Northwest Notes: Nuggets, Jazz, Mitchell, Blazers
When he spoke to reporters last week at his end-of-season media session, Nuggets president Josh Kroenke repeatedly referenced “running it back” as a viable offseason path for the club. However, as Bennett Durando of The Denver Post writes, going that route that doesn’t necessarily mean Denver would bring back everyone who played a rotation role this season.
“When I say running it back, you’re talking about a lot of different variations of what ‘running it back’ could look like,” Kroenke explained. “Is it gonna be the exact same team? I don’t think there’s ever the exact same team of the 13 to 16 guys in there. But are you talking about the same core group of players? Potentially. And that could mean re-signing and bringing back certain guys as well.”
According to Durando, the “core group” Kroenke is referring to is made up of Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, and Aaron Gordon. In other words, there’s a scenario in which the team “runs it back” with that trio while making a meaningful change to its rotation. Several league sources have told The Denver Post they expect the Nuggets to trade one of their starters – perhaps Cameron Johnson or Christian Braun – this summer, especially if the team intends to re-sign Peyton Watson.
As Durando points out, if the Nuggets remain out of luxury tax territory for a second straight year in 2026/27, they’d reset the repeater clock and avoid more punitive tax penalties. However, that won’t be easy, given that the team already projects to operate well into tax territory even without a new deal for Watson on the books.
“If we deem running it back the most competitive thing we can do for the roster, that’s probably what we’re going to be doing,” Kroenke said when asked about paying a significant tax bill. “So I don’t want to put words in my dad (Stan Kroenke)’s mouth by any means, but he has owned the team for a very long time. We’ve run it aggressively as we can at different points in time. I think that the joke is always, we love to pay for talent on the floor. So leaning into that assessment that people have put on us at different points in time, if we deem that’s the most competitive thing for us, then that’s what we’re gonna be doing.”
Here’s more from around the Northwest:
- Yossi Gozlan of The Third Apron (Substack link) looks ahead to the difficult decisions facing the Nuggets this summer, considering whether it makes sense for the front office to complete a more significant overhaul of the roster around Jokic or just make smaller changes.
- The Jazz upgraded their front line in February by acquiring Jaren Jackson Jr. to complement Lauri Markkanen and Walker Kessler, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they won’t take another frontcourt player with the No. 2 pick in the draft. As Sarah Todd of The Deseret News writes, Utah fully intends to take a “best player available” approach to that selection rather than drafting for need. “As they say, ‘Need is a bad evaluator,'” president of basketball operations Austin Ainge said. “Because everyone is going to react to the NBA in different ways. It’s unpredictable.”
- Second-year Thunder guard Ajay Mitchell continues to thrive in an increased role this spring, according to Joe Mussatto of The Oklahoman, who awarded Mitchell a grade of A-plus for his performance in Monday’s series-clinching Game 4 win. Having replaced injured star Jalen Williams in the starting five, Mitchell averaged 22.5 points and 6.0 assists per game in the second round vs. the Lakers. He’s one of the league’s best bargains, with a $2.85MM salary for 2026/27 and a $2.85MM team option for ’27/28.
- In a pair of subscriber-only stories for The Oregonian, Bill Oram argues that Portland’s city council would be making a mistake not to take the threat of relocation more seriously as the Trail Blazers seek public funding for arena renovations. “I think (Portland’s city councilors) think if they vote no they are sticking it to the new ownership group,” one source close to the negotiations told Oram. “But what I don’t think they realize is that if they vote no it gives the new ownership group a window to move the team.”
2026 NBA Draft Picks By Team
The Bulls, who pivoted to rebuilding mode after being eliminated in the play-in tournament in three straight years from 2023-25, and the Spurs, who went from 34 wins a year ago to 62 this season, appear headed in opposite directions. But the two organizations do have one thing in common — they’re the only two teams in the NBA who control more than three picks in this year’s draft.
Chicago, which moved up to No. 4 as a result of Sunday’s draft lottery, also controls the 15th, 38th, and 56th picks. San Antonio has just one first-rounder at No. 20, but its other three picks – Nos. 35, 42, and 44 – are in the top half of the second round.
Besides the Spurs and Bulls, nine other teams own more than the typical two picks, and several of those clubs have at least one top-10 selection. The Wizards, Grizzlies, Clippers, Nets, Kings, Hawks, and Mavericks each have three selections, including one in the top nine. The Thunder and Knicks are the other two clubs who control three 2026 picks.
