Now that the 2025 NBA Draft order is solidified and the Draft Combine has taken place, analysts and fans alike now have more clarity surrounding specific prospects. But that clarity hasn't translated to who the Portland Trail Blazers will select with the No. 11 overall pick, as ESPN, Bleacher Report, Yahoo Sports, and CBS Sports all have them taking their pick in a different direction.
Portland is a difficult team to project because they have depth and perhaps even a future starting five already in place, meaning it wouldn't be surprising if they selected any position. It's not like last year when reports came out that the Trail Blazers were locked in on one particular prospect (Donovan Clingan) and just hoped they fell to him. But it's also a great situation to be in.
The Trail Blazers may not have positional weaknesses, but they still have overall roster flaws and desperately need to add more playmaking and shooting. These picks help address those areas while also balancing the best player available. Portland may have fallen back one spot in the lottery, but they are still in a great position as there's a ton of talent late in the lottery this year.
ESPN: Egor Demin, G, BYU
ESPN draft analysts Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo have the Trail Blazers selecting combo guard Egor Demin, who checked in as the tallest guard ever measured at the NBA Combine.
Demin is a polarizing prospect because he's somewhat of an unfinished product, shooting below 30 percent from beyond the arc as a freshman at BYU. That's understandably a dealbreaker for some Trail Blazers fans, as the team ranked in the bottom five in three-point shooting the past two seasons.
But Demin checks just about every other box for a Trail Blazers team that needs someone to come in and raise their overall floor. He's arguably the best passer in the entire class, and his versatility would be a huge bonus, as Portland still has several moving parts on its unfinished roster.
Bleacher Report: Kasparas Jakucionis, G, Illinois
Jonathan Wasserman has the Trail Blazers going with another combo guard in Kasparas Jakucionis, who could be their ideal prospect. All the reasons why Demin would be a good pick apply to Jakucionis, given his well-rounded game and size as a 6-foot-6 guard. But Jakucionis projects to be a safer pick with a similar upside.
He's more proven coming out of college, averaging 15.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 4.7 assists during a productive freshman season at Illinois. Jakucionis shot just 31.8 percent from deep but is a much better shooter than that number indicates. He passed the eye test, and his 84.5 percent from the charity stripe proves he has a soft touch.
Jakucionis needs to improve his turnovers (3.7 per game). But his playmaking and reliable shooting inspire confidence in his ability to carve out an impactful role on offense.
Yahoo Sports: Carter Bryant, F, Arizona
Kevin O'Connor has the Trail Blazers taking a flier on Carter Bryant, who is a challenging prospect to gauge. He had a minimal role at Arizona, averaging just 6.5 points in less than 20 minutes per game. But he's also the type of project that could be better at the next level.
Bryant shares some traits of fellow Wildcat Aaron Gordon, including his frame, versatility, and elite athleticism. He measured 6'6 ½ barefoot with a 39 ½" max vertical. That will make him, at worst, a serviceable two-way role player who can contribute without needing the ball. Portland needs more of those types of players on its roster and could also use more forward depth behind Avdija and Toumani Camara.
But the biggest question and swing skill for Bryant will be his shooting. Is he going to be a reliable 3-and-D piece? He shot 37.1 percent from deep in Arizona, but he also shot a concerning 69.5 percent from the free-throw line. Oftentimes, the latter is the better indicator of how good of a shooter a prospect actually is.
CBS Sports: Jeremiah Fears, PG, Oklahoma
Adam Finkelstein has the Trail Blazers taking another point guard with Jeremiah Fears, who has arguably the highest upside of any guard in that second tier of prospects (outside of Dylan Harper and V.J. Edgecombe).
There are other teams picking before the Trail Blazers that would make sense as a landing spot for Fears, including the Brooklyn Nets at No. 8. Portland has depth at each position and should consider taking the best player available route here, which Fears very well could be if he falls to pick No. 11.
He could also serve as an insurance policy for Portland's uncertain point guard position.
"Fears is a high-upside playmaking lead guard, and while he likely won't be ready to play right away, he could provide a long-term contingency plan should Portland ever reach the conclusion that the backcourt experiment of Scoot Henderson, Anfernee Simons, and Shaedon Sharpe just hasn't gelled the way they hoped they might," wrote Finkelstein.
Although Fears has a high ceiling, there are a few concerns surrounding this pick. Would it really be an insurance policy, or would the Trail Blazers be adding an unnecessary layer to what is already a complex situation?
That could depend on how much Portland believes in Henderson as their long-term answer, but all indications are that they are pleased with his development.