3 Pressing questions Blazers need to answer down the stretch of the regular season

What does Portland still need to learn about certain players and coaches?

Deandre Ayton (left), Chauncey Billups; Portland Trail Blazers
Deandre Ayton (left), Chauncey Billups; Portland Trail Blazers | Chris Coduto/GettyImages
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What should the Trail Blazers target in the draft?

The most obvious hole on Portland's roster right now is a big wing that can defend. Scoot and Simons are 6-foot-2 and 6-foot-3, respectively. Sharpe could be that guy, but he's 6-foot-5 and isn't a great defender yet.

A 6-7, 6-8, long athletic player who fits the three-and-D mold seems like the ideal player to add to the Blazers' roster. Jerami Grant is a combo forward, but he's an above-average defender at best, has more of a scorer's mentality and is 29 years old. A young player who's more defensive-minded and can space the floor but is willing to settle into a role and grow with a pair of would slide nicely onto Portland's roster.

Zaccharie Risacher, Cody Williams, Stephon Castle, Tidjane Salaun and Ron Holland are potential lottery picks in the 2024 NBA Draft who have skill sets that check some of those boxes.

A guard to take over Malcolm Brogdon's role off the bench could be another option, but at this point in the team's rebuild, taking a best-player-available approach to the draft is the right idea.

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