Grading Blazers players by position, forecasting next year’s depth chart

Evaluating the new hypothetical depth chart

Jarace Walker is only 19 years old and could eventually play his way into the starting rotation. Given his lack of rebounding, Grant’s fit on this team might be better starting at a small forward over Thybulle.

A significant reason Portland is in a position to take someone like Walker is their lack of size, defense, and rebounding. Walker would provide a much-needed improvement in all three categories.

Hood-Schifino would give the Blazers a reliable backup point guard to take pressure off Lillard. There’s a ton of talent between Lillard, Hood-Schifino, Simons, and Sharpe. As a result, the guard depth chart would be set for the foreseeable future, allowing the Blazers to focus on and address other positions of need going forward.

Concluding thoughts on next season’s outlook for the Blazers

While this team likely still wouldn’t make a deep playoff run, these moves would put it in a much more flexible position to make moves by adding talent to the roster at positions of need.

For example, if they add depth to their guard and forward positions via the draft, they could focus next on finding a defensive-minded center.

The Blazers will have a lot more to look forward to next season with the progression of Simons and Sharpe, as well as the addition of potentially two first-round picks.