Blazers Projected To Land March Insanity Standout Who’s ‘Most Expert Massive Man’ in 2025 NBA Draft

The Portland Trailblazers have been one of many extra stunning groups of the 2024-25 season. Since Chauncey Billups took over as their head coach, the Trailblazers have struggled to place collectively high quality seasons, ultimately forcing Damian Lillard to demand a commerce.

Nonetheless, with a younger core of Deni Avdija, Toumani Camara, and Donovan Clingan on the roster, Portland completed with a 36-46 file within the loaded Western Convention. This was a 15-game enchancment from the earlier season. They remained within the Play-In race till the ultimate few weeks of the yr.

However to take that subsequent step ahead, one analyst desires them so as to add some extra frontcourt firepower with the No. 11 decide within the 2025 NBA Draft.

Blazers Projected To Choose March Insanity Hero in 2025 NBA Draft

The Blazers had a 16.9% likelihood to select within the high 4 of the draft, with a 3.7% likelihood of touchdown the highest spot. Nonetheless, the stunning lottery outcomes dropped them to No. 11 however with a deep draft class, all will not be misplaced for Portland.

ESPN’s Jonathan Givony projected the Blazers to pick out one of the best out there participant with their No. 11 decide, and in his mock draft, they’re choosing Maryland star Derik Queen.

“Queen is maybe probably the most expert massive man on this class,” he wrote. “He’s a terrific goal in pick-and-roll, can create his personal shot dealing with the basket with a big selection of strikes, and has intriguing passing potential.

“Queen’s lack of taking pictures may not be a super match on paper for a Portland staff that already struggled from the perimeter, however his expertise is perhaps too massive to cross on, particularly if Clingan could make a soar along with his taking pictures like he confirmed flashes of in small doses as a rookie.”

At 6’10” and 246 kilos, Queen has an NBA-ready physique for a giant, together with superior handles and a comfortable contact across the rim. He averaged a staff excessive 16.5 factors and 9.0 rebounds per sport, taking pictures 56% on 2-point discipline purpose makes an attempt, as a freshman at Maryland. He additionally led the scoring for Maryland in March Insanity, recording 18.7 factors per sport.

Queen’s jumper could also be within the early levels, however he’s younger and displaying indicators of improvement. He can at the very least transfer defensively, so he’s not a complete mismatch on the perimeter in opposition to ball-handlers.

PFSN Predicts Blazers To Choose an Athletic Guard

In PFSN’s newest NBA mock draft by Sterling Xie, the Blazers have been predicted to pick out Kasparas Jakučionis out of Illinois with the No. 11 decide.

“Jakučionis stuffed up the stat sheet for the Illini, averaging 15.0 factors, 5.7 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per sport,” Xie wrote. “The 6’6″ combo guard was most likely overstretched along with his utilization, which led to spates of turnovers and struggles from deep (31.8% from 3). Nonetheless, he shot 84.5% from the free-throw line, suggesting the potential for higher accuracy from deep over time.

“With Anfernee Simons probably on the transfer and Scoot Henderson bettering however nonetheless inefficient, the Blazers may use extra of a table-setter within the backcourt to intensify their pre-existing expertise. Even with some defensive deficiencies, Jakučionis could be significantly useful to a Portland staff that had the third-lowest help charge this season.”

In the meantime, Queen was snapped early off the board at No. 8 by the Brooklyn Nets.

MORE: 2025 NBA Mock Draft Following Surprising Lottery Outcomes

“Derik Queen has seen his inventory rise all through the pre-draft course of, to the purpose the place the Maryland massive seems like a transparent lottery decide,” Xie famous. “At 6’10” and 246 kilos, Queen has an NBA-ready physique for any frontcourt, together with superior handles and a comfortable contact across the rim.

“There are issues about Queen’s inside protection, however his offense is able to go. The freshman averaged 16.5 factors and 9.0 rebounds per sport, taking pictures 56% on 2-point discipline purpose makes an attempt.”