Blazers Host Six Players In First Workout Since Draft Lottery

The Portland Trail Blazers held their first pre-draft workout Monday morning at their facility in Tualatin since beating the odds to secure the third overall pick at the 2023 NBA Draft. And while it seems unlikely that any of the players who participated in Monday’s workout will be who the Trail Blazers select with the third pick, they could very well be in the conversation when Portland makes their second pick of the first round or their first pick of the second round.

After holding their first workout before the Draft Lottery and fresh off of returning from the 2023 NBA Draft Combine in Chicago, the Trail Blazers hosted Toumani Camara, a 6-8 wing out of Dayton, Tristan da Silva, a 6-8 forward out of Colorado, Nadir Hifi, a 6-2 guard out of Le Portell, DaRon Holmes, a 6-10 forward out of Dayton, Andre Jackson, a 6-7 wing out of UCONN, and Colby Jones, a 6-6 wing out of Xavier, in their second pre-draft workout.

Andre Jackson Media Availability | Pre-Draft Workout

Monday’s workout was the fourth for Jackson, who averaged 6.7 points, 6.2 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.1 steals in 36 games, 31 of those starts, for the Huskies.

“I think it went really well,” said Jackson. “I think every workout I’ve been able to grow and get better. This was probably my best workout so far, so it was a great experience. Really high-level guys, really talented guys, high IQ level guys, so it was a great group to go out there and compete with.”

While he still has a year of eligibility left, Jackson is coming off a season in which he led the Huskies in assists and steals and was second in minutes and rebounds for a UCONN team that won the 2023 National Championship.

“Going through that, you’re going into environments you’ve never been in before,” said Jackson of his experience at the 2023 NCAA Tournament. “I never played basketball in front of 70,000 people until I stepped in Houston, so it was all new experiences. Every single round it got bigger and every team got better so it was all about just mental, staying composed, not letting the moment be too big and not letting it hold too much weight.”

Colby Jones Media Availability | Pre-Draft Workout

Jones also played in the 2023 NCAA Tournament, though he and the Xavier Musketeers had their run ended by the Texas Longhorns in the Elite Eight. Also a junior, Jones averaged 15.0 points on 51 percent shooting, 5.7 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.3 steals in 36 games, all starts, for Xavier this season. Monday’s workout was the first for Jones, who, along with Jackson, is projected to go late in the first round or early in the second.

“I would just say being a connector on offense and I would just say my motor and my hustle,” said Jones of his most NBA-ready skills. “I feel like I make a lot of hustle plays and I feel like that translates regardless of where you play. Just being able to guard on defense and being a team defensive player.”

Portland currently owns the third, 23rd and 43rd picks at the 2023 NBA Draft, which is scheduled for Thursday, June 22 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.