Those 11 teams own a combined 35 picks in June’s draft, while eight others control two apiece and nine more have one each. That means there are just two teams without a pick this year: the Pacers and Trail Blazers. Both teams had protected first-rounders, but Portland sacrificed its lottery-protected pick when it earned a playoff spot, while Indiana had a worst possible outcome in the lottery, as its top-four protected pick fell to No. 5.
To present a clearer picture of which teams are most – and least – stocked with picks for the 2026 NBA draft, we’ve rounded up all 60 selections by team in the space below. Let’s dive in…
Teams with more than two picks:
- Chicago Bulls (4): 4, 15, 38, 56
- San Antonio Spurs (4): 20, 35, 42, 44
- Washington Wizards (3): 1, 51, 60
- Memphis Grizzlies (3): 3, 16, 32
- Los Angeles Clippers (3): 5, 36, 52
- Brooklyn Nets (3): 6, 33, 43
- Sacramento Kings (3): 7, 34, 45
- Atlanta Hawks (3): 8, 23, 57
- Dallas Mavericks (3): 9, 30, 48
- Oklahoma City Thunder (3): 12, 17, 37
- New York Knicks (3): 24, 31, 55
Teams with two picks:
- Golden State Warriors: 11, 54
- Miami Heat: 13, 41
- Charlotte Hornets: 14, 18
- Toronto Raptors: 19, 50
- Denver Nuggets: 26, 49
- Boston Celtics: 27, 40
- Minnesota Timberwolves: 28, 59
- Houston Rockets: 39, 53
Teams with one pick:
- Utah Jazz: 2
- Milwaukee Bucks: 10
- Detroit Pistons: 21
- Philadelphia 76ers: 22
- Los Angeles Lakers: 25
- Cleveland Cavaliers: 29
- Orlando Magic: 46
- Phoenix Suns: 47
- New Orleans Pelicans: 58
Teams with no picks:
- Indiana Pacers
- Portland Trail Blazers
Bucks Open For Business On Antetokounmpo Trade Offers
In the aftermath of the lottery, the Bucks are prepared to listen to trade offers for two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, ESPN’s Shams Charania reports.
However, the Bucks are in no rush to make a deal. There is expected to be a “robust” market for Antetokounmpo, according to Charania, and ownership and front office officials will carefully sift through offers with a high asking price. Milwaukee is seeking a young blue-chip talent and/or a surplus of draft picks.
According to previous reports, the Celtics, Magic, Trail Blazers, Warriors, Heat, Rockets and Raptors are among the potential suitors for Antetokounmpo.
The Bucks listened to offers for Antetokounmpo prior to February’s trade deadline but opted to put off those discussions until the offseason. They will now engage in those conversations once again. The playoff results could also factor into the number of teams that will make an offer. That group includes the Timberwolves, Cavaliers, Knicks and Lakers, who all pursued Antetokounmpo at the February deadline.
After one Bucks co-owner – Wes Edens – told ESPN in March that the team figures to either trade or extend their franchise player in the coming year, another one of the team’s co-owners – Jimmy Haslam – said last Wednesday that he’d like to see the team reach a resolution on Antetokounmpo by next month’s draft.
“Sometime over the next six or seven weeks we’ll decide whether Giannis is going to sign a max contract and stay with us or he’s going to play somewhere else,” Haslam told reporters during a news conference introducing Taylor Jenkins as the Bucks’ new coach.
Rumors surrounding Antetokounmpo have been persistent since last summer – when the star forward reportedly expressed interest in a move to New York – and only intensified during the season, even after the he stayed put through the trade deadline. Giannis and the Bucks clashed publicly on multiple occasions. The two sides were at odds over his ability to return to action following a knee injury, and Antetokounmpo took exception to those aforementioned remarks made by Edens.
Haslam has said publicly and privately that the Bucks will work with Antetokounmpo in the coming weeks on an outcome that works for both the team and the two-time MVP, according to Charania, who says Giannis’ belief that the time has come for both sides to move on hasn’t changed, even though he has never explicitly made a trade request.
Milwaukee didn’t have any luck in Sunday’s lottery and are slotted at the No. 10 pick. None of Antetokounmpo’s projected suitors, such as Miami and Golden State, moved into the top four.
There are two more years left on Antetokounmpo’s contract, but the final year is a player option worth $62.8MM, so he could become an unrestricted free agent in 2027. Any potential suitor will likely want to know if he’s willing to sign an extension before trading away multiple assets.
