Arizona small forward Carter Bryant isn’t the flashiest pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. He’s just trying to be the right pick for the right team.
For a group like the Portland Trail Blazers, that difference matters.
After missing out on presumed No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg (not to mention Dylan Harper, Ace Bailey, and VJ Edgecombe in the Top 4), the Blazers can’t expect a home run with the No. 11 pick.
Portland won’t swing for the fences with an end-of-lottery selection. But with this class’ talent depth, there’s a shot to land someone, like Bryant, who can impact the game the way Portland needs.
Draft Stock and ‘Toumani’ Comparison
“I watch a lot of Toumani Camara right now,” Bryant recently said in an interview, courtesy of The Athletic, via NBA.com.
Listing the second-year Blazers forward among a group of defensive stalwarts he studies, Bryant continued, saying: “I feel like I’m capable of guarding [the 1 through 4 positions]. I need to get a little bit stronger, but eventually I see myself being a guy that can guard all five positions on the floor.”
That kind of mindset, paired with his improving draft stock, makes Bryant a name to watch as the Blazers build out a roster that needs more role-specific glue players to complement their scoring talent, rather than ball-dominant scorers with higher ceilings.
A Rising Prospect and a Perfect Fit
I recently profiled Bryant as a “safe” pick, which Portland could reliably predict will be available. Now, nearly four weeks later, he seems like someone the Blazers might more hope is available, not someone they can assume will be there at No. 11.
Bryant’s stock has climbed throughout the spring thanks to his frame, versatility, and approach to the game. He’s not the type of player who’s going to run an offense or be a featured scorer, but that’s precisely why he fits in Portland. The Blazers need defense. They need energy. And they need someone who sees the game the way Camara does.
Camara, a 2023 second-round pick, has carved out a niche in Portland thanks to his defense-first mentality. He can guard up and down the lineup, and he has a willingness to do the dirty work.
While Camara’s numbers mostly don’t jump off the page, his impact is clear to anyone watching. He routinely takes on challenging assignments, makes hustle plays, and adds to the identity the Blazers are trying to build—something that can’t be ignored.
Bryant’s projection is similar, particularly in his view of his development. “Early in the league, I feel like I’m a guy that can guard multiple positions,” he said. “Obviously, I want to be able to guard one through five.”
That growth mindset, paired with Camara’s influence, is the kind of player profile that has gained value in recent years. Players like Herb Jones and Derrick White, who were also mentioned by Bryant, have thrived by embracing defense and becoming more than the sum of their stat lines.
Not a Huge Swing, But a Smart Hit
The Blazers are in a rare spot where they don’t need to take big swings with every pick, especially not this one, after missing out on a top-four selection.
Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe represent high-upside talents. Simons is already a proven scorer and perhaps the team’s best trade asset.
Portland still has to sort out how it’ll build a functional lineup. But what it needs is players like Camara (and Bryant?) who bring edge, effort, and balance.
Bryant’s Game
Bryant isn’t a flashy offensive prospect. He averaged just 6.5 points per game with the Wildcats, and he has a lot of room to grow as a creator and shooter, despite knocking down better than 37 percent of his deep shots on 2.8 attempts per game. Or, at least, he has a lot to prove there.
But Carter’s size, switchability, and attitude on the defensive end could allow him to step into a rotation role early. “I watch Herb Jones, Jrue Holiday, Derrick White,” Bryant said.
“But I see myself becoming one of the stars in this league. So I watch a lot of film on Kyrie, Devin Booker, Jayson Tatum, as well.”
Carter Could Be a Steal
It’s a mix of realism and ambition that makes Bryant such a compelling fit for a young Portland team desperate for an identity.
The Blazers don’t need another Kyrie or Tatum. They need someone willing to come in as a plus-defender, someone who can grow into a Camara-type contributor, and someone who can actually raise his ceiling over time, which is a rare feat, but something Camara has done over his first two seasons.
Overall, that’s Carter Bryant. Not a home run swing, but maybe the solid double that gets this team to another level.
It’s a lot to ask of any young prospect. But it’s also something Carter, as he’s indicated himself, could embrace.
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