<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/portland-trail-blazers/3-portland-trail-blazers-trade-targets-to-keep-an-eye-on-in-2025-26-nba-season');   ga('set', 'title', '3 Portland Trail Blazers trade targets to keep an eye on in 2025-26 NBA season');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/3-Portland-Trail-Blazers-trade-targets-to-keep-an-eye-on-in-2025-26-NBA-season.jpg"></figure><h1>3 Portland Trail Blazers trade targets to keep an eye on in 2025-26 NBA season</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-09-16T10:24:11-07:00">September 16th, 10:24am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-09-16T10:24:11-07:00">September 16th, 10:24am</time><address><a>Rohan Brahmbhatt</a>Rohan Brahmbhatt is an adventure-driven sports writer, passionate footballer, mountaineer, and photojournalist. Rohan blends firsthand experience with storytelling—capturing the intensity of sport and the thrill of exploration. Whether on the field, a mountain trail, or behind the lens, he brings authentic, high-energy narratives that connect readers to the heart of the action.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Portland Trail Blazers have found themselves in a fascinating, almost paradoxical position heading into the 2025-26 NBA season. On one hand, they are still building around their young core of Scoot Henderson, Shaedon Sharpe, Donovan Clingan, and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/portland-trail-blazers/trail-blazers-news-yang-hansen-shine-summer-league-slam">2025 lottery pick Yang Hansen.</a> On the other hand, the franchise has unexpectedly doubled down on its <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/portland-trail-blazers/blazers-news-damian-lillard-returning-portland-on-42-million-contract">veteran presence by bringing Damian Lillard</a> back from the Milwaukee Bucks and surrounding him with proven contributors like Jrue Holiday and Jerami Grant.</p><p>That combination of <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/portland-trail-blazers/portland-trail-blazers-2025-nba-free-agency-grades">youth and experience leaves the Blazers</a> hovering in a precarious middle ground, too talented to be written off as a bottom-feeder, yet too raw and inconsistent to be considered a true contender in a crowded Western Conference. This is where the trade market will matter most. Portland is armed with assets: young players with upside, attractive contracts, and a fanbase hungry for relevance after years of transition. If the Blazers are to push closer toward playoff legitimacy in 2025-26, they will need to be aggressive in adding the right complementary pieces. Below are three trade targets that fit their timeline, positional needs, and financial structure.</p><h2><b>Pascal Siakam: A veteran wing who bridges the gap</b></h2><p>The most glaring weakness in <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/portland-trail-blazers/portland-trail-blazers-perfect-move-in-2025-nba-offseason">Portland’s current roster construction</a> lies on the wing. Jerami Grant is an offensive threat, but his contract is cumbersome, and Matisse Thybulle, while an elite defender, remains a limited offensive option. Shaedon Sharpe is still growing into his role, and while Rayan Rupert and Kris Murray bring flashes of two-way potential, they are not ready to shoulder the heavy responsibility of competing against the likes of Anthony Edwards, Luka Doncic, or Kawhi Leonard in a playoff series.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">"I'm just a young kid from Cameroon that moved to the U.S. when he was 18 years old and gave everything to the game of basketball."</p><p>Pascal Siakam left everything on the floor last season 😤 <a href="https://t.co/gnsQNIqODD">pic.twitter.com/gnsQNIqODD</a></p><p>— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) <a href="https://twitter.com/Pacers/status/1963361360571490549?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 3, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Pascal Siakam, who continues to produce at an All-Star level with Indiana, is precisely the kind of veteran who could transform the Blazers’ wing rotation. His ability to score in isolation, create for others, and defend multiple positions would immediately raise Portland’s floor. Siakam is also a battle-tested playoff performer, and his championship pedigree would bring balance to a team currently split between veterans trying to win now and young players learning the ropes.</p><p>The financials would be tricky, but Portland does have the means to make a move. Grant’s $32 million salary could act as the centerpiece in a trade, supplemented by one or two of Portland’s intriguing young wings. In return, the Blazers would acquire a player who fits perfectly between Scoot Henderson’s playmaking, Damian Lillard’s perimeter scoring, and Donovan Clingan’s interior presence. For Portland, acquiring Siakam would signal a commitment to competing in the present without completely abandoning the future.