With March Madness underway, the Portland Trail Blazers front office and fans are scouting the talented athletes that could be available in the 2023 NBA Draft. While watching March Madness is highly entertaining, it’s also an opportunity to see players on the big stage that NBA fans might not have seen before.
It can be an excellent time to evaluate players’ skill sets and visualize how they would fit in with roster needs at the next level.
Before diving into players who could mesh well with the Blazers’ roster, it’s important to recap their draft pick situation.
Portland acquired a lottery-protected 2023 first-round pick in the Josh Hart trade with the Knicks. If the Knicks fail to make the playoffs, they will keep that pick and give the Blazers four future second-round picks instead.
Meanwhile, the Blazers sent their 2023 first-round pick to the Bulls in the three-way deal that landed them Larry Nance Jr. That pick is also lottery-protected and will roll over to next season if Portland misses the playoffs.
Given how the Blazers and Knicks have been playing lately, there’s a likely best-case scenario in which Portland ends up with two first-round picks in this year’s draft. Retaining their draft pick would be a bittersweet ending for a relatively disappointing season for the Blazers.
This article will evaluate March Madness prospects that could be a good value and roster fit for the Blazers. The first two players listed would be ideal options with the Blazers’ pick earlier in the first round, and the last two correspond with the Knicks’ pick later in the first round.
Prospect No. 1 – Jarace Walker, F, Houston
Jarace Walker is a 6-foot-8 freshman who is a great athlete and very agile for his 240-pound frame. Many 6-8 players have been labeled “tweeners” going into the NBA because they relied too much on their size in college. Their game didn’t transition as well to the NBA.
Walker shouldn’t have that problem, as he is solid as both an athlete that can guard out on the perimeter and as a shooter that can stretch the floor.
This pick makes a ton of sense for the Blazers, especially given the contract situations of their current forwards on the roster, the most notable of which is Jerami Grant, who is an unrestricted free agent. Newly acquired wings Cam Reddish and Matisse Thybulle are both restricted free agents this offseason, too.
Someone like Walker would be great insurance on the roster if the team can’t get these deals done.
If Portland retains its key forwards, Walker could also fit in well alongside them, given his ability to stretch the floor. Walker shot 34 percent from three this season.
However, he needs to improve his free throw shooting, as he shot 64 percent from the line.
Still, Walker is only 19 years old and has room to grow. He has the size, athleticism, and feel for the game to be impactful on a team like Portland.
Walker is a big reason Houston has a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament, and his skillset should translate well to the NBA. If the Blazers retain their lottery pick, Walker could be someone to keep an eye on.
Prospect No. 2 – Brandon Miller, F, Alabama
Miller is a star freshman wing for the No. 1 overall seed Crimson Tide. The Blazers may have to have a bit of lottery luck involved to be in a position to select Miller – currently, he is projected to be a top-five selection. Given the new lottery odds system, though, it’s not an unrealistic scenario.
These next weeks are pivotal for Portland’s chances of landing someone like Miller. For example, the odds of landing a top-four pick for the 10th-worst team in the league are 10.3 percent, whereas the odds for the seventh-worst team are 34.4 percent.
Miller has certainly had some off-court distractions, but he’s talented enough to contribute immediately at the next level. He excels on defense, using his 6-9 length and athleticism to stay in front of his man, disrupt passing lanes, switch onto various positions, and secure the rebound.
Like Walker, Miller would also bring that coveted size and defensive switchability.
The Tide freshman is averaging around 1 steal and block a game, but his impact on defense goes beyond the stats, as he alters so many shots. In addition, NBA offenses consistently utilize pick-and-rolls to get the optimal matchup, but with his versatility, Miller should have no issue being switched onto smaller guards and thriving on defense with the NBA-style of play.
On offense, Miller shoots close to 40 percent from three, meaning he’d fit in just about anywhere with his ability to space the floor. He’s also extremely capable of creating his shot, averaging around 19 points a game.
One knock on Miller would be his playmaking; he has around a 1:1 assist-to-turnover ratio. Having electric guards in Damian Lillard and Anfernee Simons, however, the Blazers don’t need him to be as much of a playmaker.
Miller could be the long-term solution Portland has been searching for at the wing position.
Prospect No. 3 – Jalen Hood-Schifino, G, Indiana
Jalen Hood-Schifino is a good distributor and decision-maker, especially for a freshman. He needs to cut down on turnovers, but he sees the floor well, averaging almost 4 assists a game. At 6-6, he also has good length for a guard and could give the Blazers’ backcourt some much-needed size. Lillard and Simons are listed at 6-2 and 6-3, respectively.
Guard isn’t necessarily a position of need relative to others for Portland. But bringing Hood-Schifino and Shaedon Sharpe off the bench as two guards sounds too intriguing.
Jalen can also play off the ball and would fit in seamlessly with the first unit when needed. He’s shooting around 34 percent from three and has shown improvement as the season has progressed.
The Blazers’ team strength is their shooting and guard play. With this selection, they’d be doubling down on their strengths and identity.
With Lillard being 32 years old, this could also help solidify a future backcourt rotation. A potential trio of Simons and Sharpe starting and Hood-Schifino coming off the bench retains their shooting while giving them another playmaker with size. Jalen’s combo-guard ability would allow him to spell either Simons or Sharpe, if needed.
He gives this Blazers roster another weapon and depth piece for now and for the future. If Portland selects a forward or center with its first pick, this is someone they could target with the Knicks’ first-round pick.
Prospect No. 4 – Noah Clowney, F/C, Alabama
Noah Clowney is more of a prospect that would need some development and patience but could be an excellent selection for the Blazers later in the first round with the Knicks’ pick. Clowney has already shown glimpses of his potential as a solid defender in the NBA. His NBA ceiling comparison may be Nic Claxton.
Claxton was a second-round pick and relatively raw coming out of college. He also has a similar frame as Clowney; Claxton is listed at 6-11, 215 pounds, while Clowney is 6-10, 210 pounds. Now at 23 years old, Claxton is entering the conversation for NBA Defensive Player of the Year, primarily because he combines rim protection with the ability to make life difficult when switched out to smaller guards on the perimeter.
Clowney may never be a reliable scorer, but he doesn’t need to be, given the Blazers’ many scoring options. Jusuf Nurkic is great on offense as Portland’s center, but they’re still missing that element of a defensive-minded big that can guard multiple positions when needed.
The only question is, how long will Portland wait for Clowney to develop? They may feel more of a sense of urgency to win now, given Lillard is 32 years old. But if they have two first-round picks, it could make more sense to take a long-term flier on one of them.