2025 Blazer Draft Prospects

[Black and Blue]

At minimum, Blazers should have been able to trade with Pelicans instead of letting the Hawks do it. Hawks gave 13 (Queen) for 23 and the unprotected 2026 best of Pelicans/Bucks 1st. Pelicans won 21 games and should remain horrible, so that is a top 10 pick with a chance at winning the lottery. Surely the Pelicans could have more confidently landed Queen if Portland gave them 11 instead of them hoping Queen made it to 13 (which he did anyway obviously).

I too wish the team did that but they must have felt another team was poised to get Yang before 23. The fact they said they would have drafted him LAST year speaks to a level of love for this player (and fear they’d miss out on him) that I’ve never quite seen before.

If the Lakers Luka trade showed us anything it’s that the deals offered to teams aren’t necessarily as widespread as we typically think. It’s a league where friends help friends. The Hawks GM is super smart to be buddies with the Pelicans GM. That would be my top priority as a GM, become friend with the most dysfunctional team in the league.

[Goldbum]

2 scouts I talked to think we still have first round grades on 5 guys. I think it’s Penda, Fleming, Pate and ???

[Myth]

At minimum, Blazers should have been able to trade with Pelicans instead of letting the Hawks do it. Hawks gave 13 (Queen) for 23 and the unprotected 2026 best of Pelicans/Bucks 1st. Pelicans won 21 games and should remain horrible, so that is a top 10 pick with a chance at winning the lottery. Surely the Pelicans could have more confidently landed Queen if Portland gave them 11 instead of them hoping Queen made it to 13 (which he did anyway obviously).

I too wish the team did that but they must have felt another team was poised to get Yang before 23. The fact they said they would have drafted him LAST year speaks to a level of love for this player (and fear they’d miss out on him) that I’ve never quite seen before.

Sure, but I’m highly highly skeptical. I suspect that 2026 pick alone will be better than Yang. I would easily have taken that pick and then still hoped for my guy at 23.

[m0ng0]

He is OUR player now, stop bitching and playing the what if game, it's over, he is our player let's support him and figure out what to do next with this roster

[Walton1one]

Vecenie\Hollinger on Yang, but what do they know, right?

Vecenie’s ranking: 48

Yang has several intriguing skills. Any time a player is this big with elite passing vision and touch around the rim, there’s going to be a lot of intrigue. I worry that it’s going to be hard for Yang to actualize those things in the NBA because of his high-hipped frame, lack of explosiveness and lack of lateral ability. Even though skill absolutely matters with players like this and is what makes them special, the guys who tend to make it in this mold are generally the biggest bullies on the court: Think Nikola Jokić, Domantas Sabonis, Nikola Vucevic and even Karl-Anthony Towns to some extent. They all can put their shoulder into NBA big men and move them backward to establish position wherever they need to on the court. Yang doesn’t have that ability, unfortunately. His defensive translation to the NBA is a major question, too. I love big, skilled centers who can give you a chance to play five-out basketball. I just don’t buy Yang enough as a shooter and don’t buy the functionality of his game enough against the best athletes in the world. He’d absolutely be worth a stash in the mid-second round in case this changes at some point, but I don’t know that he’s ready to come over to the NBA yet.

Hollinger’s analysis: I’m sorry … WHAT???!?!?!?! Nobody had Yang as a first-rounder. Literally nobody. He’s big and fairly skilled and I think he’s potentially a solid backup because of his offense, but this is a serious reach by the Blazers on a player most expected to last well into the second round. (Memphis made this pick, technically, but as noted above the Grizzlies swapped spots 11 and 16 with Portland). The Blazers already had a surfeit of centers with Deandre Ayton, Robert Williams, and 2024 lottery pick Donovan Clingan, so it’s not even clear what Yang’s pathway is to minutes in Portland. I do not get this at all.

