Blazers depth chart ahead of free agency: Portland has a guard problem

While the Portland Trail Blazers don’t have the financial room to sign a big-name free agent this summer, their roster could still look completely different next season. The Blazers have no reason to take on tax obligations as they are not yet ready to contend in the competitive Western Conference.

As a result, several established players - Malcolm Brogdon, Anfernee Simons, Jerami Grant, Matisse Thybulle, and Robert Williams III - could be on the move this summer, with Brogdon seeming the most likely. Here’s a projection of the Blazers’ depth chart for the 2024-25 NBA season before entering a pivotal offseason for General Manager Joe Cronin.

Trail Blazers' pre-offseason depth chart for 2024-25 NBA season

PG: Scoot Henderson | Malcolm Brogdon | Anfernee Simons

SG: Anfernee Simons | Shaedon Sharpe | Malcolm Brogdon | Matisse Thybulle

SF: Shaedon Sharpe | Matisse Thybulle | Toumani Camara | Rayan Rupert

PF: Jerami Grant | Toumani Camara | Jabari Walker |  Kris Murray 

C: Deandre Ayton | Robert Williams III | Duop Reath | Jabari Walker

Dalano Banton has a team option and is someone the Blazers should strongly consider bringing back next season. Banton would provide valuable positional size, scoring, and depth behind Henderson, Brogdon, and Simons as the fourth-string point guard. 

Portland's two lottery picks (No. 7 and No. 14) in this year's draft will also significantly impact the team's roster. Whether through trade or draft, the Blazers must address a weak spot on their depth chart this offseason by finding a two-way wing. They also need more shooting—not only did they finish at the bottom of the league in three-point shooting, but their best shooters, Brogdon, Simons, and Grant, could all be made available for trade this summer.

While their depth chart could look very different after this summer, the Blazers should have an improved season. Up-and-coming players, most notably Henderson and Sharpe, are expected to make a leap in their respective second and third seasons in the NBA. They also should be much healthier; the Blazers had 41 different starting lineups this season, second to only the Memphis Grizzlies.

With anticipated player progression and more lineup consistency, the Blazers should finish with a better record next season. Although, much of that depends on which players they ultimately end up moving this offseason.