The Portland Trail Blazers aren't ruling out a possible Shaedon Sharpe return this season. The most recent update on the second-year guard's recovery process from core muscle surgery is a promising one.
Shaedon Sharpe practicing with Rip City Remix in hopes of Trail Blazers return in 2023-24
Sharpe was having a breakout sophomore season until he hit Portland's injury report with what was called "right adductor soreness" on Dec. 19. He only played eight minutes between then and Jan. 1, but after six more games he was shut down and had surgery on Feb. 9.
The typical recovery timeline for the injury is six to eight weeks. The full eight weeks would come at the end of this week on Friday, March 29.
Sharpe won't be back on an NBA floor then, but he's taken the next step in his recovery process after being assigned to the Rip City Remix, Portland's G League Affiliate, where he'll practice with the team while the Trail Blazers go on a seven-game road trip.
If everything goes as planned, there's a chance Shaedon could be ready for the final four games of this season, three of which are at home.
It's a risk-reward balance for the Blazers, but Sharpe could certainly use the experience regardless of the circumstances, and he's desired a return this season.
Before popping up on the injury report in December, the 20-year-old was having a breakout sophomore campaign. He averaged 17.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.4 assists and a steal while shooting 36 percent from three on 6 attempts per game. His free-throw attempts had tripled from his rookie season and he was shooting 82 percent from the line, as opposed to 71 percent in his first year.
Sharpe exploded in the final 10 games of last season. Even if he only comes back for the last four this year, any signs of the improvement he showed before his injury would be promising before he attacks the offseason.