Time to package Sharpe?

[Tim Lehrbach]

Yeah, I just think it’s silly to essentially throw away a 17ppg scorer in his third year. I understand the hesitation to pay, which is why I would stick the route of only resigning him in RFA if he gets an offer, or seriously consider moving him in a package deal as incentive filler if possible.

To me, just losing him for nothing is the equivalent of 3 second rounders. Second rounders are essentially in most scenarios nothing.

The only part of this is I agree with is, if the right package deal to move up develops. Odds of this happening are 0%, for multiple reasons due to the impact on trades by the new CBA rules.

There are players available in the second round of many drafts, including this one, that could produce Sharpes stats, given the same minutes. Pick #52 Camara says hello, and at a salary cap hit much less than Sharpe.

Due to several changes in the CBA trade rules. Taking on bad contracts is much harder to swallow. Combined with the new restrictions on trading cash and future picks. All combine to raise the value of trading both first AND second round picks..

Take a look at this seasons trades to see the affect the new CBA has made. There were very few first round picks in trades, and many of them were swaps. However, there were a ton of second round picks traded.

Second roubd picks are now more valuable than ever.

BTW, matching a rfa offer for Sharpe would tie up too much valuable cap space, and worse than letting him walk for nothing. Take the seconds, it will be the Blazers best option.

Pardon mistakes , not seeing well this morning.

As I've said, I want to move on from Sharpe too. I would let him walk vs. paying him $40 million annually, or whatever he'd get. And I hear you on the relative worth of picks these days. I will nevertheless hold out hope that he could return a decent first. Maybe that's as silly as all the chatter that we'd get one for Ayton, Grant, or Simons. We'll see.

[PDXKnight]

^ I'm not sure what Sharpe is worth around the league but I'd have to agree he's worth more than seconds in a trade. I'd have to think all 29 other teams do that trade if we offered it and furthermore they'd think they committed a heist

The salary does matter to me, it is possible there's a scenario that no team wants to offer him major money so if we arent stupid and preemptively offer him a mega extension maybe we'd have the option of matching 4/80 mil instead of 4/160 mil. But somehow I have a hard time imagining Cronin not offering that big extension before it gets to rfa

[Sinobas]

Sharpe has 1st round pick value, easily. Think about what kind of numbers he'd be putting up if here were in college right now. A team would take him in the top 15.

I wouldn't trade him for crap, I'd rather keep him. I just foresee some stupid team offering him something ridiculous, and Cronin matching....the Blazer way...

Camara is going to get paid, which is a new big contract that came out of left field.

[PDXKnight]

Sharpe has 1st round pick value, easily. Think about what kind of numbers he'd be putting up if here were in college right now. A team would take him in the top 15.

I wouldn't trade him for crap, I'd rather keep him. I just foresee some stupid team offering him something ridiculous, and Cronin matching....the Blazer way...

Camara is going to get paid, which is a new big contract that came out of left field.

I worry the same with Sharpe. There would be demand but I think more than a team wanting him would be a team giving him a poison pill contract knowing that we would match. Or Cronin bidding against himself by giving him a max extension this off season or close to it..

We have a little bit of time on Camara at least but as much as an overpay would stink at least we could justify that contract a bit more with him as he's a 2 way player who still brings production when his shot isn't falling.

[DusterBuster]

Sharpe has 1st round pick value, easily. Think about what kind of numbers he'd be putting up if here were in college right now. A team would take him in the top 15.

I wouldn't trade him for crap, I'd rather keep him. I just foresee some stupid team offering him something ridiculous, and Cronin matching....the Blazer way...

Camara is going to get paid, which is a new big contract that came out of left field.

I worry the same with Sharpe. There would be demand but I think more than a team wanting him would be a team giving him a poison pill contract knowing that we would match. Or Cronin bidding against himself by giving him a max extension this off season or close to it..

We have a little bit of time on Camara at least but as much as an overpay would stink at least we could justify that contract a bit more with him as he's a 2 way player who still brings production when his shot isn't falling.

I think this is more a thing from a bygone CBA era. I don’t believe teams are as willing to throw crazy contracts out there for RFAs with this current CBA. Teams have to be more prudent about their spending.

[Wizenheimer]

Sharpe has been a disappointment, no doubt

but before the Blazers give up on Sharpe, they really ought to consider a divorce from Billups as coach and see if a new coach can change things for Sharpe. The odds are probably not great but the reality, at least for me, is that giving up on Chauncey's upside is a lot less drastic than giving up on Sharpe's upside

there's also another reality: trading Sharpe gives Cronin another the excuse to re-sign Simons for 40M/year. To me that would be much worse than riding Sharpe's value to zero

the other side of the coin is that it's probably easier to find value for a player with a full year left on his rookie deal than it is to find value for a player with 30 games left on his rookie deal

[Butter]

Cap experts - what are the details on Sharps extension? If the Blazers trade him, when would the other team have to extend him? Can he play one more season on his current deal, or would he have to be expended immediately this off season?

