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The Portland Trail Blazers shopped the 7th pick for veterans to play next to star Damian Lillard. Toronto’s OG Anunoby was among rumored interests. But, the Blazers couldn’t procure an amiable deal and instead drafted the mysterious but highly gifted Shaedon Sharpe out of Kentucky with the pick.
The 6’6 Sharpe was a star athlete in high school in Arizona, averaging 21.4 points and almost 6 rebounds a game. He was named a five star recruit and was rated as the third best prospect in the 2021 class, and at one point the number one prospect in the 2022 class after joining the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League.
Sharpe committed to attend Kentucky, but decided not to play for the 2021-22 season. He has star potential, but is a big risk as he hasn’t played competitive basketball in over a year.
Though the Blazers saw enough of him in workouts to be impressed enough to draft him and take the chance. Blazers GM Joe Cronin says he believes Sharpe can have an immediate impact with the team, and he is excited to see Sharpe in action.
The Blazers traded the 46th pick (Ismael Kamagate) to the Denver Nuggets for a 2024 2nd rnd pick. Portland acquired the 46th pick as part of the Jerami Grant trade, sending #36(Gabriele Procida) to Detroit.
The Blazers took Colorado forward Jabari Walker with the 57th pick. Walker, a potential 3 and D averaged 14.9 points, 9.4 rebounds in his sophomore year and was named first team All Pac 12.
Walker will play alongside Shaedon Sharpe for the Blazers during the 2022 NBA Summer League.
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