40. Blazers select Oso Ighodaro
Portland has Deandre Ayton and Robert Williams III at the five. Fans only saw six games for the latter before he suffered a season-ending knee injury. He has topped 35 games just twice in his six-year NBA career. The Blazers would be wise to trade him, especially if they want to give Ayton significant run again. The former number-one overall pick has plenty to prove, but his strong play over the second half likely keeps him in Rip City.
Ighodaro will likely fall into the second round because of his age, lack of shooting, and being an undersized five. He could be this year’s Trayce Jackson-Davis. The 6’9 big man averaged 13.4 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.3 blocks in 32.5 minutes per game during his senior year at Marquette.
His passing, defense, and screening ability make him a strong fit in Rip City. Ighodaro may settle in as a backup big man, but he could change the game in 20 minutes every night. His lack of shooting is a drawback, but Portland could find lineups that maximize his skill set.
The Portland Trail Blazers may not find a superstar in the 2024 NBA Draft, but there will be plenty of talent available. Can they land a couple of quality role players to jumpstart their rebuild? That should be their goal.