While it wasn’t the dream scenario of landing the top slot and getting the opportunity to select Victor Wembanyama, Portland General Manager Joe Cronin did have a great lottery night as he watched his team vault up to the third slot in the 2023 NBA Draft. With a Blazers trade seemingly on the horizon, there are both obvious examples of players the team could target and a handful of under-the-radar moves to make.
The Blazers have all but announced that the pick is up for sale by committing to building a contender around Damian Lillard. While it may be tempting to imagine Brandon Miller lacing up a Blazers jersey and solidifying the wing for years, it’s more likely the team will move the premium pick for a veteran star or package that could help it make the playoffs.