Portland Trail Blazers 2023 Forecast: Changes; Depth Chart; Strength & Weakness
Additions: Ed. Note: Written pre-Jrue Holiday trade
- DeAndre Ayton
- Jrue Holiday
- Scoot Henderson
- Rayan Rupert
- Kris Murray
Losses:
- Damian Lillard
- Nassir Little
- Keon Johnson
- Jusuf Nurkic
Forecast Depth Chart:
- Scoot Henderson | Anfernee Simons
- Jrue Holiday | Shaedon Sharpe | Rayan Rupert
- Jerami Grant | Matisse Thuybulle | Kevin Knox
- Kris Murray
- DeAndre Ayton | Jabari Walker
- Sixth Man:
- Third Big:
Team Profile
Well, the Trail Blazers look a lot different. After trading Damian Lillard, Portland is now building around rookie Scoot Henderson, who should become one of the NBA’s elite players soon. Also, adding DeAndre Ayton might just give the Trail Blazers the all-star caliber big they’ve needed for awhile. I love Jrue Holiday as a player and yes, there is a chance they trade him as he’s expensive and in his 30s, but as a leader and stable two-way stud, he’s a guy they should want with Henderson. Portland isn’t ready for the playoffs, but the team has an excellent young roster. The Trail Blazers have a big problem with their roster in that they have no forward or center depth and four of their six biggest talents are at guard; the club really needs to sign a power forward and a center. Regardless, there’s some real talent on the Trail Blazers.
Player Profile:
Jerami Grant is an interesting player. He’s an excellent scoring combo forward, but would the Trail Blazers really have paid him if they knew Lillard would very soon demand a trade? I really, really, really doubt that. Grant will continue to score, but Portland isn’t ready to win, so those 20 points won’t help much. I could see him being shopped soon.