Giannis Trade Rumors: Celtics, Magic, Blazers, Hawks, More
The Celtics were considered a “team to watch” for Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo even before Jaylen Brown‘s recent comments about 2025/26 being his “favorite season” led to speculation about his future in Boston, league sources tell Sam Amick and Eric Nehm of The Athletic.
According to The Athletic, Boston expressed a level of interest in Antetokounmpo prior to the February trade deadline, and rival teams expect the Celtics to be aggressive in searching for roster upgrades after an unexpected first-round playoff exit in which they blew a 3-1 series lead to Philadelphia.
While Brown’s comments — and those of his mentor Tracy McGrady, who said Brown was frustrated with the organization — raised several eyebrows around the league, president of basketball operations Brad Stevens and Brown himself have since clarified there’s no discord between the two sides. A Celtics source and a source close to Brown confirmed as much to Amick and Nehm.
It’s worth noting that Jake Fischer of The Stein Line recently mentioned the Celtics as a possible suitor for Antetokounmpo, but he downplayed their deadline interest and also reported that the two-time MVP might not be enthusiastic about the idea of joining Boston.
Here are a few more Giannis-related trade rumors and notes from Amick and Nehm:
- Although a Magic source tells The Athletic that Orlando has not yet discussed the possibility of a trade for Antetokounmpo this offseason, the possibility can’t be ruled out after the team expressed interest in the 31-year-old a few months ago, according to Amick and Nehm, confirming prior reporting from Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. As Amick and Nehm write, Antetokounmpo wouldn’t solve Orlando’s shooting woes, but he’d be an upgrade in just about every other way and the Magic’s front office has multiple ties to both Milwaukee and the 10-time All-Star. While it reads as speculation rather than firm reporting, Amick and Nehm suggest Paolo Banchero would likely be the centerpiece of any potential Magic offer.
- Fischer has reported multiple times that the Trail Blazers are interested in Antetokounmpo, and Portland controls Milwaukee’s first-round picks (via swaps) from 2028-30. Despite the ties between the two clubs — the Blazers have two of Antetokounmpo’s favorite teammates in Jrue Holiday and Damian Lillard — rival teams are skeptical the Greek star would be interested in joining a Blazers club that could have a tough time making it out of the loaded Western Conference even if they add Antetokounmpo, per The Athletic. That same line of thinking has people around the league believing Antetokounmpo would prefer to end up with an Eastern title contender, Amick and Nehm add.
- The Hawks have been linked to Antetokounmpo in the past, but they seem unlikely to pursue him — or any other superstar — in the near future. Team sources tell The Athletic that Atlanta intends to be “very patient” with its young core, which features Jalen Johnson, Dyson Daniels, Onyeka Okongwu and Nickeil Alexander-Walker. Fischer previously reported the Hawks planned to take a measured approach to the offseason, and GM Onsi Saleh seemed to confirm as much at his end-of-season press conference, Amick and Nehm note.
- The Warriors, Heat, Rockets and Raptors are four other teams mentioned by Amick and Nehm, who point out that the list of potential Antetokounmpo suitors could grow, depending on what happens to some other teams still in the playoffs.
Western Notes: Kerr, Warriors, Schmitz, Mavs, Riccardi
The Warriors and Steve Kerr have continued to discuss the longtime head coach’s future this week, league sources tell Marc Stein of The Stein Line (Twitter link).
Kerr’s lucrative contract expired at the end of the season. He expressed uncertainty about his future in Golden State after the season ended and reportedly met with the front office and ownership on April 27, but his situation remains unresolved.
According to Stein, it’s hard to get a read on when Kerr and/or the Warriors decide if he’ll return for a 13th season. Team owner Joe Lacob essentially confirmed as much on Wednesday, stating at a Sportico conference that an outcome on Kerr’s situation could be reached “today, tomorrow or in three weeks,” Stein adds (via Twitter).
Here’s more from around the Western Conference:
- If the Warriors decide to keep their 2026 lottery pick, it’s vital that they nail the selection, according to Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area. Assistant general manager Larry Harris acknowledged the strength of the draft class on Friday and said the team is confident in the players available whether the pick moves into the top four or stays at No. 11 (or falls to No. 12) — but the Warriors are hoping for the former. “With the prep work we’ve done and leading into the (draft) combine that’s starting next week,” Harris said, “we feel very, very, very good about this draft and getting someone that we can add to our roster that will be young, exciting, and our fans can get behind.”