[Butter]

Compare Shaedon with this seasons golden boy, Cam Johnson

https://fanspo.com/nba/compare-players/cameron-johnson-1629661/shaedon-sharpe-1631101

[zzaj]

Compare Shaedon with this seasons golden boy, Cam Johnson

https://fanspo.com/nba/compare-players/cameron-johnson-1629661/shaedon-sharpe-1631101

Cam is statistically pretty well ahead, but of course he’s paid for it.

[Wizenheimer]

Cap experts - what are the details on Sharps extension? If the Blazers trade him, when would the other team have to extend him? Can he play one more season on his current deal, or would he have to be expended immediately this off season?

he's on year 3 of a 4 year rookie scale deal. Unless the new CBA changed things, if he was traded to another team his full bird rights would go with him so his new team could give him an extension provided is was within the allowable times for an extension

the max salary for a player coming off rookie scale is 25% of the cap. If you assume that with the new media rights deal, which starss next season, will hit the max salary cap increase of 10% (because of smoothing), then the cap next season will be 110% of the current 140.588M cap, or around 154.65M. And the cap for the following season, when Sharpe's new deal will kick in would be 170M

so, hypothetically Sharpe would be eligible for a base salary of 25% of 170M. That would be 42.5M. A max 5 year deal for Sharpe (base salary + 8% step raises) would be a 5-year/247M contract. About 49.3M/year

[Butter]

Compare Shaedon with this seasons golden boy, Cam Johnson

https://fanspo.com/nba/compare-players/cameron-johnson-1629661/shaedon-sharpe-1631101

Cam is statistically pretty well ahead, but of course he’s paid for it.

Really? I was surprised how close they are:

Johnson / Sharp

Games played 35 / 39 > 5
Points: 19.4 / 17.3 < 2.1
Rebs: 4.1 / 4.0 <. 01
Asts 2.9 / 2.5 < 0.4
Fg%. 49.1 / 44.3 < 4.8%
3pt%. 41.9 / 31.4 <10.5%
FT%. 89.8 / 79.5 <10.4%


The biggest gap is shooting percentages. Shaedon is having a but he's nipping at Johnsons heals even during a down shooting year,

[Butter]

Cap experts - what are the details on Sharps extension? If the Blazers trade him, when would the other team have to extend him? Can he play one more season on his current deal, or would he have to be expended immediately this off season?

he's on year 3 of a 4 year rookie scale deal. Unless the new CBA changed things, if he was traded to another team his full bird rights would go with him so his new team could give him an extension provided is was within the allowable times for an extension

the max salary for a player coming off rookie scale is 25% of the cap. If you assume that with the new media rights deal, which starss next season, will hit the max salary cap increase of 10% (because of smoothing), then the cap next season will be 110% of the current 140.588M cap, or around 154.65M. And the cap for the following season, when Sharpe's new deal will kick in would be 170M

so, hypothetically Sharpe would be eligible for a base salary of 25% of 170M. That would be 42.5M. A max 5 year deal for Sharpe (base salary + 8% step raises) would be a 5-year/247M contract. About 49.3M/year

Does that mean that another team could trade for him this off-season, play him next year on his rookie deal, and then decide NEXT summer if they wanted to extend him?

[Sinobas]

Compare Shaedon with this seasons golden boy, Cam Johnson

https://fanspo.com/nba/compare-players/cameron-johnson-1629661/shaedon-sharpe-1631101

Cam is statistically pretty well ahead, but of course he’s paid for it.

Really? I was surprised how close they are:

Johnson / Sharp

Games played 35 / 39 > 5
Points: 19.4 / 17.3 < 2.1
Rebs: 4.1 / 4.0 <. 01
Asts 2.9 / 2.5 < 0.4
Fg%. 49.1 / 44.3 < 4.8%
3pt%. 41.9 / 31.4 <10.5%
FT%. 89.8 / 79.5 <10.4%


The biggest gap is shooting percentages. Shaedon is having a but he's nipping at Johnsons heals even during a down shooting year,

Cam's TS% is 65% this year, which is elite. Sharpe is at 55%, which is below the league average. So that 10% point swing in offensive efficiency is pretty major.

And I don't know much about Cam's defense, but Shaedon has ranked near the league bottom in advanced defensive metrics.

