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Assessing Blazers’ First Pre-Draft Workout Group

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Texas forward Devon Pryor, Portland Trail Blazers draft prospect

The Portland Trail Blazers are looking to take a step forward by fortifying their young core with established talent. Nonetheless, they’re still a rebuilding team, making the draft even more important to them than most teams. That said, they’ve already begun their preparation for the 2025 NBA Draft.

According to The Oregonian reporter Aaron J. Fentress, the six prospects that the Trail Blazers’ pre-draft group featured were: Florida center Rueben Chinyelu; Perth wing Ben Henshall; G League wing Dink Pate; Wisconsin guard John Blackwell; Illawarra center Lachlan Olbrich; and Texas wing Devon Pryor.

Assessing Blazers’ First Pre-Draft Workout Group

The Blazers are currently slotted to have the 10th overall pick, though that could change after the NBA Draft Lottery. Their second-round pick (No. 39 overall) will head to the Toronto Raptors as part of the Davion Mitchell–Sasha Vezenkov trade.

Rueben Chinyelu

Chinyelu, a sophomore from Nigeria, has a real chance of having success at the professional level. At 6-foot-11 (or 6-foot-10) and 245 pounds, his game is defined by his physical tools, hustle mentality and basketball IQ. With regards to the latter, it’s worth noting that Chinyelu is a future doctor, highlighting his intelligence.

Chinyelu averaged 6.0 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 0.9 blocks per game in 2024-25. This week, he also completed a pre-draft workout with the Sacramento Kings.

Ben Henshall

Henshall is a potential diamond in the rough in this draft cycle. A deceptively skilled scorer at 6-foot-5 and 198 pounds, the Perth native plays with great pace and a level of confidence that accentuates his ability to create space. His numbers are relatively modest but they come with him playing in a professional league (NBL), which he’s done since he was 19 years old.

Henshall averaged 9.5 points per game and shot 33.3 percent from 3 in 2024-25.

Dink Pate

Pate has played in the NBA G League since 2023-24, when he was 17 years old. Initially, he was signed to the G League Ignite. However, the program was dissolved, leading to Pate joining the Mexico City Capitanes in 2024-25. With the Ignite, Pate was more of a supersized point guard, his explosiveness leading to frequent rim attacks. With the Capitanes, the 6-foot-8 Texan continued playing on-ball but was more focused on creating for himself.

February 14, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; Team G-League guard Dink Pate (1) of the Mexico City Capitanes shoots the ball against Team C during the 2025 NBA Rising Stars Game at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images

Pate averaged 10.3 points per game on 41.3 percent shooting from the field in 2024-25.

John Blackwell

Blackwell has become a popular player for the Badgers after just two years with the program. Emerging as a full-time starter last season, he was the team’s second-best player behind John Tonje. A tough slasher, the 6-foot-4 sophomore’s flashes of high-level shot-creation also warrant closer inspection.

Blackwell averaged 15.8 points (on 45.1 percent shooting from the field) and 5.1 rebounds per game in 2024-25.

Lachlan Olbrich

Olbrich is an Australia native who has played in the NBL since 2021-22, but left in 2022-23 to play for UC Riverside. He also has experience playing for the Australia’s senior men’s national basketball team. The seasoned big man’s combination of footwork, touch, passing and defensive timing make him a fascinating prospect.

Olbrich averaged 8.9 points, 1.8 assists, 0.5 blocks, and 0.5 steals per game in 2024-25.

Devon Pryor

Pryor is a long and athletic wing who committed to Oregon in the transfer portal. It’s unlikely that he actually stays in the 2025 NBA Draft, with DraftExpress’s Jon Chepkevich reporting that he’s just looking to get feedback from NBA teams. Still, Pryor has the look of a player who could be a sleeper and draft-riser. It might all depend on how well his workouts go though.

Pryor averaged 3.2 points per game on 51.8 percent shooting from the field in 2024-25.

© Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

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