We rounded up the latest mock drafts from four major sports outlets -- ESPN, Bleacher Report, The Ringer, and Yahoo Sports -- to get a sense of who the Portland Trail Blazers could select with the No. 11 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
With less than a week to go until the draft and a consensus top eight forming, one would assume that NBA analysts would be gaining more clarity about who Portland will add to its young core. But that couldn't be further from the case. The four mock drafts have the Blazers taking a different prospect, all with very different skill sets.
Love: Kasparas Jakucionis, Illinois (ESPN)
Kasparas Jakucionis has been our favorite prospect for the Blazers ever since they fell back to the 11 spot in the lottery.
As ESPN's Jeremy Woo notes, with the Blazers' core pieces suddenly lying in their frontcourt after the trades for Toumani Camara and Deni Avdija, as well as the selection of Donovan Clingan, their backcourt now surprisingly has the most question marks.
What do they do with Anfernee Simons this summer with his looming extension? Are Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe ever going to become more consistent and reach their incredibly high ceilings? Jakucionis' combo guard frame and ability would provide Portland insurance for all these questions that may not have immediate answers.
Love: Carter Bryant, Arizona (Bleacher Report)
Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman refers to Carter Bryant as a "hot name" and says that teams anticipate him landing somewhere in the late lottery. Bryant seems to be going right around Portland's range at 11, and it wouldn't be shocking if he ultimately is their selection (although the lack of consensus in these picks shows that Portland should be considering several other options as well).
The reason Bryant makes sense here is the obvious fit. Every team could use more of what Bryant offers as a prospect. He's unselfish, a valuable floor spacer, and has an NBA frame and athleticism to make him a switchable defender. The Blazers love versatile wings and getting out in transition, and Bryant would perfectly complement that style of play.
Can't stand: Danny Wolf, Michigan (The Ringer)
This was a surprising pick, to say the least. In the three other mock drafts covered, Wolf's earliest landing spot is pick No. 22. Here's The Ringer's J. Kyle Mann's reasoning behind the pick:
"Since Portland pivoted away from the Dame era, I've been fairly obsessed with the idea of adding ball-skill connectivity between the stable of fly-around athletes that the front office has accrued. Derik Queen's potential as a hub that could feed the Blazers guards had been my dream scenario for this task, but if he's off the board, you could make the argument that Wolf is just as good a fit … and possibly an even better one?"
This would be quite the reach for the Blazers. And while we're open to them pursuing options further down the board, such as Cedric Coward, it's hard to justify taking Wolf.
Yes, they could use more frontcourt depth, with Deandre Ayton and Robert Williams III both on expiring deals. But not if it compromises Portland's identity. The Blazers have been rebuilding around athleticism and defense -- two of Wolf's red flags that should keep him far away from the lottery.
Can't stand: Liam McNeeley, Connecticut (Yahoo Sports)
Yahoo Sports' Kevin O'Connor has the Blazers addressing their glaring shooting need with UConn's Liam McNeeley. He's a much better shooter than his 31.7 percent from beyond the arc suggests, with 86.6 percent from the charity stripe and the eye test being a better indicator. He also has good positional size at 6-foot-7, which would help add to the Blazers' strength as one of the NBA's tallest teams.
However, McNeeley projects to be nothing more than an offensive-minded role player. His limitations on the defensive end and inability to create opportunities offensively should cause him to fall outside the lottery. The three other mock drafts agree, with a landing spot no earlier than 20.
The Blazers do desperately need shooting, and we'd love for them to address that with this selection. But there are other knockdown shooters available here that offer much more upside and two-way impact.