Portland Trail Blazers X-Factor For The 2025-26 Season - Shaedon Sharpe

It's only been four years, but the Portland Trail Blazers have been rebuilding or retooling for what feels like forever. And while it may seem like a long time, the Blazers have slowly put together a young, talented core, with Canadian combo guard/forward Shaedon Sharpe as an intriguing X-factor heading into this season.

Although just 22 years old, Sharpe was the Blazers' second-leading scorer last season, averaging 18.5 points per game. He provides the team with an explosive talent that can fill the basket in a number of ways, with elite-level athleticism and shooting touch that can make him a nightmare matchup for opposing defenders. Able to create his own shot, attack the rim with highlight reel-worthy finishes, and knock down contested jumpers, Sharpe gives the Blazers a legitimate three-tier scorer.

Having fully committed to their youth movement with Scoot Henderson and Donovan Clingan as developing lottery picks looking to prove themselves as future cornerstones of the franchise, Sharpe has the opportunity to become the offensive focal point of the team. With the recent offseason trade of Anfernee Simons, the team's leading scorer the past two years, a more stable scoring role and greater usage rate are available for Sharpe to take advantage of with more minutes, touches, and an expanded offensive role.

If Sharpe can improve his three-point percentage and limit his turnovers (his 2.1 were the third most on the team last season), he could very well take the leap from a promising young player filled with raw potential to a borderline All-Star caliber player.

It is unlikely that the Blazers will contend for a playoff seed this season, with the core of their team having seven years of NBA experience or less. However, if Sharpe can up his scoring to an efficient 20+ points per game and the rest of his teammates match the expectations that were made of them entering the league, the Blazers could find themselves battling for the 9th or 10th play-in seed