Ausar Thompson (Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports)
The Portland Trail Blazers own two first-round picks in the upcoming NBA Draft, but are looking to build a contender around Damian Lillard. Which prospects make the most sense?
There isn’t a more interesting team in the 2023 NBA Draft than the Portland Trail Blazers, who jumped up to No. 3 on lottery night. The franchise now faces a significant conundrum: select one of the potential long-term cornerstones available at No. 3, or pivot toward a more immediate contributor via the trade market.
One has to imagine the Blazers will have a lot of eager bidders if the third pick is eventually put on the market, whether it’s G-League Ignite’s Scoot Henderson or Alabama’s Brandon Miller. The expectation right now is that Miller will be Charlotte’s pick in the No. 2 slot, leaving the Blazers to pick between Henderson or the other explosive guards hanging around the top-4, Amen and Ausar Thompson of Overtime Elite.
Obviously the Blazers not only want to contend, but they want to contend with a core of Damian Lillard and Anfernee Simons — both smaller guards. Taking another guard in the No. 3 spot could feel like a poor allocation of valuable resources, especially with the clock ticking on Lillard’s prime.
I’m here to argue otherwise. Unless the Blazers can find a legitimate star to trade for, not only should Portland use the No. 3 pick — the Blazers should embrace and celebrate the No. 3 pick. Plus, Portland also has the No. 23 pick to burn. Here are the best prospect combinations within reason.
Perfect NBA Draft combinations for the Portland Trail Blazers
3. Ausar Thompson and Noah Clowney
Ausar Thompson has been gaining on his twin brother Amen in recent draft projections due to his more polished jump shot and superior defensive reputation. Ausar spent more time off the ball in Overtime Elite games and he shares many of the same eye-popping attributes that have drawn scouts to his brother: positional size, burst, hang time.
Thompson will immediately be one of the best perimeter athletes in the NBA. He’s a blur attacking downhill and he can put his head above the rim effortlessly, especially when he’s flying out in transition. The Thompson-Shaedon Sharpe pregame dunk line would be enough to sell most fans on this pick.
On the court, however, Thompson could complement Lillard (and Simons) with his defensive versatility on the wing. He’s another ball-handler to spread the wealth between, but Ausar is comfortable moving without the ball and filling gaps as a cutter. He’s not a great shooter still, and NBA teams will comfortably dare him to shoot, but Thompson’s too athletic to keep out of the paint and he’s a selfless, reactive passer who can help connect dots for a contending offense.
Noah Clowney is one of the youngest players on the board and he’s the perfect Portland pick: rangy, athletic, and full of untapped potential. He already provides defensive support as a switchable 4/5 who can protect the weak side. If he can translate his movement skills to a more coherent offensive repertoire, Clowney has the potential to perform well above his eventual draft position. The Blazers desperately need support in the frontcourt with Jusuf Nurkic on a steep decline.