The last game Shaedon Sharpe played for the Portland Trail Blazers wasn't pretty, for him or the team. The second-year guard exited during the third quarter of a record-setting 62-point loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Jan. 11.
Shaedon aggravated a previous adductor injury that forced him to miss a handful of games in December, and after experiencing worsening symptoms while ramping up for a return, underwent core muscle surgery with the team expecting to re-evaluate things in six weeks.
Injury update on Portland Trail Blazers' Shaedon Sharpe
Sharpe's return timetable remains unknown, but some good news recently popped up on March 6 when Sean Highkin of The Rose Garden Report tweeted that the Blazers' sophomore guard had started some light shooting as he works up to a potential return.
That raises two questions: Will Sharpe be able to play again this season? And if he is, should he?
The Blazers have a little more than five weeks left in the season. Their final game is Sunday, April 14 on the road against the Sacramento Kings. If the plan was to check on Sharpe's post-surgery progress after six weeks, that re-evaluation would take place on March 22.
Assuming Sharpe's allowed to continue preparing for a comeback, two additional weeks of practice time would have him ready to play at Boston on April 7.
The Trail Blazers return to Portland to start a three-game homestand two nights later - that seems like a decent target date should Sharpe continue to progress. That would put Shaedon's return on April 9 with four games left in the season.
Is it worth bringing him back if that's the case? There are arguments for and against that plan.
After missing a large chunk of his second NBA season, any game action Sharpe can get would be beneficial, especially when it would come with zero stakes and he could play freely for as many minutes as Portland deems acceptable.
On the other hand, what's the point in risking aggravating the same injury or getting a new one to play four games?
The chances Sharpe takes the floor again this season aren't great. The Blazers would be smart to bring him along slowly, and even if he can return, it's probably best to put him in bubble wrap and make sure he has a fully healthy offseason.