The Portland Trail Blazers' roster somehow managed to get messier this summer with the shocking acquisition of Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant. They continue to stockpile assets through value-driven trades, overlooking roster fit. But given that the Blazers are looking to build off their playoff appearance, they will have to find a better roster balance sooner rather than later.
This rebuild has gone on long enough, and the fact that Shaedon Sharpe still hasn't solidified himself as a key building block is telling about his future.
Sharpe's fit has already been in question the past two seasons, whether it was being benched midseason by Chauncey Billups or falling out of Tiago Splitter's playoff rotation. While things will inevitably be different with Micah Nori taking over, Morant's arrival certainly doesn't make things any easier for Sharpe to emerge. Their weaknesses in floor spacing and defense overlap, making it difficult to share the court effectively.
Scoot Henderson fits Portland's roster better than Shaedon Sharpe
It's a strange situation because the Blazers have four point guards, yet Scoot Henderson is still the better fit for this roster than Sharpe. While they need more star upside that Sharpe provides, it's actually Henderson who is more of the 3-and-D guard to fit as a role player. It's quite the turn after these two former top ten picks were expected to be the face of the rebuild just a few years ago, but that's the reality of a Blazers roster that has been primarily built via trade.
Sharpe is just 23 years old and only continues to get better, coming off the best statistical season of his career, averaging 20.8 points per game. However, the league is trending away from these score-first players who don't provide much of an impact on winning elsewhere. His passing, efficiency, and defense all remain a work in progress. And although he has all the physical tools to become a solid defender, Sharpe's work ethic is worse than Scoot's, which goes a long way when determining who to invest in long term.
The Blazers' high-flyer still possesses some of the highest upside on this roster, but he could benefit from a change of scenery to reach that potential with a team that isn't so crowded in the backcourt and can make him more of a focal point. Given how the Blazers' rebuilding timeline has accelerated, it feels as though Sharpe is less of a fit right now compared to Henderson. That was already apparent during Portland's playoff series against the San Antonio Spurs, but Morant's arrival makes it all the more clear.
Hopefully, Portland can ship Sharpe to a team willing to overlook his one-dimensionality and bet on his upside, since he no longer fits this roster.
Add us as a preferred source on Google