With the 2019 NBA Draft approaching rapidly, fans are starting to get interested into who the Portland Trail Blazers might select.
As many of them did not watch much college basketball throughout the season, many do not know who actually has a realistic shot to wear the threads of Rip City next year.
It is first important to understand the Blazers’ needs going into the 2019 offseason. Portland has several key rotation players entering free agency (Seth Curry, Rodney Hood, Jake Layman, Al-Farouq Aminu), and a majority of them are guards and/or wings. When you also take into account the fact that the league is now mainly comprised of creators and 3&D wings, adding more of those to the roster is a low risk, high reward move that makes logical sense.
Another thing to keep in mind is Neil Olshey’s draft history. When drafting for the contending Blazers, he has focused on high potential prospects, as evidenced by selections of Zach Collins and Anfernee Simons in 2017 and 2018. In the press conference following Simons’ selection, Olshey said that in the late 20’s, he prioritizes raw talent over production, as he felt that there are not too many players who can provide an immediate impact, regardless of their college production.
With this in mind and the Blazers picking around the same area, expect the Blazers to once again look for a high upside pick. So who are the 5 most likely candidates for the Blazers selection at pick 25 based on their current team needs and previous draft history.