The Portland Trail Blazers’ backcourt is suddenly crowded in a way that puts two familiar names on shaky ground.
Damian Lillard is back from a torn Achilles, and Portland also traded for Ja Morant. According to NBA insider Chris Haynes, the Blazers view both Lillard and Morant as starters, which creates an obvious problem for Jrue Holiday and Shaedon Sharpe after the two combined for 93 starts last season.
Holiday’s résumé says starter. He has made 1,007 starts in 1,090 games over 17 NBA seasons, and he’s heading into year 18.
But the way Portland’s roster is now built, he’s likely to slide into a second-unit role next season. The Blazers still see him as an important piece, yet it’s difficult to picture him in the opening five with both Lillard and Morant in the mix.
There has to be some balance, and the size issue in that group is hard to ignore.
Even so, Holiday is the kind of veteran who can handle the adjustment. He’s long been known as a consummate professional, and he should still be a major part of what Portland does this season.
Sharpe’s situation is different, but just as complicated. Portland signed him to a four-year, $90 million deal about nine months ago, and that extension begins this upcoming season. His average annual value is set at $22.5 million over the next four years.
He’s only 23, so there’s plenty of runway left in his career. Still, his clearest path right now appears to be blocked.
When everyone is healthy, Sharpe looks like a natural fit as the sixth man. He just posted a career-best 20.8 points per game last season, but it’s tough to see him starting next to Morant and Lillard unless his defense takes a major step forward.
If Lillard or Morant misses time, Sharpe will probably be asked to step into the lineup. The downside is that the role could become uneven, and that kind of inconsistency can slow development.
There’s also a real case for Sharpe to thrive in a bench role. He has the kind of scoring punch that could put him in the mix for Sixth Man of the Year if he stays there.
Holiday may be the more natural fill-in starter when injuries hit, since he offers more flexibility and brings the kind of defensive edge that fits a starting group. But new head coach Micah Nori will have plenty to sort through, and he’ll likely test different combinations as new opponents come through the schedule each night. In the end, it’ll be on him to settle on the lineup that gets the most out of Portland.
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