Rookie point guard Scoot Henderson came out of the 2023 NBA Draft with enormous expectations, at times rivaling those of #1 overall pick Victor Wembanyama. Henderson is a physical specimen and has plenty of drive. He shot only 38.5% from the field his rookie season, committed 3.4 turnovers per game (5.9 per 100 possessions), and looked lost against NBA competition. If a team could get him in a defined system that played to his strengths, he could probably grow. But a constant buffet of pick and rolls that leave him with a choice between shooting over the defense or passing into the teeth of only exacerbates his problems.

If you’re looking for scoring, shooting guard Anfernee Simons averaged 22.6 points this year, adding 5.5 assists to the mix. The jury is out on his point guard abilities, but he could be an exciting combo guard, an incredible Sixth Man, or just remain at the two and provide volume buckets. Heading into his sixth year, he’s ready to hit his prime and probably needs to be featured as a first option in order to reach peak production.

Finally, if risk and upside are your cup of tea, Shaedon Sharpe is an explosive wing whose early-career development has been hampered by injuries. He played 80 games in his rookie season but only 32 this year. His shooting percentage plummeted from 47.2% to 40.6%, which is a concern. The three-point shot is not there, but he did show defensive improvement in his second season, differentiating him from every player we’ve mentioned prior. Sharpe’s explosiveness makes him the best candidate of the four to break out into true stardom, but he’s also the farthest away from consistently contributing.

Having gone through the list, a few things become apparent:

1. The Blazers already have several players fitting the “young, break-out star” mold.
2. If anything, they might want to get better at actually developing same before adding more. It’s like a bakery with four types of flour already claiming it needs a fifth. Hey, how about we just make some doughnuts?
3. That said, none of them are the kind of guaranteed, turnkey-ready superstar the team needs. They might get there, or the Blazers might get their SGA candidate, but the clearest way to resolve and rally around a course forward is to draft a player whose talent, and effect on the league, is undeniable.

Let’s honor the spirit of the original question, though. Blazer’s Edge Readers, what are your suggestions for attainable young stars who might help turn the franchise around? Share them in the comment section below and enjoy the conversation!