The Trail Blazers snuck into the postseason via the play-in tournament, only to get bounced in the first round by Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs. Despite a disappointing exit, things are looking up in Portland as the pieces are in place to build a solid foundation.
Portland went from being a lottery team for four years in a row to reaching the playoffs this season. Two years ago, they won 21 games, and doubled that during the 2025–26 campaign. That's the kind of rapid improvement teams want when they invest in a youth movement.
Key Players Emerged
While young guards Shaedon Sharpe and Scoot Henderson, two former lottery picks, both showed flashes this season, a true star emerged.
Deni Avdija had a career year, averaging 24.2 points, 6.9 rebounds and 6.7 assists in 33.3 minutes per game. He was a first-time All-Star and has emerged as the team's offensive centerpiece.
Sharpe averaged 20.8 points per game and his shot selection improved, while center Donovan Clingan made a big leap from Year 1 to Year 2. Meanwhile, 25-year-old wing Toumani Camara also showed promise in his third season.
Areas to Improve
There were plenty of negatives, though. The team was inconsistent all season, which is the hallmark of a young squad. Henderson has all-world talent but can be maddeningly up-and-down and struggled with injuries.
Perhaps most importantly, they were one of the NBA's worst three-point shooting teams all season and ranked 28th from beyond the arc at 34.3%. That should get a boost with Damian Lillard returning next season, but the team needs to find more shooters.
2026 Free Agents
The Blazers are well over the cap heading into next season, even if they release all of their cap holds. They have $170 million committed to the roster, with Jrue Holiday ($34.8 million) and Jerami Grant ($34.2 million) each taking up a huge chunk of that space.
That's a lot of money committed to non-star players in their 30s who don't match the current team's timeline. Both guys are signed through the 2027–28 campaign, so Portland will likely attempt to move one or both of them this summer.
Unrestricted Free Agents
- Robert Williams III – Big man and useful role player
- Matisse Thybulle – Useful role player set for free agency
Restricted Free Agent
- Caleb Love – Played 49 games, averaged 10.4 points per game
As of now, the Blazers will have the mid-level exception available to bolster the roster. Williams and Thybulle will likely be too expensive to re-sign, while Love could return on a cheap deal.
Draft Assets
Portland has to be kicking itself for not owning its first-round pick this season. Back in 2021, the team surrendered its pick (No. 15) to the Bulls as part of a three-way deal that sent Larry Nance Jr. to Portland, while Lauri Markkanen went to the Cavs and Derrick Jones went to Chicago. In hindsight, that was an awful deal.
The Blazers' second-rounder was dealt to the Pelicans in 2021 in exchange for the draft rights to Greg Brown. Brown played in 64 total games for the Blazers from 2021 to '23. He's now playing overseas.
Damian Lillard's Return
Damian Lillard will return to the court for the Trail Blazers next year after spending the year recovering from a torn Achilles. His expected return should provide a significant boost to the team's three-point shooting.
There is promise with this squad, but demonstrable improvements need to be made. The Blazers will look to move off of one of their big contracts this summer while adding shooting around their young core.