Portland May Choose Future Point Guard in NBA Draft

PORTLAND, Ore. — The Portland Trail Blazers will select 11th in the 2025 NBA Draft this Wednesday evening, with key decisions ahead regarding their future at point guard. NBA writer Jake Fischer predicts the Blazers might choose between Egor Demin from BYU or Kasparas Jakucionis, both of whom have international backgrounds.

Fischer notes the Trail Blazers have become somewhat unpredictable in the late lottery picks, making it hard for rival teams to gauge their intentions. Along with Demin and Jakucionis, Noa Essengue and Arizona’s Carter Bryant are also on the Blazers’ radar, as they consider bolstering their backcourt and wing rotation.

Despite already having point guards Jrue Holiday and Scoot Henderson, who they drafted third overall in 2023, the Blazers face an overloaded frontcourt with underachieving players like Jerami Grant and Deandre Ayton. This makes their decision at 11 critical for both current competitiveness and future development.

The NBA Draft, especially for teams like Portland, offers a chance to reshape their roster significantly. One Eastern Conference executive referred to Demin as a player who could fit a variety of roles, citing his 6-foot-8 frame and versatility. “He’ll have multiple homes,” the executive said about Demin’s potential adaptability.

Demin showed notable improvement in shooting efficiency during the Chicago Draft Combine and has been training to add muscle, preparing for the demands of the professional game. His college coach, Kevin Young, claims he is a natural point guard.

As NBA teams finalize wraps on their draft strategies, the stakes are high for Portland, whose selection will not only impact the franchise’s roster but could also define its future trajectory amid the growing playoff competition.

With the clock ticking and the NBA Draft fast approaching, it remains to be seen how the Blazers will navigate their selection.