Portland Trail Blazers interview 2020 NBA Draft prospect RJ Hampton

With the 2020 NBA Draft only a month or so away, the Portland Trail Blazers have begun interviewing prospects. RJ Hampton was one interviewed recently.

RJ Hampton was recently interviewed by the Portland Trail Blazers as a 2020 NBA Draft prospect. Though the NBA draft process isn’t the same as previous years due to COVID-19, there is a Draft combine, and NBA teams are allowed to conduct Zoom interviews with players.

Hampton is an intriguing draft prospect, who, as the number six recruit in the 2019 recruiting class, took his talents to New Zealand to play with the Breakers.

Hampton played in 15 games, where he averaged 8.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.1 steals per game.

He started his first 12 games in the Australian NBL until he suffered a hip injury that held him out of action for nearly a month.

After this underwhelming season, Hampton has dropped down draft boards; many boards have him mocked between 10 and 20.

The Blazers may want to go with an athletic combo guard, but I think he is too similar to Anfernee Simons. Hampton is a bit taller, but his physical profile is much the same.

Hampton is a better passer, but so far hasn’t shown that he is as good a shooter as Simons.

Picking at number 16 can be hard to find value, so if someone like RJ was seen as a future difference-maker, then maybe the Blazers pull the trigger. Hampton has been working with longtime NBA player Mike Miller on his shot too. If this translates, then all of a sudden, he has star potential.

Hampton has the potential to be a starting guard in the NBA, but he is very raw still. Hopefully, the Blazers draft team can get a look at him in the workouts and decide if he is worth the investment.