[Wizenheimer]

Cap experts - what are the details on Sharps extension? If the Blazers trade him, when would the other team have to extend him? Can he play one more season on his current deal, or would he have to be expended immediately this off season?

he's on year 3 of a 4 year rookie scale deal. Unless the new CBA changed things, if he was traded to another team his full bird rights would go with him so his new team could give him an extension provided is was within the allowable times for an extension

the max salary for a player coming off rookie scale is 25% of the cap. If you assume that with the new media rights deal, which starss next season, will hit the max salary cap increase of 10% (because of smoothing), then the cap next season will be 110% of the current 140.588M cap, or around 154.65M. And the cap for the following season, when Sharpe's new deal will kick in would be 170M

so, hypothetically Sharpe would be eligible for a base salary of 25% of 170M. That would be 42.5M. A max 5 year deal for Sharpe (base salary + 8% step raises) would be a 5-year/247M contract. About 49.3M/year

Does that mean that another team could trade for him this off-season, play him next year on his rookie deal, and then decide NEXT summer if they wanted to extend him?

yes....pretty sure that could happen

[zzaj]

Cam is statistically pretty well ahead, but of course he’s paid for it.

Really? I was surprised how close they are:

Johnson / Sharp

Games played 35 / 39 > 5
Points: 19.4 / 17.3 < 2.1
Rebs: 4.1 / 4.0 <. 01
Asts 2.9 / 2.5 < 0.4
Fg%. 49.1 / 44.3 < 4.8%
3pt%. 41.9 / 31.4 <10.5%
FT%. 89.8 / 79.5 <10.4%


The biggest gap is shooting percentages. Shaedon is having a but he's nipping at Johnsons heals even during a down shooting year,

Cam's TS% is 65% this year, which is elite. Sharpe is at 55%, which is below the league average. So that 10% point swing in offensive efficiency is pretty major.

And I don't know much about Cam's defense, but Shaedon has ranked near the league bottom in advanced defensive metrics.

Yeah, if you take a close look at both shooting metrics and defensive metrics it’s like night and day difference between Cam and Sharpe.

Sharpe has never been a good defensive player…even pre-NBA he was bad. That was the main knock in him in predraft. It’s doubtful he’ll ever be an above average defensive player…which means he’ll have to be an exceptional offensive player to offset that.

[Butter]

Really? I was surprised how close they are:

Johnson / Sharp

Games played 35 / 39 > 5
Points: 19.4 / 17.3 < 2.1
Rebs: 4.1 / 4.0 <. 01
Asts 2.9 / 2.5 < 0.4
Fg%. 49.1 / 44.3 < 4.8%
3pt%. 41.9 / 31.4 <10.5%
FT%. 89.8 / 79.5 <10.4%


The biggest gap is shooting percentages. Shaedon is having a but he's nipping at Johnsons heals even during a down shooting year,

Cam's TS% is 65% this year, which is elite. Sharpe is at 55%, which is below the league average. So that 10% point swing in offensive efficiency is pretty major.

And I don't know much about Cam's defense, but Shaedon has ranked near the league bottom in advanced defensive metrics.

Yeah, if you take a close look at both shooting metrics and defensive metrics it’s like night and day difference between Cam and Sharpe.

Sharpe has never been a good defensive player…even pre-NBA he was bad. That was the main knock in him in predraft. It’s doubtful he’ll ever be an above average defensive player…which means he’ll have to be an exceptional offensive player to offset that.

I've been monitoring Johnson for several seasons. Before this year, Nets fans were pretty down on him during the Bridges time-line.

It's a bit of an apples and oranges comparison though. After the Nets cleared out their roster, Cam was a focus of their offense. For Shaedon to be in the same ballpark for offense says something.

I'm not saying that Shaedon is maxing his potential, but I do believe he's better than some are giving him credit for

[zzaj]

Cam's TS% is 65% this year, which is elite. Sharpe is at 55%, which is below the league average. So that 10% point swing in offensive efficiency is pretty major.

And I don't know much about Cam's defense, but Shaedon has ranked near the league bottom in advanced defensive metrics.

Yeah, if you take a close look at both shooting metrics and defensive metrics it’s like night and day difference between Cam and Sharpe.

Sharpe has never been a good defensive player…even pre-NBA he was bad. That was the main knock in him in predraft. It’s doubtful he’ll ever be an above average defensive player…which means he’ll have to be an exceptional offensive player to offset that.

I've been monitoring Johnson for several seasons. Before this year, Nets fans were pretty down on him during the Bridges time-line.

