The Portland Trail Blazers had a few bright spots in 2024, highlighted by the offseason additions of Deni Avdija and Donovan Clingan. Both have made an immediate impact as two-way players, providing optimism for the Blazers' rebuilding core going forward.
But not all gone according to plan. A few Blazers that carried over from last year's roster have underperformed relative to expectations, contributing to Portland's lackluster 11-22 record.
1. Scoot Henderson
All eyes were on Scoot Henderson after an up-and-down rookie season. Despite failing to make an All-Rookie Team, Henderson, at times, showed flashes of his All-Star potential that made him Portland's No. 3 overall pick in 2023. Heading into his second season, expectations for Henderson centered around consistency and growth in key areas -- goals he ultimately fell short of achieving overall in 2024.
To his credit, Scoot has improved as a decision-maker, as he's finally figuring out when to shift gears when needed. He's also improved his finishing at the rim. However, inconsistencies in his shooting efficiency (40.3 percent from the field and 30.8 percent from three) and defensive lapses are concerning and something he needs to address in 2025.
2. Anfernee Simons
Anfernee Simons is averaging 17.7 points per game and shooting just 33.5 percent from beyond the arc. Those numbers are down significantly from his 22.6 points and 38.5 percent shooting from three last season.
Simons' current play isn't contributing enough to winning or helping Henderson's growth. He is taking a starting role and more minutes at the expense of Scoot's development. Portland needs to pick a lane -- it would be one thing if he were playing well this season, but if Simons' struggles continue, the Blazers need to reconsider their point guard situation.
If there's one silver lining, it's that Simons has had three consecutive games of 20-plus points, offering hope that he could right the ship in 2025 if this momentum continues.
3. Jerami Grant
Another player whose scoring and efficiency are down from last season is Jerami Grant. Last year, Grant averaged 21.0 points on 45/40/82 shooting splits. This season, that's down to 15.0 points on 38.2 percent from the field.
Grant's struggles are coming at an inopportune time for the Blazers leading up to the Feb. 6 trade deadline to maximize his value on any potential return in a trade. Now, GM Joe Cronin has no choice but to lower his steep asking price of two first-round picks for the veteran forward.
4. Chauncey Billups
Cronin entered the 2024-25 season hoping to gain more clarity surrounding the roster, but with the Feb. 6 trade deadline approaching, Portland still has more questions than answers. A major reason for this is Chauncey Billups. They don't exactly know what they have in their young players, specifically Henderson, because they haven't put them in an optimal position to succeed both in terms of role and minutes.
The Blazers will likely let Billups finish the season, especially since they don't want to pay two head coaches as a team with no playoff aspirations. If that's the case, he might as well give the young players more opportunities. But the issue isn't just about playing time.
The offense is painful to watch and remains stagnant, relying too heavily on isolation plays. The Blazers need more pick-and-roll actions and movement in general. Portland's roster strength is their size and center depth, yet they're not fully utilizing lob threats like Robert Williams III.
To Billups' credit, the Blazers have faced an extremely difficult schedule to start the season and have played better than expected at times, pulling off a handful of upsets. However, too many blowouts, inconsistency, and lack of player development make it a disappointing 2024 for the Blazers' head coach.