When talking about the Portland Trail Blazers this summer, we often end up discussing what they’ve been up to in the offseason.
Most of the time, it‘s about Damian Lillard’s return and the trade with the Boston Celtics that saw Jrue Holiday go to Portland.
The Trail Blazers also generated buzz through their draft selection of Yang Hansen, who successfully shone in the Summer League and garnered comparisons to Nikola Jokic.
Lost in the star-power discussions is a developing talent already on the roster. NBA insider Zach Lowe believes Shaedon Sharpe represents Portland’s most intriguing young asset moving forward.
The soon-to-be fourth-year guard showed significant improvement last season, posting career-high numbers while displaying flashes of elite potential.
Lowe sees similarities between Sharpe’s playing style and Celtics superstar Jayson Tatum, though he emphasized the substantial gap between their current production levels.
Lowe highlighted specific aspects of Sharpe’s driving ability that mirror Tatum’s approach to scoring in traffic.
“If you watch 300 Shaedon Sharpe drives or something like that, you will see 20 glimpses where he kind of looks like Jayson Tatum,” Lowe explained.
“I don’t mean to compare them as players because Jayson Tatum is a first-team All-NBA player and Shaedon Sharpe is very far from that.”
The analyst noted Sharpe’s size advantage and methodical approach to creating scoring opportunities. His ability to control pace and find optimal positioning resembles Tatum’s patient offensive style.
“But just in terms of the size, the like sort of start and stop in the mid-range until ‘I get where I want to go’ and an occasional shoulder to get one step closer, there were a few drives in there I was like, ‘Oh that kind of reminds me a little bit of Jayson,’” Lowe added.
Sharpe averaged 18.5 points per game last season while shooting 45.2% from the field, establishing himself as a legitimate scoring threat.
His improvement represents significant progress from his rookie contributions.
The 22-year-old guard combines explosive athleticism with improving basketball instincts, creating scoring opportunities through aggressive drives to the basket.
Sharpe’s offensive versatility allows him to create shots in multiple ways, whether attacking off the dribble or spotting up from the perimeter positions.
This skill set makes him valuable alongside both veteran leadership and developing young talent.
Lillard’s injury situation could create additional opportunities for Sharpe’s continued development. The young guard may assume increased offensive responsibilities while the veteran recovers from his current ailments.
Portland’s supporting cast includes Holiday, Jerami Grant, Dani Avdija, and Scoot Henderson, providing Sharpe with complementary talents for offensive execution as well as defensive stability.
The Western Conference’s competitive nature demands immediate contributions from developing players like Sharpe.
Lowe acknowledged the substantial distance between Sharpe’s current level and Tatum’s All-NBA production, but the foundation exists for continued improvement.
Portland’s rebuild timeline aligns perfectly with Sharpe’s development curve, making him a crucial piece of their future.
