With nine players who have fewer than five years of experience, the Portland Trail Blazers are deeply immersed in a rebuild.
2023 No. 3 pick Scoot Henderson is the face of the new guard. This is in part due to where he was drafted but his selection also coincided with former cornerstone Damian Lillard’s decision to jump ship. As a result, the general perception is that Henderson is supposed to be Lillard’s replacement.
There are two problems with that.
The first issue is that Henderson hasn’t been as good as advertised. There are stretches when he showcases star potential but right now, he’s still learning the nuances of the game, such as how and when to change speeds. 70 games into his career and Henderson’s averaging 13.8 points, 5.4 assists, and 0.8 steals per game on the plus side. Unfortunately, he’s also shooting 38.7 percent from the field and 31.9 percent from three.
That brings us to the second issue, which is that Anfernee Simons is still in Portland. A full-time starter for the past three seasons, Simons is more of a combo guard than point guard. However, he’s just 6-foot-3 and 181 pounds, with a slight frame that lends itself to him playing the 1. Add to that Simons’s natural scoring ability and growth as a playmaker and it’s hard to keep him off the ball.
Over the past three seasons, Simons has averaged 21.6 points and 4.7 assists per game. He’s been far more efficient than Henderson, shooting 43.6 percent from the field but 37.7 percent from three.
Should Blazers Trust The Rebuild Or Trade Block?
Although Simons has steadily improved throughout his NBA career, the 2018 No. 24 pick is a player the Blazers should look to trade.
The reason is simple. His presence limits reps that Henderson needs.
Scoot Henderson’s ROI
Frankly, it’s not just about maximizing Henderson’s talent for his own sake. The Blazers drafting Henderson bookended the chain of events that led to Lillard’s trade request, there’s a certain return on investment that’s expected.
Furthermore, with Simons’s contract set to expire in the 2026 offseason, they should be looking to sell high. They could wait to trade Simons during the 2025 offseason or the final year of his deal. However, sending Simons off ahead of this season’s trade deadline would give his new team more time to evaluate his fit. For the Blazers, it would allow them to jump start Henderson’s development.
It could also free up minutes for 2022 No. 7 pick Shaedon Sharpe.
Shaedon Sharpe Is On The Clock
To this point in his young career, Sharpe has flashed but he hasn’t banged. As a rookie, he nailed 36.0 percent of his threes while averaging 9.9 points per game. In 2023-24, he averaged 15.9 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 0.9 steals per game but shot 40.6 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from three.
With his contract expiring in 2026, the hope is that he can continue to put it altogether soon. A wing with prototypical athleticism and a cavernous ceiling, there might just be a star in there.
As of now, 2023 No. 52 pick Toumani Camara is the starting two-guard, perhaps in part because Sharpe is out with a shoulder injury. However, at 6-foot-8 and 220 pounds he’s a multi-positional defender who could slide to either forward slot. 2020 No. 9 pick Deni Avdija, a favorite of Blazers assistant general manager Mike Schmitz during his days as a draft analyst, might occupy the other slot. Yet, that requires Portland to make one more trade.
Should Jerami Grant Stay Or Go?
The Blazers should’ve already moved Jerami Grant.
The 11-year NBA veteran was an attractive commodity from last season’s trade deadline to the offseason. Unfortunately, Grant has gotten off to a somewhat rough start in 2024-25. He’s averaging 18.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.5 blocks, and 1.0 steal per contest, continuing to display an all-around game. He hasn’t found his touch though, shooting 37.6 percent from the field and 33.8 percent from deep.
A team might still see Grant as a strong addition to their core but their offers won’t be as steep. As a result, it might now behoove the Blazers to hold onto to the Oregon native. It wouldn’t hurt to have a good player that actually wants to stick with the franchise either. If Portland wants to establish itself as a free agent destination or place young players will want to stay, guys like Grant can be persuasive.
Then again, trading Grant could help the Blazers land a higher pick in what’s a highly regarded draft class. With executives like Schmitz on board in particular, their interest in the top prospects will be high.
Based on their team needs, Duke forward Cooper Flagg and Rutgers forward Ace Bailey could definitely help them. If they don’t have as much faith in Henderson as they used to, Rutgers guard Dylan Harper and Saint-Quentin guard Nolan Traore could have caught their eye.
The Last Word On The Blazers Rebuild
The Blazers are clearly in a rebuild. Yet, they aren’t really all-in.
They should be though, as there are plenty of questions about the roster. Many of them could be answered by trading players like Simons and Grant. The draft assets that they may be able to acquire in a deal for either player is just a bonus.
For Portland, it’s not whether they could trust the process or the trade block. It’s about having faith in their draft decisions but maneuvering to make sure they have a backup plan.
