This past season, the Portland Trail Blazers finished at the bottom of the association in three-point accuracy, connecting on only 34.4 percent of their attempts. They also lost one of their best shooters, Malcolm Brogdon, who shot 41.2 from beyond the arc. But there's still some reason for optimism that the Blazers will improve their shooting in the 2024-25 season.
Newly acquired Deni Avdija had a significant leap in his three-point shooting, going from 29.7 percent in 2022-23 to 37.4 percent last season with the Wizards. The Blazers' up-and-coming players, specifically Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe, could also have breakout shooting seasons. Still, Portland has a long way to go before shooting becomes a team strength rather than a glaring weakness, which is more problematic in the modern NBA that emphasizes floor spacing now than ever.
1. Miles McBride, New York Knicks
Miles McBride is turning out to be a second-round gem, selected No. 36 overall in the 2021 NBA Draft. He had a third-year breakout season with the Knicks, increasing his averages to 8.3 points, 1.7 assists, and 1.5 rebounds in just 19.5 minutes per game. The most impressive aspect of McBride's improved season was his three-point shooting, going from 29.9 percent all the way to 41 percent from beyond the arc. He's due to regress in that department, but McBride remains a solid trade option for the Blazers to pursue.
After losing Isaiah Hartenstein to the Thunder in free agency, the Knicks need another center, especially given Mitchell Robinson's injury history. A Robert Williams III for McBride trade swap might be a good starting point in trade negotiations for both teams.