7 Players Blazers should keep long-term after trading Damian Lillard

Anfernee Simons (left), Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Swinger-USA TODAY Sports
Anfernee Simons (left), Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Swinger-USA TODAY Sports
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Portland Trail Blazers, Damian Lillard, Shaedon Sharpe, Photo by: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Portland Trail Blazers, Damian Lillard, Shaedon Sharpe, Photo by: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

A future All-Star: Shaedon Sharpe

Shaedon Sharpe’s performance in his debut season with the Trail Blazers has already proven him to be a valuable asset to the team, making him a player they should strongly consider retaining for the long haul. He averaged 9.9 points per game with a 47.2 percent field goal percentage, showing to be a reliable and effective presence on the court.

Sharpe’s value, however, extends beyond just the statistics. In his rookie campaign, he was an exciting player to watch. Fans tuned in to watch Sharpe’s latest masterpiece dunk at a time when the team’s season was tanking. He was even invited to participate in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest last season.

Sharpe’s talent and exciting play style are necessary to the Blazers’ efforts to both build a playoff team and put a watchable product on the court in the meantime.

His positive performance and growth on the court speak volumes about his potential value to the Trail Blazers moving forward. His shooting ability and his strong field goal percentage show he can be a significant contributor to the team’s offense. With his youth and evident skills, Sharpe is a player the Trail Blazers would do well to keep on their roster for the long term.