2023 NBA Draft: 5 Instant impact sleepers Blazers should target

The 2023 NBA Draft will take place on Thursday, June 22, at 8 p.m. ET (ABC/ESPN). The Portland Trail Blazers had a disappointing 2022-23 season, but the good news is they have picks No. 3, 23 (via Knicks), and 43 (via Hawks).

The late first round of the NBA draft presents a unique opportunity for teams to select more experienced and developed players. Some players typically available around this range may be overlooked due to their age and perceived lack of potential, making them great sleeper picks.

These five players mentioned are worth considering, especially if the Blazers are in win-now mode. While some of these sleepers may be projected to go in the second round, Portland has enough assets to maneuver around the draft, if needed.

If they don’t like the pick’s value at No. 23 and think they can get their player later, Portland could trade it to a team interested in moving up. The Charlotte Hornets and Indiana Pacers are potential trade partners with multiple picks in the draft, especially around that late-first, early second-round range.

Here are five hidden gems that align with the Blazers’ positional needs and can make an immediate impact.

Blazers NBA draft sleeper No. 1: Kobe Brown, Missouri, Forward

Kobe Brown has been garnering the NBA’s attention following his breakout senior year at Missouri, in which he averaged 15.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.5 steals on 55/46/79 shooting splits.

At 6-foot-8, 250 pounds with a 7-foot-1 wingspan, Brown poses a mismatch problem that is advantageous for himself and his teammates.

Brown’s offensive versatility is noteworthy since he can score almost anywhere on the court. He shot 62.3 percent at the rim and 44.3 percent on catch-and-shoot opportunities this year, a significant improvement from his first three seasons in college.

His passing abilities are also impressive and could make him an asset for Portland as a playmaking big that can have the ball in his hands while shooters get open off of screens.

Defensively, Brown’s strong-bodied stature enables him to guard multiple positions and make an impact both on-ball and as a help defender. However, his athleticism could be a concern against more explosive forwards and quicker guards.

Time will tell how that will translate in the NBA, but it’s definitely promising that he’s in better shape this season.

Overall, Brown’s well-rounded game and two-way versatility make him a great prospect that could fill many needs for the Blazers.

Blazers NBA draft sleeper No. 2: Keyontae Johnson, Kansas State, Forward

Keyontae Johnson is now eligible for selection in this year’s draft after being cleared by medical professionals, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. He was diagnosed with a heart condition after collapsing on the court in 2020 while playing for the Florida Gators.

This year, as a senior at Kansas State, Johnson finally got to showcase his talents yet again – the last time he played more than four games was in the 2019-20 season. He picked up right where he left off as a sharpshooting, two-way wing, averaging 17.4 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.0 steals with 52/40/72 shooting splits.

Offensively, the stat that stands out for Johnson is his 45 percent shooting on catch-and-shoot jumpers. Additionally, he’s an excellent slasher who moves well without the ball.

He can create shots for himself and others, which was apparent in his playmaking role at Kansas State. Although his 2.9 turnovers per game are a concern, Johnson’s strengths can be utilized to their fullest potential with a different role in Portland as more of an off-ball player.

Plenty of shooting, offensive-minded wings are expected to be available around in the late first-round range. What sets Johnson apart from other prospects is his defense and ability to be a switchable defender who can guard multiple positions with his size and agility.

These developed two-way skills make Johnson an ideal complementary three-and-D piece that the Blazers can implement into their system in his rookie year.

A two-way forward is something Portland needs, especially given its current wings’ unknown futures in unrestricted free agent Jerami Grant and restricted free agents Matisse Thybulle and Cam Reddish.

Blazers NBA draft sleeper No. 3: Trayce Jackson-Davis, Indiana, Forward

Trayce Jackson-Davis could be the modern-day big man that Portland has been missing.

Despite being 23 years old, he’s an intriguing prospect as a versatile 6-foot-9 big man with a 7-foot-2 wingspan who could contribute immediately. As a senior, Jackson-Davis averaged 20.9 points, 10.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 2.9 blocks on 58 percent shooting and 70 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

The first thing that stands out about Jackson-Davis as an NBA prospect is his athleticism. He showcased his athleticism and potential at the NBA Combine, where he impressed with his quickness, vertical leap, and sprint time.

