who you hope Bryant becomes* by Year 4—except when Bryant finally gets there, he’ll be up for a second contract at twice the price.

We see this every June:

* **Salaun** jumped into the top ten on height and flashes, even though his Synergy line was “below average” in every half-court play type.
* **Dalton Knecht,** 24 and fully polished, dropped to 17 despite posting 21-5-2 on 62 TS% in the SEC and ranking top-10 nationally in Offensive EPM.
* **Jalen Williams** (age 21 from Santa Clara) went 12th in 2022; two seasons later he’s a 20-5-5 All-Star candidate while half the “upside” wings picked before him are still G-Leaguing.

Front offices act as if coaching can manufacture touch, feel and motor, but “better players stay better players.” Portland is teed up to repeat the mistake: Schmitz will talk himself into Egor Demin—*maybe* he shoots like Coward one day—rather than just taking the guy who already does everything Demin might.

Pick the best basketball player on the board, even if he’s 23. Glue-guys who can also create, defend, rebound and shoot (Clifford, Coward) win games *now* and cost MLE money for four full seasons. Betting on raw tools just means paying starter money the moment the kid finally figures it out—if he ever does.

[Tim Lehrbach]

Teams keep overthinking age. Take two real examples in this draft range:

Coward is already *who you hope Bryant becomes* by Year 4—except when Bryant finally gets there, he’ll be up for a second contract at twice the price.

We see this every June:

* **Salaun** jumped into the top ten on height and flashes, even though his Synergy line was “below average” in every half-court play type.
* **Dalton Knecht,** 24 and fully polished, dropped to 17 despite posting 21-5-2 on 62 TS% in the SEC and ranking top-10 nationally in Offensive EPM.
* **Jalen Williams** (age 21 from Santa Clara) went 12th in 2022; two seasons later he’s a 20-5-5 All-Star candidate while half the “upside” wings picked before him are still G-Leaguing.

Front offices act as if coaching can manufacture touch, feel and motor, but “better players stay better players.” Portland is teed up to repeat the mistake: Schmitz will talk himself into Egor Demin—*maybe* he shoots like Coward one day—rather than just taking the guy who already does everything Demin might.

Pick the best basketball player on the board, even if he’s 23. Glue-guys who can also create, defend, rebound and shoot (Clifford, Coward) win games *now* and cost MLE money for four full seasons. Betting on raw tools just means paying starter money the moment the kid finally figures it out—if he ever does.

Good thoughts, with which I mostly agree, but it's totally dependent on the prospect... and nearly impossible to guess who among the super young, raw prospects is going to fulfill their potential and who will not. If a young guy figures to maybe, someday be as good as a current 22 year old in your estimations, then definitely take the 22 year old. But teams fall in love with 19 year olds for their perceived far higher upside all the time. Maybe it will turn out they never had that upside, but the right kid is worth the gamble. It's just not an exact science.

[The Sebastian Express]

Kinda coming around to Noa. I think right now I'm at the Noa, Coward or Carter Bryant stage.

[Dame Lizard]

Teams keep overthinking age. Take two real examples in this draft range:

Coward is already *who you hope Bryant becomes* by Year 4—except when Bryant finally gets there, he’ll be up for a second contract at twice the price.

We see this every June:

* **Salaun** jumped into the top ten on height and flashes, even though his Synergy line was “below average” in every half-court play type.
* **Dalton Knecht,** 24 and fully polished, dropped to 17 despite posting 21-5-2 on 62 TS% in the SEC and ranking top-10 nationally in Offensive EPM.
* **Jalen Williams** (age 21 from Santa Clara) went 12th in 2022; two seasons later he’s a 20-5-5 All-Star candidate while half the “upside” wings picked before him are still G-Leaguing.

Front offices act as if coaching can manufacture touch, feel and motor, but “better players stay better players.” Portland is teed up to repeat the mistake: Schmitz will talk himself into Egor Demin—*maybe* he shoots like Coward one day—rather than just taking the guy who already does everything Demin might.

Pick the best basketball player on the board, even if he’s 23. Glue-guys who can also create, defend, rebound and shoot (Clifford, Coward) win games *now* and cost MLE money for four full seasons. Betting on raw tools just means paying starter money the moment the kid finally figures it out—if he ever does.

Good thoughts, with which I mostly agree, but it's totally dependent on the prospect... and nearly impossible to guess who among the super young, raw prospects is going to fulfill their potential and who will not. If a young guy figures to maybe, someday be as good as a current 22 year old in your estimations, then definitely take the 22 year old. But teams fall in love with 19 year olds for their perceived far higher upside all the time. Maybe it will turn out they never had that upside, but the right kid is worth the gamble. It's just not an exact science.

I agree with this.

I do agree with Case in the sense that age does get overrated. However, as Tim said it entirely depends on the prospect. If a 21 year old is leaps and bounds better than a 19 year old, take the 21 year old.

But if the 19 year old has shown incredible glimpses and just needs a bit more time to grow into his body or improve his handle etc, then it's not clear cut.

[Dame Lizard]

Kinda coming around to Noa. I think right now I'm at the Noa, Coward or Carter Bryant stage.

