The Portland Trail Blazers are pushing for the play-in.
The players have said it themselves, and given that it’s likely Chauncey Billups’ last hurrah, he’ll be coaching to win till there’s an “e” next to Portland’s name.
Given the Blazers are looking to push upwards and the fact there are a number of teams who have pulled the plugs on their seasons (San Antonio, Philadelphia, Chicago) that Portland can’t out-tank, it seems as if they’ll fall somewhere around the 10th overall pick, with picks 11-14 in play.
So, who should Portland be targeting in the late lottery? Is it an older, win-now player that could provide depth off the bench? Or should they select a project that can help them later down the line as a potential long-term starter?
With Toumani Camara and Deni Avdija locked in as wings of the future, should they go power forward? Or maybe two-guard? Do they need yet another center?
The Blazers can go in an array of different directions with the team they have, so here are four players they could target in the 2025 NBA Draft and how selecting them could work to help build them into a contender:
Rasheer Fleming – Junior, St. Joseph’s
Size is always a good thing to have, and Rasheer Fleming has size. His reported 7-foot-5 wingspan pairs tremendously with his 6-foot-9 frame to make him a versatile defender and a presence on the court.
For comparison, Camara measured in at 6-foot-8 with a seven-foot wingspan at the combine. St. Joseph’s uses Fleming in a similar manner to how Dayton used Camara in that Fleming plays a decent amount of center for the Hawks despite it not being what his NBA position will likely be.
The difference between Fleming and Camara, besides size, is that Fleming can shoot. Looking at this year’s marks alone might make one think Rasheer could be the next Kevin Durant.
Fleming is shooting 43.6% from three this season on 4.3 attempts per game. In three seasons at St. Joseph’s, he averages 36.1% from distance, which would be great on its own, but his numbers have only gone up year-over-year. Combine that with 8.8 rebounds and nearly three “stocks” per game, and you’ve got quite the tool. Fleming will be 21 at the start of the next NBA season, meaning he settles somewhere in between a project and NBA-ready prospect.
His balance between potential and readiness is perfect for the Blazers. The up-and-coming team could use someone to help them win games next season, but they also have plenty of time to let Fleming grow against much stiffer competition than he’s been used to in the Atlantic 10 conference.
At his size, and with his defensive versatility, he could rotate through the wing positions with Deni Avdija and Camara.
If his three-point shooting remains anywhere close to 40%, though — meaning he can space the floor effectively — he could eventually start alongside the two to create and absolute force from the 2-4 spots. The three wings’ length, physicality and switchability would be menacingly difficult for offenses to deal with— especially with Clingan protecting the rim.
Fleming also shows plenty of ability to run in transition, which the Blazers have been trying to do more and more all season long. His handle is questionable, and he does not generate assists, but with so many ball-dominant players on the Portland roster already, he’ll be expected to finish and make quick decisions rather than facilitate and create for others.
Jeremiah Fears – Freshman, Oklahoma
Admittedly, Portland needs a star. They’ve shown they have some great pieces to put around said star, but unless Sharpe, Scoot or Simons take a large leap soon, they likely don’t have an All-Star on the roster currently.
So best player available at No. 10 is far from out of the question, and Jeremiah Fears, if still on the board, has the makings of a star.
The 6-foot-4 point guard has shown flashes of scoring at every level. Playing in the SEC this year, he’s gone up against NBA-level competition. The level of play has stifled him at times, and his shooting splits have taken a hit (currently at 44/29/84), but in his last three games he’s averaging 21 points, five rebounds and had 10 assists against Mississippi St.
So Fears is streaky, to put it mildly, but he turns 19 in October and has shown plenty of potential, including hitting some tremendously big shots at the end of games.
https://twitter.com/espn/status/1869601224577761466
The logical response to Portland selecting Fears would be “what the hell, don’t they have Scoot Henderson?” And the logical answer would be yes, they picked him third two years ago.
While Scoot has developed tremendously over the course of the season, he still has a ways to go before he can be assuredly counted on as a long-term piece of a championship-winning team. He still has flaws to his game, and his shooting inconsistencies and passing prowess might make him more of a niche fit on a roster rather than a transcendent force.
So taking Fears, who is a ways away from being an every night positive, would be a great backup off the bench for the time being. If he flourishes and Scoot can’t elevate, then maybe Fears is the PG of the future. If Fears falters and Scoot rounds himself out, then Fears could be a high-upside backup for longer, or a trade piece.
Kon Knueppel – Freshman, Duke
The Blazers desperately need shooting. Outside of Anfernee Simons, they don’t have a reliable knock-down three-point shooter right now.
Kon Knueppel is just that. He may only be a shooter when it’s all said and done, but he is definitely a shooter.
Playing alongside Cooper Flagg on a Duke team currently rated as one of the best college basketball teams of all time according to KenPom.com, Knueppel is averaging 13.2 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. His 6-foot-7 frame makes him a great defender at the position, particularly against flimsier competition in a weak ACC.
His three-point shooting is what clearly stands out though. He’s shooting 38.3% on 5.7 attempts per game, and his shooting stroke looks smooth as Wisconsin butter. Combine that with some savvy driving abilities, and he’s shown that he can be a truly reliable player for a winning team.
https://twitter.com/DukeLightsX/status/1894134755152572838
As previously mentioned, the Blazers could really use shooting. Drafting Knueppel would inject shooting immediately into the team. He would fit nicely in a lineup with Scoot, Avdija, Camara and Clingan, maintaining size and defensive capabilities while spacing the floor. He could also come in as a spark off the bench in the short-term and migrate to the starting lineup when he’s ready.
However he’s used, it’s hard to go wrong with more three-point shooting in today’s NBA, so taking Knueppel and figuring out the rest later seems like a solid strategy at 10.
Noa Essengue – Ratiopharm Ulm
For the ultimate project, look no further than Noa Essengue, the next French wing that, if he develops a three-point shot, will be all the rage.
The Blazers have a similar player to Essengue on their roster already in Rayan Rupert, who is still coming around himself. The difference is that Essengue is 6-foot-9 whereas Rupert is 6-foot-6.
Essengue is 18 years old and won’t turn 19 until December (similar to Cooper Flagg, if you can believe that). It will be a while before he is ready to contribute for an extended period of time on an NBA court, if ever.
However, it’s easy to see how he could mold into a lethal weapon. He has length and speed as a SF, so he’ll be a versatile defender. He’s great in transition and, despite shooting 29% from three, is shooting 56% from the field and 73% from the line. He’s an effective scorer, the jumper just hasn’t come around yet.
The Blazers could snag Essengue and stash him for a year. He could get all the run in the world on the Rip City Remix, and then by the end of next year, or the one following, could come off the bench and take on the role of Avdija or Camara.
If he flourishes into another great defender and learns to shoot and score, then the Blazers are set on wings for the foreseeable future. They have the time to allow him to do so, and at such a young age it’s hard to tell where his ceiling really is.
If he flops, it will be a wasted opportunity, but at the 10th pick there’s a decent chance that any player doesn’t find great success in the league.
For Portland, it’s all about swinging for the fences, and Essengue may just be the home run they’re looking for.
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