Ranking the Trail Blazers' Top 3 Rookies and Sophomores

Trading Damian Lillard affirmed Joe Cronin’s commitment to the Portland Trail Blazers’ youth movement. Retaining Jerami Grant and acquiring DeAndre Ayton and Malcolm Brogdon gave the Blazers a chance at remaining competitive in the present, but the team’s timeline revolves around the younger Anfernee Simons and its deep group of rookies and sophomores.

The approach of the season’s 30th game marks a chance to evaluate the Blazers’ youngsters and the progress they’ve made since the start of the regular season. Ranking the team’s top three rookies and sophomores at this point reveals some surprises relative to preseason expectations.

Ranking the Blazers best rookies and sophomores: Honorable mention

Scoot Henderson began the season as the team’s starting point guard and an expected centerpiece of the franchise’s rebuild, but early struggles and an injury landed him on the bench.

Henderson has shown some positive signs since moving into that role, such as flashy finishing and creative passing. However, struggles with turnovers and shooting continue to limit his effectiveness and leave him on the outside of the Blazers’ top group of rookies and sophomores.

A positive surprise for the Blazers this season has been the emergence of Australian rookie Duop Reath as the team’s backup center. Since Robert Williams III suffered a season-ending injury, Reath has helped stabilize the second unit with effective floor spacing and defensive mobility.

He’s quietly been a favorite of on-off metrics, boasting a positive net rating of 13.5 as of Dec. 22, the best on the team. Reath recently hit a three in 10 consecutive games, setting the franchise record for the longest streak of games by a center with a three.

Despite the benefits of his spacing, Reath’s minutes have recently declined due to Chauncey Billups’ decision to tighten the rotation, leaving him outside of the Blazers’ top three rookies and sophomores.

The Blazers’ 23rd pick of the 2023 draft, Kris Murray, has received a few opportunities, but he won’t get more minutes until he gains more strength and becomes more consistent as a shooter. On the Rip City Remix, the Blazers’ G League affiliate, Murray has hoisted up 7.2 threes a game, but he has only converted on 28 percent of them.

Portland’s other rookie, Rayan Rupert, has shown more promise as a shooter in the G League, knocking down 44 percent of his four 3-point attempts per game. If Rupert’s shooting develops nicely alongside the defensive tools he flashed at summer league, he could eventually factor into the Blazers’ rotation as a three-and-D wing.

Two other Blazers’ sophomores on two-way contracts, Ibou Badji and Justin Minaya, have demonstrated their defensive potential on the Remix. Badji, whose pathway to NBA minutes lies as a rim protector, has averaged 2.9 blocks per game in the G League this season.

Minaya has averaged 1.7 steals and 1.2 blocks for the Remix. Neither has a direct path to minutes on the Blazers, but they may receive an opportunity if an eventual tank reduces veterans’ minutes later in the season.

The Blazers’ top three rookies and sophomores, though, have become fixtures in the team’s rotation, and they offer three different skill sets as a short-roll playmaker, a defensive stopper and a primary creator.

No. 3: Jabari Walker

Blazers’ sophomore Jabari Walker has seen his minutes fluctuate throughout the season, but he’s recently found a niche as a short-roll playmaker.

Walker’s big body and playmaking instincts make him an effective hub in the middle of the floor when a Blazers’ ball handler draws multiple defenders. Throughout his tenure with the Blazers, he’s demonstrated solid finishing ability as a big forward who absorbs contact well. On field goals within 10 feet of the hoop, Walker has converted an impressive 60 percent this season.

Walker’s most impressive skill thus far has been his offensive rebounding. He possesses a knack for being in the right spot at the right time, which often translates to loose ball recoveries and putbacks.

His ranginess and strength equip him with decent defensive versatility and switchability. However, Walker is neither an on-ball stopper nor a rim-protecting anchor, which limits his defensive ceiling.

Walker’s shooting remains limited; he is only hitting 26.5 percent from three this season, but his repeatable form and promising free throw numbers offer some hope that he can raise those numbers. Shooting remains the biggest swing skill that will dictate whether Walker can carve out a bigger role for himself.

Although his shooting is a work in progress, Walker has already emerged as one of Billups’ go-to backup fives as a small-ball option. His short-roll playmaking and defensive toughness earn him a top rank among the Blazers’ group of rookies and sophomores.

No. 2: Toumani Camara

In the preseason, Toumani Camara caught fans’ eyes as a rangy forward with some two-way ability. His performance throughout the Blazers’ regular season has solidified his reputation as an impact defender with upside as a starting-caliber forward.

Since moving into the starting lineup, Camara has consistently drawn the toughest defensive assignment. Tom Haberstroh, Trail Blazers’ analytics insider, found a stat that quantifies Billups’ trust in Camara’s on-ball defense: For the season, Camara has defended 22 all-stars at least five possessions.

The list is headlined by Luka Doncic, Lauri Markkanen and Stephen Curry, a combination of players that demonstrates Camara’s versatility as a defender who can chase smaller guards and provide resistance against bigger forwards.

As an on-ball defender, Camara possesses few weaknesses. He is long, strong and navigates screens well. A game-saving block against Colin Sexton illustrates his quickness and impressive timing in contesting shots at the rim.

Camara has displayed flashes of capable shooting, but he has yet to pose a threat to defenses as a sniper, only converting 30 percent of his 3-point attempts. An improved outside shot would make Camara a dangerous offensive player since he has already demonstrated an impressive ability to attack closeouts and finish with either hand.

Camara’s athleticism and timing have also translated to effective offensive rebounding.

He still has room to grow as an offensive player. His fulfillment of the three-and-D archetype depends on his development as a shooter. However, by consistently finding ways to get on the floor, Camara has already proved himself as the gem of the Blazers’ Damian Lillard trade.

No. 1: Shaedon Sharpe

Perhaps no Trail Blazer has done as much to cement their status this season as a central piece of the franchise’s rebuild as Shaedon Sharpe.

During Simons’ 19-game absence, the 20-year-old Sharpe stepped in admirably as the team’s lead creator. Over a five-game span between Nov. 30 and Dec. 11, Sharpe posted per-game averages of 26.2 points, 6.6 rebounds and 5.0 assists on 53/46/80 shooting splits.

Sharpe took the reins of Portland’s pick-and-roll offense. With the ball in his hands, he demonstrated impressive progress as a pick-and-roll operator, punishing drop coverage with his mid-range jumper, using screens to generate off-the-dribble threes, and even making the correct pocket pass or skip pass.

Sharpe’s growth as a ball handler is perhaps the most promising sign in his development. As a rookie, his eye-popping athleticism and versatile jump shot stood out as signs of his tantalizing potential, but a loose handle prevented him from expanding his on-ball role. This season, an improved handle has allowed Sharpe to operate pick-and-rolls and diversify his game as a scorer.

Although Sharpe’s growth bodes well for his long-term trajectory, his offensive effectiveness has waxed and waned throughout the season. At times, Sharpe has slumped shooting the ball, and he hasn’t developed the effectiveness as a driver and playmaker to make up for shooting deficiencies.

Sharpe still has room to grow as a shooter and as a decision-maker, but compared to where he was developmentally when he entered the league, his progress bodes well for the future of the Blazers. Alongside Simons, Sharpe has solidified his status as a franchise building block.