The Portland Trail Blazers have a 19-man training camp roster after cutting Henri Drell, who was on an Exhibit 10 deal, right before the start. They currently have 14 players on guaranteed deals and three players on two-way contracts: Bryce McGowens, Justin Minaya, and Taze Moore. That leaves Dalano Banton and Devonte Graham on non-guaranteed deals, which could result in a training camp battle for the last roster spot.
Here is the Blazers' 19-man training camp roster:
- 00 Scoot Henderson, G, 6-3, 196
- 1 Anfernee Simons, G, 6-3, 195
- 2 Deandre Ayton, C, 6-11, 250
- 4 Matisse Thybulle, G/F, 6-5, 201
- 5 Dalano Banton, G, 6-9, 204
- 8 Deni Avdija, F, 6-9, 240
- 9 Jerami Grant, F, 6-8, 210
- 10 Justin Minaya, G/F, 6-7, 210
- 11 Bryce McGowens, G, 6-5, 190
- 17 Shaedon Sharpe, G, 6-6, 200
- 18 Devonte Graham, G, 6-1, 195,
- 21 Rayan Rupert, G/F, 6-7, 195
- 23 Donovan Clingan, C, 7-2, 280
- 24 Kris Murray, F, 6-8, 215
- 26 Duop Reath, C, 6-11, 245
- 33 Toumani Camara, F, 6-8, 220
- 34 Jabari Walker, F, 6-9, 215
- 35 Robert Williams III, C, 6-9, 237
- 76 Taze Moore, G, 6-5, 195
19. Taze Moore, G
Can he utilize his athleticism to become a lockdown defender?
Moore had four appearances with the Blazers last season and shot just 14.3 percent from deep on 1.8 attempts in those games. Sticking around in the NBA is tough if you are a guard who can't effectively space the floor.
Moore may never be a legitimate three-point threat, so he must make an impact elsewhere. He's an incredible athlete, which he can use to his advantage on the defensive end, both on the ball and as a help defender. Moore's defense will have to be his calling card to separate himself from the rest of the pack.
18. Justin Minaya, G/F
Can Minaya become a better three-point shooter?
Usually, in the NBA, a "tweener" is used to describe someone who is stuck in between the forward and center positions. But in Minaya's case, he's a "tweener" as a guard-forward hybrid who isn't elite at one particular trait.
It's hard to justify having Minaya on the roster if you can't envision what role he would serve better than another player. But his lack of shooting doesn't help his case even more. Minaya has played 38 games total with the Blazers the past two seasons, shooting just 24.6 percent from beyond the arc.
17. Bryce McGowens, G
Can McGowens improve his shot selection and efficiency?
McGowens showed flashes of his three-level scoring ability in the Summer League. But he's also one of those players who is most effective with the ball in his hands and not quite good enough to justify running an offense through. He must show that he can still be impactful playing around a higher level of competition.
The good news is that he won't have to carry as much of the offensive burden as other guards can help generate looks for McGowens. But if he can't improve his efficiency, which was tied mainly to his questionable shot selection, it will be difficult to see enough value to make it worth keeping him around.
16. Devonte' Graham, G
Will Graham beat out Banton for a spot on the 15-man roster?
Graham is already starting at a disadvantage. Banton had a strong showcase in his 30-game stretch with Portland last season, and the Blazers seem comfortable rolling into the season with having him as the final player on their 15-man roster.
It also doesn't help that 29-year-old Graham is five years older than Banton, especially given the Blazers' rebuilding timeline. If the Blazers had playoff aspirations this season, it might have been closer to a toss-up.
Graham still has a chance, but he must significantly outplay Banton to convince the Blazers' front office that it's worth keeping another veteran on their roster. Perhaps Portland will be enticed by the idea of Graham mentoring Scoot Henderson and the other young Blazers players in a similar but much cheaper leadership role, as Malcolm Brogdon did last season.
15. Dalano Banton, G
Can Banton still thrive in a reduced role?
