The Portland Trail Blazers drafted 7-footer Donovan Clingan last year. The Blazers then drafted Chinese big man Yang Hansen in the first round. The team has a starter-level big man on the court at all times.
Chauncey Billups will continue to experiment with different starting units for the Portland Trail Blazers' next three preseason games. But is that really even necessary? We all saw how the first preseason game went, and it's already clear this should be the starting unit going forward.
The Portland Trail Blazers host the Sacramento Kings at 7 p.m. Friday. The game will not air locally, but you can stream it on Blazervision. The Blazers opened the exhibition season with a 129-123 loss at the Golden State Warriors.
Shaedon Sharpe shot just 31% from beyond the arc last season with the Portland Trail Blazers. In the Blazers' preseason loss to the Golden State Warriors, Sharpe finished with a game-high 22 points. The Blazers have ranked as a bottom-five three-point shooting team the past two seasons.
Damian Lillard is back on the team but sidelined for the season because of an Achilles injury. Lillard tore his left Achilles tendon during Milwaukee's first-round playoff series against the Indiana Pacers earlier this year. He is beloved in Portland and won a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics.
The Trail Blazers lost to the Warriors in the first of their four-game preseason schedule. The game goes down as a loss, but it was really a win for the Trail Blazers. The Blazers are right back at Friday night when they host the Kings.
The Washington Wizards acquired veteran guard CJ McCollum in a trade with the New Orleans Pelicans back in June. The 34-year-old saw his best playing days when he was a member of the Portland Trail Blazers. The Wizards enter this season with low expectations, carrying the youngest roster in the league.
The New York Knicks have hired Mark Tyndale as an assistant coach. Tyndal was an assistant with the Portland Trail Blazers for two seasons. The 39-year-old played professionally in the NBA G-League and overseas.
Chauncey Billups has been experimenting with different starting lineups in preseason. Deni Avdija's starting role should be off-limits to Billups. Portland's starting lineup dilemma is a problem that will carry over into the regular season.
The Portland Trail Blazers came up just short of making the play-in last season. Head coach Chauncey Billups has a motto for training camp this year: "Make 'Em Uncomfortable" Billups wants his team to find a new identity this season.
Dalano Banton has signed with the Dallas Mavericks' G League affiliate. The former Portland Trail Blazers guard was a low-risk flyer for the Blazers. Banton is a murky fit with NBA rosters due to his score-first nature.
River & Rose Hospitality is a food and beverage brand designed to elevate the hospitality experience across the Rose Quarter campus. The name reflects the connection between the Willamette River and the Rose, two symbols at the heart of the city. River & Rose is rooted in craft, community, and connection.
The Portland Trail Blazers start their preseason schedule Wednesday against the Warriors. The game is the first chance to see which way coach Chauncey Billups might be leaning with regard to opening night starters. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. on KUNP, BlazerVision and 620AM.
Jimmy Butler will play in the Golden State Warriors' second preseason game against the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday, Oct. 8. Steph Curry, Draymond Green, and the newly acquired Al Horford will also play. Butler played 15 minutes in the preseason debut against the LA Lakers, where he put up nine points.
Shaedon Sharpe is in the final year of his rookie-scale deal with the Portland Trail Blazers. The swingman could become a free agent next summer. NBA Insider Jake Fischer says the Blazers' initial extension to Sharpe landed in the $90 million ballpark.
Portland Trail Blazers point guard Scoot Henderson is out for the 2025-26 season. Sam Vecenie of The Athletic questions how the team will generate enough offense until Henderson gets back. Portland has a tough schedule to start the season, playing the Warriors, Lakers, and Thunder twice during that stretch.
The Portland Trail Blazers hit the practice floor in Tualatin Monday morning. Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, along with players Toumani Camara, Blake Wesley and Kris Murray spoke with media.
Blake Wesley is in the thick of the race to land the backup point guard role. The San Antonio Spurs selected Wesley with the No. 25 overall pick of the 2022 NBA draft. Wesley missed roughly three months, derailing his rookie season.
The 1984 NBA Draft is considered one of the greatest ever, producing Hakeem Olajuwon, Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, and John Stockton. The Portland Trail Blazers held the No. 2 overall pick and famously selected Sam Bowie, leaving Michael Jordan to be taken at No. 3 by the Chicago Bulls. The narrative that the Blazers didn’t draft Jordan because of Drexler has been partially true but oversimplified.
NBA insider Jake Fischer says the Portland Trail Blazers are low-balling Shaedon Sharpe. He says the Blazers' initial offer "landed in the four-year, $90 million ballpark" But he says there's an expectation that Sharpe will ultimately command a four- year, $100 million deal.