Trail Blazers Still Looking To Solve Point Guard Puzzle

The 2024-25 Portland Trail Blazers are young, fun, and full of potential. With 95% of the roster under 27, they’ve got the kind of upside that keeps fans intrigued and opponents taking notes for a few years down the line.

But let’s not sugarcoat it: this is the NBA’s equivalent of a gap year. Wins? Few and far between. Entertainment? Oh, plenty of that.

It’s all part of the post-Damian Lillard process. Portland’s lineup is no longer a revolving door of temporary solutions. The starting five is credible, and the bench? Full of upside. Still, through 20 games, the Blazers’ Achilles’ heel has been exposed: they don’t have a reliable point guard to steer the ship.

Now, on paper, it doesn’t look like a crisis. Anfernee Simons is an explosive scorer. Scoot Henderson, the much-hyped rookie, is improving. Dalano Banton has provided unexpected scoring sparks.

Deni Avdija offers playmaking from the forward spot. And Shaedon Sharpe? He’s been tossed the keys on occasion too. Sounds like a crowded backcourt, right? But here’s the problem—none of these guys are the full package.

Simons and Sharpe aren’t natural distributors. Henderson’s shooting hasn’t caught up to his driving ability. Avdija, while crafty, struggles when pressured on drives. Banton? Work in progress.

Turnovers are the recurring theme, and Portland’s offense can feel like a roulette wheel: slam dunk or total chaos, spin to find out.

The modern NBA demands point guards who can shoot, pass, and at least try to defend. The Blazers don’t have one player who checks all three boxes. Avdija might be the closest, but he’s not a natural point. Henderson is raw, and Banton is buried in the rotation.

Portland’s front office has two options: hope one of these players evolves or find their floor general through the draft or trade. Either way, it’s clear — this team’s long-term success hinges on solving their point guard puzzle.

For now, expect more ups, downs, and head-scratching moments. At least it’s never boring.

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