[BlazersBroncos]

At minimum, Blazers should have been able to trade with Pelicans instead of letting the Hawks do it. Hawks gave 13 (Queen) for 23 and the unprotected 2026 best of Pelicans/Bucks 1st. Pelicans won 21 games and should remain horrible, so that is a top 10 pick with a chance at winning the lottery. Surely the Pelicans could have more confidently landed Queen if Portland gave them 11 instead of them hoping Queen made it to 13 (which he did anyway obviously).

I think there is a high chance MIN or BRK take him 17 or 19 (Or 22) respectively.

I think we make a move for Penda today. 2 future SRP for 36 if he is still on the board (Like no chance BRK can field 6 rookies right?)

[Chanse503]

Koby Brea- arguably best shooter in the draft

Adou Thiero- arguably best athlete in the draft

Ryan Nembhard- he’s a Nembhard

Maxime Raynaud- had him as a better fit vs Hansen

Hunter Sallis- massive sleeper with good physical toolbox

Watch on YouTube

Some really talented dudes still on the board

[red_power]

I actually like an idea that the FO left without a no-brainer selection at #16 so they decided to take a gamble on the guy they considered the most intriguing option.

I mean don't think Yang was exceptionally good in the Chinese league, so it's very naive to expect him to reach even that level against NBA competition.

[oldfishermen]

Not convinced Yang was the bpa.

As far as fit and fiiling a need. He appears to be Aytons replacement. Both are good post scorers, and rebounders. To be afffective, both need to be feed the ball, and we don't feed Ayton.

The verdict, tbd. Yang looks like a long term project.

[Case2012]

There is absolutely no evidence that Yang was going at 17 or 19 or even 27. None. I call BS. It's cope. Provide evidence of this nonsense, because that's what it is.

He would have been there in the second round, and fine take him there and I'm cool with it. But this was further proof that these people are low iq, bad talent evaluators and decision makers.

Joe couldn't run a taco bell let alone a franchise and he'll never work in the league again. How's Olshey doing btw? He's really doing big things being unemployed I'm sure.

Chat GPT could have done better.

[BlazersBroncos]

Thiero is interesting. There are plenty of guys that need to build out their shot in this draft, Thiero falls into that bucket but is a better athlete than all of them.

Thiero or Penda would be my picks (I think the FO would lean Penda as his passing is much better and we seem to be prioritizing that).

[Case2012]

Look at SA, look at the Jazz, look at ATL, look at Was, look at BK who I love made all those picks.

Hey at least we'll be in the lottery again next year, maybe there's some Swedish 7'5 SF Mike has been tracking for 3 years that we can shock the world and take with the 1st pick over Boozer or Dybansta.

[dckingsfan]

There is absolutely no evidence that Yang was going at 17 or 19 or even 27. None. I call BS. It's cope. Provide evidence of this nonsense, because that's what it is.

He would have been there in the second round, and fine take him there and I'm cool with it. But this was further proof that these people are low iq, bad talent evaluators and decision makers.

Joe couldn't run a taco bell let alone a franchise and he'll never work in the league again. How's Olshey doing btw? He's really doing big things being unemployed I'm sure.

Chat GPT could have done better.

I would have loved him in the second round. And you are right - zero chance he goes in the first. none. nada.

I liked the trade down and there were several players that could have been impactful over the next couple of years.

This pick gets an F. Full Stop.

[mojomarc]

Ha seung jin 2.0

Do you really think Hansen is "thinking of you"????

[dckingsfan]

He is OUR player now, stop bitching and playing the what if game, it's over, he is our player let's support him and figure out what to do next with this roster

Way too early to stop bitching, IMO. My guess is we will be shaking our collective heads for a few years on this pick.

But I get you. I hope that he can come up to speed and be a useful backup C in a couple of years.

[Butter]

I appreciate the efforts to put lip stick on a pig with the positive takes, but this is a serious overpay. I sincerely hope it pays off, but they are not giving themselves much margin for error by taking him at 16.

[DusterBuster]

Not to distract from Blazers here, but can we also take a moment for the biggest WTF of the draft from a trade standpoint, that being the Pelicans giving up a UNPROTECTED first round pick for a non-lottery pick this year.

