Trail Blazers Notes: Sharpe, Lillard, Durant, Free Agency

cheddon sharp It required more in-depth exploration than the other top expectations in Thursday’s draft, but Trail Blazers relieved they made the right decision, according to Mike Vorkunoff from Athletic. Because Sharpe never played after signing up for Kentucky, general manager Joe Cronin He sought his game movie in international competitions and whatever else he could find. Cronin was sold on a mustache after he was brought to Portland for a 3-on-3 workout.

“Shidon is an amazing talent,” Cronin said. “We’re really excited about his future. It was a unique situation with Shaedon as he didn’t play basketball in college. So he hasn’t been seen or evaluated nearly as much as a lot of these other people. But we’ve been fortunate enough to have a very good foundation built on Shaedon with our sightings.” Previously, specifically some of the new people we’ve hired who’ve seen a little bit more.”

Cronin was referring to the new assistant to General Motors Mike Schmitz, who was familiar with Sharpe from his previous role as an ESPN draft analyst. Sharp fills a need for the Blazers, who have been in the market for a sports winger who can score, and the 19-year-old gave Portland fans a preview of what they can expect.

“I’m a guy who loves attacking the edge, drawing some fouls, finishing over the edge, as well as engaging my teammates and shooting all three,” He said. “Just affecting the game.”

There is more from Portland:

• The Blazers were torn between Sharpe and G League guards Dyson Daniels With the choice of number 7, and Damian Lillard It appears to have influenced the final decision, he writes Jeremy Wu from Sports Illustrated. Lillard admired Sharp during two visits to Portland, and the front office made numerous calls to Kentucky employees to check his background.
• Lillard caused a stir on social media today when he posted a photo edited in photoshop On Instagram of himself and Kevin Durant They both wear Trailblazer costumes. Rumors have swirled that Durant might be on the move since reports of a Contract impasse between the Networks And the Keri Irving.
• While the Blazers seem to have improved after the draft and this week trade for Jeramy GrantCronin realizes that more must be done to become competitive again Aaron Fentress of Oregonian. Portland numbers have a mid-level exception for non-taxpayers, along with a semi-annual exception of approximately $4 million, two small business exceptions and tradable salaries in Eric BledsoeAnd the Josh Hart And the Justice Winslow. “What’s next is to stay on the road,” Cronin said. “We’re trying to be really aggressive. We know we’re not good enough. We want to keep trying to get better. So, it’s continuing to meet those needs. The draft is a big trading day, but it’s not the end as far as trades go.”