The Portland Trail Blazers enter the 2024-25 NBA season in search of a true cornerstone player after the departure of Damian Lillard. With veterans like Jerami Grant and Deandre Ayton leading the team, the spotlight is on young guards Anfernee Simons, Shaedon Sharpe, and Scoot Henderson to step up and prove themselves as franchise building blocks. Sharpe’s injury setback opens the door for Henderson to make his mark, but he will need to improve his shooting efficiency to solidify his place in Portland’s future plans.
Damian Lillard has signed a three-year, $42 million contract with the Portland Trail Blazers, which includes a player option for the 2027-28 season and a no-trade clause, while he recovers from a torn Achilles that will sideline him for the 2025-26 season. After requesting a trade, Lillard was moved to the Milwaukee Bucks, who utilized the waive-and-stretch provision on his contract, allowing him to potentially reunite with the Blazers in the future. Need More Context? 🔎
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