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The Portland Trail Blazers have started pre-draft workouts in anticipation of the 2018 NBA Draft, hosting prospects that could go to them at No. 24, or are projected to go above/below them. Who falls to Portland on draft night will sort itself out then. Let’s see who draft experts around the basketball community have going to the Blazers at pick 24 after our second Mock Draft Roundup.
Jonathan Wasserman, Bleacher Report: Troy Brown (SG/SF, Oregon)
The idea of Brown is more appealing than the freshman season he put together. A versatile, interchangeable wing who won’t turn 19 until July 28, Brown runs pick-and-roll, works off the ball and guards three to four positions. Shooting remains the swing skill that decides the height of his ceiling.
Gary Parrish, CBS Sports: Kevin Huerter (SG, Maryland)
Huerter, who was good at the combine, has reportedly also been really good in private workouts -- all of which made it sensible for the 6-6 shooter to leave Maryland after two seasons. He averaged 14.8 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 34.4 minutes a game for a Maryland team that finished 39th at KenPom. But the key stat is that Huerter made 41.7 percent of the 5.5 3-pointers he took per contest. So he projects as a wing with size who can be a reliable threat from the perimeter.
Jonathan Givony, ESPN Insider (subscription required): Khyri Thomas (SG, Creighton)
Portland’s wing rotation could use some added depth.
Thomas is one of the better defenders in college basketball, capable of guarding three positions with his 6-foot-11 wingspan. He’s also a willing ball mover and a promising spot-up shooter, and he has exactly the type of grit and unselfishness the NBA covets in role players.
Michael Scotto, The Athletic (subscription required): Anfernee Simons (SG, IMG Academy)
Similar to Zach Collins last season, Simons would represent an upside pick for the Trail Blazers.
Simons is raw, but executives believe his athletic potential and scoring ability are worth taking a first-round flier on.
He’s currently training with Justin Zormelo during the pre-draft process.
Simons offers Portland a long-term upside pick who could become a bench scorer in the short-term and long-term starter if the team decides to ever trade CJ McCollum.
Ricky O’Donnell, SB Nation: Jacob Evans (SG, Cincinnati)
Portland seems to be perpetually searching for 3-and-D wings. Evans could be just that. He was a vital cog in Cincinnati’s No. 2 overall defense this year and also the team’s leading scorer.
You can find extensive draft profiles of these prospects here at Blazer’s Edge:
The NBA Draft is Thursday, June 21.