I'm at the Noa, Coward, Bryant and Jaku stage.

I'm absolutely hoping we avoid Demin primarily, and Queen to a lesser extent.

[BlazersBroncos]

Kinda coming around to Noa. I think right now I'm at the Noa, Coward or Carter Bryant stage.

I'm at the Noa, Coward, Bryant and Jaku stage.

I'm absolutely hoping we avoid Demin primarily, and Queen to a lesser extent.

I think Noa and Coward are the prizes here. I can see Jaku developing into a BB type player, which to me is an elite 6th man who can play on/off ball. His PNR play is in an elite percentile so alot of his upside is situational (IE playing with a great PNR big man). I believe in KJs shot and think his fall off in 3PT% is more of an anomoly / due to injury. Think he is a 38% guy in the league. But, you have to account for value and I see Saraf as a similar prospect who will be avaliable much later (Saraf is a better defender, more functionally athletic, a better pure PG outside the PNR, plays bigger than KJ - if his shooting can even come close to KJ he is probably a higher impact NBA player).

Bryant, sure if you have him ranked BPA. But I see a guy that might become Camara in 3+ years. He is the anti-Noa in terms of playing downhill. Seems to be content to shoot open 3s, does the little things but quite passive. A bigger Josh Green isnt a crazy comparison. I think Penda is about 85% the prospect and could be had WAY later in the draft if we want to for some reason keep collecting 3/D wings who have questionable offensive upside.

Demin is just all projection and he doesnt really have elite athletic traits that you lean on for that projection. Ya, he is tall. But he has a poor 1st step, struggles to get to his spots, you dont really know what position he can defend, his handle is good not great. His main skill is court swinging passes which is sorta a obscure elite trait when your otherwise just a developmental prospect.

I am not big on Clifford either. Master of none types at that age are high risk prospects. His FT% scares the hell out of me when you also take into account he was a middling 3PT% guy (Career 36%). Didnt get to the line until his senior season. I think his college career compares very well to Cody Martin (Senior - 12 / 4.5 / 5 / 50% / 36% / 76%) and see him as that level of role player w/ a bit better scoring. Probably worth a 20's pick.

Despite seeming low on Clifford for being older and a master-of-none - I am quite high on WCJ. I think he has a high floor as at minimum a bench shooter but could see him developing into a FVV level guy. Super high motor, not afraid of the spotlight, shot has worked at every level, surprising STOCKs for a guy whos defense is pointed as a primary low trait. Athletic testing was NBA caliber. I think at minimum he is a Seth Curry / Bryn Forbes level bench shooter. I like the stocky frame he has too, nice change up from the lanky Simons. Plays tough and can finish well enough IMO.

A guy we have not talked about at all is McNeeley. Great size, athletic testing was borderline elite for his size, down shooting year but 87% FT indicates he will bounce back. He has a huge frame and good size already at 215lbs. If / when his shot returns he is at minimum a Kispert level guy. Former consensus Top-5 prospect. Attacks the rim at a level that is rarely talked about - nearly 5FTA as a FR. HS 3PT shooting was elite, FT is elite, easy to assume he is a shooter despite 32% in college. Great rebounder. Can finish above the rim. I think he is being undervalued a bit right now. Think he is a better NBA prospect than Kon.

Athletically for all the Carter Bryant talk - Liam is right there -

CB - 6'7.75, 215lbs, 6'11.75 WS, 19.6 YO
LM - 6'8, 215lbs, 6'8.5 WS, 19.7 YO

Max Vert
CB - 39.5
LM - 36.5

Lane Agility
CB - 11.25
LM - 11.11

Shuttle
CB - 3.14
LM - 2.75

3/4 Sprint
CB - 3.07
LM - 3.16

Standing Reach
CB - 8'10
LM - 8'3.5

The prospects of a WCJ + McNeeley draft would have me excited - which I dont think many people would agree with.

[Norm2953]

ESPN this morning has Coward going 21 to the Jazz with KJ being Portland's pick at 11

[dckingsfan]

ESPN this morning has Coward going 21 to the Jazz with KJ being Portland's pick at 11

And Bailey at 6

[Walton1one]

ESPN’s latest mock has POR taking Jakucionis, usually this pick has been pretty accurate when it comes to POR, caveat Woo was the writer not Givony, a little misdirection away from Demin?

Has Jakucionis even worked out for anyone?

[Norm2953]

Interesting the ESPN article also mentions Ace has not worked out for anyone which perhaps explains why he
has dropped to six.

I think Portland is sitting fine at 11 with one of Bryant, Noa and KJ likely to be there. Hopefully another team
reaches for Queen or Demin ahead of them.

Draft is quite fluid however, especially if any the major trades being discussed come to fruition. Brooklyn with
four FRP can certainly trade for another lottery pick if they chose to

[Case2012]

Watch on YouTube

;ab_channel=HoopIntellect

Another breakdown, hoop intellect is one my favorite youtube scouts. Having watched Jalen Williams go off last night with an identical body, similar game, and defensive potential, it's gonna make me feel crazy watching OKC take him after we pass.