3 young players Blazers should develop, 2 to give up on
By Jacob Dazzeo
Blazers young player to continue developing: Ibou Badji
Badji is a promising young prospect and a player whose development could contribute to the team’s future at a center position that’s lacked depth in recent years. Despite not having played a single game with the Blazers due to knee surgery, Badji’s potential is undeniable and warrants continued investment from the team.
A 7-foot-1 center, Badji brings much-needed size to the Blazers. His performance with the Wisconsin Herd, the NBA G League affiliate of the Milwaukee Bucks, was impressive. He averaged 7.4 points on 61.8 percent shooting with 6.6 rebounds and 2.6 blocks over seven games.
In the 2023 NBA Summer League, he averaged 3.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.8 blocks, and 1.3 assists in 19.5 minutes. While these stats won’t blow anyone away, watching Badji indicates he could become a legitimate rim protector and potent lob threat for the Blazers.
Like Walker, the 20-year-old center’s development will take time. He may benefit from playing time with the Rip City Remix and is on a two-way contract to do so.
Still, in the event of a rebuild, Badji could receive playing time as a backup center next season, especially if starting center Jusuf Nurkic is traded.
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Players like Little, Walker and Badji have shown potential and versatility, making them valuable assets for the team’s future. On the other hand, the Blazers should consider whether the investment in Johnson and Butler Jr. is yielding the desired returns.
The Blazers may be better served by focusing their resources on other players and seeking new, more experienced talent to fill the gaps.