March Madness hasn't had as many upsets this year, but it is still as entertaining as ever. At times, college basketball offers a refreshing change of pace from the NBA, with teams leaning less on superstars and more on strategy, ball movement, and collective execution. But the further teams get in the tournament, the more they'll have to rely on a go-to player to carry them. It's difficult for teams to win it all without having NBA-level talent on their roster, which bodes well for Duke in particular.
The Portland Trail Blazers should certainly have their eyes on Duke, which has three projected lottery picks. But there are plenty of other promising prospects in what is widely viewed to be a strong draft class. The Blazers still have several weaknesses to address and need to keep their options open in the 2025 NBA Draft by balancing roster fit and best player available.
4. Kon Knueppel, Duke
Other options included Michigan State's Jase Richardson and Arizona's Carter Bryant. But Kon Knueppel is a better fit for the Blazers with a game that more seamlessly translates to the next level. Listed at 6-foot-7, Knueppel has better positional size than Richardson. He's also a more proven player and reliable floor spacer than Bryant, averaging 14.1 points on 48/39/91 shooting splits at Duke.
There are valid concerns surrounding his upside, which keeps Knueppel at four. But the Blazers desperately need shooting, and there's perhaps no one better in the class.
3. Egor Demin, BYU
Egor Demin has showcased his versatility on the big stage, coming off an 11-point, eight-rebound, eight-assist performance in BYU's upset over Wisconsin. Shooting keeps Demin from being higher, as he's at just 28.1 percent from beyond the arc this season. But he's an intriguing prospect as a 6-foot-9 guard with tremendous court vision.
His positional size would give the Blazers a lot of lineup flexibility and bolster their strength as the tallest team in the league. And his playmaking would instantly elevate one of their most glaring weaknesses.
2. Derik Queen, Maryland
With crafty footwork and a unique skill set as a big who can handle the ball and make plays for others, Derik Queen has a legitimate All-Star upside. That will be harder to come by when the Blazers are on the clock, as they would likely land the No. 10 overall pick if the season ended today.
Donovan Clingan's encouraging rookie season and the fact that Portland currently has four quality centers on its roster make the positional fit questionable. But the Blazers' roster between now and when they are ready to make a deep playoff run will likely look very different.
Deandre Ayton, Robert Williams III, and Duop Reath have expiring contracts next season. The Blazers could move towards a younger, cheaper frontcourt of Clingan and Queen, especially given Ayton's contract and Williams' injury history.
Both bigs have shown flashes of being able to stretch the floor. Clingan would provide elite rim protection, and Queen would generate offense when needed. They could make it work as a yin-and-yang pairing.
1. Cooper Flagg, Duke
This doesn't need an explanation -- Cooper Flagg is that good. He's already locked in as the No. 1 overall pick, no matter who wins the lottery. Unfortunately, the Blazers currently only have a three percent chance of being that team. But there's a reason they do the lottery, and just last year, the Atlanta Hawks won at the exact same odds.
For the sake of dreaming (and helping Blazers fans get through the Pacific Northwest's dark, rainy weather), let's imagine they win the lottery for a second. That would instantly answer the biggest question of their rebuild: do they have a true face of the franchise?
Portland's roster has elite role players, but they lack that superstar to compete with other teams that have one or even two in the loaded Western Conference. Flagg would elevate them into at least the Play-In Tournament as soon as next year.