3 Portland Trail Blazers players poised to have breakout 2024-25 season

The Portland Trail Blazers finished with the worst record (21-61) in the Western Conference this past season, and all signs indicate it will be more of the same for the upcoming 2024-25 season. The Blazers are still early on in their rebuild after trading away Damian Lillard last summer.

According to ESPN's Zach Lowe (subscription required), Portland will be 'bad by design' next season, with their primary focus being the 2025 NBA Draft and top prospect Cooper Flagg. Although it is another lost season for the Blazers, with them likely missing the playoffs again, it will still be a crucial year for the development of their young core.

1. Jabari Walker

Jabari Walker is among the most under-the-radar players on the Blazers' young roster. He exceeded expectations as the No. 57 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. Walker is entering his third season and saw a significant upgrade in minutes from his rookie to sophomore campaign, going from 11.1 minutes to 23.6. Walker took advantage of his increased opportunity as a result of the Blazers entering their rebuilding phase; this past season, he averaged 8.9 points, 7.1 rebounds, and one assist per game on 46/30/75 shooting splits.

Although the Blazers have added Deni Avdija and Donovan Clingan, they still need help in the rebounding department, and Walker will continue to have a valuable role off of the bench. But he could be due for a breakout campaign if he can improve offensively, particularly as a three-point shooter.

Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian had an in-depth piece on Walker, highlighting his 2023-24 impact and room for improvement this offseason. Walker mentioned shooting as his most significant area for improvement, saying that it will "open up a bunch" of offensive opportunities and "change things for [him] as a player."