The Trail Blazers have been linked to some massive names already, so it feels fair to imagine their summer shopping isn’t done even after the surprise Ja Morant swap. But Portland also appears to have pretty clear guidelines with who it’s willing to give up, as MassLive.com’s Brian Robb relayed that Deni Avdija “would not be on the table” in a Jaylen Brown pursuit, and Donovan Clingan “would be tough…to pry away.”
Portland would have to dangle someone, obviously, and maybe Shaedon Sharpe is that chip. The Blazers might want a more consistent shooter and engaged defender alongside their star guards, but the right suitor could envision significant upside in an absurdly explosive 23-year-old who just averaged over 20 points in under 30 minutes.
He has had some availability issues, and there are clearly rough patches in his skill set, but his bounce is elite, and his good nights hint at scoring greatness. His shooting form looks better than the percentages, and his tools could be hugely helpful with a better defensive approach. He is a project, but it’s a project that a lot of teams should want to undertake.