The Portland Trail Blazers decided to extend Shaedon Sharpe prior to the 2025-26 season, inking him to a four-year, $90 million deal. Some wondered whether Portland would've had to reach a nine-figure deal, given that Sharpe arguably has the highest upside on its entire roster.
That's why this was such a team-friendly and surprisingly risk-averse decision for the Blazers. If Sharpe simply continues playing like he has this season for the remainder of that extension, it's still reasonable value for him as a borderline starter. If he blossoms into a starter -- and there's reason to believe he will at just 22 years old -- Portland got a discount on the books through 2030.
The worst-case scenario isn't even a setback in the Blazers' rebuild, while the best-case scenario is a franchise-altering outcome.
Blazers' Shaedon Sharpe extension was low-risk, high-reward
Sam Vecenie recently discussed these scenarios with Bryce Simon on the Game Theory Podcast, approving of the extension because of the low risk involved. Simon asked Vecenie whether he considers Sharpe to be Portland's long-term solution at the starting shooting guard position. While that remains to be seen, Sharpe's extension is a reasonable value in any case.
"The good news with Shaedon is that I don't think it has to be one or the other because his deal," Vecenie said. "Yes, it's extended all the way through 2030, but he's going to be making 12-13% of the cap during that run. You would love that to be starter money, and you would for him to emerge into being a starter in that window because you would be getting a real discount on him being the starter if that was the case."
Vecenie notes his skepticism with Sharpe taking over that long-term starting shooting guard spot as the Blazers look to contend in the coming years. There are serious concerns Sharpe still needs to address to become a more complete and impactful player, including his decision-making, tunnel vision, inconsistent three-point shot, and lackluster defense.
To his credit, he's already shown signs of improving in those key areas, in the midst of the best season of his promising young career. If he continues that upward trajectory, Portland will be thrilled to have a rising star locked up long-term. But the best part about it is that the Blazers are fine either way.
"I still have questions, but I think you continue along Shaedon because of the flexibility that the contract grants you. There's no reason to give up on Shaedon right now. Because if he's a sixth man, that's fine, given the money he's set to make for the next four years. If he's a real starter, it's a bargain," Vecenie added.
That's the perfect kind of extension: low-risk, high-reward.