Bleacher Report Predicts Blazers Draft Choice

Though the NBA draft will be certainly different this year, the Portland Trail Blazers have the 16th pick. Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report predicts that the Blazers will look to add to their depth at the wing, selecting Aaron Nesmith of Vanderbilt.

Portland could look to add another shot-maker in Nesmith, who shot 52.2 percent from deep before injuring his foot 14 games in. With scorers and playmakers in the lineup, the Blazers could mask Nesmith’s limitations as a creator and optimize his off-ball skills of hitting jumpers off spot-ups and movement.

Wasserman’s prediction makes sense, given that the Blazers need to add depth at the small forward position while awaiting the return of Rodney Hood from injury. The addition of an outside shooter allows the Blazers to kick the ball out more reliably, and Nesmith’s mid-range is promising, even if he can’t yet create his own shot. His reported single-mindedness around the game of basketball certainly suits the Blazers’ culture.

You can read the entirety of Wasserman’s predictions here.