He’s an excellent pick-and-roll lob threat and rim runner in the open court.

His end-to-end quickness should also create many mismatch problems against other NBA centers. That could be a nice change of pace from Jusuf Nurkic and could give the Blazers’ offense another dimension.

He’s a modern-day big who’s a great rim protector and can guard and switch out onto the perimeter with his lateral movement and agility. He reminds some experts of Dallas’ Dwight Powell on defense but with better shot-blocking skills.

One takeaway from this year’s NBA Finals was the importance of a versatile playmaking big. Nurkic is a solid passer as a center; still, he doesn’t bring the ball up or initiate the offense like elite centers around the league can, including Nikola Jokic, Bam Adebayo, Draymond Green, and Domantas Sabonis.

The primary knock on Jackson-Davis as a prospect is his lack of shooting and ability to stretch the floor. He only made 21.4 percent of his jump shots and isn’t much of a threat as a floor spacer.

Although he needs to work on his shooting, Jackson-Davis can contribute immediately in various aspects, such as rim running, rebounding, passing, and defending. He does all the intangibles well and is what Portland needs as a versatile big.

Blazers NBA draft sleeper No. 4: Colby Jones, Xavier, Guard

Xavier’s Colby Jones had an impressive junior season, averaging 15.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 1.3 steals per game on 51/38/66 shooting splits.

Jones is a well-balanced Swiss Army knife combo guard and a promising potential addition to the Blazers’ roster. He possesses a unique and versatile skill set that fits Portland’s needs, including playmaking, defense, rebounding, and positional size.

He is an excellent playmaker and decision-maker, excelling in pick-and-roll situations. Jones has also significantly improved his shooting, recording a 42.5 percent success rate on catch-and-shoot threes last season. However, he struggles with individual scoring, with only a 27.1 percent success rate on pull-up jumpers.

Nonetheless, Jones can contribute immediately and excels at aspects outside of scoring that make a winning team.

Jones is an exceptional defender with athleticism and length. He stands at 6-foot-5, allowing him to guard positions one through three, if needed. Jones has drawn comparisons to energetic, two-way role players like Derrick White, Josh Hart, Andrew Nembhard, and Donte DiVincenzo. He can fill in the missing void left by Hart’s defense, rebounding, and energy after he was traded to the Knicks at last season’s trade deadline.

Moreover, Jones can provide the Blazers more flexibility in making trades and constructing lineups for head coach Chauncey Billups. He can also fill in the weaknesses of the Lillard-Anfernee Simons pairing with his size and defense. Jones will also have a significant role to play with increased minutes and opportunity if one of them is traded.

Blazers NBA draft sleeper No. 5: Jaime Jaquez Jr., UCLA, Guard/Forward

Jaime Jaquez Jr. had a productive senior year at UCLA, averaging 17.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.5 steals on 48/32/77 shooting splits. At UCLA, he demonstrated his versatility and value as an offensive player who can help a team in various ways.

One of his most impressive attributes is his isolation game and ability to score in one-on-one situations, which should translate to the next level.

Additionally, if teams help out on Jaquez Jr., he’s also a willing and capable passer. He’s an effective post player with solid footwork that allows him to get shots off, even against bigs.

The NBA is pick-and-roll and switch-heavy, and Jaquez Jr. is a player who can take advantage of mismatch opportunities. His offensive skill set would give the Blazers another dimension and option as another go-to scorer when needed.

Defensively, Jaquez Jr. has good awareness and the ability to anticipate plays. As a result, he’s a solid help defender who gets steals and blocks. He could improve his quickness, which could hinder his ability to keep up with quicker guards on the perimeter.

Another good thing is that he’s a solid rebounder, another area of need for the Blazers. At the NBA Combine, Jaquez Jr. measured a 39-inch vertical, showcasing his underrated athleticism that helps his rebounding and help defense. He’s a well-rounded player who does many things well on both ends of the court.

With the uncertainty around their current forwards, the Blazers could use a player like Jaquez Jr. His polished game and offensive versatility would make him a valuable asset for Portland.