Although the Portland Trail Blazers have improved recently, their play is still far from good enough to guarantee a postseason run.
The NBA draft lottery is the Blazers’ final destination, as many had anticipated.
The Blazers (12–23) are therefore more likely to try to cut players by the trade deadline on February 6 than to recruit players who will have an immediate influence on winning.
The Blazers are still interested in obtaining a high lottery pick that they may utilize to bolster a team that hasn’t produced any players who are close to being All-Stars.
In a recent 17-minute interview with play-by-play commentator Kevin Calabro during a pregame show, Blazers general manager Joe Cronin discussed the team’s current situation.
The squad has made positive progress, according to Cronin, but they need to be more consistent and control blowouts. Nine of the Blazers’ losses have been by 20 points or more.
Cronin commended forward Deni Avdija, who was acquired in a draft-day trade, for his all-around play and the growth of rookie center Donovan Clingan.
Cronin also praised coach Chauncey Billups for helping to develop Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe. The development of striker Toumani Camara, particularly as a defender, was another encouraging development.
The next phase, according to Cronin, is to add pieces that complement the youthful nucleus of the club. This will be accomplished through trades and the draft.
“We always need to be proactive, especially at the stage we’re in,” he remarked. We enjoy being combative. We are aware of the significance of trades as a tool for building our roster.
Cronin, however, will not make a transaction just for the sake of making one. He intended to wait patiently for agreements that would benefit the Blazers the greatest.
In terms of the future, Rip City must make a number of intriguing choices.
FUTURE
Should the Blazers start Avdija and Camara together and trade Jerami Grant?
On Friday, December 13, 2024, Portland’s Jerami Grant (9) watches the Trail Blazers play the San Antonio Spurs in an NBA game at the Moda Center. It was 118-116 for San Antonio.The Oregonian/OregonLive’s Howard Lao
Grant is having a bad season, but those two have played well together. It is his lowest point total in five seasons at 15 points per game. His field goal percentage of 38.2% is significantly lower than his career average of 45.1%.
Grant, 30, has a $102 million contract with two years left on it, plus a player option. The Blazers and Grant would be better off if Grant were traded to a winner for at least a first-round selection and matching, but short-term contracts, given the development of Avdija and Camara, both 24 years old, as well as the potential addition of an impact forward through the draft.
THE CENTER
With an average of 14.3 points and 10.2 rebounds per game, Deandre Ayton has been reliable. However, his $34 million price tag is not matched by his productivity. With one year and $36 million left on his contract, he might be difficult to move.
On Saturday, December 28, 2024, at the Moda Center in Portland, Portland’s Deandre Ayton (2) celebrates a basket during an NBA game between the Trail Blazers and the Dallas Mavericks.OregonLive/The Oregonian’s Naji Saker
But moving him would give Clingan more playing time.
The case of Robert Williams III is intriguing. On the one hand, his rebounding and rim protection are desperately needed by the Blazers. However, his lengthy injury history—he has missed 24 games this season and 76 last season—is concerning. Williams might attract the attention of a candidate who needs his help. It would be best to trade him for a draft selection or a young, talented player.
GUARD
Since the previous season, nothing has changed here.Point guard Anfernee Simons is the starting player. The obvious backup is Henderson, who hasn’t changed much since his first campaign.
Despite facing challenges, 21-year-old shooting guard Sharpe is showing signs of becoming a future star.
His three-point shooting percentage of 29.4% is concerning. He shot 36% as a rookie and 33.3% the previous season. But from 45.7% the previous season, his two-point shooting has increased to 57%.
In the first half of an NBA basketball game on Thursday, January 2, 2025, in Los Angeles, Portland Trail Blazers guard Shaedon Sharpe, left, shoots while Christian Koloko, center, defends. (Mark J. Terrill/AP Photo) APAP
Henderson and Sharpe were clearly the Blazers’ future backcourt, and in a perfect world, they would be further along. The Blazers could then defend their trade of Simons.
It would be risky to deal Simons away because he and Sharpe make a superior team.
Finding a different point guard or hope Henderson develops into the player Cronin thought he would be when he selected him No. 3 overall in the 2023 NBA draft would be necessary to accomplish this.
The Blazers started the season determined to win games and forge an identity after their previous season’s injuries derailed such attempts.
Although they have had some outstanding victories this season, it is hard to determine who on the squad will be responsible for guiding this team back to the postseason in the near future due to inconsistent play.
It’s possible that the player isn’t listed. He might not be in the league yet or be on the roster of another team. Cronin is responsible for figuring all of it out and setting the right route. In the upcoming weeks, the following step might take some form.
Cronin told Calabro, “We always want to be active in trades and look for ways to get better.” How can we bring in more talent, in our opinion? How can we find more components that complement this talent? For us, that means looking everywhere, being proactive, talking to teams, listening, and determining what transactions make sense.
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Aaron J. Fentress | [email protected]|@AaronJFentress (Facebook), @AaronFentress (Instagram), and @AaronJFentress (Twitter)
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