Fresh off a twenty point a game season, where does Sharpe fit in Portland’s rotation?
Shaedon Sharpe is fresh off a 20-point-per-game scoring campaign. Had he been healthy during the playoffs, the Blazers might have at least stolen another game. While his role and scoring output are likely to be diminished, he could get a crash course in winning basketball. Coach Micah Nori has been an assistant on playoff teams in Minnesota for the last few years. And Damian Lillard has played in many big playoff games, including reaching one conference final.
What made Sharpe's 20-point average even more impressive is that he did it in under 30 minutes a game. The supreme athlete is known for making scoring look effortless. That three point percentage still has to come up to be a viable shooting guard option in today's NBA. He shot under 34 percent. His teammate, All-Star Deni Avdija, took a huge leap last year and was a Most Improved Player finalist. Sharpe could take inspiration from his teammate's growth. He will, however, have fewer chances to show his skills with the roster upgrades and a more competitive rotation.
Sharpe is the one natural shooting guard out of the rotation of Lillard, Ja Morant, Scoot Henderson, and Jrue Holiday. He has the most size out of the bunch, and only Morant can match his athleticism out of the group. With his four-year, $ 90 million rookie extension, he could also be a prime trade candidate. They could dangle him in hopes of finding roster balance. Last year, a stress fracture in his fibula derailed his season by forcing him to miss 28 games down the stretch. It would have been fun to see him healthy and in flight, but he was grounded in spring.
While it's early to give up on such a young, promising player, the Blazers appear to be more in win-now mode than they have been in a long while because of their veterans. Nori has already spoken up about wanting to start Lillard and Morant, as well as keep Holiday. If he grabs the opportunity, he could be a potent microwave scorer off the bench with his athleticism. He should be 100% by the season start, which again makes him intriguing trade bait. He still has a ton of upside.
The Blazers' backup guard roles are in flux, and it'll be interesting to see how Sharpe's season shakes out. Will he develop in Portland? In which role? Or who could he bring in as a trade asset?
