The Portland Trail Blazers’ draft selection could go any number of ways.
Portland is drafting in the lottery for the fourth time in as many years. For the first time in what feels like an eternity, there’s internal hope that they will break that streak next season.
All last year, fans begged Portland to tank. For the first 41 games, it seemed like the Blazers were obliging. In the second half of the season, however, the young, upstart group scoffed at their doubters en route to a 22-19 finish.
That landed them with the tenth-best odds at the No. 1 overall pick. After the Mavericks’ voodoo earned them the first overall selection, Portland wound up with pick No. 11 in the 2025 NBA Draft — their only selection this year.
So, who, in their projected range, should the Blazers draft at No. 11? And, more importantly, who should the Blazers not draft?
Don’t Draft: Kasparas Jakucionis
While it would take some unexpected fall for Jakucionis to fall to Portland, he’s projected to go towards the end of the top 10. His skills, though, are redundant to Scoot Henderson’s.
Jakucionis does have a few inches of height on Scoot (6-foot-5 vs. 6-foot-3 in shoes), but Scoot still matches, and likely exceeds, the Lithuanian guard in wingspan.
Jakucionis plays with the ball in his hands for the most part.
He’s shown high-level passing skills but, according to Jonathan Givony, “will need to sharpen his decision-making and cut down on turnovers to see maximum time on the ball long term.” Pair Givony’s analysis with shaky three-point shooting skills, and you’re left with Scoot’s draft profile.
Jakucionis could be a great backup point guard, but his ceiling doesn’t appear high enough to warrant the positional conundrum. At the bare minimum, Portland would have to get rid of Anfernee Simons to warrant this selection, which many fans hope will happen, but is far from a certain move this summer.
If the Blazers draft Jakucionis, it will just make the logjam at point guard even bigger.
Draft: Egor Demin
At the risk of sounding extremely hypocritical to what’s above, Demin is a pass-heavy guard with a shaky three-point shot the Blazers should draft. What makes Demin more appealing to Portland is his ceiling, brought about by his extreme positional size.
Draft scouts are hopeful about Demin after an exceptional draft combine performance. He’s also been touted as one of the more exciting prospects of this class since he was 16 years old; just ask Portland’s own Mike Schmitz.
If Portland is looking at adding yet another ball handler at No. 11, it must bring an X-factor to the lineup and can be versatile on the defensive end. Demin’s size could give him Luka-esque court vision, and if his three-point shot comes around, look out.
Don’t Draft: Noa Essengue
Essengue is very young and very raw. While there are other “projects” Portland could consider taking at No. 11, Essengue is not one the up-and-coming Blazers have the time to work into their rotations.
Portland needs three-point shooting, and Essengue has shown no credible three-point shooting talent in two seasons with Ratiopharm Ulm, shooting under 30% on just 1.5 attempts per game.
Essengue has shown defensive upside at his size, and he’s been a great finisher. Although those are two skills Portland is not lacking right now.
The Blazers have also already invested enough time and energy into Rayan Rupert. While shorter than Essengue, Rupert has a much longer wingspan (7-foot-3) and could play both the SG and SF position, which, at least defensively, is of greater need for the Blazers than SF/PF, the positions Essengue would play.
If the Blazers draft Essengue, fans will be screaming, “we have Rupert at home.”
Draft: Carter Bryant
What Portland is in the market for are “dogs”. Carter Bryant has proven himself to be a tremendously hard worker with a killer mentality. Blazer fans also already adore him after he likened himself to Toumani Camara.
Bryant is a hyper-athletic, multi-positional wing defender whose three-point shot looked promising in his lone season at Arizona. Every team is coveting his 3-and-D archetype at all times, and Portland is no different.
With the drop-off Jerami Grant suffered towards the end of last season, particularly in three-point shooting, Bryant would be a great long-term replacement as a backup to Toumani and Deni.
Bryant is a winning player. Portland has been trying to surround Scoot and Shaedon Sharpe with as many winning frontcourt players as possible lately.
Carter Bryant would be the next in line to win over the hearts of Blazer fans.
Draft: Rasheer Fleming
If the Blazers want immediate results with their draft pick, which they surely wouldn’t mind, given that they want to make the playoffs next year, Fleming would help solve their three-point shooting woes while also enhancing their defensive identity.
Fleming’s combine measurements are simply absurd. He is the same size as Jarrett Allen with great speed and a reliable catch-and-shoot jumper.
There are many questions about his dribbling and on-ball creativity, limiting his projected ceiling. If used correctly, that he could be massively effective for a defensive unit while still providing positive offensive impact.
Fleming could slide in at PF in the starting lineup for Portland, making the Blazers dauntingly tall. He could also play some backup center minutes if needed, given his frame.
He may not be the go-to option everyone says Portland desperately needs to find, but his impact as a role player on this team would be undoubtedly tremendous.
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