The Portland Trail Blazers are in year one of a rebuild. Damian Lillard is in Milwaukee, and the Blazers must figure out who is a part of their core moving forward. Deandre Ayton is stepping up his game, and Portland has talent in the backcourt. It is all about developing their young players and finding the right fits to get back to the playoffs.
The 2024 NBA Draft is crucial for the Blazers. They will likely have two lottery selections and must nail both if they want to exit their rebuild in short order. Portland drafted Scoot Henderson in 2023 to be their point guard. If Anfernee Simons, Shaedon Sharpe, and Ayton are part of their core, the Trail Blazers need wings to round out their roster. They want young ones with room to grow, and the draft will be the place to find them.
The NCAA Tournament is here, and it will have a significant impact on the draft. There is a ton of uncertainty in this class, so a strong March Madness run could vault a prospect up boards. The Blazers should have a close eye on these players in the dance.
5. Dalton Knecht
Knecht has been one of the best scorers in the NCAA this season and has led Tennessee to the number two seed in the Midwest region. He averages over 21 points per game coming into the tournament and has connected on 39.7 percent of his 199 3-point attempts this season.
It has been an incredible climb for someone who was playing junior college basketball in 2021. Knecht was unranked coming out of high school and spent two years at Northeastern Junior College before transferring to Northern Colorado. He averaged over 20 points per game last season, but few expected him to translate that to the SEC.
There are questions about Knecht’s offensive game and ability to score at the next level. He will put in the work and is drawing some late lottery buzz. If Dalton Knecht leads Tennessee on a deep tournament run, his draft stock will only rise. He is certainly someone to watch closely, but there are multiple prospects on the Blazers radar.
4. Reed Sheppard
Nobody expected Sheppard to be a one-and-done prospect at Kentucky. He ranked 33rd in his high school class and was slated to come off the bench for the Wildcats. The 6’3 guard is not a prototypical NBA player, but his production has him drawing buzz as a top-ten pick on draft night.
Sheppard’s role continues to expand. He is playing so well that head coach John Calipari cannot take him off the floor. The 19-year-old averages 12.8 points, 4.5 assists, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.5 steals in 29.0 minutes per game. He is shooting 54.3 percent from the field and 52.5 percent on his 141 3-point attempts as a freshman. Those are unbelievable percentages, but Sheppard just has not missed.
The Blazers are set at guard but have to consider Reed Sheppard if they lack belief in any of their current options. Scoot Henderson has struggled as a rookie, but that is not uncommon for rookie point guards. Shaedon Sharpe and Anfernee Simons have missed games. Could Portland add a hyper-productive guard to that mix? Do not rule it out.
Sheppard and Rob Dillingham both come off the bench for Kentucky and could be selected in the top ten on June 26. The Blazers need shooting and defense, which Sheppard offers. It is just about finding a fit with their current core.
3. Stephon Castle
The reigning NCAA champions are the number one seed in the East regional and among the favorites to win it all. They are loaded with talent, and Castle has seamlessly fit right in. The 19-year-old is a 6’6 wing with immense defensive potential. He can guard multiple positions and help his team win games.
Castle’s offensive game will determine his draft stock. He is just 16 of 57 from 3-point range in 28 games this season. There is room to improve his jumper, but it is tough to start someone shooting under 30 percent from 3-point range on the wing unless they are an elite playmaker. Castle has ball-handling and creation upside. He needs time to improve multiple facets of his game.
Stephon Castle will likely be a lottery pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, but a strong tournament run could lift his stock. If he gets hot from 3-point range and makes a few key defensive plays, scouts will be even more intrigued. Having the ability to shine when the lights are brightest is massive and helps any player's stock.
The Trail Blazers could play Castle next to any of their current guards and would give him time next to two of them. His defense and versatility make him a fit with any unit. Expect Portland to be watching him closely throughout UConn’s tournament run.
2. Ja’Kobe Walter
Baylor is the third seed in the West region and begins its tournament on Friday afternoon against Colgate. The Bears will be significant favorites behind Walter, who is the team’s leading scorer and shot-maker.
It has been a bit of a disappointing freshman season for the 19-year-old. He is known as an elite shooter but has only connected on 34.0 percent of his 203 3-point attempts this season. There is plenty of dynamic tape dating back to his high school days, but his struggles this season, including shooting 37.3 percent from the field, have some thinking he should be taken in the mid-to-late first round.
This class is light on wings and surefire bets. Grabbing a 6’5 wing who can shoot off the bounce or catch with playmaking upside will be difficult to pass on. Walter won’t be the top selection but do not be surprised to see him go in the top ten, especially if he has a few strong performances and leads Baylor on a run in the NCAA Tournament.
The Portland Trail Blazers rank 28th in offensive rating and could use some punch. Ja’Kobe Walter could pop in the NBA as his team finds a more effective way to use his skill set. Could Scoot and Walter form a dynamic duo that has Portland climbing the Western Conference standings? The Baylor Bears are certainly a team to scout during March Madness.
1. Cody Williams
Colorado takes center stage on Wednesday night as they face Boise State in a play-in game. The winner takes the tenth seed in the South region and faces Florida in the opening round. The Buffalos need Williams to shine if they are going to make the round of 64.
The 19-year-old is the younger brother of Thunder future star Jalen Williams. Cody is 6’8 with more length, but a similar upside. He is averaging 12.6 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in 29.1 minutes per game on 56.5 percent shooting from the field and 42.1 percent on his threes. Williams has shown a ton of potential and could be a top-five pick on June 26.
The Blazers need a forward with versatility. Williams can guard multiple positions, space the floor, and make plays. His 3-point shooting does not come at volume, but his brother blossomed with more space in the NBA. Cody could do the same, especially if he lands in the right situation.
The Portland Trail Blazers will likely be selecting in the top five and near the end of the lottery in the 2024 NBA Draft. They should look for upside and fit around their current core. Ultimately, the best move is to select whoever the front office believes in the most. Those opinions could change during the NCAA Tournament, so enjoy the action.