This roster spot battle will be even more critical now that Shaedon Sharpe is out for four to six weeks with a shoulder injury. Whoever wins the spot could play a significant role as the first guard off the bench while Sharpe is out.
Banton has already proven that he can play well in an increased role, as evidenced by his 16.7 points per game last season. The bigger question surrounding Banton is what his role will look like when Sharpe is back and how effective he can be.
Banton is not a reliable enough shooter to be used primarily off-ball at this point in his career. He either needs to improve his shooting to have an off-ball role as a combo guard or his playmaking to have value as the lead ballhandler and primary offensive initiator.
14. Kris Murray, F
Can Murray prove he belongs in the NBA?
The Blazers don't have to answer this question immediately since they have Murray under contract through 2026-27 should they decide to pick up his team options. But Portland has a deep team, and it's only going to get harder for him to stay on the roster as they continue adding top draft prospects in the coming years.
He needs to play with a sense of urgency in 2024-25. After a disappointing rookie season and inconsistent Summer League play this offseason, Murray has a long way to go before being considered a long-term roster lock.
Even if his three balls aren't consistently falling, he must show his long-term value by impacting the defensive end. Having a two-way wing is one of the most sought-after player archetypes. If Murray finds that niche, he might have a long NBA career.
13. Rayan Rupert, G/F
Will the Blazers find a way to incorporate Rupert?
Chauncey Billups needs to get creative with how to optimize Rupert's unique point-forward skill set. He's arguably the most under-the-radar player on Portland's entire roster and has a significant upside if he can figure out how exactly his strengths translate best to the NBA.
Rupert is 6-foot-6 with a 7-foot-3 wingspan and can be a tremendous two-way piece coming off the bench to give the Blazers' lineup more versatility. Many of Portland's players are one-dimensional, offensive-minded players with overlapping strengths. So they must develop unique players like Rupert.
Much of his success in the NBA will depend on how teams decide to use him. If you treat Rupert like a traditional guard or wing, you will be underwhelmed by his lack of shooting. But the key to unlocking his untapped potential will be taking advantage of his mismatches. Rupert has too much length and size for a guard to defend him and is too skilled of a ballhandler and playmaker for many wings.
12. Jabari Walker, F
Can Jabari become a better three-point shooter?
Walker had a promising second season with the Blazers, increasing his scoring from 3.9 to 8.9 points and rebounds from 2.3 to 7.1 per game. His rebounding, in particular, is a huge boost for the Blazers since Jerami Grant is notoriously poor for his size and position.
However, between the additions of Deni Avdija and Donovan Clingan, Walker could have a lessened role in 2024-25. Jabari averaged 23.6 minutes per game last season, which seems like the most he should play until he becomes a more reliable three-point shooter. He's hovered around 29 percent each season, showing no significant progress last year.
It will be crucial for the Blazers to surround Sharpe and Henderson with shooting to help them space the floor. That will be even more challenging with four centers on the roster, meaning all the forwards on the court should be close to league-average three-point shooters.
11. Duop Reath, C
Can Reath play the power forward position?
Reath is the only one of the Blazers' four centers who is a consistent three-point threat, connecting on 35.9 percent in his surprising rookie season. Because of his shooting, if Billups were to implement a "Twin Towers" lineup with two big men, the most effective player combination would likely include Reath.
At 6-foot-11 and 245 pounds, Reath would be a matchup nightmare for modern-day power forwards in the post. But that goes both ways, as it's fair to question whether or not Reath would be able to keep up with them defensively.
Billups has talked about playing faster to take advantage of the Blazers' youth and athleticism. Playing Reath, or any of the four centers, at the power forward position seems contradictory. However, it could still be valuable to implement in spurts, depending on the matchups.
Reath is the No. 4 center on the Blazers' depth chart. But the good news is he does have multiple paths towards seeing minutes, whether that's a trade involving a center (which very well could happen at some point this season, given their depth), an injury (Robert Williams III is already banged up), or being impactful at the power forward position.
