Portland Trail Blazers: A way-too-early look at perfect picks in the 2020 NBA Draft
435. Pick Analysis. G / F. player. Devin Vassell. 1. Scouting Report. Florida State University
The Blazers’ recent culture has been embodied by chip-on-shoulder, unheralded prospects who’ve been slept on first, and shined later. Scheme fit and overall skill notwithstanding, Vassell checks both of those boxes.
Per NBA.com’s Chris Dortch, Vassell had just two Division I scholarships to his name before the Florida Seminoles took a flyer. That feature story offered a quote that, if you weren’t careful, you might assume came from a Lillard-McCollum anecdote.
"“Looks like a Huxtable, but the guy wakes up every morning mad as hell because he was ranked like No. 200 in the country.” – Seminoles’ assistant coach Charlton Young"
Vassell matches that with the ability to contribute to an NBA team immediately. The Ringer‘s Kevin O’Connor likened the sophomore’s playstyle to two-way talents such as Khris Middleton and Matisse Thybulle.
The 3-and-D specs are there; he hit on 41.5 percent of his 3.5 attempts per game. And defensively, he put his 6-foot-10 wingspan to use. In 2019-20, Vassell was one of just two players in the ACC to rank among the top-12 in both steal and block percentage, with Syracuse’s Bourama Sibide. It jumps out on film, figuratively and visually. No layup feels safe, and help defense rotations are sound.
Personally, one of the first things worth looking into with a prospect is how they perform in bigger, high-stipulation games. The March Madness tournament cancellation ruined a chance for Vassell to shine with the lights on bright ― the Seminoles ranked No. 4 in the final AP poll ― but his tournament play more than inspires. He averaged 13.5 points and 5.6 rebounds on 60.4 percent shooting, up from 12.7 and 5.1 in regular games, respectively.
As will be the case with a few of these players, the burning question is this: will Vassell even be on the board if the Portland Trail Blazers fulfill their expectations in the Orlando bubble?
Experts see Vassell as a top-10 pick, something Portland’s projected success doesn’t ensure them of having. But if he’s on the board, he feels must-pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. He’s close to, if not the perfect fit in the red-and-black.