NBA Draft Rumors: Hornets pick locked in, Wembanyama effect, Blazers trade non-starter

NBA Draft rumors: Trail Blazers say Shaedon Sharpe is off limits in a potential trade for the No. 3 pick

The Portland Trail Blazers managed to get a pick higher than the Detroit Pistons and Houston Rockets, both of whom had worse records. This puts the Trail Blazers in a predicament. Do they stay put and select the best player available? Or do they move it to land a star player to pair alongside Damian Lillard?

According to Yahoo Sports’ Jake Fischer, the team is exploring trading the No. 3 pick, but the belief is that the team’s 2022 first-round pick Shaedon Sharpe is “off limits” in a trade package.

"“There’s nothing promised about Portland’s future at this juncture, either. But one detail has emerged from early trade conversations around the league: Trail Blazers officials have left inquiring teams with the impression that Shaedon Sharpe, the No. 7 pick in last year’s draft, is off limits in any dialogue regarding the No. 3 pick,” writes Fischer."

The Trail Blazers selected Sharpe with the seventh-overall pick after he redshirted his first and only year at Kentucky. Sharpe played in all but two games for Portland (15 starts), where he averaged 9.9 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.2 assists while recording a field goal percentage of 47.2 and a three-point percentage of 36.0.

Based on this report, the Trail Blazers have high hopes for Sharpe, believing he can play an integral role on the team.