10. Matisse Thybulle, F
Where does Thybulle fit into the Blazers' rebuilding plans?
Many questions surrounding training camp players pertain to development, but Thybulle is a pretty established player with limited upside or areas of his game that seem untapped. He's a solid two-way wing, but what you see is what you get.
Thybulle has been flying under the radar regarding players the Blazers could potentially trade but hasn't been talked about as much as others. The Blazers already have a better, younger, and cheaper version of Thybulle in lockdown wing defender Toumani Camara.
Additionally, Thybulle is owed $11 million this season with a player option in 2025-26. He's also 27 years old and on the brink of being considered young enough to fit into their rebuilding plans.
Teams can always use more defensive-minded wings to help contain opposing superstars. However, if the Blazers don't view him as a long-term piece, it would be in their best interest to trade him to a contender at the 2025 trade deadline rather than risk losing him for nothing in the offseason.
9. Robert Williams III, C
Will RW3 ever return to his old form?
In 2022, Robert Williams III was an NBA All-Defensive Second Team member. Since then, he's combined to play 41 games in two seasons. Six of those games were with the Blazers last year before undergoing knee surgery for a torn right knee ligament.
Williams was previously deemed 'good to go' for the start of the Blazers' regular season, but it remains to be seen if that's still the case after he suffered a setback in the form of a grade 1 hamstring strain. While that's a relatively minor injury, the concern is whether or not Williams will ever get back to being able to be on the court consistently.
There's no denying his impact when he plays, particularly on the defensive end with his versatility and rim protection. However, Williams has only played over 35 games in two seasons throughout his career. He was such a pivotal piece in the Jrue Holiday deal with the Celtics, and if he can't ever put together at least close to an entire season, that trade will look increasingly worse for Portland.
8. Toumani Camara, F
Can Camara expand his game beyond just a 3-and-D player?
Toumani Camara had a pleasantly surprising rookie season with the Blazers, averaging 7.5 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 0.9 steals per game. However, those statistics don't paint the entire picture of Camara's impact, as he was often responsible for guarding the opposing team's best player as well.
Camara came over with Deandre Ayton as part of the Jusuf Nurkic trade with the Phoenix Suns and was widely viewed as a "throw-in" piece. Camara fell all the way to pick No. 52 due to concerns surrounding his age and shooting ability. But he was a legitimate 3-and-D player his first season in Portland, shooting 33.7 percent from deep.
Camara has already proven himself to be an extremely valuable role player and a long-term piece of the Blazers' rebuilding core. But he needs to work on expanding his offensive game. He has the potential to be a starter if he can provide more value outside of being a 3-and-D player.
7. Donovan Clingan, C
How will Clingan mesh with the Blazers' guards?
Donovan Clingan turned into "Cling Kong" during the Blazers' Summer League. Given his talent, instinct, and physical tools, his game should immediately translate in regular season games on the defensive end. But Clingan needs to work on developing more of an offensive game. He is still a few years away from being a go-to post-player who can frequently score by himself.
To be impactful offensively, Clingan will need the help of playmakers to set him up and put him in the ideal positions to utilize his size and athleticism to score. He should benefit from having better overall guard play than what he had in the Summer League, as there were multiple occasions where they failed to give him the ball.
Scoot and Simons are projected to start now that Sharpe is injured. But Billups must stagger their minutes to keep one of their best playmakers on the court to help set up Clingan.
6. Deandre Ayton, C
Can Ayton pick up from where he left off last season?
Deandre Ayton had a rocky start to the 2023-24 season. He even blamed sleeping on an air mattress as a reason he was playing poorly. Say what you will about "DominAyton," but he played much better towards the end of the season and finally seemed to have adjusted to his new environment in Portland.
In 18 games following the All-Star break, Ayton averaged 22.7 points and 12.5 rebounds per game. If he can carry that over into this season and play much more consistently, Ayton could be a dark horse to at least be in the All-Star conversation.
