• The Portland Trail Blazers could make noise in the West if they tried competing with the roster they’ve put together
• They have a solid starting five with a mix of youth and veteran talent
• If the team isn’t broken up with further trades, the Blazers could upset teams in the West
The Portland Trail Blazers will kickstart a new era of their franchise after trading Damian Lillard away. Lillard led the franchise for 11 seasons and left as the all-time leading scorer for the team, but a new generation will look to give the franchise a fresh start. The offseason has been draining and the Blazers’ reputation has been affected, but a winning product can change all of that.
After acquiring Deandre Ayton and Jrue Holiday, the Blazers could put together a menacing starting five that would be a hard team to beat every night. They wouldn’t be title contenders, but this roster is a far cry from the lottery fodder most people are expecting this team to become.
If they retain Jrue Holiday and Jerami Grant, the Blazers could put forth a very competitive starting five.
PG: Scoot Henderson
SG: Jrue Holiday
SF: Shaedon Sharpe
PF: Jerami Grant
C: Deandre Ayton
Anfernee Simons would probably be the sixth man if Jrue Holiday stats with the Trail Blazers, and that is the only reason why he is not in the starting lineup.
The team looks decidedly different than last year, but the young players will have gotten a season under their belt. With a potent sixth man like Anfernee Simons, the Blazers could be in for a shocking season.
What Does The Rest Of The Roster Look Like?
The starting five is strong, but there are natural limitations with a rookie point guard running the squad. That’s why having a robust sixth man like Anfernee Simons and a mentor in the backcourt like Jrue Holiday come in.
Henderson will have flashes of brilliance, but if they have the opportunity to be a winning team, they will have to balance his development with the health of their goals. Simons and Holiday would be a stronger starting backcourt for a winning team, but the Blazers cannot bench the future of their franchise right now.
The rest of the roster is fascinating, as there could be some genuine win-now pieces in the mix. Matisse Thybulle has playoff experience and was retained by Portland despite interest from the Mavericks. He can provide all-defense caliber perimeter play, so pairing him with Holiday in certain lineups would be terrifying.
Kris Murray may not be as solid as his brother Keegan coming into the league, but he is a low-risk forward option who can defend and stretch the floor.
They have roster spots available and will likely look at adding a center behind Ayton. Ayton averaged 18.0 points and 10.0 rebounds and should expect his production to go up with a bigger role in Portland, but they’ll need a backup regardless.
They could reinforce their wing position as well but will have to look at the underwhelming veteran options like T.J. Warren on the market.
A Possible Play-In Team?
Being a play-in team may not be the sign of a good roster to most, but the Blazers reaching this level would be incredible in the first year without Dame. After all, they just finished 13th in the West last season with Damian Lillard. To improve after trading him away would be a big statement to the league, as the team projects to get better every year their young core gets together.
Shaedon Sharpe is entering his third year and is primed to take a big leap with a larger role in the offense. There will be times he doesn’t play in favor of a lineup featuring Henderson, Anfernee, and Holiday, but his size and athleticism will be required by Portland if they hope to make an impact in the West.
If the best-case scenario is a play-in tournament appearance, many will ask the Blazers to just bottom out and tank. But with a weak draft class ahead and a first-round pick tied up in protection, the Blazers could just make a move toward winning after putting together the pieces they need. It’s not a title, but trying to be good in the NBA is not always a bad thing.
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