The Portland Trail Blazers are coming off their most successful season in four years. Now, it is on to the offseason, where the Blazers are expected to be active.<\/p>\n
Despite a ton of injuries and dealing with an early-season coaching change, Portland finished eighth in the Western Conference at 42-40.\u00a0 The Trail Blazers secured their first playoff appearance since 2020-21 and the seventh seed with a victory over the Phoenix Suns in the 7-8 Play-In game.<\/p>\n
Portland struggled all season shooting the ball. The Trail Blazers, who ranked 20th in the NBA in offensive efficiency, finished 29th in shooting at 45.3%. While the Blazers were seventh with 14.5 threes a game, they were just 28th in 3-point percentage at 34.3%. They also did a great job getting to the foul line, but ranked 24th in free-throw percentage (76.5%).<\/p>\n
Defense was an issue for Portland as well. The Trail Blazers ranked in the top half of the league in defensive effective field goal percentage (54.1%) and were 14th in defensive efficiency. Fouling and defensive rebounding were their biggest issues.<\/p>\n
Portland pushed the San Antonio Spurs<\/a> hard in their first-round series before bowing out in five games. The Trail Blazers won Game 2, but their shooting woes ultimately did them in. The Blazers were held to under the century mark in three of the five games, and they didn’t score over 108 points in the series. They finished the first round of the playoffs with an offensive rating of 102.2, as they ranked 15th in effective field goal percentage and dead last in true shooting percentage.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u201c<\/span>I think the obvious thing is, you know, we just need to be a better shooting team<\/em>,\u201d Damian Lillard<\/a> said on Friday<\/a>. \u201c<\/span>I think when you’ve got a guy like<\/em>\u00a0Deni [Avdija]<\/a>, who\u2019s constantly getting downhill and in the paint and, you know, forcing teams to have to help is going to generate good shots, you know, is going to generate opportunities. And we got to be able to capitalize on that.<\/em><\/p>\n Lillard, a high-volume 3-point shooter, missed all of last season due to a torn Achilles. The 35-year-old averages 3.1 threes a game at a 37.1% clip. But, he is at his best when getting into the teeth of the defense, creating for himself and others.<\/p>\n “You know I\u2019m going to be in the paint, I\u2019m gonna get around my guy,” Lillard continued. “And teams are going to help. You know I know that I\u2019ll get attention. And it\u2019s going to lead to open shots as well.”<\/span><\/p>\n Robert Williams<\/a> led the team with a 72.2% true shooting percentage, but he is strictly a threat around the rim. Meanwhile, Jerami Grant<\/a>‘s 60.8% true shooting percentage was tops among perimeter threats and a career high. Donovan Clingan<\/a> and Avdija were the only other Blazers with a true shooting percentage of 60% or better.<\/p>\n The Trail Blazers have 12 players under contract for 2026-27 and are $4.6 million over the salary cap. The Blazers are $30.8 million under the tax line. They do have some flexibility to get under the salary cap, with Vit Krejci<\/a> ($2.66 million) and Sidy Cissoko<\/a> ($2.46 million) holding non-guaranteed deals.<\/p>\n Williams and Matisse Thybulle<\/a> are their key free agents. The Trail Blazers don’t have any draft picks in 2026, with their first-round pick going to Chicago. The Blazers do have eight first-round draft picks for 2027-2032.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Portland likely plans on building around Shaedon Sharpe<\/a>, Clingan, and Avidija. But the Blazers have some movable pieces in Grant, Jrue Holiday<\/a>, and either Scoot Henderson or Sharpe. Speaking of Holiday, Yahoo Sports insider Jake Fischer says the Trail Blazers expect to field plenty of calls<\/a> for the 35-year-old point guard in the coming weeks and throughout the summer. Fischer added that Holiday, who is signed through 2027-28 and has $72 million on his deal, wants to stay with the Blazers.<\/p>\n “Word is that Portland fully expects Lillard to return next season from the Achilles tear he sustained in April 2025 to join Jrue Holiday in its starting backcourt, potentially… With [Scoot] Henderson in the mix as well,” Fischer said. “How all the pieces fit together remains to be seen.”\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Krejci, who can play the 1-3,\u00a0 has demonstrated that he deserves minutes, and Cissoko is coming off a career season.\u00a0 So, the Blazers will need to move someone.