The Portland Trail Blazers could have an improved roster this 2024-25 season due to healthier players, offseason development and progression, and the key additions of Deni Avdija and Donovan Clingan. But a few Blazers are poised to have relatively disappointing seasons to no fault of their own. Portland has done a poor job of putting them in positions to succeed this upcoming season, whether due to depth chart issues, not optimizing players' strengths and mitigating their weaknesses, or other factors.
1. Duop Reath
Duop Reath was a pleasant surprise in his rookie season, averaging 9.1 points, 3.7 rebounds, and one assist per game on 46/36/74 shooting splits. However, he may face regression in his second season—not because his productivity was an outlier, but due to his position on the Blazers' depth chart. The Blazers somehow went from having an excess number of guards to having four centers on their roster. All three centers ahead of Reath on the depth chart have a strong case for seeing more minutes than Reath.
Deandre Ayton had a solid finish to the end of the season and seemed much more comfortable with his change of scenery, averaging 22.7 points and 12.5 rebounds post-All-Star break. Clingan is still unproven as a rookie entering the league, but he seems to have one of the safest floors in the draft class due to his physical tools, rebounding, and rim protection, all of which should immediately translate to the next level.
Robert Williams III is coming off yet another significant injury despite being 26 years old and has question marks surrounding his ability to stay on the court. But as long as he's healthy, he deserves to be ahead of Reath on the depth chart as someone who can impact the game with his defensive versatility and rim protection as well.
Reath saw 17.9 minutes last season with the Blazers, but that number should decrease since Clingan wasn't in the picture, and Williams only played six games. There are a few scenarios where Reath could wind up getting more minutes, including if one of Ayton or Williams gets traded.
Additionally, there are talks of head coach Chauncey Billups experimenting with a "Twin Towers" lineup with two centers on the court simultaneously. That was primarily regarding Ayton and Clingan, but neither has proven up to this point to be consistent three-point shooters.
If Billups does implement such a lineup, it might make more sense to have Reath as the power forward to stretch the floor more effectively. But that would also compromise their quickness and defensive switchability, exposing areas that aren't Reath's strengths, particularly when matched up against a power forward.
Reath is at his best when he's a modern-day stretch five. But he won't have as many opportunities this season due to the Blazers' center logjam, barring a trade or injury.