The Portland Trail Blazers face a major decision this season regarding Shaedon Sharpe’s future. The young guard is now eligible for a rookie extension, and the team must determine by season’s end whether he fits into their long-term plans.
Sharpe, selected seventh overall in the 2022 NBA Draft despite never suiting up for Kentucky, has shown flashes of star potential in Portland. Still, committing to him would require a significant financial investment. According to one NBA insider, the Blazers are expected to move forward with an extension — and it won’t come cheap.
NBA Insider Believes the Trail Blazers Could sign Shaedon Sharpe to a Massive Extension
NBA insider Jake Fischer of The Stein Line reports that the Portland Trail Blazers could end up offering Shaedon Sharpe a lucrative rookie extension worth close to $100 million.
“I’ve been told that the Blazers’ initial extension to Sharpe landed in the four-year, $90 million ballpark,” Fischer wrote. “But when I speak to various team strategists, more often than not I hear an expectation that the bouncy swingman will ultimately command a Giddey-esque deal in the four-year, $100 million range — if not higher.”
The question for Portland, however, is whether Sharpe’s offensive surge late last season represents real growth or just empty numbers on a losing team.
As Fischer noted, Sharpe’s third-year performance, particularly over the final 30 games — stood out on several teams’ predictive models. The lingering debate: was that a genuine breakout or just inflated production for a squad already out of contention?
The Trail Blazers Need to See Consistency With Sharpe Before They Offer Him a Massive Contract
The Trail Blazers will want to see Shaedon Sharpe maintain his production early in the season before committing that kind of money. Portland is still searching for a young player who can develop into a true star and help push the team back into playoff contention.
Sharpe has delivered flashes of brilliance, but consistency remains the key to unlocking his potential.
Last season, the 21-year-old averaged 18.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game, shooting 45.2% from the field and 31.1% from three-point range. Those are promising numbers, but the Blazers will need to see steady improvement before rewarding him with a major extension.
Source: SI.COM
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