The Portland Trailblazers were embroiled in a plethora of rumors heading into the 2023 NBA Draft, but ultimately went for the status quo. They had three picks in the NBA Draft, starting with the No.3 overall selection. Scoot Henderson heard his name called at No.3 and is now projected to be Damian Lillard's backcourt mate barring Lillard doesn't get traded this offseason. As the draft continued, the Blazers also had the No. 23 pick in the first-round and the No. 43 pick in the second-round. With the No. 23 pick, the Blazers selected Kris Murray out of the University of Iowa, a forward with an above average shot that mirrors his brother Keegan Murray's with the Sacramento Kings. In the second-round the Blazers selected Rayan Rupert with the No. 43 overall pick, a 19-year-old French forward who projects to be a solid two-way player in the NBA. Overall, it was a good night for the Blazers in the 2023 NBA Draft. Now, let's get to the individual grades for every Blazers pick.

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Blazers 2023 NBA Draft Grades

Round 1, Pick 3: Scoot Henderson

Scoot Henderson was the best available player on the board, so the Blazers picked him. There were rumors that he wasn't going to be available leading up to the NBA Draft, as the Hornets brought him in for multiple workouts and were said to be considering him over their eventual selection Brandon Miller. Miller ended up getting picked No.2, and this made the decision fairly easy for the Blazers. Henderson comes to the Blazers after already playing professional basketball for two seasons with the G-League Ignite, starting his journey as the youngest G-League player ever at 17-years-old. For the Blazers, they made the right pick and should be thrilled that they landed Scoot Henderson.

There are a few reasons this was a good pick. First off, Damian Lillard and Scoot Henderson already have a relationship and will complement each other very well in the backcourt. While Lillard is a lethal shooter and silky smooth driver, Henderson plays a more aggressive and physical brand of basketball. Not to mention, Henderson takes a lot of pride on the defensive end and will wreak havoc against opposing guards in man defense. The biggest reason that Henderson is a great pick is that he has the potential to come in and make an immediate difference, one that could help the Blazers win games right away. If Damian Lillard is going to remain in Portland and be happy with the Blazers, Rip City needs to win. Scoot Henderson was the best option in the draft that can help the Blazers do so.

Grade: A

Round 1, Pick 23: Kris Murray

Kris Murray was another good pick in terms of trying to help the Blazers win now. Murray comes from the University of Iowa after playing three seasons of college basketball. It was smart for the Blazers to go get a player with some more experience than other rookies, especially Murray who grew from playing minimal minutes into becoming the star of the Hawkeyes last season. He will come to Portland with a maturity necessary for a Blazers team that wants to win now. Additionally, he fits the mold of forwards that the Blazers already have.

