The Blazers and general manager Joe Cronin have handled their rebuilding process well. There may have been a few questionable decisions, including the overall handling of Damian Lillard’s trade request. They still have assets to spare that they acquired through the Lillard and Jrue Holiday trades, but right now, they can’t afford to lose. have not maximized their potential return for either star guard.
Cronin has done a great job of being patient with their rebuild and not immediately parting ways with valuable assets like Jerami Grant and Anfernee Simons. And despite the obstacles, they’ve had top-10 picks over the last three seasons, including Shaedon Sharpe (No. 7 overall in 2022), Scoot Henderson (No. 3 in 2023) and Donovan Clingan (No. 7 in 2024).
Former Kentucky head coach John Calipari said that Sharpe would have been the first overall pick if he had decided to stay another year. That might have been the case in normal years, but it seems unlikely with generational talent Victor Wembanyama headlining the 2023 NBA Draft. Still, the Blazers got a steal in Sharpe, who could break out in his third year in Portland.
The Blazers also found tremendous value in Clingan, their most recent No. 7 overall pick. According to Yahoo Sports NBA insider Jake Fischer, the Atlanta Hawks, who picked No. 1 overall, have reportedly reduced their decision between Zacharrie Risacher and Clingan.
Then there’s newly acquired Deni Avdija. In 2020, now-Blazers assistant general manager Mike Schmitz, who was then working for ESPN, said Avdija “deserves to be in this conversation” of the consensus top prospects in that year’s draft, which were James Wiseman, Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball.
Avdija was ultimately selected ninth overall by the Wizards. But the key is to highlight the potential of the Blazers’ roster. Between Henderson, Sharpe, Clingan and Avdija, they have several players 25 or younger who could have easily been top three or four picks in their class.
Then there is the most overlooked player in their young core, Toumani Camara, who was recently called the The Blazers’ Best Kept Secret for next season by Grant Hughes of Bleacher Report. NBA players agree with Hughes, as last season Camara received votes for being the most underrated player in a Anonymous survey of NBA players published annually by The Athletic.
Moving forward, the Blazers could have a potential starting five consisting of:
This starting lineup features incredibly athletic guards, an elite defensive line, and a versatile forward like Avdija, who will be the centerpiece of it all. And that’s not even counting who they could get in a Simons or Grant deal. Or, more importantly, who the Blazers will select in 2025, where they will most likely have another top-10 pick.
Granted, their young core is outside of the top tier of the league, as they need a proven All-Star. But that also keeps them under the radar and makes them an underdog to watch in the coming seasons as these players continue to develop.
