The Portland Trail Blazers’ recent play has landed the team in familiar territory: a descent to the bottom of the standings. The team’s injuries and accumulation of losses—in addition to the accessibility of televised games—have tanked the fan base’s viewership, leading to a league-worst 49% decline in local television viewership this season.
As the Blazers continue stacking up losses, the pursuit of a top draft pick may further diminish the availability of the team’s top players and the quality of the team’s play. Fans may struggle to find the motivation to keep tuning in, but the last two seasons of the Blazers’ rebuild showed one trend that should pique fans’ interest:
Increased opportunity for end-of-the-bench players opens the possibility for some to set themselves up for bigger roles in future seasons.
Last year, after coming off the bench with limited on-ball responsibilities, Shaedon Sharpe emerged as a lead ball handler with Damian Lillard and Anfernee Simons sitting out. In an increased role, Sharpe flourished, averaging 23.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 4.1 assists in the team’s final 10 games.
Sharpe’s end-of-season growth exhibited his all-star-level potential and set him up to immediately become a focal point of the Blazers’ offense the following year.
The Blazers’ late-season tanks have created opportunities for players lower in the rotation as well. Two seasons ago, Drew Eubanks, who first signed with the Blazers in 2022, played well enough in a starting role to earn a spot in the team’s rotation as the backup center the following year.
Last season, the Blazers signed journeyman guard Skylar Mays, who averaged 15.3 points and 8.3 assists per game on 50/46/92 shooting splits in 31.5 minutes a game over the team’s final six games. Mays earned himself a spot on the team’s roster the following season, becoming a trustworthy contributor when multiple Blazers’ guards suffered injuries.
Key members of the Blazers’ rotation are already injured. The incentive to lose should continue creating opportunities for this season’s backups.
DeAndre Ayton is currently nursing a hand injury, which opened up a starting role for Duop Reath in the team’s Friday and Saturday night games against the Memphis Grizzlies. Reath took advantage of the opportunity, scoring in double figures in both outings and playing a key role in helping the team win the two games.
The absences of Sharpe and Malcolm Brogdon have led to playing time for the newly acquired Dalano Banton and Ashton Hagans, a recent call-up from the Rip City Remix.
Banton excelled in the team’s Friday night 122-92 victory, contributing 19 points and 7 rebounds while posting a positive plus-minus of 26. Rayan Rupert, who last played rotation minutes against the Phoenix Suns on Jan. 14, made the most of his opportunity, draining all three of his threes in 14 minutes of play.
The bulk of Rupert’s on-court experience has come with the Remix, but fans should expect to see him more in a Blazers jersey as Portland reduces the minutes of its veterans.
Although Reath, Banton, Hagans and Rupert should have opportunities to earn expanded roles, three other young rotation players have a more direct path to increased minutes and roles as the season progresses.
Kris Murray
The biggest beneficiary from recent openings in the Blazers rotation has been Kris Murray. The 6-foot-8 forward saw most of his early-season action in the G League, but head coach Chauncey Billups promoted Murray to the starting lineup after the all-star break.
Murray’s chances of becoming a reliable contributor in the NBA depend on his ability to hone his three-and-D skill set. Shooting remains a swing skill for Murray, who has struggled with consistency, only shooting 30.2 percent from three in the G League after shooting 33.5 percent from three in his last year of college.
Murray’s size and agility equip him with the physical tools to become an impact perimeter defender. In his limited time defending NBA offenses, Murray’s length and switchability has proved useful, earning him tough defensive assignments like Duncan Robinson against the Miami Heat.
Increased reps will help him develop as an on-ball defender and gain comfort playing in NBA schemes.
Outside of 3-point shooting, Murray can augment his offensive game by developing as a cutter and decision-maker. If Murray improves his 3-point shooting, punishing closeouts with rim attacks and kickouts will help him round out his offensive skill set. Murray has flashed signs of competent ball handling, signaling potential as a secondary playmaker who can serve as a connector within the offense, not just a stand-still shooter.