- The Trail Blazers‘ first major personnel change under new owner Tom Dundon wasn’t hiring a new head coach or making a trade, but rather assistant general manager Mike Schmitz leaving his position for a GM job with the Mavericks, notes Sean Highkin of The Rose Garden Report (Substack link). Highkin refers to Schmitz, widely respected for his scouting acumen and international networking, as a key member of Portland’s front office. Schmitz pushed to draft Shaedon Sharpe No. 7 overall in 2023 and lobbied for the Blazers to trade for Deni Avdija in 2024, according to Highkin, who says the former ESPN analyst was also tasked with building out the infrastructure for the Rip City Remix when the team’s G League affiliate launched a few years ago. Highkin views Schmitz’ departure as a “major loss” for the Blazers and a positive step forward for the Mavs.
- Trail Blazers GM Joe Cronin gave a brief statement to Joe Freeman of The Oregonian regarding Schmitz’s new job. “Today is a celebration,” Cronin told The Oregonian/OregonLive. “We’re very happy for Mike to get this great opportunity. It’s well deserved and we’re incredibly thankful for his contributions to the Trail Blazers organization.”
- Schmitz’s arrival could lead to further changes to the Mavericks‘ front office. However, Matt Riccardi — who had been acting as co-interim GM alongside Michael Finley since November — will continue to be Dallas’ drawing room representative at Sunday’s draft lottery, Stein confirms (via Twitter). That seems to suggest Riccardi has a good chance of staying with the Mavs, though what his exact role might be has yet to be reported.
Mavericks Hire Mike Schmitz As General Manager
Trail Blazers assistant general manager Mike Schmitz has left Portland for Dallas, according to the Mavericks, who announced today in a press release that they’ve hired Schmitz as their general manager under new president Masai Ujiri.
After working for ESPN as one of the network’s top draft analysts for five years beginning in 2017, Schmitz was hired by the Trail Blazers in 2022 to work under GM Joe Cronin. According to the Mavs, he was involved in player evaluation, scouting, roster strategy, and organizational planning during his time in Portland.
In Dallas, Schmitz will report to Ujiri and will “oversee the day-to-day management and strategic alignment” of the team’s basketball operations department.
“Mike is one of the most respected evaluators and basketball minds in the NBA,” Ujiri said in a statement. “He brings intelligence, discipline, humility and a relentless work ethic to everything he does. Just as importantly, he understands how to build an aligned, collaborative culture across every part of a basketball organization. We are building something special in Dallas, and Mike will be a major part of that vision.”
Schmitz has also been an assistant coach for the Ugandan national team since 2018 and was a video coordinator for the Bakersfield Jam in the G League in 2012/13 before he began doing scouting work for DraftExpress.
The Trail Blazers drafted Shaedon Sharpe, Scoot Henderson, Donovan Clingan, and Yang Hansen, among others, during Schmitz’s tenure with the team. Schmitz and fellow assistant GM Sergi Oliva were suspended for two weeks without pay last month after the NBA determined that the Blazers had illegally contacted Yang in 2023, well before he was draft-eligible.
Blazers Interview Jared Dudley, Ben Sullivan
Nuggets assistant Jared Dudley and Rockets assistant Ben Sullivan are among the candidates who have interviewed for the Trail Blazers‘ head coaching job, reports Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter links).
A former NBA wing who spent 14 seasons in the league from 2007-21, Dudley transitioned into coaching after retiring, spending four seasons as an assistant coach in Dallas from 2021-25. He made the move to Denver to work under David Adelman last offseason.
Dudley has been linked to the Portland head coaching job by Bill Oram of The Oregonian and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line in recent weeks, though this is the first confirmation we’ve gotten that the team has formally interviewed him.
Sullivan, meanwhile, began his NBA coaching career on Mike Budenholzer‘s staffs in Atlanta (2014-18) and Milwaukee (2018-21) before spending two years with the Celtics from 2021-23. Having originally been hired under Ime Udoka in Boston, he joined Udoka in Houston in 2023 and has been with the Rockets for the past three seasons.
As Scotto points out, Sullivan has some local ties, having attended the University of Portland from 2004-07.
The Trail Blazers are casting a wide net as they seek a new permanent head coach following the arrest of Chauncey Billups last fall. Tiago Splitter did an admirable job stepping in and guiding the team to the playoffs, but he’s reportedly considered unlikely to the full-time role under new Blazers owner Tom Dundon.
