The Portland Trail Blazers now officially have the No. 11 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft after falling back one spot in the lottery. With the order finalized and the NBA Draft Combine underway, fans and analysts alike finally have a bit more clarity on who the Blazers might target in the draft. Still, across five post-lottery mock drafts, Portland has taken three different prospects.
If they do keep the pick, the Blazers could take it in several directions, and their selection may signal which veterans are on the chopping block. It’s a challenging decision for GM Joe Cronin, who must weigh fit versus upside for a roster in need of both.
Target: Derik Queen (ESPN and The Ringer)
Derik Queen isn't a perfect fit for the Blazers roster by any means, but they still need a clear-cut star, meaning they shouldn't prioritize fit if the best player available at No. 11 is someone of Queen's caliber.
If he reaches his ceiling, Queen has the type of unique skillset that you build your roster around to complement, not the other way around. He's the most versatile big man in the class in terms of his ballhandling, footwork, and playmaking.
If utilized properly, Queen's skills will only be more apparent with the open floor the NBA offers. The problem is that the Blazers don't necessarily provide that floor spacing. One solution Jonathan Givony offers is for Donovan Clingan to improve his three-point shooting.
"Queen's lack of shooting might not be an ideal fit on paper for a Portland team that already struggled from the perimeter, but his talent might be too big to pass on, especially if Clingan can make a jump with his shooting like he showed flashes of in small doses as a rookie," wrote Givony.
The playoffs show that double-big lineups are making a comeback, so perhaps the Blazers could do a Twin Towers lineup as they discussed experimenting with for Deandre Ayton and Clingan. Clingan's elite rim protection would cover for Queen's biggest flaw, while Queen would provide the Blazers with a much-needed hub to help initiate some of the offense.
Target: Kasparas Jakucionis (The Athletic and Bleacher Report)
Kasparas Jakucionis may be the ideal blend of both upside and fit for the Blazers. They were a top-ten defense in 2025 and have the system and pieces in place to make up for any defensive concerns surrounding Jakucionis, who isn't an elite athlete and won't be a ball-stopper out on the perimeter.
But the Blazers desperately need to improve their playmaking and shooting, which is where Jakucionis would come in and immediately help address. The Illinois guard averaged 15 points, six rebounds, and five assists as a freshman, highlighting his well-rounded game. And although he only shot 31.8 percent from beyond the arc, the eye test and his 84.5 percent shooting from the charity stripe suggest he'll be much better than that at the next level.
He would also provide the Blazers with more flexibility to eventually resolve their complicated backcourt. His 6-foot-5 frame and skillset allow Jakucionis to play both on and off the ball. That will be a valuable asset as the Blazers continue to navigate their Anfernee Simons trade or extension dilemma and the developments of Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe.
Avoid: Nolan Traore (CBS Sports)
We're not declaring Nolan Traore a soon-to-be draft bust or anything. There's a lot to like about his game with his 6-foot-4 frame, elite speed, and improved play as a teenager holding his own professionally for Saint-Quentin. He may even warrant a lottery pick, but the Blazers shouldn't be the team taking the gamble.
Young guards typically take longer to develop in the NBA, and the 18-year-old Traore is likely no exception. He's unpolished and needs to improve his efficiency as someone who averaged 11.7 points, 5.1 assists, 1.7 rebounds, and 2.5 turnovers on 40/32/72 shooting splits.
Unlike Jakucionis and a few other guards around this range, Traore projects as more of a ball-dominant lead guard. If Portland brings in another guard, it should either be a combo guard or a veteran (traditional point guard) to provide more stability and mentorship.
There's way too much overlap between his strengths and weaknesses and Henderson's. The Blazers are already struggling to carve a consistent role for their former No. 3 overall pick and don't need to make things more complicated.