As the Portland Trail Blazers prepare to begin a new season, the team must think about the future. After finishing last year with a 21-61 record, Portland is far from where it needs to be to contend for the title.
The Trail Blazers do have a core of young talent on their roster, though, which gives them some hope for the future. Trading former star point guard Damian Lillard last season gave the Trail Blazers an easy path to a much-needed rebuild.
Portland sits in the middle of the NBA pack, a position no team wants to reach. But now they can focus on improving the team and it all starts with how they approach the upcoming season.
One area the coaching staff will need to determine is which players will get the most playing time. Portland is well-equipped on both offense and defense, but if they are serious about building their future, the answer will be easy.
On the frontcourt, Portland has a surplus of centers, including Deandre Ayton, Robert Williams III and rookie Donovan Clingan. Clingan likely represents Portland’s core moving forward, so getting him more reps and time on the court should be paramount.
Benching a player like Ayton or even trying to trade him may not be easy, but it’s a necessary move for the team. Ayton only has two years left on his current contract and it’s unlikely he’ll get an extension from the Trail Blazers.
Clingan needs all the time he can get to make the transition from college to the NBA. On the other hand, on the back end, Portland has several guards to work with.
Guys like Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe are the likely future of this team, potentially leaving Anfernee Simons on the sidelines. There have already been trade rumors involving Simons this offseason, suggesting Portland is prioritizing others in the rotation.
If Simons is still on the roster when the season starts, he’ll likely become the sixth man on this team. While he can score easily, he hasn’t shown much else in his young career.
If Portland truly wants to build a winning team, they need to invest in the future now. It won’t be easy and there may be a few more losing seasons, but it could ultimately benefit the organization in the long run.
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