After all, he's owed $34 million this upcoming year, so the Blazers better hope they get close to an All-Star-level player even to come close to returning value on that massive of a contract.
5. Deni Avdija, F
What is Deni's role going to look like on offense?
Deni Avdija is the definition of a "jack of all trades, master of none." That's not necessarily a bad thing for the Blazers. They desperately needed more versatility on their roster and could benefit from having a player like Deni. But it also makes it harder to know precisely where and how to use him.
That could be an answer that evolves throughout the season, depending on the Blazers' needs. For instance, with Sharpe out for what is expected to be at least seven games, Deni can take on more of an aggressive scoring role. When Sharpe returns, he can focus more on playmaking and getting teammates involved.
It will be exciting to see how exactly Billups utilizes Avdija. He's a coach's dream as the options are limitless—screener, roller, slasher, cutter, post-up, spot-up shooter, isolation scorer, you name it. Avidja's positional size, ballhandling, playmaking, and shooting ability are rare combinations. Usually, a player has one or two, but possessing all of these traits makes him a genuine Swiss Army Knife.
4. Jerami Grant, F
Can Jerami Grant become a better rebounder?
Jerami Grant is the oldest player on the Blazers' roster at 30. His game is developed, but if there's one thing he should focus on improving, it's his rebounding. Grant is 6-foot-7 with a 7-foot-3 wingspan. He needs to be averaging nearly double the 3.5 rebounds per game he had last season, especially if the Blazers plan to start two 6-foot-3 guards between Henderson and Simons.
The Blazers' two new additions, Avdija and Clingan, will significantly help in the rebounding department, but Grant needs to help out as well. Portland wants to play quicker this season, and it would substantially help them push the pace if both of their wings, Avdija and Grant, could just get the rebounds and initiate the fastbreaks themselves.
3. Anfernee Simons, G
Can Simons take that next jump as a playmaker?
On a per-game basis, Simons had a career year last season, averaging 22.6 points, 5.5 assists, and 3.6 rebounds. While he'll likely start at the two with Henderson at the one now that Sharpe is out, the Blazers desperately need Simons to be one of the main offensive initiators.
They got rid of their only true floor general in Brogdon, and Scoot still has plenty of room to improve his decision-making and turnovers. Even though it's not necessarily his strength, Portland desperately needs Simons to be that player for them this season.
2. Scoot Henderson, G
Can Scoot improve his finishing ability?
Being a poor three-point shooter or having a ton of turnovers comes with the territory of being a rookie point guard. At least we expected both from Scoot in his first season. But what was shocking was his inability to finish around the rim.
Henderson's offensive strength is his quick first step and ability to get past the defender, but all of that is rendered useless If he continues to finish at the rim at a rate that ranked among the lowest in the league.
Scoot's shooting and turnovers will eventually improve with increased reps and experience. The Blazers can afford to be patient with developing those aspects of his game. But he needs to improve his ability to score in the paint immediately. Otherwise, there's going to be legitimate cause for concern.
1. Shaedon Sharpe, G
What exactly is Shaedon Sharpe?
Shaedon Sharpe is slowly becoming an enigma. He had an incredible end to his rookie season but was limited to 32 games last year with a core muscle injury. Anticipation was high for Sharpe entering this year, but now that he will have to wait at least four weeks after he suffered the same shoulder injury he had in the 2022 Summer League, a small posterior labral tear in his left shoulder.
It's important to put Sharpe's career in perspective as he's only 21 years old. He will have plenty of time to answer some of these questions. But for now, the Blazers' organization and fans are left wondering what they have in Sharpe. Is he injury-prone, or is this just a series of unlucky injuries?
Then, there's the much larger question surrounding what type of player Sharpe is when he's healthy. Do the Blazers have an All-Star on their hands or just an excellent role player who has the occasional breakout game and highlight reel dunk?
Sharpe has shown flashes of incredible potential and was one of the players fans were most eager to watch this season. While that excitement will be on hold for now, it gives us more time to speculate about what the Blazers have in Sharpe.