The Portland Trail Blazers lost their preseason matchup against the Golden State Warriors, with a final score of 118-111. They now fall to 1-2 in preseason play, but the loss wasn't all for nothing. Head coach Chauncey Billups should have more clarity regarding his starting unit as we approach the regular season.
Billups planned on using the preseason to experiment with different variations of a potential starting five. Through three games, he has now benched Deni Avdija, Jerami Grant, and Toumani Camara. Portland's lockdown wing sat out this contest due to knee soreness, but it isn't expected to be anything serious -- Billups mentioned that Camara would've played had it been a regular-season game.
With Camara out and Scoot Henderson still sidelined with a left hamstring tear, Billups finally had an obvious starting lineup decision to make. When fully healthy, Portland has seven players who can make a strong case to start. By the process of elimination, Billups went with Jrue Holiday, Shaedon Sharpe, Avdija, Grant, and Donovan Clingan.
Shaedon Sharpe must be Portland's final starter
Billups hasn't said anything suggesting this to be the case, but evaluating Portland's roster from the outside looking in, one would assume that the final starting spot will be between Sharpe and Grant.
Holiday has taken on starting point guard duties surprisingly well in Scoot's absence. Clingan is coming off a double-double performance and cementing himself as Portland's starting center. Versatile wings Avdija and Camara are arguably the two best players on the Blazers' entire roster with their two-way impact. That leaves... the exciting high-flyer or the overpaid veteran.
Contract and age should undoubtedly be a factor in this decision for a young Blazers team, especially considering Billups was extended, and general manager Joe Cronin has consistently emphasized a long-term outlook. But even if you take those key variables away, Sharpe is simply beating out Grant in terms of on-court production.
In their loss to Golden State, Grant looked like the inefficient forward of last season, recording 14 points and six rebounds on 3-of-11 shooting from the field. Meanwhile, Sharpe finished with 18 points, four rebounds, two assists, and three steals while shooting 7-of-16 from the field.
Sharpe was receiving praise throughout training camp as the one standout performer, and that has carried over so far in preseason action. Considering Grant has shown no signs of bouncing back from an underwhelming 2024-25 campaign, Billups' mind should be made up as the Blazers head into their last preseason matchup.
Grant's final attempt to keep his starting spot will take place on Thursday, October 16, with the Blazers set to take on the Utah Jazz (6:00 p.m. PT). Depending on Camara's injury status, it's possible Billups decides to bench Sharpe as he continues his preseason starting lineup carousel. If that is the case, for the sake of all Blazers fans, hopefully it's just a temporary demotion.