NBA mock draft: Scouting 5 potential late-lottery prospects for Trail Blazers
Rayan Rupert, New Zealand Breakers
Measurables: 6-foot-6, 192 pounds, 19 years old
Statistics: 6.6 points, 2.5 rebounds, 25.0 percent shooting from three (international stats via Proballers)
Defense, defense, defense. That’s Rupert’s calling card so far in his development, and that would fit snugly alongside two smaller guards in Damian Lillard and Anfernee Simons.
Rupert’s 7-3 wingspan would also work alongside those of Jerami Grant (7-3), Cam Reddish (7-1), Matisse Thybulle (6-11), and Shaedon Sharpe (6-11), assuming Grant, Reddish, and Thybulle are still in Portland next year.
Rupert is long, athletic, and fights defensively. He’s barely shown any semblance of an offensive game at this point, but he can handle the ball and makes some intelligent passes. He’s skinny and needs to add strength. Even so, the Blazers have enough scorers already, so he wouldn’t need to come in and immediately average 15-20 ppg.
Like Howard, he comes from a basketball family. His dad played professionally in France, and his sister plays in the WNBA.
There's a reason Rayan Rupert is ranked 17th in ESPN's latest Mock Draft 🔥
— NBL (@NBL) February 14, 2023
6'8", 7'3" wingspan, 18 years old and already played professionally? The French Next Star continues to make an impact for the @NZBreakers with his winning plays on both ends of the floor 💪 pic.twitter.com/FwNh8a6HIX