The Portland Trail Blazers are just hours away from tipping off their season opener against the Phoenix Suns at the Moda Center, and the early conversation around the team already has a wide spread.
Portland is trying to build on last season’s 42-win campaign, with an eye on making a deeper playoff push. Around the organization, there’s no single consensus on where this team lands when the season is over. Members of the Portland Trail Blazers on SI staff laid out three very different record forecasts, and the range says plenty about how uncertain this roster still feels.
Austin White sees a breakthrough year coming. In his view, the Blazers will finish 50-32 because they are “a team hungry to compete and has plenty to prove in the regular season.”
He also pointed to how not every opponent approaches the regular season the same way, which could help Portland steal a few extra wins along the way. For him, the guard-heavy construction is less of a problem than some have made it out to be.
Jeremy Brener is more skeptical. He acknowledged that Portland has enough pieces to improve, but said that improvement is far from automatic.
He cited Ja Morant and Damian Lillard as sources of hope, while also noting concerns about their recent production. Brener also questioned whether the fit on the floor will actually work, and said the collection of unanswered questions makes it tough to view the Blazers as ready to jump into the Western Conference’s top tier.
Sahal Arwo also expects a better season than Portland’s 42-40 finish a year ago, but he says the path won’t be instant. With first-time head coach Micah Nori and the addition of Ja Morant, Arwo believes it will take time for the group to find its rhythm. Once that happens, though, he sees serious offensive firepower with Morant, Lillard, and Avdija leading the way.
Elias Esquivel pushed back against the more cautious projections. He noted that most around the league are pegging Portland for something close to last season’s record, with much of the chatter centered on too many guards and too little size on the perimeter.
He said he understands those concerns, but still believes the Blazers have enough talent and depth to handle an 82-game season. He also added that trades might still be needed, but as long Avdija and Lillard remain in place with the right defensive support around them, he is not eager to bet against Portland.
Esquivel also pointed to Toumani Camara’s goal of 50 wins, even if he doesn’t think the team will quite get there.
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Blazers Fans Just Got Another Reason To Worry About Portlands Future
Tom Dundon pushed back on reports suggesting he has discussed moving the Trail Blazers out of Portland, according to a statement reported by The Athletics Mike Vorkunov. The denial comes after sources said Dundon encountered resistance in those conversations and was advised by the league to keep the franchise in Portland, adding another layer of unease around a team already trying to settle in before the season.
On the floor, the Blazers have been busy reshaping the roster, including the trade for Ja Morant, as they turn toward their opener against the Phoenix Suns. But even with basketball back on the calendar, the off-court uncertainty lingers, and Portland fans now have one more ownership-related storyline to watch as the new season gets underway. [Read more 🡒]
Blazers May Have Already Shown How Theyll Unlock Ja Morant
A preseason look may have already offered a clue about how Portland plans to simplify things for Ja Morant, at least in the opening minutes. Sean Highkin of The Rose Garden Report pointed to a lineup that features Morant alongside Damian Lillard, Toumani Camara, Deni Avdija and Donovan Clingan, a group that would give the Blazers a very different kind of structure from the usual early-season guesswork.
The appeal is easy to see from Portlands side. Morant would have help around him defensively, more size behind him, and enough versatility on the wings to keep the floor organized while he attacks. It is still just a social media read based on preseason, not an official announcement, but it suggests the Blazers may already have a workable idea for how to get the most out of their newest headline guard. [Read more 🡒]
Blazers Enter Season With Two Franchise Questions Still Hanging
The Trail Blazers head into their season opener against the Phoenix Suns with plenty of attention still fixed on what their roster looks like at the top. After acquiring Ja Morant, Portland suddenly has a crowded and complicated point guard picture, with Damian Lillard, Scoot Henderson and Jrue Holiday all part of the equation as the team tries to sort out roles and fit before the games start to matter.
Off the floor, the organization is also working through a longer-term issue that matters just as much to the franchises future in Portland. The team is negotiating a new arena deal with the city for the Moda Center, and with the current lease set to expire in 2030, the building remains a central piece of the Blazers next chapter even as the focus shifts to opening night. [Read more 🡒]