The NBA preseason schedule is underway, and the Portland Trail Blazers will again compete for the top lottery pick in this year’s draft. They will start the year with low expectations, and their win total odds reflect that. Our 2024-25 NBA season betting preview will look at the Trail Blazers odds and see if taking their win total is worth your best NBA bet today.
2024-25 NBA Betting Preview: Portland Trail Blazers Win Total Odds
Bottom of the West
The Portland Trail Blazers were not competitive at all last season. They were only projected for 28.5 wins, but they couldn’t surpass that and only won 21 games. The Blazers were ranked 29th in offense last season and 23rd in defense. They ended the season tied for the third-worst record in the league and the worst in the Western Conference.
Steady workin’ pic.twitter.com/ZsimaXs9UK
— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) October 8, 2024
A lot of hype for the Blazers last season was surrounded by the start of No. 3 overall pick Scoot Henderson‘s NBA career. Henderson was one of the most anticipated prospects of recent years, and unfortunately, he didn’t live up to expectations. Rookie point guards often struggle in the NBA, but Henderson’s rookie season was a disappointment. Henderson only played 62 games last season posting averaging of 14 points and 5.4 assists. However, he was inefficient from the field, only shooting 38.5% on the season.
The rest of the Blazers young core didn’t have much better showings last season. Shaedon Sharpe continued to show incredible athleticism and his intriguing upside but was hampered by injuries and only played 32 games. Anfernee Simons averaged 22.6 points for the Blazers last season but only played in 46 games. The Blazers are hoping next season, their young prospects can stay on the court and continue their development.
Offseason Additions
Portland’s offseason saw minimal changes to their roster, which suggests that the team is not prioritizing immediate success. They acquired Deni Avdija in a trade with the Washington Wizards. The team used the seventh overall pick in the NBA Draft to select Donovan Clingan, a 7-foot-2 center from UConn. While Clingan’s addition offers long-term potential, the Blazers did not make any major upgrades to significantly improve their chances this season.
On the departure side, Malcolm Brogdon was traded to the Wizards, leaving the Blazers without one of their more experienced veterans. This roster is now primarily composed of unproven players with upside, such as Henderson, Simons, and Sharpe, all of whom are still working to establish their NBA identities.
The Deni Avdija experience. pic.twitter.com/9SPjsDfcQi
— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) October 4, 2024
Trail Blazers Odds
The Portland Trail Blazers win total odds for next season are set at 21.5 wins. The oddsmakers are not expecting much improvement from a Blazers team that was one of the worst in the NBA last season. Optimists might think that a healthy year from Simons and Sharpe could boost the Blazers’ win total. Pessimists would site the potential in next year’s draft as a reason for the Blazers to once again tank. The Blazers have gone under their projected win total for three straight seasons. Could this year be the break in the streak?
