The NINTH team eliminated, the Portland Trail Blazers.
Previous Threads:
Spoiler:
Time of death: April 06, 2025
Record at elimination: 35-44
Head coach: Chauncey Billups
https://www.spotrac.com/nba/portland-trail-blazers/yearly
Contract summary:
Deandre Ayton – extension eligible, or 35M expiring next season
Jerami Grant – 2 years remain at 33M
Anfernee Simons - extension eligible, or 27M expiring next season
Deni Avdija – 3 more years of 14M declining deal
Robert Williams III – 13M expiring next season or extension eligible
Matisse Thybulle – 11M PO
Dalano Banton - UFA
Rookie Scale/minimums (varies on 2-4 years remaining):
Scoot – 2 years remain
Clingan – 3 years
Sharpe – extension eligible or 8M QO
Kris Murray – 2 years remain at 3M
Duop Reath – non-guaranteed 2M next season
Jabari Walker – extend or RFA
Toumani Camara – 2 more years rookie scale
Rayan Rupert – extend or TO
TW
Sidy Cissoko
Bryce McGowens
Justin Minaya
Dead-cap – 265k retained season, <$1.5M off the books this season.
25-26 Capspace – over the cap, non-tax ~20M until 1st apron.
PICKS for 2025 draft:
POR 1st (if 1-14), otherwise to CHI
No 2nds
A SMALL SEASON REVIEW:
https://www.espn.com/nba/team/schedule/_/name/por/season/2025
The Blazers definitely took this year to develop its roster more, but there’s a lot to like about this season even if the ceiling for performance was still a bit away. There were good wins throughout the year for sure. Shaedon Sharpe, Toumani Camara, Scoot Henderson, and Deni Avdija all had pretty nice seasons with huge contributions across the season. Avdija being on a very team-friendly descending contract, was acquired from Washington. (Author’s note: I was very shocked at this trade and still value Deni quite high, his play this year hasn’t changed that one bit.) He had a great year and huge moments. There's a positive trend for Portland for me, they have received some nice contributions from younger players and the cap table isn't as daunting as I first through before writing this.
If it were not for a deep hole to climb out of in mid-late December, the Blazers might actually have been right there in the play-in games. Ayton and Grant also suffered some injury set-backs this year. Though we have panned Ayton’s play before, he’s actually averaged a double-double this year in 40 games played. Grant only managed 47, so a lot of lifting was performed by younger players up and down the roster. With a full year of both they will surely help Portland compete for play-in or better territory.
Camara was a huge plus every time I watched the Blazers. He improved in many facets this year and seems to be a piece Portland will want to keep around for defense, but his shot is nice too. Simons, Ayton, and Grant’s contracts expire or end soon, so the Blazers have a chances to retool its roster very quickly. I can envision teams’ taking on one-year of Simons or Ayton (maybe 2 different teams) for a one-year championship burst. Grant should still hold some trade value, too, as it is just two years left on his deal after this season ends.
Clingan, the rookie, averaged 6p/7r/1.6b in over 60 games and surely will be featured more. The Blazers pick is Lottery protected and goes to Chicago, but POR landed in the Lottery to retain it.
In Janurary/Feb the Blazers won 10 wins in 11 games, the only loss to OKC in that frame. That type of play bodes well for the future, and with their own pick, there’s another chance to add a key piece to the roster. I think after some of the big salary is cleared this team will be well positioned to contend with improvement internally. How do you see the Blazers future and how they performed this year ? Any thoughts on the bevy of young talent ? Where should they target in the near future to return to top-4 or better in the West ?