Nets assistant Steve Hetzel, Lakers assistant Greg St. Jean, Rockets assistant Royal Ivey, St. Louis University head coach Josh Schertz, and Iowa head coach Ben McCollum are among the potential candidates that have been linked to Portland during the club’s search. Fischer also confirmed that the Blazers reached out to Tom Thibodeau and Michael Malone (before he was hired by UNC) but said they both declined to speak to the team while Splitter was still the coach.
There have been rumors suggesting that Dundon is looking to pay his next head coach a salary in the range of $1-1.5MM per year, which is believed to be below any coach’s current salary. However, sources connected to Dundon and the team have pushed back on those reports.
Bucks Notes: Giannis, Celtics, Cavs, Jenkins, More
People around the league continue to believe that regaining control of their own draft capital is likely to appeal to the Bucks in any potential trade involving Giannis Antetokounmpo, according to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Substack link). That could bode well for the involvement of the Trail Blazers, who control Milwaukee’s three drafts from 2028-30.
Jaylen Brown recently reaffirmed his commitment to the Celtics after his mentor Tracy McGrady suggested the veteran wing was frustrated in Boston. While Fischer says there has been some speculation about a Brown-for-Giannis trade, he hears the Celtics only expressed “cursory interest” in Antetokounmpo ahead of the February deadline.
Fischer “never got the sense” that Boston was a real suitor for Giannis and also never got the impression that the two-time MVP was intrigued by the possibility of joining the Celtics. But if a deal involving those two players did come to pass, rival teams believe the Bucks would look to involve other teams to acquire additional assets for Brown, rather than keeping him for themselves.
Here are a few more rumors and notes related to the Bucks:
- The Celtics may or may not be a suitor for Giannis, but people around the league think the Cavaliers could be if they fail to advance past the second round of the playoffs, Fischer writes. Sources tell The Stein Line that Cleveland contacted Milwaukee about the 31-year-old power forward ahead of the deadline and the Bucks asked for Evan Mobley and all of the Cavs’ available draft capital. As Fischer notes, Donovan Mitchell‘s contract situation is very similar to Antetokounmpo’s — he’ll be extension-eligible this offseason and could be a free agent in 2027 if he declines his 2027/28 player option.
- General manager Jon Horst told reporters — including Jim Owczarski of The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (subscription required) — that Antetokounmpo didn’t meet with new head coach Taylor Jenkins during the team’s interview process, but the two have spoken. For what it’s worth, Antetokounmpo told Owczarski he endorsed the move. Jenkins is a former Bucks assistant who was the Grizzlies’ head coach for six years prior to being let go at the end of 2024/25. “I think he’s an incredible person,” Antetokounmpo said of Jenkins. “Obviously, he’s an incredible coach. I was able to be with him in 2019 and we made the Eastern Conference Finals. After that he left, he was one of the first coaches that left the coaching staff and went to Memphis and he had an incredible six years in Memphis. He made them contenders in the West. He had incredible culture in Memphis. I had the conversation. I don’t think Milwaukee is just getting just a good coach, I think they’re getting a good person. And that’s where it starts with. Having a good person around that’s gonna be able to set the tone, that set the culture and what Milwaukee Bucks basketball is all about. He’s a really good coach.”
- In a separate subscriber-only story, Owczarski passes along some highlights from Jenkins’ introductory press conference, which also featured Horst and co-owner Jimmy Haslam. Jenkins said his one-year stint in Milwaukee and his respect for Horst played critical roles in his decision to rejoin the Bucks. “When this opportunity became available, I was like, I know the people,” Jenkins said as part of a larger quote. “I know what they stand for. I know what their standards are going to be on a day-to-day basis, and naturally, as we navigated this past season as a family – got to spend a lot of great quality time with them – we were very intentional about the things that matter to us, both personally and professionally. And the people, that’s the thing that really gravitated us back here to Milwaukee.”
Coaching Rumors: Splitter, Blazers, Pelicans, Thibodeau
Tiago Splitter did an admirable job in Portland after taking over for Chauncey Billups during the first week of the 2025/26 season, leading the team to a 42-39 record the rest of the way and earning a playoff spot. However, sources with knowledge of the situation tell Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Substack link) that Splitter appears unlikely to be hired as the Trail Blazers‘ permanent head coach.
