sink or swim....put up or shut up....now or never 3 years into his career and he's still wildly inconsistent. But the excuses for that inconsistency are wearing out Clearly, he had a bad mesh with Simons. It just didn't work. This last season the Simons/Sharpe two-man combo was the 4th worst on the team. But the Scoot/Sharpe 2-man combo was the 4th best. Scoot/Sharpe were 9.5 points better (per 100 poss) than Simons/Sharpe but Simons is gone now, removing that obstacle/excuse. And logically, you'd probably assume that Jrue's ability to set up teammates is elite compared to Simons (but maybe it's not good to assume Sharpe will be the default SG?) I've noted this before, and it was a tiny sample size, but at the end of the season when Simons was out and Deni/Sharpe were given the keys to machine, Sharpe averaged 29-7-5. Pretty impressive....except for one factor: his efficiency. It still wasn't where it needs to be. Not close. But his problems with efficiency are welded to his poor 3 point shooting. Inside the arc and at the rim, he was very good. Problem was he took 43% of his shots behind the arc and he was bad at it personally, I think he needs to pattern his offense more like Demar Derozan or Devin Booker. Stop settling for so many three's and instead attack the mid-range and the rim. Hopefully he's working on his handles this summer I'm sure he wants an extension this summer; and he's only a year away for a 2nd contract. But has he really earned that extension yet? I'm not sure
Also a year with Jrue, assuming he is not flipped, should tell us if he really wants to improve his overall play and defense especially, Jrue will IMO be a great mentor, key now is will Shae use it and apply the effort, I have little doubt Scoot will soak it up
I like Shaedon. I think this team has been a dumpster fire around him and he's stayed pretty cool. He needs to do everything with a little more purpose and a little more intention but he still has the ability to be a superstar in this league. I don't know if this trade clear the runway for him but I hope that's where Joe and Chauncey's heads are at.
As constructed currently, Shae will be coming off the bench with Scoot. He will continue to have inconsistent play and get zero crunch time minutes because CB seems to have little need for him. He should be dealt before his value is completely wasted. Same for Scoot.
I'd be fine moving him in a deal that upgrades a starter spot. I don't see a deal out there though, and absent of that, I'm more than willing to bet on him figuring out the offense.
Once again, you're so sure about shit. How do you know any of this? The amount of growth either of those guys (Scooot and Shae) could do, could push Deni or Tou into a sixth man role. I'm not saying I know that's going to happen but it's a little off the wall to sound so sure about what is going to happen or what Chauncey's approach is going to be when we're talking about guys who are this young and a situation that's still developing.
What I am sure of is that, as is, Ayton, Grant and Holiday will start if on the opening day roster. Nobody is putting $30+ mil players on the bench. Everyone on here raves about Camara and how he is a CB guy. Deni was probably the best player last year once CB figured out how to use him. I would say they are locks to start. Maybe they put Deni on the bench with Scoot and start Shae. I am not speaking in absolutes, except for the $30+ mil players will start. There are three of them. Scoot, Shae, Deni and Clingan are not close to those salaries. Two of those four can start, as is. I am hoping that there is more to come. I am fine with all three of Portlands large contracts gone. They should be complementing the young guys, not relegating them to the bench and not getting meaningful minutes (crunch time). If Portland has pivoted for some reason to a vet laden team, then maximize the youth and get as much for them as possible. Fill out the roster and go for the play in if that is the new goal. But the west is deep. Whatever.
I don't think I understood that you were looking at this pragmatically and from a place of frustration with the likely truth. Sorry if I exacerbated the frustration. Pretty crazy time to be a fan of our team. You are probably right but GO BLAZERS anyways!!!
good post I’ll also mention I think defenses are really keying on chasing guys off the 3 pt line and in the playoffs you need guys who can score in mid range game. Sharpes 3pt shot will improve over time I think it’s just a matter of confidence. His mid range and inside paint game are very very good so I see no reason for him not to make a huge jump with Simon gone. My biggest concern is his defense which to me is just effort and getting benched last year seemed to send a message that he seemed to have gotten.
Thanks, and I will admit I am throwing a shit ton of snark in regarding Scoot/Shae relatively being relegated to the bench yet again saying they should just be traded for value before they lose their value. They are not getting any crunch time minutes, which is huge in my estimation. Practice only replicates so much. There is no crowd, bright lights or smell of popcorn to replicate a real game in its final 10 seconds. In my estimation, us fans have no idea what the direction is now. Last year Joe said all in on Scoot/Shae but there was little of that. Now Holiday with Grant? Ayton is fine for the season as Clingan not ready for prime time yet IMO. What is the new direction, Play in? Playoffs? Good lord, this team is in the west, not east. Portland could probably contend in the east. Work is slow. Too much time on my hands. Good thing is, my son and his teammates getting their State Championship rings tonight. The team manager is a Phillipina and making her native food and hosting everyone. I'm fasting for that!
This is a sink or swim season for Sharpe and he needs to figure out how to be more consistent and how to play NOT just using the fact he is a freak of an athlete. There are a ton of freak basketball players out there and most of them fade into the shadows unless they learn how to use it along with the instincts it takes to be a NBA superstar. This is what he needs to do and if he cannot then I have ZERO problem in trading him but that would be sad cause he has shown to have it at times but having IT at times is not enough - period
I remember hearing the same talk about Jermaine O'Neal and Meyers Leonard. Sure it's possible Shae breaks out this year. If he doesn't it doesn't guarantee his career will go one way or the other.
I really doubt Chauncey will be starting Deni or Camara at SG. If you are right and, for some reason, CB cares about how much money they all make when determining the starting lineup, then it will be Camara who comes off the bench.
Billups started Deni Camara Grant together all the games they were healthy together in the middle/end of last season. Grant Ant Ayton started 100% of games they played under Billups-Cronin. Jrue now takes Ants spot. I don't know why people would expect differently. Maybe some don't like Sharpe is coming off the bench in year 4? It's odd since it's been over a year Cronin said the franchise was being built around Scoot+Sharpe. Shocker - would seem you can't take a GMs words for being 100% literally true.
What's different? Shae played better at the end of the season. If he regresses, then you are probably right. If he improves over the summer, then you will be wrong.
I want Shae to play and become the star we all hoped for when he was drafted. Would love for him to be the number 1 option at the end of games. But that means Grant needs to be on the bench or gone. He will stop the ball movement and chuck it himself. I too do not want to see Camara playing SG. But I find no compelling evidence he will not start at SF for CB.
