The Portland Trail Blazers have been playing arguably their best basketball of the season, and it came at the perfect time. It's unlikely they will make the final play-in spot, as they are now three games back with just ten games remaining (especially since they don't have the tiebreaker). Still, it's ideal timing to gain more roster clarity entering a pivotal offseason.
Just as important as playing solid basketball is how they've achieved it, relying heavily on their young core to lead the way. Key veterans like Jerami Grant, Deandre Ayton, and Robert Williams III have been sidelined with injuries. And while injuries are always unfortunate, the silver lining is that it has forced Chauncey Billups -- who has relied heavily on his veterans throughout the season -- to prioritize Portland's young core more.
Blazers need to reshape their roster around their young core
Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe have shown enough promise to become the team's long-term backcourt. Donovan Clingan has anchored the middle well in Ayton's absence, particularly on the defensive end. Toumani Camara has been a valuable two-way player during his entire breakout season. And most significantly, Deni Avdija has stepped up as the Blazers' go-to player, playing at an All-Star level throughout March.
This end-of-season stretch with their young core has provided the Blazers with enough sample size to feel confident that the future five of Henderson, Sharpe, Camara, Avdija, and Clingan can thrive as their core. As a result, the Blazers have established a proof of concept to help guide their key offseason decisions.
This season has also proven that the Blazers' young core is too talented to embrace a full-on tank, especially with the way they've been winning without their veterans lately. Because of that, GM Joe Cronin may decide to make significant roster changes this summer. They should be focused on building a contender around their core five.
That could mean making an aggressive move for a star to help push them over the playoff hump. But at the very least, it should mean that the Blazers need to trade away veterans to clear the path for their young core.
Their three highest-paid players, Grant, Ayton, and Simons, should all be much more expendable this offseason. It remains to be seen if a team is willing to take on Grant's contract this summer, given his declining play. But there should be a sense of urgency for Portland to move Ayton and Simons, as both have contracts that are expiring next season.
If Cronin decides that they aren't long-term pieces -- which they likely shouldn't be, given the play of Henderson, Sharpe, and Clingan -- it's essential for Portland to move them to get something back in return rather than potentially letting them walk for nothing.
This transitional season has been exciting, with several key pieces solidifying themselves as part of Portland's core. Now that the Blazers have a young core in place, their offseason approach needs to be focused on maximizing their development and finding pieces that fit -- whether that's adding a go-to star, shooting, two-way wings, or simply clearing the path for the future.