With the eighth selection of the 2025 NBA Draft, ESPN has the Portland Trail Blazers selecting Egor Demin, a 6’9” wing from BYU. Jonthan Givony gives his analysis on the player whose name I had never read once before in my life until I clicked this article:

8. Portland Trail Blazers – Egor Demin, PG/SG, BYU – Freshman | TS%: 51.9%

Scouting report: Demin’s lackluster shooting (20% on 3-pointers and 63% from the free throw line) and turnover struggles (25% TO%) have come to the forefront more vividly in Big 12 play, but he continues to show high-level flashes of talent and feel for the game that are difficult to come by in a 6-9, 18-year-old point guard. Demin is this draft’s best passer and is making strides with his finishing and defense, giving him a clear avenue to success in the NBA as his shooting evolves. The transition from European junior competition to the Big 12 would always be challenging, considering his lack of strength and experience. Still, Demin is showing good things on the court and has potential to grow as his frame fills out. Finishing the season on a strong note would push him higher in the top 10.

Demin’s shooting is concerning, especially as the Blazers need to swing for a potential franchise cornerstone, not a role player. I get that’s harder to do outside the first few picks; still, a gamble with higher upside and more risk here is appropriate if the Blazers find themselves this far down the lotter. Besides, the NBA generally isn’t kind to the “great at passing, but can’t shoot a lick” architype. The hope is with an NBA-adjacent frame and good court instincts that the shooting will come along, but that’s never a guarantee.

ESPN’s Jeremy Woo continues on how Demin might fit:

NBA fit and intel: Winning 10 of their past 13 games, the Blazers have vaulted into the middle of the lottery pack. Portland doesn’t have a ton of playmaking on its roster outside of Scoot Henderson (who has started to flash promise in his second season), and adding a change-of-pace ball handler with size could be an interesting long-term play. There’s certainly less duplication with Demin than there would be with some of the other guards left on the board here, and his upside tied to his frame and impressive passing vision would hold appeal for Portland and other teams through his ups and downs.

My question: who is this guy passing TO? Between Shaedon Sharpe, Henderson, and Deni Avdija, the Blazers already have plenty of players who need the ball to operate at their best. I’m skeptical that adding another who shoots worse than all of them is the play.

In a “time in a flat circle” reminder, Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report also mocked Demin to the Blazers back in December.

Demin is averaging 11.3 points, 5.4 dimes, and 3.8 boards in his 28 minutes per game on 49.3% effective field goal percentage. By way of comparison, that would put Demin just ahead of Jerami Grant (47.6%) and Dalano Banton (48.9%), and just below Duop Reath (50.0%) and Scoot Henderson (50.9%).