THE 2023 NBA Draft is set to take place later this month, with the next crop of potential superstars set to join the world’s most prestigious basketball league.

With plenty of hype around the talent in the 2023 draft class, thanks to a French phenom locked in as the number-one pick and lots of depth later down the order, June 23 (AEST) will change the future of the league in a big way.

Rookie Me Central will be continuing the NBA Draft Team Preview series, taking a look at each participating side’s draft hand and some potential options at each selection. The next side on the agenda are the Portland Trail Blazers.

The Trail Blazers had a disappointing 2022/23 campaign, once again attempting to rally behind star point guard Damian Lillard, but were eliminated from playoff contention well before the end of the fixture.

Instead, the team will look to the future, having been awarded the third pick in the draft with the opportunity to add a future superstar to the team, although there are some question marks around the fit.

Portland Trail Blazers

Draft selections

3, 23, 43

Contracted players

Damian Lillard, Anfernee Simons, Jusuf Nurkic, Shaedon Sharpe, Cam Reddish (qualifying offer), Matisse Thybulle (qualifying offer), Nassir Little, Kevin Knox (team option), Andrew Nicholson, Keon Johnson, Trendon Whatford, Eric Bledsoe, Jabari Walker, John Butler (qualifying offer), Didi Louzada, Jeenathan Williams, Ibou Badji (qualifying offer)

The Trail Blazers have the opportunity to look ahead with its draft hand in 2023, potentially adding some stars of the competition with its three picks.

Portland’s first pick and the third selection overall largely depends on what Charlotte does at pick two. The two players that are projected to go at two and three are Scoot Henderson and Brandon Miller, but the order of that is still up for debate.

Should the Hornets select Henderson, Miller will fit in nicely as a wing alongside the likes of Lillard, Simons and Sharpe, with the latter two seemingly in Portland’s plans moving forward. Although he has strong playmaking skills in his own right, Miller is an ideal fit alongside ball-dominant guards and would be a nice addition for the Trail Blazers.

On the other hand, if Charlotte selects Miller with the second selection, the Trail Blazers are left with two options; trade down or out of the order, or simply take the best player available. Henderson would be the number one pick in any draft that did not have Victor Wembanyama in it, but now it all comes down to fit. However, if the guard is still on the board at pick three, it seems Portland picks him and figures out the guard surplus later.

The other big question for the Trail Blazers comes in the form of its 23rd pick, with a number of viable options likely to be available around this mark. It seems far-fetched that the team will add another guard to the mix, so perhaps Kris Murray is a solid option as a wing. He seems a solid pick for Sacramento given the Kings already have his brother on their list, but Portland is one pick ahead. Murray offers plenty on the offensive end as a spot-up shooter and finisher when out in transition.

The Trail Blazers are set for one of the most intriguing trips to the draft in recent memory, given so much of their outlook depends on the decision of Charlotte one pick earlier. Regardless, they will come away with one of the best prospects in the draft and can begin to build their blueprint for the future.