2024 Blazers Mock Draft 3.0: Projecting all 4 Rip City selections
By Reese Kunz
The 2024 NBA Draft is finally approaching with less than two weeks remaining. This year, the NBA is implementing a change by making it a two-day event. The first round will begin on Wednesday, June 26, at 8 p.m. ET, while the second round will take place on Thursday, June 27, at 4 p.m. ET.
The Portland Trail Blazers have four draft picks, two of which are in the lottery. Although this year's draft class projects to be weak, it’s still a prime opportunity for Portland to add pivotal pieces to its rebuilding core. The Blazers have multiple roster weaknesses that they need to fill, including shooting, positional size, and finding a long-term wing. The following projections are based on these factors but also consider the best available prospect, especially since Portland is so early in its rebuild.
No. 7: Blazers select Ron Holland, Forward, G League Ignite
The Blazers desperately need a two-way forward, and Ron Holland could fit the bill. One thing that should instantly translate at the next level is Holland’s defense. At 6-foot-8, with elite athletic measurements at the NBA Combine, Holland has all the physical tools to be a lockdown NBA defender who can guard multiple positions.
Only a handful of draft prospects have the upside of finishing their NBA career as the No. 1 player in this draft class, and Holland is one of them. He’s one of the youngest players in the draft, yet he has already proven that he can be a go-to scorer, averaging 18.5 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 2.1 steals, and 1.1 blocks on 47/24/68 shooting splits with the G League Ignite.
Holland’s 23.9 three-point percent is a glaring red flag for him as a prospect. It plays a significant role in his wide range of projected draft outcomes, even working out for mid-first-round teams like the Miami Heat at No. 15 and the Los Angeles Lakers at No. 17. If Holland can become a league-average shooter, he should be highly impactful. If he can’t, it will be hard to get significant minutes, especially with a murky fit alongside Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe. The shooting concerns are valid, but at 18, Holland has plenty of time to develop that aspect of his game.
All the draft prospects in this year's draft have question marks. But Holland is the type of prospect Portland should take a flyer on with his upside and positional fit.