In their first year following the Damian Lillard era, the Portland Trail Blazers will not make an appearance in the postseason. With a 19-52 record, Portland owns the No. 14 seed in the Western Conference. Furthermore, they own the fifth-worst record in the entire league at this point. However, that doesn’t mean there isn’t a lot to be excited about for the Trail Blazers. They have tons of young talent and potential stars, and they are expected to gain even more intrigue as the season winds down. According to Sean Highkin of the Rose Garden Report, second-year guard Shaedon Sharpe is expected to return soon:
The Trail Blazers are assigning Shaedon Sharpe to their G League affiliate, the Rip City Remix, as he continues to ramp up towards a return from the core muscle surgery he underwent in early February.
This is a rehab assignment for Sharpe—he will stay in Portland for the week to practice with the Remix rather than accompanying the Blazers on the first part of their two-week, seven-game road trip that begins on Monday in Houston.
Sharpe has not played in a game for the Trail Blazers since January 11 due to an abdominal injury.
This season, the 20-year-old appeared in 32 games for Portland and started 25 of them. In those games, Sharpe averaged 15.9 points, 5 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game.
Past NBA Lottery Pick Close to Return After Missing Last 2 Months
Shaedon Sharpe’s Potential
The Kentucky alum has shown a lot of promise in his two seasons in the NBA so far. Sharpe is an athletic wing who can score from just about anywhere on the court. He can create his own shot either on the perimeter or slashing to the paint. Furthermore, his 6’6″ frame and impressive athleticism give him the tools to be a great defender in the league. And since he is already this skilled at such a young age, there is a lot to be excited about regarding Sharpe’s potential. Last year, head coach Chauncey Billups said he wants Sharpe “to be Devin Booker someday.” It is clear there are high expectations for Sharpe in the Portland organization.
OFFICIAL: The @trailblazers have assigned guard Shaedon Sharpe to the @ripcityremix for conditioning.
— Trail Blazers PR (@TrailBlazersPR) March 24, 2024
The Portland Trail Blazers Have a Bright Future
Additionally, Sharpe’s fit specifically with the team is another interesting factor. The Trail Blazers have one of the most exciting young cores in all of basketball. Despite having a roller coaster of a season, rookie Scoot Henderson has shown flashes of stardom in the NBA. Furthermore, Anfernee Simons looks like a future All-Star, rookie Kris Murray looks like an exciting prospect, and Deandre Ayton is playing some of the best basketball of his career right now. Plus, rookie Duop Reath is having a bit of a Cinderella story after starting the season on a two-way contract. Although the team is not enjoying a lot of success right now, there is reason for optimism in Portland. With Sharpe’s impending return, it will be interesting to see if the Trail Blazers can go on a bit of a run to end the season with less than one month remaining.