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The Houston Rockets invested heavily into Fred VanVleet during the 2023 offseason. Houston gave the point guard a three-year, $128 million deal in a move that was meant to turn the Rockets from a rebuilding team into a championship contending one. The signing did just that, as the Rockets finished the 2024-25 regular season as the two-seed in a stacked Western Conference. VanVleet was the veteran presence and 3-point shooter that the team desperately needed, and he still might have a role with the Rockets going forward. Houston has a team option on his contract for next year, and they very well may pick it up. The Wichita State product reportedly wants to stay in Houston, but the point guard would be set to make over $44 million next season under his current contract. The Rockets and their guard recently pushed back the deadline on Houston's decision with VanVleet, and although reports suggest that they are interested in writing up a new, long-term deal, it isn't necessarily a guarantee that VanVleet will be playing for Houston next year. The Rockets blew him away with an offer he couldn't refuse back in 2023, and another team could so the same when/if he hits the open market this offseason. If VanVleet does become an unrestricted free agent, which teams outside of Houston would make the most sense for him to sign with? 1. Orlando Magic Jalen Suggs and Franz Wagner recently signed big deals with the Orlando Magic, and Paolo Banchero will be getting a mega contract extension here soon. Because of that, the Magic no longer have money to blow like they have had in recent years. That will make a deal for another big ticket free agent hard to pull off, especially considering the team signed Kentavious Caldwell-Pope last year. If Orlando can make the money work, though, then Fred VanVleet would be a great fit with the Magic. The Magic finished dead last in 3-point shooting this season, and VanVleet has made at least 2.5 deep balls per game in every season since 2018-19. VanVleet can hit shots form behind the arc off of the bounce or in catch-and-shoot situations. The Rockets were heavily reliant on his shooting expertise, so the guard would have plenty of familiarity getting up deep shots with high volume if he signed with the Magic. While undersized, VanVleet is a pesky defender, so he'd fit right in with a Magic team that has one of the best defensive units in the league. VanVleet could play alongside Suggs and give opposing teams fits. Ultimately, though, the Magic just need more shooting to get to the next level, and VanVleet is arguably the best shooter who could be available on the open market this offseason. 2. Brooklyn Nets A more realistic option for a VanVleet destination would be the Brooklyn Nets. The Nets are set up to have the most cap space this offseason, and they have a major need at point guard. With D'Angelo Russell and De'Anthony Melton hitting free agency this offseason, the Nets don't have a true point guard under contract for next season. Brooklyn needs to spend big this offseason, and they'd be smart to offer VanVleet a contract big enough that he'd have no choice but to leave Houston. VanVleet averaged 14.1 points per game last season, which was his lowest mark since 2018-19. He is trending the wrong way, but he still has enough left in the tank to give the Nets a few good seasons. 3. Portland Trail Blazers In the same way that the Rockets were looking to take the next step in 2023, the Portland Trail Blazers could use VanVleet's presence to get over the hump. The Trail Blazers have plenty of big man depth, as centers Deandre Ayton, Donovan Clingan, Robert Williams, and Duop Death are all under contract next season. Portland also has a lot of wing depth. Deni Advija started to look like a star late this past season, Toumani Camara is an elite defender, Shaedon Sharpe is a freakish athlete, and Jerami Grant is a proven scorer. The team is thinner in the backcourt, though. Anfernee Simons is a solid scorer, but Scoot Henderson has looked like a fringe draft bust since being drafted third overall. Portland shouldn't give up on Henderson completely, but there wouldn't be any harm in signing another guard. Like the Magic, the Blazers were one of the worst 3-point shooting teams in the NBA. VanVleet would improve that weakness, and in a stacked Western Conference, Portland needs all of the help they can get if they are to compete for a playoff spot.
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Murray will come in and be playing behind Jerami Grant, a great prototype to model his game after. Murray's biggest strength is his shooting ability for his size, and Grant has a very similar upside. Grant is more athletic, but working behind him will help Murray develop his body and athleticism into being more prepared for NBA basketball. Murray doesn't figure to transform into a star, but he makes sense for what the Blazers need. If he can be anything like the shooter that his brother Keegan is, the Blazers will be thrilled. Still, he leaves a little to be desired with a ceiling that is not as high as other prospects.

Grade: B +

Round 2, Pick 43: Rayan Rupert

This was an outstanding pick by the Blazers. Rayan Rupert is 6'7 but plays the guard position due to his extreme length and athleticism. Although he has much work to do on offense, his frame and athletic prowess combined with his youth makes the sky the limit for him. At just 19-years-old, he is coming into the NBA with the ability to already guard all five positions and handle the rock as well as compete down low. He will be the perfect player to learn under Shaedon Sharpe and Matisse Thybulle, and there is no doubt that his offensive game will skyrocket.

The reason this was such a good pick is because of the value at No. 43 in the second-round. Rupert would have gone higher if he had a stronger offensive skillset, but his potential alone definitely warranted the selection. Rupert is the exact type of player that winning teams need; a guy that can play all over the court and be counted on to make tough plays on the defensive end when the game is in crunch time. Of course he will have to develop his shot and ability to create for himself, but he brings a skillset to the NBA that cannot be taught. The last pick of the 2023 NBA Draft for the Blazers was another good one in an overall impressive night for Portland.

Grade: A –