The upcoming season marks a changing of the guard for Chauncey Billups’ Blazers who enter the season without Damian Lillard on the roster for the first time since 2011. With highly regarded rookie Scoot Henderson having arrived along with the likes of Deandre Ayton and Robert Williams III to shore up their core, the vibe has shifted in the Rip City. In these previews, we will take a look at each team’s key acquisitions, fantasy stars, and projected finish.
Key Acquisitions
Portland’s roster re-tool sees them welcome Henderson, Ayton, and Williams III along with reigning Sixth Man of the Year Malcolm Brogdon and rookies Kris Murray, Rayan Rupert, and Toumani Camara.
Lillard joins the likes of Jusuf Nurkić, Nassir Little, Cam Reddish, Drew Eubanks, Keon Johnson and Justise Winslow on the list of departing players.
The third pick in June’s draft, Henderson averaged 17.6 ppg, 5.1 rpg, and 6.4 apg on 54.6 TS% in the G-League last season and offers the Blazers a steady playmaker with the strength and athleticism to get the basket from day one.
Ayton, a former number one pick, comes to Portland after an up-and-down half-decade in Phoenix that consisted on deep playoff runs mixed with chemistry issues.
The 25-year-old is coming off a year in which he started in 67 games averaging 18.0 ppg and 10.0 rpg on 61.7 TS%.
Named a member of the NBA’s All-Defensive 2nd Team in 2021-22, Williams III’s biggest issue as a pro has been his availability – he is yet to have played more than 61 games in a season – but is an unquestioned difference-maker when on the floor – 13.0 ppg, 12.3 rpg, and 2.7 bpg per 36 minutes over the past three seasons.
Brogdon is a useful initiator who too has been hampered by injuries in recent years; he averaged 14.9 ppg and 3.7 apg on 61.5 TS% in 67 games last regular season before injuring himself in the playoffs.
Fantasy Stars
Deandre Ayton (45th overall, 14th C) is the highest rated Blazer in the fantasy world but Anfernee Simons (68th overall, 23rd PG/29th SG), Jerami Grant (71st overall, 24th PF), and Henderson will also be worth looking at.
Simons is coming off a year in which he averaged 21.1 ppg and 4.1 apg shooting 37.7 per cent on 9.1 nightly threes whilst Grant put up 20.5 ppg and 4.5 rpg on 60.6 TS%.
Projected Finish
Portland’s past few seasons have been characterised largely by mundanity but, with the roster now younger and several key building blocks making themselves known, their direction is as clear as it has been for some time.
Grant, Ayton, Williams III and Brogdon each remain productive NBA players whilst Henderson, Simons, and Shaedon Sharpe make up an enticing collection of young guards.
Expect the Blazers to be on the outside looking in at the postseason picture but there is enough talent there for them to remain ahead of the conference’s worst and trouble teams on a nightly basis.