</p><h2><b>Myles Turner: Stabilizing the frontcourt</b></h2><p>The Blazers have quietly stockpiled size in recent years, adding Donovan Clingan through the draft and<a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/portland-trail-blazers/portland-trail-blazers-biggest-yang-hansen-concern"> Yang Hansen as another promising big man.</a> Robert Williams III, though often injured, remains a high-level defensive anchor when healthy. And yet, the Blazers still lack a true modern big man who can both protect the rim and stretch the floor. That’s where Myles Turner enters the conversation.</p><p>Turner has long been one of the league’s most underrated centers. His ability to block shots at an elite rate while also spacing the floor with three-point shooting makes him a rare two-way presence in the modern NBA. Adding Turner to the roster would allow Portland to diversify its frontcourt looks. The Blazers could go big with Turner and Clingan, run small-ball lineups with Turner at the five, or stagger minutes to ensure constant rim protection.</p><p>Turner would also ease the workload of Damian Lillard and Jrue Holiday. Portland’s guards thrive when they have a big man who can set hard screens, roll with force, and still pop out for three when defenses collapse. Turner provides that versatility, and his presence would prevent the Blazers from being overly reliant on unproven young players in high-stakes situations.</p><p>A Turner trade would likely involve Robert Williams III as salary ballast, paired with a future first-round pick or a developing wing. While Williams has value, his injury history may deter teams from fully investing in him as a franchise cornerstone. Turner, meanwhile, offers immediate dependability, fitting Portland’s dual goals of competing now and maintaining flexibility moving forward.</p><h2><b>Zach LaVine: A scoring wing to unlock the offense</b></h2><p>If there’s one thing Damian Lillard has always needed beside him, it’s a high-level secondary scorer who can consistently relieve pressure. In the past, that role fell to CJ McCollum. In the present, the Blazers have young guards and wings with potential, but no one has proven enough to guarantee 20+ points per game on a nightly basis. This is why Zach LaVine could be an intriguing gamble for Portland.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Remember when Zach LaVine gave us 37 in Cleveland? 🤯 <a href="https://t.co/Knj4t2U94Q">pic.twitter.com/Knj4t2U94Q</a></p><p>— SleeperKings (@SleeperSacKings) <a href="https://twitter.com/SleeperSacKings/status/1960130778362499117?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 26, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Pairing LaVine with Lillard and Henderson would give Portland one of the most dynamic backcourts in the league, forcing defenses to pick their poison on every possession. The risk, of course, is his contract. LaVine is owed significant money, and his durability has been a recurring concern. The upside, however, is equally compelling: A fully healthy LaVine could tilt Portland’s offense into top-10 territory and alleviate the immense scoring load on Lillard. In a Western Conference where depth of talent often determines playoff survival, adding another proven scorer might be the Blazers’ best chance at elevating themselves from play-in hopefuls to legitimate postseason threats.</p><h2><b>Where do the Blazers stand?</b></h2><p>The Portland Trail Blazers’ 2025-26 season will be defined by the tension between patience and urgency. With Damian Lillard and Jrue Holiday anchoring the backcourt, the team cannot afford to waste opportunities, yet the development of Scoot Henderson, Shaedon Sharpe, and Donovan Clingan is too important to mortgage for short-term gains. That balance makes the trade market the natural pivot point for their season.</p><p>Pascal Siakam offers the proven two-way wing play Portland desperately needs. Myles Turner provides stability, spacing, and rim protection to modernize the frontcourt. Zach LaVine, meanwhile, could be the offensive jolt that finally unlocks the Blazers’ full potential. None of these moves come without risk, but each represents a path forward that blends the franchise’s short- and long-term ambitions.</p><p>The Western Conference will not wait for Portland to <a href="https://www.nba.com/players/free-agent-tracker/2025" rel="noopener">figure things out</a>. With powerhouses like Denver, Minnesota, and Oklahoma City entrenched at the top, the Blazers will need boldness to keep pace. Whether they chase a veteran star or a reliable role player, the decisions made over the next year will determine whether Portland stays in the middle of the pack or finally breaks free into relevance.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

