Ranking Portland Trail Blazers roster by future potential
By Tyler Watts
Rotation piece
These players are or can grow into important parts of the rotation, but are unlikely to ever play 30-plus minutes per game or be one of the five best players on a contending roster.
Jabari Walker
The 6’9 forward has played in all 28 games and is averaging 17.8 minutes each night in his second NBA season as a 21-year-old. It may be a bit unfair to keep him in this tier, but his offensive game needs work. He is a career 27.5 percent 3-point shooter and averages 7.3 points per game.
Jabari Walker has room to improve, but he is likely best suited for a reserve role on a contending team, even in his prime.
Matisse Thybulle
The 26-year-old is an elite defender but has never played more than 25.5 minutes per game for a full season. Thybulle got a three-year $33 million contract from the Mavericks in the offseason that Portland matched, but his playing time did not increase. The 6’5 wing plays a key role, but his limited offensive skill set prevents him from playing massive minutes.
Thybulle is shooting 39.3 percent from 3-point range this season, but he struggles to make plays and rebound. He has made two All-Defensive teams but must improve his offensive game to jump into the next tier. There has been little progress in his first five NBA seasons, which sticks him here.