The Portland Trail Blazers are in a win-win scenario as they enter the final stretch of the 2025-26 season. They currently sit 9th in the Western Conference and have already clinched a spot in the Play-In Tournament. Although they'll be fighting an uphill battle, Portland has a legitimate shot at ending a four-year postseason drought. That playoff experience is invaluable for Portland's young core, serving as a trial run before expectations are increased next season with Damian Lillard's return.
Of course, that would also mean the Blazers' first-round pick goes to the Chicago, as they still owe the Bulls a lottery-protected first-round pick from the questionable Larry Nance Jr. trade.
It wouldn't be the worst thing if Portland were able to keep its first-round pick in such a strong draft class. Odds are they miss out on the headliners, Darryn Peterson, AJ Dybantsa, and Cameron Boozer. If the season ended today, Portland would have just a 1.5% chance of winning the lottery outright and a 7.2% chance of jumping into the top four. But there would still be plenty of intriguing prospects in the late lottery.
Blazers select Koa Peat in latest B/R mock draft
For instance, Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman recently released a mock draft ahead of the NCAA Sweet 16, with Portland selecting Arizona forward Koa Peat at No. 11 overall.
"He's been downgraded by scouts since November, having shown no signs of three-point range and reliable shot-creation. However, teams may start to picture a different archetype and NBA fit, as Peat has shown he can impact games with defense, passing, and rebounding. He's become an appealing glue guy, rather than a go-to option," Wasserman wrote.
Wasserman has Peat's NBA comparison as Orlando Magic big man Wendell Carter Jr. We don't necessarily agree with that being how Peat projects at the next level, but to be fair, there's no perfect comparison for such a unique player. He has a blend of Paul Millsap, Keldon Johnson, Brandon Clarke, and even fellow Wildcat Aaron Gordon. The physical, bowling ball-type forward who looks like a basketball player trapped in a football player's body.
How would Koa Peat fit in Portland's rebuild?
The good news is that Peat's physical tools allow him to contribute on day one as a role player and as the glue guy Wasserman mentioned. His defense, rebounding, and underrated passing give Peat a high floor, which could be appealing to Portland after taking such a high-risk gamble on Yang Hansen the year prior.
The primary concern with Peat's fit in Portland, and the NBA in general, is that he's somewhat of a tweener, given the way today's game is played. He's not the ideal rim protector at 6-foot-8, but he also can't effectively space the floor as someone who shot 31.6% from beyond the arc as a freshman. That's concerning for a Blazers team that has struggled with the three-ball throughout their entire rebuild. But one thing they have going in their favor is Donovan Clingan's drastically improved shooting, which could make the frontcourt fit less clunky than some may think.
Peat's ability to fit into the Blazers two timelines as an immediate contributor with room to grow has to put him into consideration in the late lottery. It could also help soften the blow in the frontcourt if they were to finally trade Jerami Grant or Robert Williams III were to walk this summer. With the added frontcourt depth, Peat would give the Blazers the much-needed flexibility heading into a key offseason.