PORTLAND — The Portland Trail Blazers are out of the 2025–26 NBA Playoffs after losing Game 5 in San Antonio. The Trail Blazers stole Game 2 at the Frost Bank Centre and, for three quarters in Game 3, it looked like they would take control of the series, but ultimately the Spurs pulled away with the win in Game 3 and then the series. With an average margin of victory of 16 points, it would appear like San Antonio are miles ahead of Portland. But that’s simply not true. They showed promising signs they can build on. In both Games 3 and 4, they led by 17 at some point, but they blew it in both third quarters. So close yet so far. So, if the Trail Blazers approach the summer with the right attitude, they could build on their first-round exit, and close the chasm between them and the Spurs.
How The Trail Blazers Could Build On Their First-Round Exit
The Return of Damian Lillard
Damian Lillard’s return to Portland is rooted in circumstance more than design. His Achilles injury during the playoffs in Milwaukee abruptly ended what had been a productive season. It forced the Bucks into a difficult decision. In an effort to remain competitive and retool quickly, Milwaukee moved on. This created an unexpected opening. Portland stepped in, bringing back a franchise icon under very different conditions.
History suggests the outlook isn’t as bleak as it once was for Achilles recoveries. Kevin Durant returned from his injury looking like a seamless version of himself. Jayson Tatum has shown similar fluidity and confidence after his own setback. Those examples don’t guarantee anything, but they do offer a blueprint. Lillard’s game, built more on skill, range, and control than pure explosiveness, fits that mold.
Before the injury, his production in Milwaukee remained elite. He hovered around 24 points per game while averaging roughly 7 assists, and his three-point shooting stayed in that dangerous mid-to-high 30 percent range. That combination, volume scoring with deep-range efficiency and playmaking, is exactly what Portland lacked in this playoff series. The Trail Blazers finished 21st in offensive rating during the regular season and bottom three (14th) in the postseason. That put a low ceiling on what they could achieve.
Lillard raises that ceiling. His presence alone stretches defenses, creating space that didn’t previously exist. His ability to operate in pick-and-roll, generate late-clock offense, and command attention beyond the arc gives Portland a level of control they simply didn’t have. Deni Avdija and Scoot Henderson’s games could be unlocked by Lillard’s return despite the ball dominance.
The Future Is Brighter Than You Think
Scoot had an up-and-down regular season after returning mid-season from a hamstring injury that made him miss training camp. Sometimes it takes a while for a player to get going, especially after a lengthy injury absence. Scoot became more comfortable as the season went along, capping it with his performances in Games 1–3, where he was arguably the team’s best player. He hit a wall in Games 4 and 5, but that’s understandable, he’s a young guard in his first playoff series. He has already shown the right signs.
The rest of the team’s young core, Shaedon Sharpe, Donovan Clingan, and Toumani Camara, all showed promising signs during the regular season but struggled in the playoffs. Again, these are all players with less than five years of NBA experience experiencing the playoffs for the first time. This will be a learning curve for them and should fast-track their growth. The great thing about flailing in the playoffs is that it will put a hunger in these players to get back here and set the standard of playoffs-or-bust for this young team.
Then there’s Deni, who earned his first All-Star selection this season. He’s shown that he can be a building block for the future by consistently being a bright spot. Of course, he had some struggles against a stingy Spurs defense. Avdija thrives by being a downhill threat, and obviously meeting the newly minted DPOY in Victor Wembanyama at the rim was not ideal. But he showed he can make it work consistently. Imagine the levels his game can go to with Lillard’s shooting, with all the real estate the latter will create for him.
Potential Star Power
Portland’s pathway back to relevance isn’t just tied to internal growth, it’s built into their balance sheet. The presence of sizable contracts like Jerami Grant and Jrue Holiday gives the front office real matching power in the trade market, the kind required to enter conversations for high-end talent without gutting the roster (coughs Giannis Antetokounmpo). These aren’t empty salaries either, both players still produce at a level that keeps them valuable as contributors or as movable pieces, depending on direction.
That flexibility is paired with a quietly important draft position. Portland controls the majority of its own future picks, giving it a stable foundation of long-term assets. The Bucks’ situation adds another layer, with Portland holding interest in Milwaukee’s draft capital, though not without complication. One of those selections is tied up in prior obligations.
Still, the broader picture holds. Between movable contracts and a largely intact pick cupboard, Portland has positioned itself to act rather than wait. Whether that means consolidating for a star or continuing to build incrementally, the framework is there.
Credit: © Jaime Valdez-Imagn Images