<\/p>\n Holiday had an outstanding season with 16.3 points, 6.1 assists, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.0 steals. The 6-4 guard knocked down a career-high 2.6 threes with shooting splits of 45.1\/37.8\/83.8. He recorded nine double-doubles in 53 appearances.<\/p>\n “I don\u2019t like being traded. I like being a part of something<\/a> and building,” Holiday said via\u00a0 Sam Amico of Hoops Wire (h\/t MSN).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Holiday will make $34.8 million this coming season. He has a player’s option of $37.2 million for 2027-28.<\/p>\n There are two realistic scenarios for the Trail Blazers if they choose to trade him. The Blazers could package him as part of a bigger trade for Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo<\/a>, who they’re rumored to have their eyes on<\/a>. Or, they could potentially deal him for a wing upgrade.<\/p>\n “There\u2019s quite a bit of detail in here on Atlanta, Houston and Washington, but the item you\u2019re going to see aggregated \u2014 and want to read more about \u2014 is the belief that Portland, sources say, wants to get back into<\/a> this summer\u2019s Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes,” Fischer tweeted.<\/span><\/p>\n Besides the three teams that Fisher mentioned, the New York Knicks, Utah Jazz, and perhaps the Miami Heat could be interested. Here is a look at potential offers that the Blazers could receive in a potential trade for Holiday.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Atlanta Hawks<\/a> are coming off their first playoff appearance in three seasons, finishing sixth in the conference with 46 wins, their most since 2015-16. The Hawks took the New York Knicks to six games in the first round, but their bench didn’t provide much besides Jonathan Kuminga<\/a>.<\/p>\n Atlanta could use an upgrade in its backcourt, and CJ McCollum<\/a> is an unrestricted free agent. The Hawks project to be $13 million under the salary cap at the start of the offseason. They have two first-round picks in 2026, a lottery selection (via trade), and the No. 23 selection from\u00a0 Cleveland.<\/p>\n Atlanta gets:<\/p>\n Jrue Holiday<\/em><\/p>\n Portland gets:<\/p>\n Corey Kispert<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n No. 23 first round 2026 pick (via CLE)<\/em><\/p>\n Buddy Hield<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n If this hypothetical trade gets done, it likely won’t happen until July, when the teams’ books theoretically reset. Kispert, under contract through 2028-29, is the type of player the Blazers need, as he is a solid shooter off the bench. He posted a solid true-shooting percentage of 60.9% and made 1.5 treys per game this past season between his time with Atlanta and the Washington Wizards<\/a>. The Blazers’ bench was ranked in the bottom five in the league, and their reserves shot a league-low 31.8% from deep.<\/p>\n Hield may not need to be included in the trade, depending on how the salary cap situation ultimately plays out and when the trade would be official. The 33-year-old struggled mightily this season and barely got off the bench with the Hawks. Still, he knocked down 1.5 threes a game in 2025-26 and is a career 40% shooter from deep, averaging nearly three triples a contest.<\/p>\n This appears to be a win-win trade for both squads. However, the Hawks could ultimately choose to re-sign<\/a> McCollum.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Wizards really tried to upgrade their roster at the trade deadline<\/a> with the acquisitions of Trae Young<\/a> and Anthony Davis<\/a>. So, the Wizards apparently want to compete this year, and they do have some intriguing young talent. The Wizards may choose to move Davis this summer, as Fischer and NBA on Prime insider Chris Haynes suggested. While it shouldn’t necessarily be expected that the Wizards would trade Davis, the Trail Blazers showed interest in the 33-year-old at the 2026 trade deadline.<\/p>\n “I do think there’s a good chance that he may end up somewhere else by the time next season starts”@ChrisBHaynes<\/a> gives the latest on the future of Anthony Davis with the Wizards<\/p>\n Hear Deals and Dunks weekdays from 1-2 PM ET https:\/\/t.co\/uGOfTU9PUj<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/mzT78c8f0y<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) April 30, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\nHow Can The Trail Blazers Improve?<\/h3>\n
Potential Trade Partners<\/h3>\n
Atlanta Hawks<\/h4>\n
Proposed Trade<\/h4>\n
Washington Wizards<\/h3>\n
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