3 Portland Trail Blazers trade targets to keep an eye on in 2025-26 NBA season

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/portland-trail-blazers/blazers-news-damian-lillard-shares-theory-rising-achilles-injuries-nba');   ga('set', 'title', 'Blazers’ Damian Lillard reveals theory for exploding Achilles injuries in NBA');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Blazers-star-Damian-Lillard-in-Formula-Zero-Elite-Camp.jpg"><figcaption>© Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Blazers’ Damian Lillard reveals theory for exploding Achilles injuries in NBA</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-09-15T08:58:09-07:00">September 15th, 8:58am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-09-15T08:58:09-07:00">September 15th, 8:58am</time><address><a>Yasmin Edañol</a>Yasmin D.G. Edañol is a PhD candidate in Chemistry at the University of the Philippines Diliman, with a background in scientific research and publishing. He brings a data-driven perspective to sports storytelling as an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints, with a focus on the NBA. Whether it's breaking down a clutch play or a stat line, he believes every great moment has a deeper layer waiting to be uncovered.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/portland-trail-blazers/trail-blazers-news-damian-lillard-posts-workout-video-have-fans-fired-up">recently posted a workout video that gave fans a glimpse of his progress</a> and sparked fresh excitement about his return. The clip carried even more weight because <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/portland-trail-blazers/blazers-news-why-damian-lillard-didnt-cry-bucks-torn-achilles-diagnosis">Damian Lillard tore his Achilles during last season’s NBA playoffs,</a> making every step forward a clear sign of recovery. Alongside his workout update, Lillard <a href="https://x.com/SidelinewithAK/status/1967589713927340536" rel="noopener">discussed the surge</a> of Achilles injuries in the NBA while keeping Blazers fans hopeful about his return. The Blazers star revealed that he has returned to running and feels stronger each day.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Hear how Damian Lillard is recovering after his achilles injury on The Sideline with Andy Katz 🎙️</p><p>Full episode: <a href="https://t.co/YYDjt3qPvI">https://t.co/YYDjt3qPvI</a> <a href="https://t.co/Tar4wh0dBt">pic.twitter.com/Tar4wh0dBt</a></p><p>— Andy Katz (@SidelinewithAK) <a href="https://twitter.com/SidelinewithAK/status/1967589713927340536?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 15, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Although he admitted that recovery will take time, he sent a confident message. “I’m not returning as a shell of myself. I plan to return to be myself,” he said. Therefore, his determination highlights the same mindset that has defined his career.</p><p>Meanwhile, when asked about the surge of Achilles issues across the league, Lillard shared his own theory. “Honestly I think it might have something to do with the pace of the game,” the Blazers guard explained. “The game is getting super fast and you dealing with like extremely high level athletes.” Furthermore, Lillard added, “You know how often guys train. You know how much we play and travel. All of those things, plus changing direction and stopping at the level we compete at, it’s hard on your body.”</p><p>As a result, Lillard believes the speed and intensity of the modern NBA puts players at greater risk. “You know I think that’s probably becoming a little bit more of a thing now because of those reasons,” he added. In this way, Damian Lillard’s words reflect how athletes themselves are processing the alarming rise of Achilles injuries in today’s game.</p><p>On the other hand, for his part, the Blazers guard insists patience is key. “I plan to return to be myself,” he repeated. He underscored that he will not risk coming back before he is fully ready. Consequently, fans have long trusted his approach, and his remarks reinforce the drive that made him one of the most respected closers in the league.</p><p>As his recovery moves forward, the Blazers are eager to welcome Damian Lillard back to the floor. The NBA Achilles problem may continue to linger. Still, Lillard’s focus remains on proving that a smart and steady path can lead back to full strength.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Blazers’ Damian Lillard reveals theory for exploding Achilles injuries in NBA

