Last season, the Portland Trail Blazers finished with the worst record in the Western Conference at 21-61. They struggled to find consistency with 41 different starting lineup combinations. Portland should have an improved roster due to players returning from injuries, internal player progression, and the additions of Deni Avdija and Donovan Clingan. Still, it will be challenging for them to make a playoff push in the competitive Western Conference.
Projected Blazers starting lineup
- Point guard: Scoot Henderson
- Shooting guard: Anfernee Simons
- Small forward: Deni Avdija
- Power forward: Jerami Grant
- Center: Deandre Ayton
The Blazers may not be done making moves; they appear open to moving other players this offseason as they continue accumulating assets early in their rebuild. After trading for Avdija, Portland has more than five players who could realistically start for them this season. Head coach Chauncey Billups has a few different starting lineup variations to consider, but this seems like a realistic five that has more versatility than last season, with the 6-foot-9 Avdija now in the mix.
Portland's bench rotation
Sixth man
Shaedon Sharpe
Sharpe is the other option Billups will have to consider whether or not he gets a spot in the starting lineup. General manager Joe Cronin recently mentioned in a press conference that the Blazers are "committed to Scoot [Henderson] and Shaedon [Sharpe] being a massive part of what we're doing," which could mean that Portland ends up starting him since he's viewed as such a foundational piece of their core.
The next step for Sharpe to take to maximize his potential is to improve his playmaking and three-point shooting ability. He only had 2.9 assists and shot 33.3 percent from three last season, and needs to become more impactful in how he improves players around him.
Moving one of Simons or Grant would certainly make Billups' decision easier. But regardless of whether Sharpe gets a starting role, he should be a significant factor in their offense as a slasher and shot-creator with elite athleticism.
Key bench players
Donovan Clingan
The Blazers selected Clingan No. 7 overall, and he has been proving his value early on in the Summer League. He's one of the best rim protectors in the draft class as a 7-foot-2 center and should immediately help improve Portland's paint presence. He's limited offensively at this point in his career, but Clingan is an underrated passer who consistently makes the correct read. He should also benefit from improved guard play when the regular season starts.
Robert Williams III
Another defensive-minded big man is Williams, who is still rehabbing his knee, which limited him to six games this past season. Williams is relatively undersized as a 6-foot-9 big man, but he uses that size to his advantage as a versatile defender who can protect the rim and switch out onto guards when needed. He's impactful when healthy, but it remains to be seen if the 26-year-old Williams can put together an entire season for Portland.
Toumani Camara
Camara was a steal as part of the Deandre Ayton trade with the Phoenix Suns. He has great size for a forward at 6-foot-7 and was always known to be an effective defender at Dayton. Teams' concern over his age and three-point shooting caused him to fall to the late second round, but Camara addressed the shooting concern by connecting on 33.7 of his attempts beyond the arc last season. Camara will carve out an important long-term role with the Blazers as a 3-and-D forward if he continues to grow in that department.
Matisse Thybulle
An older version of Camara is Thybulle, another defensive-minded wing who shot similarly from three this past season at 34.6 percent. Because of the position and skillset redundancy and the fact that Thybulle is 27 years old, he could be a potential trade target for contending teams looking to add a two-time NBA All-Defensive Second Team player. However, if he does stay, Thybulle will provide the Blazers with valuable leadership and depth. You can never have too many defensive wings to throw at all the superstars in the West.
Full Trail Blazers depth chart
The Blazers went from having an excess of guards between Henderson, Simons, Sharpe, and Malcolm Brogdon to having the opposite problem with a crowded frontcourt and four centers on their roster. Still, their roster is better balanced, giving up-and-coming guards Henderson and Sharpe more opportunities to take on increased roles in the offense.
Point guard
- Scoot Henderson
- Anfernee Simons
- Dalano Banton
Shooting guard
- Anfernee Simons
- Shaedon Sharpe
- Matisse Thybulle
- Rayan Rupert
Small forward
- Deni Avdija
- Shaedon Sharpe
- Matisse Thybulle
- Toumani Camara
Power forward
- Deni Avdija
- Toumani Camara
- Jabari Walker
Center
- Deandre Ayton
- Donovan Clingan
- Robert Williams III
- Duop Reath
The Blazers aren't yet ready to contend and are in the process of accumulating assets at this point in their rebuild, even if the fit isn't ideal. The Clingan selection is a great example of that, as many had him as the best player available for the Blazers at pick No. 7. But Avdija is someone that they seemed to go more out of their way to get, in large part because of his skillset fit alongside the Blazers' young guards with his two-way versatility.
It's still a messy depth chart and could look different at the start of the season if they decide to make another trade. But Clingan and Avdija are promising additions as they continue their rebuild.