Everyone has their favorite day of the year. For some, it’s Opening Day for Major League Baseball. Others are fond of a more traditional day, like Christmas or Memorial Day Weekend. A lot of people even love late August for football. But for us sickos, it’s late October.
The leaves have finally started to fall, but our hopes for our favorite NBA teams are (ideally) at their highest. And for those of us who hold the Portland Trail Blazers near and dear to our hearts, this season is the turning point for our return to competing in the Western Conference. I’ll dive into this team's hopes and dreams for the 2025-26 season and what's realistic for the lone team in the Northwest.
Below is a snapshot of the Trail Blazers’ offseason:
- June 25: Drafted Yang Hansen with the 16th overall pick (read my thoughts here)
- July 7: Traded Anfernee Simons to the Boston Celtics for Jrue Holiday (read my thoughts here)
- July 19: Signed Damian Lillard to a 3-year $42M contract
- October 19: Shaedon Sharpe signs a 4-year $90M contract extension, and Toumani Camara signs a 4-year $82M contract extension
- Players Lost: Deandre Ayton (waived), Dalano Banton (FA), Bryce McGowens (FA), Justin Minaya (FA), Anfernee Simons (traded), Jabari Walker (FA)
- Players Added: Yang Hansen (draft), Caleb Love (undrafted FA), Javonte Cooke (undrafted FA), Jrue Holiday (trade), Damian Lillard (FA), Blake Wesley (FA)
Start of Season Depth Chart:
PG: Jrue Holiday, Scoot Henderson, Blake Wesley, Javonte Cooke
SG: Shaedon Sharpe, Rayan Rupert, Caleb Love, Sidy Cissoko
SF: Deni Avdija, Matisse Thybulle
PF: Toumani Camara, Jerami Grant, Kris Murray
C: Donovan Clingan, Yang Hansen, Robert Williams III, Doup Reath
The underlying goal of this team is to make the Play-In or better and to continue the defensive mindset that led them to a 23-18 second half of the season. There isn’t a ton of positive perspective from the media, as the consensus is about 35 wins, which is one fewer than last season. Continuity itself should get them closer to 40 wins, and I genuinely believe this team can win 44 games. Yeah, the Western Conference is crowded. Yeah, this team can’t rely on Deni for all its scoring. But I think the defense steps up, and Chauncey finally leaps into the “a coach who can adjust mid-game” category.
Predictions for the season
- Blazers win 44+ games: The defense is there, and if Jrue is viable on offense and other guys can improve their scoring, we’ve got a shot at a top-6 seed.
- Sheadon unlocks his potential: He signed an extension three days ago, and it relieves the pressure of the season, and he elevates above just being a highlight reel. I think he can average 20/4/6 on 45% FG and 36% from deep.
- Toumani is selected to First Team All Defense: Toumani is a literal death trap on defense, and he somehow improves his 1.5 steals/game from last year, as well as his blocks/game from 0.6 to 1. But I think he elevates his scoring to round out both sides of the ball, helping the offense.
- Clingan gets All-Defensive consideration: DC was a monster to start his rookie season, with 16 straight games recording a block, the most in Blazers history (passing Bill Walton). He uses that fuel to shine in year two after being selected to the All-Rookie Second Team last season.
- Jerami Grant gets traded: The contract extension of Jerami in 2023 was used to keep Dame, which didn’t pan out. He isn’t on the team timeline, and some team is going to need some firepower to get them deeper into the playoffs.
- Scoot finally finds his role: The hype for Scoot from the 2023 draft was extremely high, and he has been underwhelming, to say the least. But I think, with Coach Dame and Jrue guiding him offensively and defensively, respectively, he could be a 6th Man of the Year candidate.
- Yang Hansen gets All-Rookie votes: Yang Hansen is a massive question mark, but if he can bring his skills to the NBA and they translate, he is a gonna be the biggest surprise of the season. Stephon Castle won ROY last year, and his season felt lackluster in my opinion. If Hansen can prove to be the non-negative Center in this league, the Portland Trail Blazers will be laughing at everyone.
This team has a lot to be excited about, especially with the continuity of the defense. Dame is back (even if he’s only on the bench). We gave likeable, foundational players contract extensions that fit our timeline. And, we’re fun to watch. If someone can explain to me why you wouldn’t want to watch the possibility of Shaedon sending defenders to their graves every game, I’ll be waiting. The season tips off against the Timberwolves tonight, and I’ll get to watch our boys in person.
October is here, and so is Portland Trail Blazers basketball.