The Portland Trail Blazers appear poised to create a significant rotational pivot in their backcourt heading into what appears to be a fourth straight tanking season in 2024-25.
Point guard Anfernee Simons, coming off a breakout season in 2023-24 but still a potential trade for the future, appears likely to replace former No. 3 lottery pick Scoot Henderson in Portland’s starting five. Simons started at guard all of last year. Swingman Shaedon Sharpe, the No. 7 pick in the 2022 NBA draft, is expected to be chosen to replace Simons at the two-guard position.
In a new episode of his essential basketball podcast “The Lowe Post,” while chatting with colleague Kevin Pelton, ESPN’s Zach Lowe detailed what he projects to be the Trail Blazers’ starting five heading into the 2024-25 NBA season.
“If you asked me to predict the Blazers’ starting five right now, I don’t think Scoot is in it this year, and I think that’s perfectly fine. I’d say Simons, Sharpe, Deni Avdija – who they traded a lot for, including Bub Carrington – Jerami Grant until he got traded at some point, and Deandre Ayton.”
To acquire Avdija, the Trail Blazers traded Malcolm Brogdon, the draft rights to Carrington (Pittsburgh’s 14th pick), a 2029 first-round draft pick and a pair of second-round picks in 2028 and 2030).
Learn more: Trail Blazers News: Deni Avdija Shocked by Portland Trade
The 2.05m wing was selected with the ninth overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft and made enough of a jump to finish sixth in Most Improved Player voting last season. In 75 games, Avdija averaged a career-best 14.7 points on .506/.374/.740 shooting percentages, 7.2 rebounds and 3.8 assists, plus 0.8 steals and 0.5 blocks per night for the 15-67 Wizards. At just 23, Avdija essentially fits the growth timelines of young centerpieces Sharpe (who is 21), Henderson and rookie center Donovan Clingan (both 20). He is in the first year of a four-year, $55 million contract he signed with Washington.
Grant, while considered a prime trade candidate for the Trail Blazers at one point, is currently the team’s best player, a switchable 3-and-D wing who can guard three positions and spread the floor for point guards.
Ayton, who will make a whopping $34 million in 2024-25, will be difficult to trade given his current contract and his play on the court. But he’s a solid big man and could serve as a mentor to Clingan.
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