1 Question for every Trail Blazers player as crucial summer approaches

Portland needs to see growth from its young players and veterans heading into next season.

Scoot Henderson, Portland Trail Blazers
Scoot Henderson, Portland Trail Blazers | Jamie Sabau/GettyImages
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Scoot Henderson, Anfernee Simons, Shaedon Sharpe and the Blazers guards

Scoot Henderson

With Simons suffering a knee injury in the team's March 22 loss to the LA Clippers, Scoot could have an open runway to run the show for Portland, much like Sharpe did in the final 10 games of last season.

Jerami Grant has missed nine of the Blazers' last 11 games and six in a row with a hamstring issue. He's been the team's most consistent scorer this season. Malcolm Brogdon hasn't played since the beginning of February. Sharpe had surgery on Feb. 9 and could miss the rest of the year.
Matisse Thybulle and Ayton sat out the Clippers loss.

If Simons misses significant time (it's possible the team just shuts him down for the rest of the year to avoid further injury), Henderson becomes the No. 1 scoring option and the leader of Portland's offense.

The question: Can Scoot show at least some flashes of the offensive player he was expected to be when the Trail Blazers made him the No. 1 pick in the 2023 draft?

Anfernee Simons, Shaedon Sharpe, Malcolm Brogdon

These three can be lumped together with the most important question being "Can they get healthy for the offseason and stay healthy in 2024-25?"

This summer is crucial for Sharpe. He needs to come back stronger and better and make another leap. Simons needs to continue learning how to handle being the focal point of opposing defenses. Brogdon has reached his ceiling as a player, but if he's still in Portland next year and accepts the role, he could be one of the best bench guards in the league.

Dalano Banton

The question for Banton is simple: Is this impressive run in Portland just a flash in the pan that's happening because he has more freedom on a tanking team or can he be just as impressive as a fourth guard who plays fewer minutes?

Ashton Hagans

Can Hagans have a good enough offseason and show the front office he deserves a roster spot next year?

Schedule