For the Portland Trail Blazers, the 2025 NBA Draft is not just another date on the calendar. It signifies a significant moment in their rebuild, a crossroads that could either accelerate their return to relevance or prolong a painful stretch of under-par basketball. As the franchise is pivoting slowly towards a future built around young stars such as Shaedon Sharpe and Scoot Henderson, the stakes have never been this high.
In the past two years after the Damian Lillard trade, we’ve seen how the front office has laid emphasis on performing a complete overhaul of their culture and blueprint. Instead of looking for a direct replacement for Damian Lillard, the organization opted to focus on the team’s long-term development, which involved rebuilding the team from the ground up.
In this long-term vision, we’ve seen the Rip City Remix become indispensable to the organization. The Portland Trail Blazers not only use the Remix as a developmental stopover but also as a test center for shaping and cultivating future stars.
Heading into the 2025 NBA Draft lottery, we expect the Portland Trail Blazers to again go for a top 3 prospect, hoping to reinforce their current young roster.
Why the 2025 Draft Matters for the Trail Blazers More Than Ever?
The Portland Trail Blazers’ chances of entering this year’s draft with a top lottery pick were cut short after losing a tie-breaker with the Suns, all the while the team opted to prioritize development minutes for young players instead of going after marginal wins. While this overall approach may be somewhat painful for the organization and the fans in the short term, the long-term game offers the real upside, which is securing another key piece to complement the existing young roster.
Hitting a top lottery pick could be the final push to solidify the Portland Trail Blazers’ young core into a legitimate title contender. If the team misses on this lottery pick, chances are high that the rebuild will stall, a worst-case scenario for any small-market team.
As things stand, the Portland Trail Blazers have a 3.7% chance of landing the No.1 pick and an incredible 16.9% of landing a top 4 pick in this year’s NBA draft. Unlike last year, many journalists and pundits regard this year’s class as a strong draft class, which in turn means that the Blazers yet again have the chance of choosing the star that they need.
When all is said and done, the 2025 class looks quite promising, and any team within the top 10 will probably land a player who will impact the organization. Early projections suggest a strong crop of skilled big men, versatile wings, and plug-and-play guards, all key areas where the Portland Trail Blazers could use reinforcements.
Top 2025 NBA Draft Prospects Who Align with the Portland Trail Blazers’ Vision
Ace Bailey
17.6 PTS 7.2 REB
Height: 6’10 Weight 200lbs
Class: Freshman
Odds: 16.9%
One prospect that many small market teams, such as the Blazers, would be eyeing in this year’s draft is none other than Ace Bailey. An all-around player, Ace Bailey, represents a perfect blend of athleticism, defensive prowess, and offensive versatility that the Blazers seek. Bailey’s offensive exploits go beyond his hard drives to the rim, he’s also a ridiculous shot making machine who is capable of easily sinking highly contested jumpers. To add the icing on the cake, Ace Bailey is also an exceptional shot creator and shot blocker.
Bailey’s exploits on both ends of the court and exceptional athleticism make him a perfect fit for the Portland Blazers’ fast-paced approach to games. That being said, it’s also important to point out that Bailey often plays unselfishly, willing to make that extra pass and take one for the team. All these traits make him an ideal cultural fit for Rip City’s new foundation.
That being said, as one of the top 3 prospects in this year’s draft, chances are that there are a number of teams already eyeing the star, and he’ll likely get scooped up by any of the top 5 teams in this year’s draft. Nonetheless, anything is possible in the draft, considering what just happened in the NBA draft a few days ago. Blazer’s front office will still hope they land the wonder kid.
Cooper Flagg
19.2 PTS 7.5 Reb
Height: 6’9 Weight: 205 lbs
Class: Freshman
Odds: 3.7%
After a rather outstanding freshman season at Duke, Cooper Flag is currently locked in as the number 1 prospect in this year’s lottery draft. Just like Bailey, Flagg is currently on the radar of many teams in the NBA.
A highly talented shooting guard and forward, Flagg’s outstanding defensive instincts, incredible ability to read the game, and relentless motor make him an ideal fit for Portland’s ever-evolving identity. At 6’9, Cooper is arguably one of the most versatile defenders in his class, showing the ability to defend wings, big men, and switch onto guards in space.
Furthermore, Cooper’s unselfish style of play, coupled with his ability to make deep cuts without the ball, set strong screens, and in other instances make quick reads, embodies the team’s first ethos that the Blazers have begun to reinforce.
Despite the fact that the Blazers may be highly interested in Flag, the chances of the team landing the star are somewhat minimal, as the team has to wait for 9 teams to make their picks in this year’s draft lottery. There are very high chances that the Blue Devils’ star would be grabbed way before the Blazers have their say.
VJ Edgecombe
15.0 PTS 5.6 Reb
Height: 6’5 Weight: 180lbs
Class: Freshman
Odds: 4.4%
VJ Edgecombe is another prospect that could easily fit into the Blazers’ new identity. The 6’5 guard offers a dynamic mix of offensive versatility and defensive toughness, the exact blend that the Blazers are looking for.
