Vit Krejci’s season hit another setback this week, with the Trail Blazers announcing that the forward had surgery Wednesday to repair a fracture in his left ankle. The team said he’ll be re-evaluated in eight weeks.
That gives a clearer picture of the recovery timeline after Krejci was hurt a week ago against the Suns. He had already been expected to miss a meaningful stretch, and the latest update points to a return that, in the best-case scenario, would come shortly after the New Year begins.
The injury happened in the third quarter when Krejci was sprinting back on defense and tried to step in and take a charge against Suns forward Miles Bridges. He landed awkwardly before the collision, then went down grabbing his lower leg in clear pain.
Portland’s injury list has been growing. Shaedon Sharpe had knee surgery in August and was ruled out for at least six months, while Ja Morant suffered a Grade 2 hamstring strain two weeks ago and is expected to miss at least four weeks.
Krejci, acquired at the trade deadline last season, gave the Blazers useful minutes down the stretch. In 19 appearances off the bench, he averaged 7.2 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 19.2 minutes per game. This season, though, he had been off to a quiet start, putting up 2.7 points, 1.6 rebounds and 1.1 assists in his first seven games while shooting 30.0% from the field in 10.3 minutes a night.
His $2,667,944 salary became guaranteed on opening night. Portland also holds an option on his non-guaranteed $3MM contract for 2027/28, a call the front office must make by late June before free agency opens.
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Scoot Hendersons season has taken a sharp turn in Portland, and the latest move only deepened the uncertainty around his place in the rotation. After the Trail Blazers beat the Oklahoma City Thunder, the team turned to Sidy Cissoko ahead of Henderson, a notable shift for a player who entered the year expected to keep building within the clubs young core. Instead, Henderson has seen his starting spot slip away while his numbers have sagged to career lows in shooting efficiency.
For a franchise still sorting out its long-term backcourt, the timing matters. Henderson is on an expiring deal and will be a restricted free agent, which gives Portland a decision to make soon about whether to keep investing in his development or explore a different path. If the Blazers continue to view him as a player without a settled role, a trade to a rebuilding team could make more sense for both sides, even if it would mark a significant pivot from the plan that once seemed set in Portland. [Read more 🡒]
Thunder Need Shai And A Short-Handed Frontcourt To Answer Back
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander remains the obvious engine for a reset, especially if the Thunder are going to avoid another game where the scoring dries up and Portland controls the tempo. The defensive adjustments matter too, because the first meeting exposed enough issues to make this rematch feel less like a routine regular-season stop and more like a test of how well Oklahoma City can respond when the margins get thin. [Read more 🡒]
Damian Lillard Is Changing How This Blazers Team Looks Again
Damian Lillards return has already shifted the feel of Portlands roster, bringing back a familiar focal point after a difficult stretch in Milwaukee. The Bucks dealt for him with the idea of pairing him with Giannis Antetokounmpo, but the fit never fully settled as injuries and chemistry issues kept the partnership from taking off the way anyone hoped.
Now back in a multi-year deal with the Trail Blazers, Lillard is again a central part of the offense and a major reason the team looks different than it did a year ago. For Portland, the bigger question is how much his presence can reshape the rest of the rotation around him, especially as the Blazers try to build something more stable around a player they know well. [Read more 🡒]