The Milwaukee Bucks made their choice, and the Portland Trail Blazers ought to pay attention.
Even with Kevin Porter Jr. bringing offensive production in a bench role, the Bucks decided to move on, and the logic behind that call lines up with why Portland should stay away from the same temptation. Porter and Cam Thomas fit the same mold: big numbers that can look useful on the surface, but far less impact on winning than the box score suggests.
Milwaukee’s thinking also had a development angle to it. Porter would have been cutting into the reps and touches belonging to Ryan Rollins and Brayden Burries, two young backcourt pieces the Bucks clearly want to elevate.
Burries, in particular, already looks like a strong get at No. 10.
Around the league, that view is shared - GMs gave Burries the most votes in the annual survey asking, "Which rookie was the biggest steal at where he was selected in the Draft?" He finished with 10 votes, or 30 percent.
Portland, meanwhile, has its own notable offseason addition in two-time All-Star Ja Morant, acquired from the Memphis Grizzlies. No one is expecting him to instantly return to that All-Star level in Portland, but the change of scenery could still matter.
In that same GM survey, Morant also picked up votes as the player "most likely to have a breakout season in 2026-27." San Antonio Spurs guard Dylan Harper was the clear leader at 27 percent, but Morant getting any support at all is a reminder that some around the league see the move in a positive light.
The Blazers are certainly betting on him, and he’s already backed that up with elite playmaking during preseason.
That matters because Portland does not need another ball-dominant wild card. The Blazers have more talent than Milwaukee’s current roster and no longer look like a rebuilding team after last season’s seven-seed finish out West. They also finally have the ballhandlers and playmakers they were missing a year ago.
That leaves one roster spot open after the team waived forward Jeremy Sochan. But the final spot should be used on a two-way wing who fits cleanly at the end of the bench. Porter may offer more raw talent than that kind of player, but he does not scale well, and Portland does not need him crowding the room.
Micah Nori already has enough to sort out as he tries to set the offensive pecking order this season. Bringing in Porter would only make that job messier.
In Other News...
Ja Morants Blazers Debut Just Raised A Bigger Backcourt Question
Ja Morants first run in a Trail Blazers uniform offered an immediate glimpse of what Portland hoped to add when it pulled off the trade with Memphis for Kris Murray and Jerami Grant. Morant got to work right away, scoring six points in his first eight minutes and showing the kind of three-point touch that can change the look of an offense in a hurry. Damian Lillard was sharp too, finishing with 12 points in 12 minutes as Portland jumped out to an early lead.
The early return was encouraging, but it also underlined why the Blazers backcourt now comes with so much intrigue. Morant and Lillard each made a clear imprint in short bursts, and Portlands ability to keep both dynamic guards involved will be one of the more interesting things to watch as the season unfolds. The fit looks promising on paper, but the bigger question is how the Blazers balance two players who both want the ball and can tilt a game in an instant. [Read more 🡒]
Bookers Rough Suns Opener Already Has Fans Fired Up
The Portland Trail Blazers opened the 2026-27 season with a fast start against Phoenix, and the tone of the game turned chippy almost as quickly as the scoreboard did. Portland jumped out to a sizable first-quarter lead behind its new backcourt pairing of Ja Morant and Damian Lillard, giving fans an early look at the kind of pace and pressure this roster can bring when it is clicking.
Devin Booker spent much of the night trying to steady the Suns, but the opener also featured a series of heated exchanges with Morant that escalated into double technical fouls for both guards. For a Portland team trying to announce itself as a more serious force in the West, the bigger picture is whether this new group can turn that opening burst into something sustainable once the emotion of opening night fades. [Read more 🡒]
Blazers Just Sent A Loud Opening Night Message To The NBA
The season opener in Phoenix quickly turned into a showcase for Portland, which ran out to a 21-0 burst and never let the Suns find their footing. The Blazers walked away with a 124-83 win, a lopsided result built on pace, physicality and a clear edge on the glass, where they outworked Phoenix 56-39.
Damian Lillard set the tone for Portland with 25 points, while Devin Booker finished with 23 in an evening where the Suns struggled to establish much rhythm on either end. For a team trying to set an early standard, it was about as strong a first impression as Portland could have made, and the bigger question now is whether this kind of start can carry over once the schedule settles in. [Read more 🡒]