The Portland Trail Blazers are working to separate themselves from the Western Conference cellar-dwellers, following their return to the NBA Playoffs in April. Of the four years spent away from postseason action, the 2023 draft class has been the friendliest to the Blazers.
The Blazers selected Scoot Henderson third, Kris Murray 23rd and Rayan Rupert 43rd on the night. Months later, they secured 52nd pick Toumani Camara as part of the Damian Lillard trade while Sidy Cissoko, taken 44th, found his
way to Oregon 18 months ago.
The 2023 class was headlined by Frenchman Victor Wembanyama but talent was found deep into the second round with Camara shining as one of the groups’ surprise contributors.
Today we ask, three years on from that night in June 2023, how have things changed?
The Criteria
For the purposes of the re-draft we’re using five criteria. Each player was ranked out of 10 for each with the five scores added together.
- Production until this point
- Highest level of team achievement
- Level of importance on their respective rosters
- Potential
- Durability
The Re-Draft
1. Victor Wembanyama (47 points) – San Antonio Spurs
Games: 181 Points: 23.4 3pt%: 34.2% Rebounds: 11.0 Assists: 3.5 Steals: 1.1 Blocks: 3.5
(Original pick – Victor Wembanyama)
2. Brandon Miller (43 points) – Charlotte Hornets
Games: 166 Points: 19.0 3pt%: 37.3% Rebounds: 4.6 Assists: 3.0 Steals: 1.0 Blocks: 0.6
(Original pick – Brandon Miller)
3. Amen Thompson (43 points) – Portland Trail Blazers
Games: 210 Points: 14.3 3pt%: 21.9% Rebounds: 7.6 Assists: 4.0 Steals: 1.4 Blocks: 0.8
(Original pick – Scoot Henderson)
4. Cason Wallace (42 points) – Houston Rockets
Games: 227 Points: 7.9 3pt%: 37.4% Rebounds: 2.9 Assists: 2.2 Steals: 1.5 Blocks: 0.4
(Original pick – Amen Thompson)
5. Toumani Camara (40 points) – Detroit Pistons
Games: 230 Points: 10.9 3pt%: 36.7% Rebounds: 5.3 Assists: 2.0 Steals: 1.2 Blocks: 0.5
(Original pick – Ausar Thompson)
6. Keyonte George (39 points) – Orlando Magic
Games: 196 Points: 17.2 3pt%: 34.8% Rebounds: 3.4 Assists: 5.3 Steals: 0.7 Blocks: 0.2
(Original pick – Anthony Black)
7. Ausar Thompson (38 points) – Washington Wizards
Games: 195 Points: 9.6 3pt%: 20.4% Rebounds: 5.8 Assists: 2.5 Steals: 1.6 Blocks: 0.9
(Original pick – Bilal Coulibaly)
8. Brandin Podziemski (37 points) – Indiana Pacers
Games: 220 Points: 11.6 3pt%: 37.5% Rebounds: 5.3 Assists: 3.6 Steals: 1.0 Blocks: 0.2
(Original pick – Jarace Walker)
9. Scoot Henderson (36 points) – Utah Jazz
Games: 158 Points: 13.5 3pt%: 34.3% Rebounds: 3.0 Assists: 5.0 Steals: 0.9 Blocks: 0.2
(Original pick – Taylor Hendricks)
10. Jaime Jaquez Jr. (36 points) – Oklahoma City Thunder
Games: 216 Points: 12.1 3pt%: 31.7% Rebounds: 4.4 Assists: 3.3 Steals: 0.9 Blocks: 0.3
(Original pick – Cason Wallace)
11. Dereck Lively II (33 points) – Orlando Magic
Games: 98 Points: 8.4 Rebounds: 7.0 Assists: 1.6 Steals: 0.6 Blocks: 1.5
(Original pick – Jett Howard)
12. Anthony Black (33 points) – Dallas Mavericks
Games: 211 Points: 9.5 3pt%: 33.8% Rebounds: 2.9 Assists: 2.7 Steals: 1.0 Blocks: 0.5
(Original pick – Dereck Lively II)
13. Bilal Coulibaly (32 points) – Toronto Raptors
Games: 178 Points: 10.8 3pt%: 31.3% Rebounds: 4.5 Assists: 2.6 Steals: 1.2 Blocks: 0.8
(Original pick – Gradey Dick)
14. GG Jackson (30 points) – New Orleans Pelicans
Games: 132 Points: 12.1 3pt%: 34.5% Rebounds: 4.0 Assists: 1.3 Steals: 0.5 Blocks: 0.6
(Original pick – Jordan Hawkins)
Honorable Mentions
Brice Sensabaugh, Marcus Sasser, Ben Sheppard, Julian Strawther, Trayce Jackson-Davis
Analysis
The top two picks were the right ones. Wembanyama and Miller, while suffering through bouts of injury, have still shown the most from the class. The Blazers were the first to make an error, taking Henderson over Thompson, who appears to be central to the Rockets’ future, despite his subprime shooting.
Wallace is now one of the Thunder’s key pieces after playing an important two-way role in their 2025 title. His ability appears to have also made Lu Dort available. Camara has jumped from the 50s into the fifth spot with his All-Defensive prowess and role as someone who can hit an open three when required.
Keyonte George has been a bright spark for the tanking Utah Jazz. His hard work looks set to be rewarded as the Salt Lake City franchise starts winning games. Ausar Thompson might have been closer to his twin if he could get that three-point rate up. While Amen’s shot is just as bad, he’s been able to have a bigger impact on the Rockets.
Brandin Podziemski might have been the beneficiary of playing next to Steph Curry but he’s taken his opportunity, serving as a high-level role player, able to compete on both ends. Like Camara, he’s a star offensive foul drawer.
Henderson is selected at nine, but I almost dropped him a spot lower. A lot of talent, but poor decision-making, poor finishing and inconsistent performances, combined with stretches of injury, drop him down the order. The mature-aged Jaquez almost won Sixth Man of the Year but has also shown a proclivity to go missing for stretches of time.
If these selections were actually made
After the first two picks, the first change has Amen Thompson on the Blazers. While his poor shooting won’t help, the former fourth pick fits perfectly with this Blazers team’s defensive identity while his offensive hustle and rebounding may have won Portland a few more games. Just three years into his career, Thompson is a game changer and hustle king, helped along by supreme athleticism and a desire to win.
While Wallace isn’t strictly a point guard, he would have helped the Rockets deal with Fred VanVleet’s absence without losing any of the defense left behind by Amen Thompson. Camara goes to Detroit, playing an important defensive role while offering some shooting. George goes to Orlando as a much needed source of scoring and Ausar Thompson adds to Washington’s burgeoning talent base.
Podziemski joins Tyrese Halliburton in Indiana and potentially plays a role in the Pacers 2025 NBA Finals run. Perhaps with more run in Utah, Henderson finds consistency, able to match George’s offensive output. Not sure how much run Jaquez gets with the Thunder but defense would be crucial to him getting on the court.
Conclusion
The Blazers missed selecting Scoot Henderson third, but it’s hard to criticize the front office too severely with the guard likely high on most boards. Getting Camara in the Lillard deal might be this front office’s biggest achievement, next to trading for Deni Avdija.
The Belgian has since signed a decent extension and established himself as a legitimate 3-and-D option. Henderson, who becomes extension-eligible this summer, falls in a re-draft — how far, depends on what you think of Brandin Podziemski and Jaime Jaquez Jr.
Nothing is stopping Henderson proving his doubters wrong but depending on what happens with the Blazers over the next few months, he might being doing it in different colors.
