2024-25 Portland Trail Blazers: A quick preview

After trading Damian Lillard, Portland committed to a youth movement, but their roster construction still doesn’t make complete sense. Despite adding promising young players like Scoot Henderson, Shaedon Sharpe, and Donovan Clingan, the Blazers continue to carry significant salary commitments, which could hinder their flexibility to fully embrace a rebuild. Their recent acquisition of Deni Avdija shows they are still looking to improve the roster, but the mixed approach leaves some uncertainty.

Ultimately, Portland’s future will likely hinge on whether they can fully commit to building around their young core. Moving on from higher-paid veterans and embracing the development of Henderson, Sharpe, and Clingan would allow them to align their roster with their long-term goals.

Depth chart

The team has a total payroll of $173,298,018 for the 2024-25 season, ranking them 20th in the NBA.

Roster changes

Returning: Deandre Ayton, Jerami Grant, Anfernee Simons, Robert Williams, Matisse Thybulle, Scoot Henderson, Shaedon Sharpe, Kris Murray, Dalano Banton, Duop Reath, Jabari Walker, Rayan Rupert, Toumani Camara, Justin Minaya

Additions: Deni Avdija (Washington), Donovan Clingan (UConn), Bryce McGowens (Charlotte), Taze Moore (Vancouver)

Departures: Malcolm Brogdon (Washington), Ashton Hagans (Xinjiang), Ibou Badji, Moses Brown

Main strength

* Young, talented core with intriguing offensive potential in the backcourt and solid depth at center.

* Depth at the center position, offering flexibility and potential trade assets later in the season.

* Scoot Henderson, despite early struggles, showed significant improvement late in the season, contributing as a scorer and playmaker.

* Anfernee Simons has flashed potential as a high-level scorer, making him a key offensive piece for the rebuild.

* Potential for growth and long-term success with a youthful roster, especially as players develop more consistency.

Main weaknesses

* Inexperience across the roster leads to inconsistency, especially in critical moments and defensive execution.

* Injury concerns persist, with several key players missing substantial time last season, impacting continuity.

* Lack of efficiency at the rim, with Scoot Henderson struggling with finishing inside, reducing offensive effectiveness.

* Youthful roster may lack the veteran leadership needed to navigate a tough Western Conference.

* Defensive concerns remain, especially with limited rim protection and lapses in perimeter defense from young guards.

Prediction

HoopsHype: 5th in the Northwest Division, 15th in the Western Conference

ESPN: 4th in the Northwest Division, 14th in the Western Conference

Sportsbooks: 21.5 projected wins

HoopsHype compiled the consensus win averages by gathering win projections from eight sportsbooks, including FanDuel, Fanatics, BetMGM, DraftKings, ESPN BET, BetRivers, Caesars, and bet365

You can follow Cyro Asseo (@CyroAsseo) on X, formerly known as Twitter. 

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: 2024-25 Portland Trail Blazers: A quick preview