Trail Blazers must make this crucial roster-building decision this summer

The case for Shaedon Sharpe as a foundational piece

The high-flying Shaedon Sharpe was poised for a breakout sophomore campaign after having a solid finish to his rookie season. Unfortunately, Shape’s second year was limited to only 32 games played after undergoing surgery for a core muscle injury in February. In his 32 games, Sharpe averaged 15.9 points, five rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game on 41/33/82 shooting splits.

The Blazers hoped Sharpe would improve his shot last summer, but it went the opposite direction, as Sharpe’s three-point accuracy regressed after connecting on 36 percent of his attempts as a rookie. Sharpe’s ability to space the floor will be crucial to both his and the Blazers’ success. The 6-foot-5 Sharpe seems best suited as a shooting guard; it will be imperative that he can consistently knock down threes to complement Scoot Henderson’s style of play as someone who likes to attack the paint and needs the lanes as decongested as possible.

Sharpe, the No. 7 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, is only 21 years old. The Blazers’ up-and-coming backcourt duo of Henderson and Sharpe still have plenty of time to improve their shots, and it’s too soon to consider them a poor fit together. However, the Blazers could consider their strengths and weaknesses when constructing a roster around them; this offseason, they should prioritize surrounding their young core with complementary shooters.