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Portland Trail Blazers 2019 NBA Draft Preview

By Aneesh Namburi

PALO ALTO, CA - FEBRUARY 28: KZ Okpala #0 of the Stanford Cardinal scores an open three against the Washington State Cougars during their game at Maples Pavilion on February 28, 2019 in Palo Alto, California. (Photo by Cody Glenn/Getty Images). (Photo by Cody Glenn/Getty Images)
PALO ALTO, CA - FEBRUARY 28: KZ Okpala #0 of the Stanford Cardinal scores an open three against the Washington State Cougars during their game at Maples Pavilion on February 28, 2019 in Palo Alto, California. (Photo by Cody Glenn/Getty Images). (Photo by Cody Glenn/Getty Images) /
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Rip City Project presents our 2019 NBA Draft Preview for the Portland Trail Blazers.

After months of anticipation, the 2019 NBA Draft is here. The Portland Trail Blazers hold the 25th pick, and despite attempts to trade the pick away, the team will most likely have to hold onto the selection and draft a prospect.

Rip City Project’s draft preview will show which positions need to be addressed and give a quick overview of the prospects who could potentially be available when Portland is on the clock.

Positional needs

1) Wing 

2) Wing

3) Wing

All jokes aside, it is very clearly that Portland needs a wing, especially one that can shoot and/or create for himself. After watching the Blazers’ starting wings essentially get played off of the floor in the playoffs, it is imperative that Neil Olshey finds someone who can fit with Portland’s starting backcourt.

If Portland drafts a guard or big, it might seem logical due to the amount of players potentially moving on from Portland at those spots, but the team’s biggest priority should be getting some wing help.

Prospects

*These prospects are not in any specific order, but are just an accumulation of players brought in to work out for the team or prospects who have been linked to the organization via national media outlets and mock drafts.

KZ Okpala: 3 and D upside but must improve his feel for the game

Grant Williams: #DraftTwitter darling who can be used in multiple roles due to versatility but needs to improve his quickness and shooting

Chuma Okeke: All-around wing who boosted his stock in postseason play before an ACL tear that ended his season

Matisse Thybulle: Elite defender during his four years at Washington but must answer questions about his skills offensively

Kevin Porter: One of the draft’s most talented players but has character concerns

Darius Bazley: Prep to pro forward who is highly skilled but raw

Dylan Windler: Offers value as a floor spacer and shooter but needs to prove that he can hold up in the NBA’s pool of elite talent

Cam Johnson: Elite shooter but the rest of his game raises questions

Luguentz Dort: Hard nosed defender who must figure out his position on offense

Ty Jerome: Led Virginia as one of the most productive players in the count despite limited physical tools.

Talen Horton-Tucker: Truly “positionless” player who must transfer his raw skills into production

Luka Samanic: Dynamic international talent who could turn into a nice two way big

Mfiondo Kabengele: Versatile defender at Florida State who can also knock down threes

Bol Bol: Transformational offensive center who needs to stave off injury issues

Bruno Fernando: Burly center who shined offensively but needs to adjust his defense

Daniel Gafford: Potential to be low usage modern rim running big man

For more in depth draft content, just go back to our home page here and find tons of information on breakdowns, fits, and so on.