The end of the season will not only be an opportunity for Murray to earn more minutes, it be a chance for him to develop synergy with the team’s other young rookies: Scoot Henderson, Rupert and Toumani Camara.
The team’s young group of rookies comprise the Blazers’ long-term core. Increased repetitions with each other will help the group develop an identity, the next step in the team’s path back to the playoffs.
Jabari Walker
Walker, who emerged as a reliable starter midway through the season, has recently fallen back to the bench due to dips in shooting and production. In the second year of a three-year contract (the third year is non-guaranteed), the rest of the season represents an important time for Walker to establish himself as a part of the Blazers’ long-term plans.
Walker showed fans how his skill set can translate to winning in January. Over the course of the month, Walker averaged 9.2 points, 8.6 rebounds and upped his 3-point percentage to 33.3 percent, starting the majority of games.
Three attributes proved essential to Walker’s success: 3-point shooting, defensive versatility and playmaking. As an improved 3-point shooter during that span, Walker showed the ability to consistently stretch the floor, allowing him to play alongside paint-bound bigs like Ayton and Moses Brown. Without consistent 3-point shooting, Walker’s presence on the floor clogs up the team’s offense and inhibits his ability to play either forward position.
A tough, gritty defender, Walker is strong enough to defend bigger forwards and quick enough to hang with some guards. Although quicker guards will leave him in the dust, Walker adds value as a defender with his understanding of team defense, help concepts and verticality.
Walker’s aptitude for being in the right spot at the right time informs his most valuable skill: rebounding. At his best, Walker helps Portland’s bigs secure defensive rebounds and creates high-value shots with offensive rebounds and putbacks near the rim.
As a pick-and-roll partner for Anfernee Simons, Walker has shown promise as a short-roll playmaker. Since Simons is one of the most blitzed players in the NBA, his pick-and-roll partners often have an opportunity to take advantage of power plays when they catch the ball in the middle of the floor.
Walker has demonstrated an aptitude for taking advantage of uneven numbers, either by using his strength to attack the basket and finish at the rim or by drawing a defender and passing the ball to an open teammate.
Walker’s recent dip in productivity, particularly his 3-point shooting, is concerning, given his lack of contractual security. However, since the Blazers’ young core is stacked with guards, Walker will have ample opportunity for the remainder of this season to cement his role as a big wing who can complement Portland’s smaller ball handlers.
Toumani Camara
Like Walker, Camara’s minutes and production have fluctuated throughout the season.
After earning the starting small forward spot, Camara was demoted to the bench in January and has since been in and out of the starting lineup.
As a bright spot of Portland’s season, Camara has remained one of the Blazers’ most consistent defenders. His strength and size have made him one a top option against opposing teams’ best players. Camara’s utility as an on-ball defender has kept him in the team’s rotation and makes him a potential long-term piece of the Blazers’ rebuild.
Although Camara’s defense has earned him playing time, his inconsistent shooting has made him an offensive liability at times, hindering his ability to stay on the floor. Camara’s post-all-star-break shooting numbers are encouraging: He’s shooting 50 percent from three, albeit on low volume.
Shooting is Camara’s most important swing skill. If he can turn his greatest liability into a strength, there’s nothing preventing Camara from developing into a starting-caliber wing.
Aside from shooting, Camara’s big body and long strides make him dangerous attacking closeouts. An improved shot would enable him to attack the basket with greater effectiveness. At the rim, Camara has a tendency to rely too much on his right hand, so refining his finishing package represents another area of growth that would allow him to add more value as an offensive player.
Three-and-D players are valuable and hard to acquire in the NBA. More opportunity to play as the team’s tanking accelerates will allow fans to gain greater insight into Camara’s future role on the team.
By using increased reps to demonstrate his ability to be a threat offensively, Camara has a chance to set himself up for an expanded role heading into the team’s 2024-25 campaign.