It's a bit of an apples and oranges comparison though. After the Nets cleared out their roster, Cam was a focus of their offense. For Shaedon to be in the same ballpark for offense says something.

I'm not saying that Shaedon is maxing his potential, but I do believe he's better than some are giving him credit for

Take a look here...even ORTG and DRTG shows that they aren't even that close.

But all of that ignores that Cam is solidly in his prime years as a player at 28, while Sharpe is still only 21. Who knows what Sharpe will look like in 7 years...

I have no idea if a different coach could "unlock" Sharpe. My sense is that he shrinks away from good PofA defense and tends to just pass and defer to others. The issue with that is that his passing typically doesn't lead to anything, and resets the offense with less shotclock. Sharpe doesn't really gain separation off the dribble--that's something that he can improve upon, but we've not really seen any progress in his pro years. He should be living at the foul line with his athleticism. During stretches when he's been "the guy" when both Simons and Scoot have been out, he's put up some decent raw numbers but has been pretty inefficient.

I wish we could meld Banton's attack mindset into Sharpe's skillset.

EDIT: Whoops, forgot to post the link:
https://stathead.com/basketball/versus-finder.cgi?request=1&seasons_type=forall&year_min=2025&year_max=2025&player_id1=johnsca02&player_id2=sharpsh01

[JRoy]

Im a Sharpe believer. He needs better coaching and good vet guards to show him the way.

POR doesn’t have either.

[dckingsfan]

Yeah, I just think it’s silly to essentially throw away a 17ppg scorer in his third year. I understand the hesitation to pay, which is why I would stick the route of only resigning him in RFA if he gets an offer, or seriously consider moving him in a package deal as incentive filler if possible.

To me, just losing him for nothing is the equivalent of 3 second rounders. Second rounders are essentially in most scenarios nothing.

The only part of this is I agree with is, if the right package deal to move up develops. Odds of this happening are 0%, for multiple reasons due to the impact on trades by the new CBA rules.

There are players available in the second round of many drafts, including this one, that could produce Sharpes stats, given the same minutes. Pick #52 Camara says hello, and at a salary cap hit much less than Sharpe.

Due to several changes in the CBA trade rules. Taking on bad contracts is much harder to swallow. Combined with the new restrictions on trading cash and future picks. All combine to raise the value of trading both first AND second round picks..

Take a look at this seasons trades to see the affect the new CBA has made. There were very few first round picks in trades, and many of them were swaps. However, there were a ton of second round picks traded.

Second roubd picks are now more valuable than ever.

BTW, matching a rfa offer for Sharpe would tie up too much valuable cap space, and worse than letting him walk for nothing. Take the seconds, it will be the Blazers best option.

Pardon mistakes , not seeing well this morning.

You hit this one perfectly - no mistakes.

Ayton, Simons, Williams, Thybulle and Sharpe's value are as expiring contracts for Portland.

Unless...

You can put them on contracts like Avdija's. $15M and declining, otherwise let them walk. Do we think Cronin has what it takes in this regard (a rhetorical question)?

BTW, Thybulle obviously not. Williams less given his injury history. You would then have something like this:

Code: Select all

Player        2025-26        2026-27        2027-28        2028-29        2029-30
Ayton         $35,550,814    $16,000,000    $14,720,000    $13,440,000    $12,160,000
Grant         $32,000,001    $34,206,898    $36,413,790       
Simons        $27,678,571    $16,000,000    $14,720,000    $13,440,000    $12,160,000
Avdija        $14,375,000    $13,125,000    $11,875,000       
Williams      $13,285,713    $10,000,000     $9,200,000     $8,400,000    $7,600,000
Thybulle      $11,550,000             
Henderson     $10,748,040    $13,585,523          
Sharpe         $8,399,983    $16,000,000    $16,800,421    $17,599,719    $22,351,642
Clingan        $7,178,400    $7,519,920      $9,550,298       
Murray         $3,132,000    $5,315,004          
Reath          $2,221,677             
Camara         $2,221,677    $2,406,205    $16,000,000     $14,720,000    $13,440,000
Banton         $2,221,677    $2,406,205          
Walker         $2,221,677    $2,406,205          
2025 FRP       ??            ??              ??             ??             ??         
Total        $172,785,230  $138,970,960    $129,279,509    $67,599,719    $67,711,642

[DeBlazerRiddem]

I would listen to offers for Sharpe because I am a bit scared of how he will react once he gets paid but also you gotta take risks in this business and Sharpe has the type of game that could make him a star one day.

His handles still prevent him from taking a larger role, but I agree if we could put Banton's attack mindset into Shaedon he would be a much scarier player for opposing teams.