The Portland Trail Blazers and heading in a new direction after trading Damian Lillard. The seven-time All-Star became a legend in Rip City and is arguably the greatest player in franchise history. The Blazers had to move on and got a massive haul for the superstar. They may not be done as Malcolm Brogdon will likely be traded to a contender.
The Blazers are entering a total rebuild around Scoot Henderson. The number three overall pick in 2023 would have been the top selection in other years. His quickness and elite burst make the teenager must watch. Henderson could become Portland’s next superstar in short order, but how do they build around him?
The Trail Blazers have draft capital, young talent, and time. They know it will take multiple years to get back into contention, but what will their roster look like in five? Training camp will be underway in the 2028-2029 season, and Portland should be in contention if things break correctly. Who will be starting for the Blazers in five years?
PG: Scoot Henderson
Henderson has future star written all over him. Fans saw a brief glimpse during summer league before an ankle injury ended his week after just 21 minutes of action. Henderson will make plenty of highlights as a rookie, but there will be growing pains. Expect Portland to struggle with a first-year point guard leading the way, but the teenager needs minutes to accelerate his development.
The Blazers hope Scoot is a multiple-time All-Star in five years. He must improve his jumper and blossom in the NBA. His speed and burst will allow him to get to the rim, but can Henderson become an elite playmaker and three-level scorer? The teenager will put in the work, which has Portland excited.
The Portland Trail Blazers must put him in positions to succeed, which includes giving him the proper supporting cast.
SG: Shaedon Sharpe
The Blazers believe Sharpe has All-Star potential, and he showcased it over the final ten games last season. Portland had zero interest in winning and secured just two victories, but the teenager averaged 23.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 0.9 steals in 35.9 minutes per game. He shot 46.0 percent from the field and 37.8 percent from 3-point range over the small sample.
Portland does not need Sharpe to make that leap right now. They hope the 6’6 wing can improve his game on both ends of the floor and operate like Devin Booker in his prime next to Scoot Henderson in the backcourt.
If both become All-Stars, Portland will be in the hunt. Sharpe is just nine months older than Henderson and both are five-plus years away from their peaks. They have time to grow and get accustomed to putting each other in positions to succeed.
The Portland Trail Blazers make Anfernee Simons their sixth man in this scenario as Sharpe offers more size and versatility. Simons is a straight bucket off the bench in Rip City, but the Blazes are far from done there.
Trading Damian Lillard and taking a step back leads to Portland adding another marquee talent in the draft next summer. In their dream scenario, the Blazers win the lottery and get another game-changer at the top of the draft.
SF: Ron Holland
Holland is currently projected to be the number one overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. The 6’8 wing chose the G League Ignite over the University of Texas for his lone post-high school season before jumping to the NBA. They played three games already with Holland averaging 15.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 1.3 steals in 24.3 minutes per game in the Intercontinental Cup.
The 18-year-old is a plus-athlete who can handle the ball and get to the rim with ease. He could become an elite three-level scorer quickly if he improves his jumper. Scouts love his energy and effort on the floor, and his hustle should translate to some massive leaps over the next three years.
Ron Holland has perennial All-Star potential. If the Portland Trail Blazers win the lottery, they will have the most talented young one through three in the NBA. Holland has the size and versatility to guard any player on the floor, and the Blazers would have plenty of perimeter cover around Scoot Henderson, who competes hard but is undersized.
A ton has to go right before Holland joins the Blazers. Portland would have to win the lottery and avoid a repeat of the Greg Oden over Kevin Durant disaster. This is their dream scenario, though. Everything goes right, and the 6’8 wing is one of the best players in the league in 2028 as the Trail Blazers are a contender.
With three young players on their roster all becoming stars, Portland capitalizes on their brief window to add another marquee name and massive contract to their books in hopes of winning it all.
PF: Zion Williamson
Convincing a star to come to Portland won’t be easy. They are not a free-agent destination and have shown little interest in parting with young talent to go after one on the trade market. Could the Blazers buy low on a star who has shown interest in spending time in Rip City?
The Pelicans are facing a crossroads season and may look to move on from Zion if things go poorly. One more injury and New Orleans might be selling low on their young star. Zion has played just 114 games in his first four NBA years combined and has participated in over 29 in a season just once.
Williamson did his rehab in Portland in 2022, which had fans speculating. The Blazers may have a serious shot at Zion soon. He is under contract until 2028, but a trade is not out of the question. Portland has assets if the Pelicans decide it is time to move on.
Can the Portland Trail Blazers keep Zion Williamson healthy and on the floor? His upside is too high not to take a chance, especially with a talented young roster that could be in title contention by 2028. Top-end talent wins in the NBA, and the Blazers could be chalked full of it soon.
C: Deandre Ayton
Ayton was a key piece of the Damian Lillard return, and the Blazers targeted the former number-one overall pick. He could be a game-changer in Portland, but the Blazers have to maximize his skill set. Ayton helped the Suns reach the NBA Finals in 2021, and it is easy to forget that he was locked in on both ends of the floor. Portland needs him to protect the rim and control the paint.
The 6’11 big man wants offensive touches, and the Blazers should provide them. He can be a pick-and-roll partner for Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe. Portland should let him explore his mid-range and post-up games as they rebuild. Ayton has to prove he does not have those skills before settling him into his optimal role.
Deandre Ayton has All-Star potential, and the Portland Trail Blazers could legitimately have five stars on their roster in five years. Three would have to come via internal growth with some lottery luck and star chasing mixed in. This would be an expensive team, and the ownership situation in Rip City remains up in the air. If a billionaire comes in, the Blazers could be among the highest spenders in the league.
There should be plenty of excitement in Portland. Yes, Damian Lillard is gone, but there is young talent on the roster and plenty of capital to improve. The Trail Blazers could be in title contention in five years if things break right.
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