Cedric Coward belongs firmly in the mix for the Portland Trail Blazers at pick No. 11. He possesses a rare blend of upside and shooting that many draft prospects projected to be taken around that range don't offer.
Coward may be viewed as a reach to some. We don't believe he should be the Blazers' top option, but he should certainly be in the conversation more than he currently is. Some of our favorite realistic prospects in the Blazers' range include Kasparas Jakučionis, Noa Essengue, Egor Demin, Derik Queen, and Collin Murray-Boyles. But odds are some will be gone before Portland is on the clock; they need other options to consider.
More importantly, none of them outside of Jakučionis are reliable shooters, which is Portland's most glaring need. The Blazers finished in the bottom five in three-point percentage in the past two seasons, which is even more concerning since veterans Jerami Grant and Anfernee Simons are their best shooters.
Cedric Coward’s skillset fills the gap in Portland’s young core
The Blazers' young core is finally taking shape, but they need to use this No. 11 pick to add a piece that can fill in some gaps and weaknesses. That's where Coward, a 38.6 percent three-point shooter throughout his four-year collegiate career, comes in.
Before the 2024-25 season, we were writing about how the Blazers would finish close to their previous 21-win total, giving themselves a legitimate shot at a franchise-altering talent in Cooper Flagg. Surprisingly, that was far from the case. Thanks to their offseason acquisitions of Deni Avdija and Donovan Clingan and internal improvements from their young core, the Blazers finished 36-46.
Many fans are eager to see their team end a four-year playoff drought, which is long for a franchise with a track record of playoff appearances. However, the reality is that Portland needs more talent to compete in the Western Conference before they fully commit to accelerating their rebuilding timeline.
That leaves the Blazers in a challenging position heading the 2025 NBA Draft and the offseason as a whole. There are many more pathways to completing this unfinished roster and building a sustainable contender than fans realize. That mystery is also exciting as it means Portland has flexibility and should remain open-minded about any decisions. They can trade the No. 11 pick for a star, take a flier on a polarizing prospect, or anything in between.
Coward could be worth the reach for the Blazers
If they keep the pick, the Blazers need to balance roster needs and upside. And although Coward is 21 years old, he offers both as a late bloomer who continues to rise up draft boards.
It's somewhat reminiscent of how the Phoenix Suns reached for Cam Johnson with the No. 11 pick in 2019. It was shocking, given his age and the perceived limited ceiling that came along with it, but he quickly proved Phoenix right. Coward could do the same for Portland.
At worst, he can be a valuable 3-and-D wing. But there's plenty of upside for more. There's an undeniable "mystery" element to Coward that gives him untapped potential.
He's spent four years in college but played just a total of 73 games due to injuries. Coward was set to transfer to Duke next season but opted to enter the NBA instead after an impressive combine outing where he showcased his shooting, athleticism, and frame.
Going from paying $25,000 to attend Willamette University, a small Oregon college, to now being in the conversation for a lottery pick is an impressive story. Landing with the Blazers would be a full-circle moment.