Shaedon Sharpe, Trail Blazers agree to 4-year, $90 million contract extension

PORTLAND, Ore. — The Trail Blazers have secured one of the pillars in their rebuild, signing 22-year old guard Shaedon Sharpe to a contract extension worth $90 million over four years, according to a league source.

The Blazers believe Sharpe, a springy 6-foot-6 wing, has superstar potential, and the former No. 7 pick in the 2022 draft has been flashing signs last season and this preseason that his breakout is around the corner. He is the Blazers’ leading scorer this preseason at 19 points a game, which comes after he averaged 18.5 points and 4.5 rebounds in 72 games last season.

Sharpe figures to be at the center of what the Blazers are banking will be a return to relevance in the West. The Blazers have a young core that includes 24-year-old Deni Avdija, 25-year-old Toumani Camara and 21-year-old Donovan Clingan. Their hope is that Sharpe and 21-year-old point guard Scoot Henderson (who will miss the beginning of the season with a hamstring injury) pop this season to propel the Blazers into the playoffs for the first time since 2021.

Sharpe has a long list of high-flying dunks, and he is elite in creating his own shot off the dribble. But he has been a subpar 3-point shooter (31.3 percent last season) and has had his playing time shortened at times because of his defensive effort.

Sharpe has twice had surgery on his left shoulder — after his first Summer League game in his rookie season, and last season — and played only 32 games in his second NBA season after having surgery to repair a core injury.