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/nba-stories/nba-news-mark-cuban-ownership-stake-nba-franchise');   ga('set', 'title', 'Mark Cuban recently passed on ownership stake in another NBA franchise');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Mark-Cuban-reacts-against-the-Philadelphia-76ers-during-the-second-half-at-American-Airlines-Center.jpg"><figcaption>Mar 16, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Mark Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Mark Cuban recently passed on ownership stake in another NBA franchise</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-09-12T10:06:22-07:00">September 12th, 10:06am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-09-12T16:28:43-07:00">September 12th, 4:28pm</time><address><a>Zachary Draves</a>Zachary Draves is a sportswriter and broadcaster based in the Quad Cities of Illinois and Iowa. Zachary covers a variety of different sports as well as sports history, sport and society, and sport and culture. He is also a professor of sociology.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Dallas Mavericks</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Throughout his career, Mark Cuban <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/dallas-mavericks/mavericks-news-mark-cuban-conversation-owner-outlook">became one of the most innovative NBA owners</a>. He helped to elevate the Dallas Mavericks into a championship-winning team and fostered a fan-friendly environment.</p><p>Along the way, he used data analytics and strategy that enabled him to become a one-of-a-kind owner. One who was accessible and conveyed a common man image as well as being one of the most passionate spectators.</p><p>Recently, he had a chance to take another crack at being an owner. However, Cuban <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Quf1VxVcRX4&amp;t=1257s" rel="noopener">decided to forgo a chance</a> to become an owner of the Portland Trail Blazers, per the Road Trippin podcast.</p><p>He told co-host Channing Frye that if the Blazers new owner, Tom Tundon, didn’t let him in as majority owner, he wasn’t going to do it.</p><p>“The competitive part of me says absolutely,” Cuban said. “It’s just like okay if this is the way it turned out, but I don’t think there is going to be expansion the way everybody expected. And who knows if franchises come up. And actually the funny thing is the guy who is buying Portland, Tom Dundon, is a really good friend of mine, we hooped together for the last 25 years.”</p><p>He went onto compliment Dundon as a genuine “hooper”.</p><p>“He’s a hooper hes going to really be into it,” Cuban said. “He’s not as outgoing as I am, and he runs the NHL team in that kind of way. We had a real brief conversation, but I’m like unless I can be majority owner, I’m not going to do it.”</p><p>Furthermore, Cuban talked about expansion franchises. However, he doesn’t foresee expansion working out necessarily due to more money being given to the players.</p><p>As a result, the franchise fee basically will operate as a loan company for the owners.</p><h2><b>What Mark Cuban is up to today</b></h2><p>In 2023, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/dallas-mavericks/mavericks-news-mark-cuban-explains-decision-sell-majority-stake-mavs">Cuban sold his majority share of the Mavericks</a> after twenty three years with the team, years that included an NBA championship in 2011 with Dirk Nowitzki at the helm.</p><p>Since then, Cuban remains a minority owner for the Mavericks. However, he has <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/dallas-mavericks/mavericks-news-mark-cuban-truth-bomb-regrets-selling-franchise">expressed regret over relinquishing his role</a> in basketball operations.</p><p>This came after the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-news-luka-doncic-anthony-davis-trade-makes-nba-history">monumental trade of Luka Doncic</a> to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis. He also regretted not putting the Mavericks on the market and not creating a bidding war.</p><p>In the meantime, Cuban is heavily invested in sports betting and real estate. He also is a co-owner of 2929 Entertainment, a production company.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Mark Cuban recently passed on ownership stake in another NBA franchise

