The Portland Trail Blazers are no longer the sneaky surprise they were a year ago. After grabbing the No. 7 seed last season, they head into 2026-27 with a very different kind of spotlight, and a roster built to make noise under first-year head coach Micah Nori.
The biggest swing came with the addition of Ja Morant, who is now set to steer the new regime. On paper, that gives Portland the kind of high-end offensive engine teams need when the West gets crowded and unforgiving.
The real issue isn’t whether the Blazers can hang with the best teams in the conference. It’s whether they can last through the grind.
Deni Avdija is part of that equation after the best season of his career. He averaged 24 points per game, along with just under seven assists and seven rebounds per game. Donovan Clingan also took a clear step forward in his second NBA season, putting up 12 points and 11 rebounds per game in just 27 minutes as the starting center.
Portland still has plenty of scoring options beyond Morant and Avdija. Shaedon Sharpe averaged 20 points per game last year, though he will likely be coming off the bench with Scoot Henderson. Morant’s arrival means Henderson is also likely headed for a reserve role, which is an unfortunate turn for him, but one that comes with the territory when the backcourt gets crowded.
That crowd includes Jrue Holiday and Toumani Camara, both of whom are back and both of whom matter more for what they do on defense than for what they bring as scorers. Their perimeter work is expected to be the main backbone of Portland’s defense this season.
That’s the central challenge for Nori: managing a roster with a real logjam in the backcourt. It’s a good problem to have, but it still means someone is going to have to sacrifice touches and minutes for the group to function cleanly.
And even with all that talent, nothing is guaranteed in the West. The Oklahoma City Thunder still look like the team to beat on paper, and they’ll be motivated after their run at a second straight NBA championship was stopped by the San Antonio Spurs. Denver, Minnesota, Phoenix, Golden State and Houston are all in the mix for playoff spots too.
Portland doesn’t have to crack the top five to get back in. What it does need is consistency: no long losing streaks, and no slipping up against teams it should handle. Miss the playoffs after last season’s breakthrough, and it would be a clear disappointment.
For now, the Blazers look like a team with a real blend of established players and young talent on the rise. That should be enough to keep them in the hunt, even with the growing pains that come with a first-year coach. A finish somewhere in the 5th through 7th seed range feels like the most realistic landing spot, with the bigger goal being development - especially for the younger role players - and more playoff reps for one of the league’s younger rosters.
In Other News...
Blazers Forward Search Just Got More Complicated With Dallas Lurking
Portlands search for help on the wing and at forward has only gotten more layered, and Dallas is a big reason why. The Mavericks roster mix still makes them a natural team to watch in any forward market, and the Blazers have been looking for ways to address a clear need without overpaying in assets.
The names in the conversation are familiar enough, but the order now matters as much as the fit. P.J. Washington would likely take the most to pry loose, while Naji Marshall offers a different kind of swing, and Dallas latest move only adds another layer to how Portland could approach the market if it decides to keep pushing. [Read more 🡒]
Blazers Just Watched A Real Defensive Fix Slip Away
A defensive-minded wing with a reputation for making life miserable on the perimeter was suddenly part of a three-team shuffle that sent ripples beyond Oklahoma City and Atlanta, and it was the kind of move that should have caught Portlands attention. The Thunder also moved Ryan Nembhard while Dallas got Zaccharie Risacher, with the whole deal shaped by salary-cap realities more than basketball romance, and the return to Oklahoma City came in the form of three second-round draft picks.
For the Trail Blazers, the sting is less about the transaction itself than the reminder of a player type they could use as they keep trying to rebuild a tougher identity. The Hawks added a defense-first piece, and Portland is left watching a useful fix come off the board at a time when every credible answer on that end of the floor matters. [Read more 🡒]
Blazers Just Made Scoot Hendersons Future A Lot Murkier
The Blazers have spent the summer trying to sort out their backcourt, and the latest move only makes the picture more complicated. With Damian Lillard back in the fold and Drew Holiday already on the roster, Portland has now added another high-profile ballhandler to the mix, leaving Scoot Henderson in a far less straightforward spot than the one he was supposed to grow into.
For a player who was expected to be the long-term answer at point guard, the timing is awkward. Henderson still has the talent and the age curve working in his favor, but the path to steady minutes and a clearly defined role just got a lot narrower, and Portland may not be done reshaping the roster before opening night. [Read more 🡒]