Who should the Portland Trail Blazers take if they land in the lottery?

RJ Hampton, New Zealand Breakers

Height: 6’5″
Weight: 185
Position: PG/SG

RJ Hampton made news last year when he announced that he would skip playing basketball in college for a big-time university and instead would go play professional basketball in New Zealand. Hampton is getting a chance to play with and against professionals and that will help him be even more ready for the NBA.

He is a 19-year-old combo guard that has shown the ability to make plays with the ball in his hands and be effective off the ball as well. Hampton is very athletic and has excellent physical tools for a guard. He is quick and explosive and does most of his damage in transition and attacking the rim.

Hampton has a good offensive game, but does need to develop into a better jump shooter off the dribble and coming off screens.

The Portland Trail Blazers might lose Rodney Hood or Kent Bazemore this summer and could look to add some depth to their backcourt by adding Hampton. He is a young player, but will have some experience playing with pros for a year and should be ready to play in the NBA quicker than the other rookies.

Adding Hampton would give the Blazers their backcourt of the future with him and Anfernee Simons.

Portland needs bigger guys at their guard spots and also needs guys who can create and make things happen with the ball. That’s Hampton.

He tries on the defensive end and has the length and quickness to be a good defender. Just like Simons and Zach Collins, Hampton needs to fill out and get stronger and that will happen as he gets older. Hampton is a guy who could rise up teams boards as we get closer to the draft, but there’s a chance Portland could get him between pick No. 8 and No. 14.