PORTLAND, Ore. — Updated: 4:26 p.m.
The NBA draft is hours away and the Portland Trail Blazers have the 25th pick in the first round. They don't have a second-round selection, though one report indicates they're trying to acquire one before the draft.
Many NBA experts believe today's draft will be a big one for trades. ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski said he believes the record for first-round picks traded in one draft (13 in 2010) "could be challenged today."
Could the Blazers be looking to make a trade? In the latest episode of the 3-on-3 Blazers podcast, we outlined some of the trade scenarios available to the Blazers.
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But if Portland stands pat, which player will they select at No. 25? Most of the NBA draft experts focused on one player for the Blazers, Stanford sophomore small forward KZ Okpala. It may be because Okpala was the only consensus first-round draft pick the Blazers worked out before the draft.
Update (4:26 p.m. PST): CBS Sports changed its mock back to Virginia guard Ty Jerome. And The Ringer jumped on the KZ Okpala bandwagon, changing their previous mock selection of Florida State center Mfiondu Kabengele.
Here's a look at what the latest mock drafts predict for the Blazers:
ESPN: Blazers select KZ Okpala (Stanford, SF)
What they wrote: Okpala had a late start to basketball, and he is raw in terms of his strength and understanding of the game. However, his physical tools are impressive, and the flashes he has shown as a slasher, defender and perimeter shooter make him worth a long-term investment. — Jonathan Givony
The Athletic: Blazers select KZ Okpala (Stanford, SF)
What they wrote: Trail Blazers’ general manager Neil Olshey is not a big believer that you can get immediate help late in the first round that can provide a boost to a contending team. I don’t necessarily agree with such a thought process — over the last few years, we’ve seen plenty of rookies make an impact as a role player in the playoffs — but it’s certainly the way he thinks about things.
Okpala is the kind of high-upside player the Blazers tend to value, though. Best of all, he fits a position of need as a combo forward who can create off the dribble, knock down shots, and potentially even become useful defensively one day. The Stanford product started out the season as a potential lottery pick, dominating in the first two months of the season and knocking down 45 percent of his 3s. The shooting was always a bit unsustainable, but it ended up being that his overall offensive game ended up tanking a bit later in the season, too. From February 7 onward, Okpala averaged just 14 points a night while shooting under 40 percent from the field and 27 percent from 3. While that didn’t leave a great taste in evaluators’ mouths, I still think Okpala did enough to show that he’s a project worth taking on.
His range is pretty wide right now. It’s not impossible he goes in the late teens, and it’s not impossible he falls out of the first round. Why? He’s a polarizing player for executives. Some are believers in the upside, whereas others see something of a low feel player who also struggles on defense. — Sam Vecenie
The Ringer: Blazers select KZ Okpala (Stanford, SF)
What they wrote: Versatility is king in the NBA, and he has all the tools to be a malleable two-way wing if his raw skills continue to develop. — Kevin O'Connor
Sports Illustrated: Blazers select KZ Okpala (Stanford, SF)
What they wrote: Okpala’s stock is all over the place: it’s conceivable he’s taken off the board as early as the teens, while it wouldn’t be crazy for him to slip into the early 30s, either. Teams are decidedly split on his upside and growth potential relative to where he’s currently at development-wise. Most still think he’ll be selected in the first round. Okpala is a late bloomer who seems to still be adjusting to his body, and while his career was up and down at Stanford, he has a strong mix of workable skills and nice slashing ability. He has to get stronger, but could be extremely versatile on both ends as his body matures. — Jeremy Woo
Bleacher Report: Blazers select KZ Okpala (Stanford, SF)
What they wrote: Okpala made enough improvements with his offensive finesse and shooting for teams to start feeling confident in his development and trajectory. He's still on the raw side, but his positional size (6'9½") for a face-up scorer remains enticing. — Jonathan Wasserman
Sporting News: Blazers select KZ Okpala (Stanford, SF)
What they wrote: Portland's front office took a shot on another high-risk, high-upside prospect last year in the first round, and the Blazers are slotted with another one here in the hopes of striking it rich. Okpala isn't a player who will be ready to contribute right away, but he has the size and athleticism to turn into something promising. The 20-year-old can create a bit of offense and guard multiple positions. He'll need to be develop a more reliable jumper to be truly impactful in the NBA. — Chris Stone
Yahoo Sports: Blazers select KZ Okpala (Stanford, SF)
What they wrote: The sophomore is the first Stanford player to leave for the NBA draft before his junior year since Brook and Robin Lopez in 2010. He was a Pac-12 first-teamer after averaging 16.8 points per game. Okpala is a perimeter threat with a great first step who can finish at the rim. He also has an improved shot from 3-point range. — Krysten Peek
CBS Sports: Blazers select Ty Jerome (Virginia, G)
What they wrote: No player in this year's draft has had the word "killer" associated with him more than Jerome, who had a medley of marvelous moments this past season in helping Virginia win a national title. Jerome has good handle with both hands, plays tough -- always -- makes the right pass often and shoots well even while being toughly guarded. He can play outside-in or vice-versa. To me, a no-brainer first-round pick. — Kyle Boone
NBC Sports: Blazers select KZ Okpala (Stanford, SF)
What they wrote: Okpala plays a position of need for the Blazers, and while he struggled late in the season, he’s has the size, length and fluidity to project as an effective big wing down the road. Drafting him here means that you trust in his jumper, which fell off of a cliff in the last six weeks of the college hoops season. — Rob Dauster
Jared Cowley writes about the Trail Blazers and other topics for KGW.com. He's also the co-host of the 3-on-3 Blazers podcast (listen here). You can reach him on Twitter @jaredcowley.
