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Portland Trail Blazers: Every prospect linked to the Blazers in the 2020 NBA Draft

By Spencer Poole

LEXINGTON, KY - JANUARY 12: Aaron Nesmith #24 of the Vanderbilt Commodores celebrates in the game against the Kentucky Wildcats at Rupp Arena on January 12, 2019 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LEXINGTON, KY - JANUARY 12: Aaron Nesmith #24 of the Vanderbilt Commodores celebrates in the game against the Kentucky Wildcats at Rupp Arena on January 12, 2019 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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Josh Green, Arizona Wildcats (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
Josh Green, Arizona Wildcats (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /

8. Josh Green

1 Selection

It’s easy to see why Josh Green may be a potential selection for the Portland Trail Blazers and it’s a bit surprising that he hasn’t been mocked more to them with the 16th pick of the 2020 NBA Draft.

Green is young and with room to grow but even in his current form he is an absolute nightmare on the defensive end and can hold his own on offense. With his 6’10” wingspan and fast hands, Green made a habit of swiping the ball last season at Arizona, leading the team in total steals and steals per game. These tools along with his incredible athleticism make him one of the most versatile defenders in the draft class who will be a net-positive on defense from day one.

Green does have plenty of room to grow on offense but the potential is there. His three-point shot improved as the season went along and from February onward he shot over 40 percent from beyond the arc. His athleticism allows him to get to the rim at a healthy rate but he does have work to do with his dribble, often being forced to rely on his superior speed and strength.

On Portland, Green would provide immediate defensive help while also having the potential to develop into a key player for the team long-term.

7.Tyrese Maxey

1 Selection

Maxey is an intriguing fit in the Blazers system. At first glance, it seems that Portland has little need for another guard with below-average size who lacks eye-popping athleticism. But what Maxey can bring is consistent and reliable scoring to Portland’s bench unit as part of a fast-paced offense.

One-and-done players coming out of Kentucky have been hit-or-miss in recent years but Maxey has plenty of encouraging signs that he will be successful in the NBA. While his shooting during his lone year at Kentucky was inconsistent, he made over 83 percent of his free throws, an encouraging sign that he has yet to reach his shooting ceiling.

And he brings a very valuable skill as an elite transition scorer. His 4.1 transition points per game ranked 5th in the SEC last season and his skills will mesh in well with one of the faster offenses in the league in Portland.

Maxey would project as a Dennis Schröder or Lou Williams-type scorer off the bench for Portland who could carry the offensive load while Dame and CJ sit. An intriguing wrinkle to selecting Maxey would be the future of Anfernee Simons, who would suddenly become surplus to requirements with this selection.