Rip City Project
Fansided

Blazers NBA draft primer: Live news, rumors, mocks in leadup to No. 3 pick

By Andrew Hanlon

Victor Wembanyama, Metropolitans 92 (left), Scoot Henderson, G League Ignite (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Victor Wembanyama, Metropolitans 92 (left), Scoot Henderson, G League Ignite (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

There are only hours remaining until a Portland Trail Blazers draft with potential franchise-changing ramifications. Does general manager Joe Cronin pull the trigger and trade his team’s No. 3 pick for a star to pair with Damian Lillard? (Reportedly, Dame is all-in on that idea). Or do the Blazers sit tight and just make a pick?

There are more questions than answers at the moment, but here we’ll be providing the latest Blazers draft news and rumors. As more reports fly, in they’ll be added, and this post will be updated accordingly.

You’ll also find Portland’s predicted picks via mock drafts from a number of national sources, and you can read our own final Blazers 2023 NBA Draft Big Board rankings here.

Buckle up, Blazers fans.

Latest Trail Blazers draft rumors and news

  • With the No. 3 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, the Portland Trail Blazers select Scoot Henderson. Be on trade watch for the rest of the night and through the coming weeks.
  • Here’s an immediate analysis of Scoot, including a scouting report and his fit in Portland.
  • ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reiterated the fact that he believes the Charlotte Hornets will select Brandon Miller with the No. 2 pick, leaving the Trail Blazers with a choice between Scoot Henderson and a trade.
  • The New Orleans Pelicans recently set up a meeting with Scoot Henderson, according to Shams Charania. Shams added that the Pelicans still hope to jump to the second or third pick in the draft, but the Charlotte Hornets and Blazers are showing no interest in a deal.
  • Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam, who’s been connected with the Trail Blazers on multiple occasions, may not sign a new contract if he’s dealt. He would prefer to either stay in Toronto or could re-sign with the Raptors next season, according to Bleacher Report’s Chris Haynes.
  • According to Zach Lowe of ESPN, the Trail Blazers are ready to offer Anfernee Simons and the No. 3 pick to tsehe Brooklyn Nets for forward Mikal Bridges. Brooklyn is expected to decline the offer.
  • Overtime Elite guard Amen Thompson could be in play for the Trail Blazers with pick No. 3, according to Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer. If the Charlotte Hornets select Scoot Henderson with the second pick, Alabama forward Brandon Miller apparently isn’t a lock for Portland. Miller and Henderson have been expected to go second or third, in some combination, since the draft process began.
  • Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reports that free agent Jerami Grant could “command $30-plus million annually” as a free agent, and it may take a five-year, $150 million deal for Portland to re-sign him. His former team, the Detroit Pistons, are rumored to be heavily interested in a potentially expensive reunion.
  • Rayan Rupert, an uber-athletic 6-foot-6 wing with a 7-3 wingspan who played with the New Zealand Breakers last season, is a name associated with Portland, perhaps with the No. 23 pick, via Scotto. Rupert is raw offensively but his physical tools point to a potential lock-down wing defender.
  • Shams Charania of The Athletic is reporting that Scoot Henderson is “gaining serious momentum at No. 2 with the Charlotte Hornets” which would put Alabama forward Brandon Miller in the crosshairs in Portland
  • According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst (h/t Bleacher Report), NBA teams “are already getting ready” to offer a package for Damian Lillard, should the Trail Blazers choose and keep a prospect with the No. 3 pick tonight
  • The Blazers are pursuing packages built around the No. 23 pick, according to Jake Fischer of Yahoo!Sports. It was reported that Cleveland has interest in that selection, as well as forward Nassir Little. (No connection has been reported, but Atlanta’s De’Andre Hunter and Brooklyn’s Dorian Finney-Smith could be available in a package built around No. 23)
  • “It does not seem like Portland is set on moving the pick to get immediate help,” that would also hinder its future, claims Sam Vecenie of The Athletic. The Blazers are comfortable taking either Henderson or Miller with the third pick, he added.
  • ESPN’s Brian Windhorst told Bill Simmons of The Ringer, when asked which players he thinks may change teams within the next few days, that “we’re headed for something” if Portland uses the No. 3 pick on a prospect
  • ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski says it would take a “significant return” for the Blazers to trade the No. 3 pick and that they haven’t received such an offer yet, although he added that other teams’ best offers should roll in from now until Portland is on the clock at No. 3
  • ESPN’s Brian Windhorst suggests the Cleveland Cavaliers have eyes on Portland’s second first-round pick, No. 23 overall, as they look to move up in the draft. Cleveland may be interested in Blazers wing Nassir Little as well, which sounds like the start of a potential trade package
  • Damian Lillard and the Blazers have shut down any trade talks that would see Dame leave Portland, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski
  • Damian Lillard and possible No. 3 pick Scoot Henderson talk “regularly” according to Marc J. Spears of Andscape
  • Per John Hollinger of The Athleticdoesn’t appear to be on the table, Portland is “determined” to trade the No. 3 pick if a star becomes available, but the “right deal “
  • Zion Williamson is unlikely to be traded, but the buzz surrounding a deal between the Blazers and New Orleans Pelicans – who would love to land Scoot Henderson – involving the third pick continues
  • The Los Angeles Clippers are exploring the trade market for forward Paul George, with the Trail Blazers being linked to the All-Star wing
  • Blazers “strongly value their selection” and appear “unlikely to part with the No. 3 choice, according to Jake Fischer of Yahoo!Sports
  • Portland doesn’t “covet” Pascal Siakam, OG Anunoby or Zach LaVine in any trade involving the No. 3 pick

Latest Trail Blazers mock draft selections

  • The Athletic Sam Vecenie (updated 6/22)
    • No. 3: Brandon Miller, F, Alabama
    • No 23: Leonard Miller, F, G League Ignite
    • No. 43: Colin Castleton, C, Florida
  • The Athletic Zach Harper (updated 6/22)
    • No. 3: Scoot Henderson, G League Ignite
    • No. 23: Brice Sensabaugh, G/F, Ohio State
    • No. 43: Jalen Wilson, F, Kansas
  • The Ringer (updated 6/20)
    • No. 3: Henderson
    • No. 23: James Nnaji, C, Barcelona (Spain)
    • No. 43: Chris Livingston, F, Kentucky
  • Yahoo!Sports (updated 6/21)
    • No. 3: Brandon Miller
    • No. 23: Noah Clowney, F/C, Alabama
    • No. 43: Tristan Vukčević, C, KK Partizan (Serbia)
  • Bleacher Report (updated 6/21)
    • No. 3: Henderson
    • No. 23: Kris Murray, F, Iowa
    • No. 43: Kobe Brown, F, Missouri
  • The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie (updated 6/21)
    • No. 3: Henderson
    • No. 23: Leonard Miller
    • No. 43: Castleton
  • The Sporting News (updated 6/21)
    • No. 3: Henderson
    • No. 23: Olivier-Maxence Prosper, F, Marquette
    • No. 43: Wilson
  • CBS Sports (updated 6/20)
    • No. 3: Henderson
    • No. 23: Murray
  • Nbadraft.net (updated 6/21)
    • No. 3: Henderson
    • No. 23: Jaime Jaquez Jr., F, UCLA
    • No. 43: Terquavion Smith, G, North Carolina State
  • ESPN (updated 6/21)
    • No. 3: Henderson
    • No. 23: Jaquez Jr.
    • No. 43: Seth Lundy, G/F, Penn State