Blazers Staff Watch Possible 2025 Top-Five Prospect Play With Deandre Ayton

In the 2024 FIBA Men’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament, the Portland Trail Blazers staff and fans got a glimpse of one possible future of the team. In the matchup between the Bahamas and Finland, Blazers big man Deandre Ayton joined forced with 2025 prospect Vladez (“VJ”) Edgecombe Jr to lead the Bahamas to a 96-85 victory. Ayton hit 8-12 shots to score 19 points with 9 rebounds. Edgecombe Jr added 20 points, and current free agent Buddy Hield scored 24.

Edgecombe is projected as a possible top-five prospect in 2025. With the Blazers currently expected to be a lottery team, he might be in play when the Blazers pick in next year’s draft. He’s currently projected to go fifth in NBA Draft Room’s early mock draft.

The Portland Trail Blazers were a presence in the crowd, too, as Chauncey Billups and the Blazers watched the game in person. It’s unclear if this is technically a scouting activity, but when you’re a lottery team, everything is a scouting activity.

The Bahamas are enjoying a run in the FIBA qualifiers. In their follow-up game on Wednesday, they defeated Poland, 90-81. Ayton scored 18 on 7-12 shooting, Edgecombe Jr shot 7-13 for 21 points, and Hield added 17 points on 6-15 FG but had 10 assists.