The Portland Trail Blazers defeated the Orlando Magic 101-79. They now have their second three-game winning streak of 2024-25 after having just one all of last season. Typically, that would be an encouraging sign for their outlook going forward. But the way head coach Chauncey Billups has gone about achieving these past three wins is setting back their rebuilding plan.
Shaedon Sharpe has come off the bench in three consecutive games, with Billups citing Sharpe's defense as the primary reason for the switch. That in itself was a head-scratching decision.
The one silver lining was that Scoot Henderson received a starting spot in their wins over Chicago and Miami, continuing his red-hot stretch where he's shown promise as a three-level scorer and playmaker.
Shaedon Sharpe and Scoot Henderson struggle as Chauncey Billups brings both off the bench
However, Billups decided to bench both Sharpe and Henderson in the Blazers' most recent win over the Magic. The result?
Sharpe finished with seven points and zero assists on 3-of-11 shooting. Henderson struggled to get anything going, fouling out in 14 minutes with just four points.
Portland's starting five were Anfernee Simons, Toumani Camara, Deni Avdija, Jerami Grant, and Robert Williams III. That group has a lot of defensive versatility with their length, which played a major role in holding Orlando under 80 points.
Obviously, we can't argue with the results from a win-loss standpoint. That's not the issue. The problem is the difference between what typical rebuilding teams should be doing and what Billups and GM Joe Cronin are doing.
The Blazers need to prioritize their rebuild
Cronin has said the right things, emphasizing player development and gaining more roster clarity. But the number of veterans still on their roster taking up important roles and minutes from the Blazers' past three top-ten picks -- Sharpe, Henderson, and Donovan Clingan -- contradicts that.
Something Cronin also mentions often is consistency. But it's difficult for players to have individual consistency when Billups is changing their roles on a nightly basis, especially with such a young roster.
The Blazers waited too long and should have moved some of their veterans, most notably Jerami Grant, in the summer. But with two weeks until the Feb. 6 trade deadline, there's still time for Cronin to sort out this mess.
If nothing changes between now and the end of the season, Portland will finish with inconsistent player development, no star talent, and a minimal chance of landing a top pick. Yet they'd also have little to no shot at making the playoffs.
Cronin needs to make significant adjustments from both a roster and a coaching standpoint. And if Billups is sticking around for the remainder of the season because they don't want to pay two coaches, he and Cronin need to get on the same page regarding the priority this season.
If it truly was player development and roster clarity, there's no reason for Sharpe and Henderson -- the two foundational pieces in their rebuild -- to have limited and inconsistent roles.