The Portland Trail Blazers have begun a much-needed rebuild after trading away star point guard Damian Lillard last season. After spending a lot of time in the middle of the pack in the NBA, Portland has finally decided to start over.
With a core of solid young players, Portland isn’t starting from scratch. Players like Scoot Henderson, Donovan Clingan and Shaedon Sharpe give this team some hope for the future.
But it may take some time for that future to come to fruition. For now, Portland appears destined to remain at the bottom of the Western Conference until its young core develops enough to help it seriously contend.
Bleacher Report’s Dan Favale has rounded up Ranking NBA teams for the next three seasons, the Trail Blazers came in at the bottom of the list. With a young team that likely won’t be able to compete anytime soon, Portland could have a few more years of decline ahead of it.
“The ambitious development of Scoot Henderson, Donovan Clingan and Shaedon Sharpe — plus what Portland will get while continuing to appear in the lottery — can put that core on the map. But it will be harder to effectively develop youngsters amid so many established bodies on the roster.”
The Trail Blazers have a few veteran players they’ll have to make decisions on. Deandre Ayton, Anfernee Simons and Jerami Grant are all players Portland could end up trading to allow their young core to play longer.
If Portland is serious about taking that next step, bringing in some of those veterans will be key. The assets the team will gain from those trades will also help speed up the rebuild.
The Trail Blazers must invest in the future of the franchise and go all in on young talents.
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The Western Conference is stronger than ever, which presents a challenge for Portland. But if they approach the rebuild with patience, the team could emerge with a solid roster that is well-prepared for sustained success.
It may take time, but Portland is looking to build their future. They’ve made some good picks in the past and are now counting on their development to push them over the edge.
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