The Portland Trail Blazers’ offseason has been a little bit of everything: promising, frustrating, and flat-out unsettling.
On the basketball side, there’s real reason to believe Portland has moved itself forward. The Blazers are coming off their first playoff appearance in five years, and that alone gives this summer a different feel.
The organization has tried to keep that momentum alive, and one of the biggest swings came with the acquisition of Ja Morant without giving up any members of the young core or future draft picks. That move, along with the hire of Micah Nori at head coach, drew praise from the staff at Portland Trail Blazers On SI.
“The Blazers didn’t have any draft picks this year, but they acquired Ja Morant without parting with any members of their young core or future draft picks. I also like the hire of Micah Nori at head coach. Now Portland just has to put it all together and build on their positive momentum from last year.” - Rocco Moschella
There’s also a case to be made that Portland showed some ambition by taking a chance on Morant, a 26-year-old who is still only a few years removed from back-to-back appearances on the NBA’s Most Valuable Player ballots. Robert Williams III returning was another plus. But the roster still carries the same old issues, and the Blazers didn’t do much to solve them.
“The negatives are that this roster is still too backcourt-heavy, didn’t aggressively address the 3-point shooting woes (27th in the league last season at 34.3 percent), and their one-year contract with team options for 2027 and 2028 for head coach Micah Nori stood out unnecessarily. Call it a good, but not sensational offseason for the Blazers.” - Marlow Ferguson Jr.
The biggest cloud hanging over everything, though, has nothing to do with rotations or shooting percentages. It’s the future of the franchise itself.
New owner Tom Dundon has already drawn the ire of the fanbase, and several of his decisions have been met with poor press. The concern now is whether the off-court mess could swallow whatever progress the basketball side has made.
“The Morant trade is good, and the additions they've made to the roster are strong, but none of it matters if they don't have a team in the future to root for. The future of the Blazers hangs in the balance due to the city council and the franchise not coming to an agreement on a lease extension that expires in 2030. It appears like the two sides are as far apart as ever, and the future of the franchise is truly up in the air.
"I think Blazers fans would give back Morant and all of the positives that have happened this offseason if they could have a solidified future in the Pacific Northwest. Fans can only hope for things to turn around, but every update that comes in makes the situation look bleaker and bleaker. If a solution doesn't come between now and the start of the regular season, it should make for a very contentious season for Portland.” - Jeremy Brener
That’s the uneasy truth of this offseason: Portland has made some positive moves, but the ground underneath the franchise still feels shaky. The Blazers can keep trying to sharpen the roster before training camp, but they can’t guarantee the team’s long-term home. That uncertainty hangs over everything, and it could cast a dark shadow over the season before the games even begin.
In Other News...
Damian Lillard Rumor Has Blazers Fans Revisiting An Old Friendship
A rumor making the rounds online has put Damian Lillard back in the middle of off-court chatter, with an Instagram gossip page claiming the former Trail Blazers star is dating Jenny Childs. The report has not been independently verified, and neither Lillard nor the people involved have publicly confirmed anything, but it has still caught attention because of the personal history attached to it and the fact that Lillard has been in the middle of a recent divorce.
For Portland fans, the larger hook is the old friendship angle with Gary Payton II, which is why the story has spread beyond the usual tabloid lane. The online discussion has only grown as more details were floated around the rumor, including a claim about Lillard using one of his restaurants for a birthday celebration, but for now it remains just that, a rumor waiting on any real confirmation. [Read more 🡒]
Tom Dundons Blazers Move Raises One Huge Question For Portland
Tom Dundons decision to buy the Trail Blazers instead of chasing a Las Vegas expansion franchise says plenty about where he sees the better value, and it also puts Portland back at the center of a familiar NBA conversation. The purchase came in at about $4.2 billion, well below the estimated $8 billion price tag tied to an expansion team, and now the focus shifts from the deal itself to what comes next for the franchise in Oregon.
The bigger issue is the Moda Center and the lease talks still unfolding with the city of Portland, because arena negotiations have a way of shaping everything around a teams future. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has said the league is working to keep the Blazers in Portland long-term, but until those talks are settled, the franchises next chapter remains tied to both the building it plays in and the leverage that comes with it. [Read more 🡒]
Yang Hansen Already Faces A Tough Blazers Reality Check
Yang Hansen arrived in Portland with plenty of intrigue after the Trail Blazers took him with the No. 16 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, and his summer league showing only added to the optimism around his upside. The rookie season brought a much harder lesson, though, as Hansen ended up in the regular-season rotation more often than many expected while still working through the speed and physicality of the NBA game.
Portlands latest frontcourt moves suggest the organization is still viewing Hansen as a long-term project rather than an immediate answer. The Blazers remain invested in his development, but the addition of more depth up front leaves his path to a bigger role looking crowded, especially with the team continuing to build around players it trusts more right now. [Read more 🡒]