Full Scouting Report for Portland Trail Blazers' Top 2015 Draft Targets

With the No. 23 pick in the 2015 NBA draft, the Portland Trail Blazers will be able to add a piece to a roster that is in a state of flux.

All-Star LaMarcus Aldridge and fellow starters Wesley Matthews and Robin Lopez will be unrestricted free agents, along with several other names that have comprised the team for the last few seasons. As such, the Blazers could look entirely different over the next few months.

Though this pick is late in the draft, it's still a guaranteed chance for Portland to secure a contributor on a reasonable contract. The team will need every cent in free agency to retain its core, hence trying to get the most value with this pick is crucial.

In that same line of thinking, per a tweet from Basketball Insiders' Alex Kennedy, the front office has been looking to swap the No. 23 pick for two second-round picks owned by the Philadelphia 76ers. Doing so would net the Blazers the opportunity to draft two players on non-guaranteed contracts and waive them, freeing up more cap space for free agency.

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Sources say 76ers and Blazers have discussed a deal that would give Philly #23 pick in exchange for #35 and #37 picks (and possibly more).

— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) June 23, 2015"

As Portland moved its 2016 first-round pick at the trade deadline earlier this year, it cannot officially complete the supposed deal until draft night, due to ruling against trading picks in consecutive seasons. 

But should the team opt to retain its first-round pick, the focus should lie squarely in the frontcourt. The roster is fairly stocked on guards at this point, and adding more would overcrowd the backcourt. In addition, the Blazers must be careful not to reach too far for a player.

Some prospects are quite versatile and intriguing, such as UNLV's Christian Wood or UCLA's Kevon Looney, but will need time to develop. If Portland heads into the draft with the mindset of preserving the cap, the player it selects must be worth the roster spot and be as close to NBA-ready as possible.

Montrezl Harrell, PF, Louisville 

Whether or not Aldridge returns in free agency remains to be seen, but Portland's depth at the 4 spot is weak regardless.

Montrezl Harrell, despite being undersized at 6'8", is an option for the Blazers at No. 23. His offensive game is very limited, coming only around the rim and from offensive rebounds, and his draft stock has slipped a little due to this. However, he remains a fierce, physical competitor on the boards.

Harrell's motor would provide Portland with an energizer on the interior, which is not something current frontcourt players Meyers Leonard and Chris Kaman are capable of. The Louisville product would fit seamlessly as that presence in the paint, crashing the glass and being a pest on both ends.

The Blazers would not require Harrell to be a scorer. He'd be able to focus on what he does best and be an X-factor off the bench. He is currently projected to go at No. 24 to the Cleveland Cavaliers by DraftExpress.

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, SF, Arizona

Just as there is little help behind the starter at power forward, so too is the case at small forward.

Taking Rondae Hollis-Jefferson out of Arizona would be a solid choice, despite his offensive shortcomings. The 6'7" swingman is a gifted defender, measuring in with a 7'2" wingspan at the NBA Draft Combine, per DraftExpress, with an athletic and rangy frame to throw at guards and forwards alike.

Hollis-Jefferson is quick on his feet and able to play without the ball, which is important given that the Blazers like to run the offense through either Damian Lillard or Nicolas Batum. He'd work very well on that end, cutting to the rim or looking for mid-range jumpers, though the biggest knock against his talents lies in that area.

His jumper is shaky and does not extend to the three-point line, where Portland looks to take full advantage every night. Players that are unable to exhibit such a trait, such as former Blazers Alonzo Gee and Victor Claver, were unable to break into the rotation.

Hollis-Jefferson offers a little more than those previously mentioned players, but his shooting remains a concern. Yet, what he does bring to the table definitely outweighs what he doesn't.

He is currently projected to go at No. 22 to the Chicago Bulls by DraftExpress.

Justin Anderson, SF, Virginia

We'll stay in the theme of trying to give Batum some support and take a look at Justin Anderson out of Virginia.

The 6'6" small forward is slightly undersized, but would still work very well at the 3, given his strong defense and outside shooting. Anderson's 6'11" wingspan and 230-pound frame gives him some versatility when it comes to guarding his opponent, feasibly being able to swing from 2-guard to power forward in such situations.

He knocked down 45.2 percent of his three-point attempts last season, but doesn't offer too much offense outside of jumpers, which is just fine for Portland.

Anderson would be terrific as a three-and-D wing off the bench, though such a role would closely resemble that of current Blazer Allen Crabbe, who also stands 6'6" but only weighs 210 pounds.

Still, it doesn't hurt to have more depth. And at the No. 23 pick, it would be a reasonable selection considering the uncertainty surrounding the roster. If Matthews does leave in free agency, Crabbe could essentially act as a guard with Anderson as the primary reserve at small forward.

In any case, he'd fit seamlessly with Portland on both ends. Anderson's physicality and speed would work well in the defensive game plan, with his marksmanship being a staple of head coach Terry Stotts' offensive sets.

He is currently projected to go at No. 27 to the Los Angeles Lakers by DraftExpress.

All in All

These three prospects would be solid choices for Portland this late in the draft, as each covers an area of team need, from defense to outside shooting to rebounding. The greatest takeaway is that any one would give his respective position more depth at a reasonable cost salary-wise.

If the Blazers do indeed swing their first-round pick to Philadelphia in the aforesaid deal, there will still be a handful of notable newcomers to target, such as Robert Upshaw, Terran Petteway or a projected first-round selection that slips into the second round.

In any case, it seems that Portland has its eyes on free agency heading into the draft. But even with their gaze distracted, there are a number of players that can contribute for the Blazers.

2015 NBA draft projections courtesy of DraftExpress.