3 Players that should be considered foundational pieces in the Blazers' rebuild

The Portland Trail Blazers are entering a pivotal summer in what is officially their first full offseason in the post-Damian Lillard era. After finishing last in the Western Conference, Portland has multiple needs to address this offseason. Something the Blazers should decide before making all these crucial decisions is who they unequivocally view as foundational pieces to their rebuild.

In other words, they need to determine which players they plan on keeping for the long haul, regardless of unexpected events in the ever-evolving NBA; this will help determine who they need to prioritize building around and what that means in terms of positional fit as well as roster strengths and weaknesses.

1. Shaedon Sharpe

Shaedon Sharpe is arguably the easiest to count as a foundational part of the Blazers' rebuild. The No. 7 overall pick in the 2022 draft, Sharpe is still only 20 years old and isn't even close to reaching his peak, which should be a scary thought for opposing teams.

It isn't easy to gameplan for someone who allegedly recorded a 49-inch vertical, which would break the previous record of Keon Johnson's 48-inch vertical. But, once Sharpe gets more reps under his belt and refines certain aspects of his game, he could be Portland's best player in the coming years.

All signs pointed to Sharpe having a breakout sophomore campaign after a promising finish to his rookie season. Post All-Star break in his 2022-23 rookie year, Sharpe almost doubled his scoring output from 7.9 to 14.7 points per game. He was finally getting more comfortable with the Blazers' system and taking advantage of his increased role.

In 15 games as a starter, Sharpe averaged a well-rounded stat line of 18.5 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game on 45/36/77 shooting splits. These numbers seem reasonable to expect for Sharpe's third season. He could finally experience a full-on breakout year that many anticipated this season.

The Blazers have been eagerly awaiting Sharpe's return to action after undergoing surgery for a core muscle injury in February this season. As a result of the injury, Sharpe was limited to 32 games, averaging 15.9 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 0.9 steals on inefficient shooting percentages of 41/33/82.

At 6-foot-5, 205 pounds, Sharpe possesses the physical tools to be a switchable one-through-three defender (or even four, depending on the matchup). He has the frame, athleticism, and lateral quickness to be an above-average defender, although he still needs to put it all together.

The main selling point with Sharpe is his scoring ability as someone who can play off the ball. He's already an elite slasher and finds creative ways to utilize his athleticism to get open looks. As he continues developing an offensive arsenal, Sharpe will be a considerable threat to drive and constantly pressure defenses with the ball in his hands.

Sharpe's swing skill is his shooting to reach his All-Star level upside. But at just 20 years old and with less than two full seasons of in-game experience, there's reason for optimism in that department.

2. Scoot Henderson

The Blazers' reigning No. 3 overall pick in the 2023 NBA draft, Scoot Henderson, is a core piece in Portland's rebuild. After all, if the Blazers don't make Henderson an essential part of the rebuild, what was all the turmoil associated with the last offseason even for?

Henderson has had as underrated of a season as any No. 3 pick could in their first year. Henderson played 62 games in his rookie season, averaging 14.0 points, 5.4 assists, and 3.1 rebounds on shooting splits of 39/33/82. Two statistics that immediately stand out that suggest Henderson can benefit from improving his decision-making are his 3.4 turnovers per game and 39 percent shooting from the field, which ties into his shot selection.

Henderson's biggest strength is also his biggest weakness. His aggressive, downhill, attacking style of play frequently got him into trouble last season, but it's also the unique trait that made him stand out as a prospect in the first place.

To his credit, Henderson improved all aspects of his game as the season progressed, especially as a playmaker. He finally adjusted to the NBA's pace of play compared to the G League and played with more control, as evidenced by his 7.1 per game without an increase in turnovers following the All-Star break.

Typically, NBA guards take longer than other positions to succeed in the league, and Henderson's rookie season was no exception. His progression wasn't linear, but some were too quick to write him off as a bust, particualry during his struggles at the begining of his up-and-down season.

Henderson can refine multiple aspects of his game, and he's certainly not a finished product. But that should be reason for optimism, meaning he's far from reaching his potential. The Blazers have practically based their rebuild around the Scoot Henderson draft pick, and it would be wise to see it through.

3. Toumani Camara

The Blazers rookie had an up-and-coming season that put the league on notice. As a 24-year-old coming out of Dayton, Camara fell to pick No. 52 in the second round, where the Phoenix Suns selected him.

Camara came to Portland as part of the three-team trade with the Suns and Milwaukee Bucks, headlining Lillard. Despite the big names such as Lillard, Jrue Holiday, and Deandre Ayton being part of the trade, Camara was reportedly a significant focal point of negotiation between the Suns and Blazers. In retrospect, it makes sense why. Camara averaged 7.5 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game on 45/34/76 shooting splits in his rookie season.

Although he was only a rookie, Camara didn’t play like one. Head coach Chauncey Billups didn’t treat him like one, either, consistently giving him the task of guarding the opposing team’s best player.

At 6-foot-7, 226 pounds, Camara has the prototypical frame for a defensively switchable forward. The list speaks for itself, with names ranging from Stephen Curry and Damian Lillard to Anthony Davis and Domantas Sabonis, among other future Hall of Famers.

Another factor to consider with Camra is his extremely favorable contract. Camara is set to make roughly $2 million annually through the 2025-26 season, which bodes well for a rebuilding team like the Blazers. Portland is still trying to get out of its financial mess so that it can have more flexibility going forward.

Although the contract situation certainly helps make Camara be considered a core piece, it isn’t the main reason. The Blazers should keep him around for the long haul, even if that means spending more money. That’s because of the premium the league values a player like Camara. He's a lengthy, versatile forward who can be relied on defensively to slow down the opposing team's best player in isolation situations while seamlessly switching when needed.

Look at the current draft prospects as evidence—Matas Buzelis and Cody Williams have said they model their games after Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels.

While this is partially valid for both players, they must also know how much McDaniels' stock has risen since the Timberwolves' playoff run and how desperately other teams are trying to find their version of a defensively versatile wing. Even if he doesn't have the All-Star potential of Sharpe of Henderson, every NBA team covets an elite role player like Camara.

Combine this with his favorable contract and two-way potential as he continues to improve as a shooter, and Camara emerges as a somewhat surprising foundational piece to Portland's rebuilding efforts.