With their long-time leader now in Milwaukee, the Trail Blazers need someone to step up and fill that role, writes Jason Quick of The Athletic. Last week’s trade of Damian Lillard left Portland not only without its top scorer and No. 1 option in crunch time, but also someone who can take control of the locker room.
Point guard Scoot Henderson seems like the best candidate to eventually accept that responsibility, but he’s only 19 and still has a lot to learn about life in the NBA. Quick notes that Anfernee Simons has been on the roster longer than anyone, but he doesn’t have an outspoken personality. The same is true of Jerami Grant, who’s the team’s second-oldest player at 29 and its top returning scorer.
General manager Joe Cronin and coach Chauncey Billups see the lack of a defined leader as a positive situation because it can encourage competition throughout the roster.
“It’s ‘Come and get it,’” Cronin said. “We have many guys who are very capable or talented enough to be The Man. It’s who is going to emerge from that? Who is going to emerge not just in play, but in leadership?”
There’s more from Portland:
- Deandre Ayton will likely see more scoring opportunities than he did with the Suns, but he won’t be the focus of the Blazers’ offense, Quick adds. Ayton was often frustrated over not getting the ball enough with his former team. “We are not bringing Deandre here for him to be (Joel) Embiid, where we throw him the ball 30 times a game and say ‘All right, go be the MVP,’” Billups said. “Like, that’s not going to be his role. However, he will probably have a more expanded role than he had in Phoenix. But again, we have a lot of young guys who are figuring out … these things take time.”
- Matisse Thybulle and Shaedon Sharpe are battling to be the starting small forward and Thybulle appears to have the early advantage, tweets Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian. Billups said Grant will start at power forward, while Robert Williams will back up both Ayton and Grant. Simons will start at either point guard or shooting guard, and everything else will be decided during training camp and the preseason. Henderson and Sharpe are both expected to play extensively whether they start or not.
- There has been speculation that the Blazers will try to trade Malcolm Brogdon after acquiring him from the Celtics on Sunday, but the reigning Sixth Man of the Year is preparing to stay in Portland, tweets Casey Holdahl. “They want me here, I want to be here,” Brogdon said. “There’s a lot of misleading information out there about they need to trade me or I want to go. … I’m embracing being here.”
- Toumani Camara, who was acquired from Phoenix in the Lillard deal, has been an early standout at camp, according to Sean Highkin of Rose Garden Report (Twitter link).
League is soft. If youre the vet on the team making 150 million YOU ARE THE LEADER OF THE TEAM. Stand up take on that responsibility and be proud of it. Lead the team. Speak up to the rooks and guide them. This whole “it isn’t in his personality” is bullshhhhht
Portland has a chance to do a very solid rebuild here.
The media day narrative was very positive on how mature these young guys are and how it is showing up in their work ethic.
Scoot and Ayton should be leaders. It’s their team now.
Scoot is a 19 year old rookie. No matter how good or hyped he is, he should not the leader for a number of years yet. Be humble, stay quiet, and learn from some veterans.
The NBA doesn’t like veterans around anymore though
Blazers start PG. Brogdon SG. Simons SF. Thybulle PF. Reggie Williams C. Ayton. Find a young SG, PF and C. Then the rebuild will be in good shape
Robert*
Start Grant at SF or PF* forgot about him
Scoot Simons Thybulle Grant Ayton
Brogdan Sharpe … Murray Williams
Scoot Mattise and Ayton all non shooters is a concern. However the bench has Brogdan Sharoe and Murray who are all shooters.
Obviously nothing set in stone right now with this team besides Scoot and Ayton which is how it should be. Personally I like Sharpe more than Simons and wouldn’t mind dealing him for a better fit but I don’t see that happening anytime soon. Maybe down the road Simons for OG.
Scoot Sharpe OG Grant Ayton with Brogdan and Rob Will that’s slaps.
Raptors get a solid young guard in Simons and maybe they ask for a Mattise Thybulle aswell with a pick, I’d still do that
Don’t sleep on Portland, unless the FO wants to go for a full rebuild the Trailblazers have a very decent team, if they keep Brogdan, Grant and Williams III they have three solid veterans alongside Ayton and the rest of the young players in the team, the key piece here is how good really is Scoot, I think they will be alright.