Two of VJ Edgecombe’s strongest suits are his innate ability to finish through contact and the athleticism to guard multiple defensive positions. His defensive competitiveness, high energy motor, and commitment to constant improvement fit the Portland Trail Blazers’ blueprint for a versatile, competitive roster.
As VJ continues to polish his 3-point shooting and playmaker abilities at Baylor, the 6 ‘5 player is poised to be one of the top picks for this year’s draft class. Even though VJ will perfectly fit in the Blazers’ current team, a few teams, such as the Brooklyn Nets, have already shown an interest in the young star and are likely to scoop him up before the Portland Trail Blazers have the chance.
Unlike the other two potential picks on this list, the Portland Trail Blazers won’t have to worry if Edgecombe gets scooped up, as they already have two highly talented ball handlers within the franchise in Anfernee Simons and Scoot Henderson.
Building Blocks in Sight: Who the Portland Trail Blazers Could Realistically Land
Carter Bryant
6.5 PTS 4.1 Reb
Height: 6’8 Weight: 220lbs
Class: Freshman
Odds: 63.4%
One name that has been on a steady rise on the draft board is Carter Bryant. Standing at 6’8 and with a near 7-foot wingspan, Bryant is a long and explosive forward who blends scoring touch with defensive potential.
Known for his smooth shooting mechanics and ability to create shots from the midrange and perimeter, Carter Bryant offers a layer of offensive polish that is rare for someone his age.
While his exploits on the offensive ends have been average compared to those of Cooper and Bailey, Carter’s outstanding defense and overall explosiveness make him the perfect fit for the Portland Trail Blazers.
That being said, Bryant’s value to the Portland Trail Blazers would extend beyond his athleticism. His willingness to defend across multiple positions and battle on the glass aligns perfectly with the Portland Trail Blazers’ renewed emphasis on defensive versatility.
More importantly, Bryant’s calm demeanor and coachability make him a cultural fit within the Portland Trail Blazers’ evolving identity, a team constantly looking to prioritize grit, maturity, and two-way effort.
Jase Richardson
12.1 PTS 3.3 Reb
Height: 6’3 Weight: 185 lbs.
Class: Freshman
Odds: 63.4%
Jase Richardson is another player in this year’s NBA draft who checks multiple boxes for the Portland Trail Blazers. The son of the former NBA legend and high flyer Jason Richardson, Jase brings with him a high in-game IQ and an all-around skill set that aligns perfectly with the Portland Trail Blazers’ blueprint.
At 6’3, Jefferson is a highly talented combo guard who plays with poise beyond his years. Apart from his ability to seamlessly run the offense, Jefferson can also easily space the floor and lock in on defense when needed.
One trait that truly stands out for Jefferson is his ability to adapt to various roles. Whether distributing the ball in pick and roll sets, scoring off the dribble, or switching onto the wings defensively, Jefferson approaches the game with a tactical sharpness and quiet toughness that is hard to teach.
Collin Murray-Boyles
16.8 PTS 8.3 Reb
Height: 6’7 Weight: 245 lbs.
Class: Sophomore
Odds: 63.4%
While he may not be the flashiest name in the draft, Collin Murray-Boyles’s game screams the Portland Trail Blazers. The South Carolina forward is a rugged, high-motor presence who brings relentless energy on the defensive end. Measuring 6 ‘7 with broad shoulders and a strong frame, Murray-Boyles thrives as a position-less defender, who is able to switch easily onto guards and blow-up plays with his incredible foot speed and anticipation.
On the offensive end, Murray-Boyles is still a work in progress. Nonetheless, he’s still shown real flashes as a finisher in traffic and short-roll player. His unselfish nature and IQ make him a suitable connective piece, a player who sets hard screens, moves the ball quickly, and is always in the right spot. These are the very traits that the Portland Trail Blazers are looking to instill through their G-League pipeline.
That said, while Murray-Boyles might be unable to crack the lottery, he remains the under-the-radar pick that the Portland Trail Blazers have historically transformed into long-term contributors.
Conclusion
With the 2025 NBA draft getting closer and closer, the stakes have never been higher for the Portland Trail Blazers. While the Portland Trail Blazers would be hoping to land any of the top 3 prospects in this year’s NBA draft, chances are that they would have no other option but to do a bit of digging and settle for a hidden gem if all the top 3 picks would be out of the table by the time the team gets to have their say.
The team would have to settle for a player who is not currently on the radar of many NBA teams, but would significantly impact the team. Fortunately, a handful of players would fit seamlessly into the young roster of the Portland Trail Blazers.
Players like Collin Murray-Boyles, Carter Bryant, and Jace Richardson may not be at the top of every draft board. Still, they each bring versatility, coachability, and toughness that align with the Portland Trail Blazers’ evolving identity. If the Portland Trail Blazers can identify the right fit, they could walk away from this year’s draft with a long-term cornerstone even outside the top 5.
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