Read on Twitter

Dumars is back baby! Start making friends with all NO staff right now. Send them Grant for 2 future firsts, that's a team that can be fleeced cause they look even more lost than Portland.

They legit likely gave up a Top 6 pick in the draft next summer so they could get a #17 pick.

[Case2012]

We will be bitching about this for years.

Coward will be at the very least a starting level wing on a playoff team.

Yang will probably be back to China in 2 years, never to be seen again.

And when i say probably, I mean it's HIGHLY probable. Like the odds are astronomical that Coward will be a starting wing and Yang won't finish his rookie deal.

History couldn’t be clearer:

Chinese prospects who finished a rookie deal: Yao (Hall-of-Famer), Yi (fringe starter).

Everyone else: Zhou Qi, Sun Yue, Wang Zhizhi, Mengke Bateer—out of the league before Year 3.

That’s six swings in 25 years, one hit, one foul tip, four whiffs. Now add Yang, a slow-footed CBA kid, to that list and tell me Cronin is fit to steer this rebuild—especially after flipping Simons for 35-year-old Jrue Holiday and his $100 million balloon payment.

So, yes, we’ll be complaining about this for years. Coward will end up a playoff starter—maybe an All-Star—while Yang is back in the CBA before his rookie contract expires. Spare me the “upside” speeches; the odds are astronomical against this pick. The front office just punted on a cost-controlled wing with real star equity to chase a dream that’s failed almost every time. Malpractice, full stop.

[Norm2953]

Brooklyn with 5 FRP would almost certainly had taken Yang in the 20's but I still question the fit after
taking DC at 7 last year. He'll spend next season in the G league but I still wonder if the choice for
a project big from China reflects one of the minority owners when the team is sold will be from China.

In the meantime, assuming the team does not make a move to get into the second round, the free agent
season is about to begin. Let's see if the choice of Yang reflects there is an Ayton trade on the table. He's
still a large expiring contract and is a more than serviceable player and there are teams like Charlotte
that still need a center. Hopefully they can bring back a serviceable player that can actually contribute
next season

[Case2012]

Stolen from Reddit.

"Wings with a 7'2 Wingspan Taken In The First Round Since 2016
The List:

Pascal Siakam

OG Anunoby

Mikal Bridges

PJ Washington

Rui Hachimura

Scottie Barnes

Jalen Williams

Tari Eason

Bilal Coulibaly

Jarace Walker

TBD on those last two, but the hit rate is INSANE.

So, who will meet the criteria this year?

Cedric Coward

Rasheer Fleming We need to snag him somehow today. Full stop.

Even more intriguing, both hit close to 40% from 3 this year while also averaging super solid steal/block stats. I think both of these guys are worthy of top ten selections, even in such a good draft."

Now compare this to

Chinese-born NBA players since 2004

Yao Ming — 2002 No. 1 pick; finished full 4-year rookie deal (plus two extensions); 8× All-Star, 5× All-NBA (only Chinese player to become a true franchise cornerstone).

Yi Jianlian — 2007 No. 6 pick; played all 4 rookie-scale years; never more than a fringe starter, back to CBA after Year 5.

Zhou Qi — 2016 No. 43 pick; waived during Year 2, 19 total NBA games.

Sun Yue — 2007 No. 40 pick (debut 2008–09); waived after Year 1, five NBA games.

Wang Zhizhi — 1999 second-round pick (debut 2001); cut during Year 3 (pre-rookie-scale era).

Mengke Bateer — undrafted, signed 2002; spot minutes for 3 seasons, out of league by 2004.

Only two (Yao, Yi) finished a full rookie contract, and only Yao became a reliable starter.

So pleaseeeeeeeeeeeee stop saying well he wouldn't have been there. Who cares? He not the Chinese Jokic. He's a bust and he hasn't even player yet, because he most likely will never see the floor.

Coward was the pick. Fleming is available in the second round. Schmitz and Cronin and the rest of the front office will be fired as soon as the team is sold. Thats a fact.

These people are not qualified to make these high level decisions and had there been a single other GM candidate interviewed by an owner that GAF about this team, they would know that.