The Portland Trail Blazers Media Day is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 30. Media Day is the official start of the 2024-25 season. Teams will gather to answer questions, unveil new jerseys, announce roster moves, and take photos, among other team-building activities. There are a few particular things to keep an eye on for the Blazers' Media Day, which will take place at 9 a.m. PT at the Moda Center.
5 Questions surrounding Blazers' 2024-25 season
1. How will Billups navigate the center rotation?
It's clear that Deandre Ayton will be the Blazers' starting center, but what does the rotation look like after him? Donovan Clingan only averaged 22.5 minutes during his sophomore season at UConn. Is this a reasonable average to expect him to play his rookie year as he continues to improve his conditioning and adjust to the NBA pace of play?
The answer to how many minutes Clingan sees could depend on two things (besides his conditioning level): how often head coach Chauncey Billups plays a "Twin Towers" lineup with another big man as their power forward and whether Robert Williams III can stay healthy.
2. What is the starting lineup?
The belief is that Shaedon Sharpe will ultimately get that last starting spot over Scoot Henderson, especially since the fit between Anfernee Simons and Scoot is a bit murkier, as both players are at their best with the ball in their hands. But this has yet to be confirmed and is something to keep an eye on to see whether or not they give a definitive answer.
They also could want to wait to see how their four preseason games go before officially making a decision on their regular season starting lineup.
3. What is the backcourt situation?
If Henderson does come off the bench, what will Billups' rotations look like? Henderson thrives with floor spacing, and the Blazers' starting lineup has much more shooting than their bench, which is more defensive-minded. Even if Henderson comes off the bench, Billups should stagger the starters' minutes so there is more offense around Scoot when he is in, which will help him develop.
4. Expectations for particular players
The Blazers have an unfinished roster filled with many questions. Multiple players will be exciting to monitor, such as newly acquired Clingan and Deni Avdija, as well as rising stars Sharpe and Henderson, who are looking to make a huge leap.
We know Clingan's defensive impact will be significant, but how will the Blazers leverage his passing and rim-running skills on offense? Will Avdija and Sharpe primarily play on or off the ball? And how has Scoot progressed this offseason, and what areas are we hoping to see him improve in his second season?
5. What would be considered a successful season?
This question ties into the Blazers' player expectations. Portland's season is essentially lost already in terms of their playoff hopes. A successful season will largely depend on the development of their foundational pieces, most notably Clingan, Avdija, Sharpe, and Henderson.
The goals for this upcoming season should be internal growth, a clearer sense of direction in terms of their half-baked roster, and giving themselves a shot at landing a top draft pick in 2025. However, Billups' goals are likely more win-loss-oriented, which could cause a mutual parting after the season.