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.