Shaedon Sharpe is one of the bright young hopes for the Portland Trail Blazers. His 18.5 points per game last season made him Portland’s second-leading scorer. He was first on the team in points per minute and possession. It was a step forward for the third-year shooting guard, once considered an enigma but now coming into his own.

As Sharpe’s game is opening up, so too are his contract possibilities. Next summer he will be eligible for restricted free agency, presuming the Blazers make a qualifying offer to earn the right to retain him. That’s a near-certainty barring a trade. Another option presents itself, though. Sharpe and the Blazers could agree to a preemptive contract extension, keeping him in the fold without hitting the open market and fielding offers from other teams.

John Hol

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