The Blazers’ goal is to interview upwards of 30 candidates for the job, according to Fischer, who explains that new team owner Tom Dundon wants to gather as much intel as possible on the coaching market before making a decision. However, the manner in which Dundon has operated since taking over control of the team – immediately implementing cost-cutting measures and launching the head coaching search before the season ended – has turned off some potential targets.
According to Fischer, multiple assistant coaches around the NBA have declined to reciprocate the Blazers’ interest due to Dundon’s approach and rumors that the team is looking to pays its new coach well below the standard market rate.
Nets assistant Steve Hetzel and Nuggets assistant Jared Dudley are among the candidates to watch, per Fischer, though he notes that Hetzel is also in the running for the Pelicans’ vacancy. Hetzel previously worked in Portland and overlapped with Damian Lillard during the point guard’s previous stint with the team, and Lillard has suggested some potential candidates to management during the coaching search, Fischer says.
Sean Highkin of the Rose Garden Report (Twitter link) also identifies Lakers assistant Greg St. Jean as one possible candidate getting a look from the Blazers.
Here are a few more coaching rumors and notes from around the NBA:
- Both Hetzel and Bucks assistant Darvin Ham have made “strong impressions” on Pelicans team officials during New Orleans’ coaching search, Fischer reports. However, he says there’s a growing sense that Spurs associate head coach Sean Sweeney, who is also believed to be drawing interest from the Bulls and Magic, won’t be attainable for the Pelicans. It’s also unclear, Fischer says, whether anything will come of New Orleans’ reported interest in Jamahl Mosley, since it’s possible he won’t want to jump right into a new head coaching job after being fired by Orlando.
- Although Tom Thibodeau would be open to reuniting with the Bulls, the rebuilding club may not be a match for the veteran head coach, who is more likely to seek out a win-now situation, Fischer writes. Based on Fischer’s conversations with sources, the Magic job is the one viewed as most appealing to that type of candidate.
- Conner Varney, who had been working as a coaching associate under Quin Snyder in Atlanta, is leaving the Hawks to take a job with the Butler Bulldogs, reports Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link). Varney will reunite with Ronald Nored, a former Hawks assistant who was hired as Butler’s head coach in March.
2026 NBA Offseason Preview: Portland Trail Blazers
There were plenty of reasons not to believe that the Trail Blazers were going to take a significant step forward in 2025/26.
Two of Portland's most significant roster additions during the 2025 offseason were a veteran who would sit out the entire year while recovering from a torn Achilles (Damian Lillard) and a first-round pick who didn't appear ready to immediately contribute as a rookie (Yang Hansen). Then, head coach Chauncey Billups was arrested during the first week of the regular season as part of a federal investigation into illegal gambling, prompting the team to pivot to an interim head coach, Tiago Splitter, after a single game.
But a Blazers season that looked like it might quickly go off the rails turned out to be the most promising year the team has had in a half-decade, as Portland finished over .500 and made the playoffs for the first time since 2021.
Sixth-year forward Deni Avdija led the way, making a leap from solid starter to star and earning the first All-Star nod of his career while finishing as a Most Improved Player finalist. However, there was no shortage of complementary pieces fueling the Blazers' success.
Toumani Camara played all 82 games and continued to establish himself as an impact two-way player; Jerami Grant enjoyed a bounce-back season following a down 2024/25; Jrue Holiday fit into the backcourt exactly like the front office envisioned when he was acquired last summer from Boston; second-year center Donovan Clingan established himself as a reliable starter in the middle, while Robert Williams was healthy enough to back him up for most of the season; and Splitter acquitted himself well after being unexpectedly thrust into his first NBA head coaching job.
The 2025/26 season provided a number of reasons for optimism in Portland, and Lillard's impending return is another. Still, there are some question marks entering the summer that can't be overlooked.
Was finally freeing up their lottery-protected first-round pick by conveying the No. 15 overall selection to Chicago a good thing, or will it hurt the Blazers not to add another young player to this core? Is a consolidation trade for a star necessary to become a true contender? And just how aggressively will new team owner Tom Dundon, who has already made several headlines related to off-court cost-cutting moves, be willing to spend on his roster?
The Trail Blazers' Offseason Plans
Ten of the 15 players who finished the season on Portland's standard roster have guaranteed salaries for 2026/27, while two more - Vit Krejci and Sidy Cissoko - have non-guaranteed minimum salaries that look like pretty good deals. In other words, before they begin seriously exploring the trade market or talking to free agents, the Blazers could open the offseason with 12 of their 15 roster spots already spoken for.
