All articles tagged with #portland trail blazers
Portland guard Shaedon Sharpe has suffered a torn meniscus in his right knee and is expected to miss six months, sidelining him for the first 59 games of the 2026-27 season with a return targeted for late February 2027; the 23-year-old averaged 20.8 points in 50 appearances last season and signed a four-year, $90 million extension last fall.
The Trail Blazers’ 2026-27 schedule is brutally road-heavy, with 12 of the first 17 games on the road, two six-game trips before year’s end, and 13 total back-to-backs (including a preseason road-back). They open at home vs. Phoenix on Oct. 21, marking Damian Lillard’s return to Portland, and will be featured in 11 nationally televised games. Portland also competes in the Emirates NBA Cup with a group that includes the Spurs, Lakers, Warriors and Kings, with the final in Indianapolis on Dec. 11 and makeup games around the tournament.
The Athletic’s 2026 offseason concern-o-meter surveys 10 scenarios, with Curry’s aging Warriors and a high-stakes Blazers arena fight topping the list (Curry 9/10, Blazers 10/10). Other storylines include LeBron’s potential Philly stint (7/10), OKC’s looming second apron (9/10), Jokic’s title window (7/10), and varied cap and roster moves across the league that could reshape contenders this summer.
Multnomah County approved a term sheet committing up to $101 million toward renovating the Moda Center as part of a roughly $600 million public funding package for the Portland Trail Blazers’ arena. The 4-1 vote starts negotiations with the City of Portland, which must contribute about $120 million, while Oregon’s $365 million state funding is already approved but contingent on local contributions, with a December vote to finalize the deal.
An analysis of documents and legal terms argues that keeping the Portland Trail Blazers in Portland is the financially and legally sensible path: a 20-year Moda Center lease would involve public funding commitments (roughly $25–30 million over five years) while the team would control arena revenue and handle ongoing maintenance, under Oregon Senate Bill 1501; relocation is hampered by NBA territorial rights, required league approval, and potentially expensive new arena terms. Additionally, a labor peace agreement is part of the renovation framework, but overall a stay in Portland is portrayed as the win/win scenario for both the Blazers and the NBA.
After Summer League, The Athletic’s John Hollinger floated relocation questions for the Portland Trail Blazers under new owner Tom Dundon, noting cost-cutting and a smaller travel squad amid ongoing arena talks. Potential destinations ranged from Seattle and Las Vegas to Austin, Nashville, and Raleigh, but none offered a clear upgrade and several are constrained by existing league ties or facilities. In short, relocation is being debated in league circles, but the path forward looks difficult as the franchise’s arena saga and ownership negotiations continue.
Timberwolves’ Summer League night against Denver highlighted development needs: backup big Joan Beringer was out with back tightness, Isaiah Evans finally debuted but looked unsettled, and Minnesota will chase answers on Evans, Beringer, and other youngsters ahead of Monday’s game versus Portland.
The piece argues Portland’s Ja Morant trade is a high-risk, high-reward gamble: it acknowledges concerns about defense and fit with Dame Lillard and Jrue Holiday, plus Morant’s injury history, but envisions a path to a top-10 offense through mentorship from Lillard and Holiday, improved chemistry with Deni Avdija, and Morant's potential redemption to boost his value and future trade capital while Portland pursues a flexible cap plan through 2028, contingent on Micah Nori weaving the roster together.
Phoenix Suns rallied from a 14-point halftime deficit to beat the Portland Trail Blazers 81-79 in the 2026 NBA Summer League opener, with Portland's DJ Steward scoring 21 and Yang Hansen adding 12 points and 9 rebounds as the lone Blazer draftee; Suns reserve Javonte Cook had 21, while 2025 pick Khaman Maluach and 2026 pick Koa Peat contributed 19 and 17. The league is testing a one-free-throw rule in Summer League, and Portland's late chance ended with Steward missing a floater as time expired; Portland next faces Orlando on Sunday at 4:00 p.m. PST.
Portland opens the 2026 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas with Yang Hansen and two-way players Chris Youngblood and Jayson Kent, highlighting four scheduled games (with a potential fifth depending on the Las Vegas Tournament) over the coming week. Games are in Pacific time on KUNP/BlazerVision and ESPN networks: Suns on 7/10 at 8 p.m., Magic on 7/12 at 4 p.m., Timberwolves on 7/13 at 8 p.m., Nuggets on 7/16 at 7 p.m. (Nuggets game also on Amazon Prime).
The article envisions five sneaky destinations for LeBron James in 2026—Clippers, Rockets, Jazz, Trail Blazers, and Pacers—each paired with a suggested starting lineup to maximize his impact with a mix of young talent and veterans. It notes ESPN-backed chatter that Cavaliers, Heat, and Warriors are leaders to sign him, with the Nuggets also showing interest.
New Blazers head coach Micah Nori came away from lunch with Ja Morant believing the former All-Star can become his best self, and he intends to tailor Portland's attack toward a pick-and-roll–heavy, smaller-lineup offense designed to leverage Morant's scoring in the paint, moving away from the previous drive-and-kick style. Morant’s past controversy and recent decline in stats provide context.
NBA analyst Bobby Marks says there’s still a viable route for Jaylen Brown to land in Portland, citing the Blazers’ draft capital and guard depth as factors that could meet Boston’s demands, with free agency potentially softening the Celtics’ price.
Oregonian columnist Bill Oram slammed Portland's trade for Ja Morant as an affront to fans and suggested new owner Tom Dundon may be courting discontent ahead of arena-relocation talks, fearing the move could return the Blazers to the Jail Blazers era. Oram argued Morant could be the 'most radioactive' player in the league and urged an 'unrestrained fury' from supporters, framing the deal within broader tensions surrounding ownership and the team's future in Portland.
Portland’s trade of Jerami Grant and Kris Murray for Ja Morant has critics warning that pairing Morant with Damian Lillard creates two weak defenders and legalistic defensive strains for center Donovan Clingan, making the Blazers vulnerable to teams with versatile guards and action-heavy offenses. David Thorpe argues the defensive burden could overwhelm Portland unless Scoot Henderson acts as a pivot to stagger Lillard and Morant, while questioning whether the star duo can commit to defense and whether the coaching setup can sustain it. The piece also revisits past Lillard–McCollum dynamics to illustrate potential long-term challenges.