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/portland-trail-blazers/trail-blazers-news-damian-lillard-posts-workout-video-have-fans-fired-up');   ga('set', 'title', 'Trail Blazers’ Damian Lillard posts workout video that will have fans fired up');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Trail-Blazers-guard-Damian-Lillard.jpg"><figcaption>Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Trail Blazers’ Damian Lillard posts workout video that will have fans fired up</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-09-11T16:25:10-07:00">September 11th, 4:25pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-09-11T16:25:10-07:00">September 11th, 4:25pm</time><address><a>Josue Pavon</a>Josue Pavon is an Associate Editor and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat writer for ClutchPoints. He started his career as a credentialed media member writing about the Boston Celtics for WEEI.com in Boston, where he grew into a local on-camera NBA reporter and podcast host for CLNS Media. Alongside the Celtics radio broadcaster and two-time NBA champion Cedric Maxwell, Josue is the co-host of the Cedric Maxwell podcast.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>As Portland Trail Blazers veteran Damian Lillard continues his road to recovery from a season-ending Achilles tear, his new workout video proves he’s a step closer to making a return. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/portland-trail-blazers/blazers-rumors-damian-lillard-reunion-insiders-wondering-about-conspiracies">Lillard reunited with the Trail Blazers this summer</a>, agreeing to a three-year, $41.6 million deal with a player option for the 2027-28 season. Damian returns to the team he played for the first 11 seasons of his 13-year career.</p><p>After the Milwaukee Bucks’ two-year title pursuit with Lillard and All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo leading the way, the front office went into a new direction that led the Bucks to waive and stretch the remaining $113 million on his contract over five years. Then, Dame agreed to a new deal with Portland.</p><p>Lillard <a href="https://twitter.com/Dame_Lillard/status/1966154601062932858" rel="noopener">posted a video</a> of himself captioned, “to be continued,” shooting and dribbling on a practice court to his X, formerly Twitter.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="qme"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ToBeContinued?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ToBeContinued</a> <a href="https://t.co/JMMg06r2EI">pic.twitter.com/JMMg06r2EI</a></p><p>— Damian Lillard (@Dame_Lillard) <a href="https://twitter.com/Dame_Lillard/status/1966154601062932858?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 11, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Lillard tore his left Achilles tendon in Game 4 of the Bucks’ opening-round series against the Indiana Pacers. After a disappointing end to Milwaukee’s season, few were shocked to see the Bucks and Lillard go their separate ways. However, Dame’s decision to head back to the Trail Blazers, the only other NBA team he’s ever played for, did come as a surprise, as many assumed he’d attempt to latch onto a championship-contending team.</p><h2><b>Dwyane Wade drops truth bomb on Trail Blazers’ Damian Lillard</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Trail-Blazers-guard-Damian-Lillard-Heat-guard-Dwyane-Wade.jpg"><figcaption>Craig Mitchelldyer-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Although Hall of Fame guard Dwyane Wade helped lead the Heat to three championships throughout his career, he knows titles don’t necessarily define the impact of a player. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/portland-trail-blazers/blazers-news-dwyane-wade-truth-bomb-damian-lillard-championship-less-legacy">Wade still considers title-less Damian Lillard elite</a>.</p><p>Wade addressed Lillard’s <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lszBmB3Yxy4&amp;t=344s" rel="noopener">championship-less legacy</a>, per Time Out with Dywane Wade on the WY Network.</p><p>“Dame’s legacy in the NBA will be way bigger than a championship,” Wade said. “I think every player that comes through this league’s legacy is not just built on a winning a championship. And we’ve got to stop doing that. Yes, if you’re one of the greatest, if you want to be on that Top 75. You want to be up there with the GOATS, yes, championships are a part of this game.</p><p>“But that doesn’t mean that every player that comes through that is great at this game has to walk away with a championship for their legacy to be stamped. So Dame to me is one of those players that if he doesn’t sniff a championship it doesn’t change the fact that Dame is a bad mother f*****,” Wade concluded.</p><p>Seeing Lillard back on the floor is an encouraging sign for Trail Blazers fans.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Trail Blazers’ Damian Lillard posts workout video that will have fans fired up

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/portland-trail-blazers/portland-trail-blazers-2025-26-season-predictions-nba-schedule');   ga('set', 'title', 'Portland Trail Blazers 2025-26 season predictions after NBA schedule release');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Billups-and-Scoot.jpg"><figcaption>© Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><h1>Portland Trail Blazers 2025-26 season predictions after NBA schedule release</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-09-05T12:18:02-07:00">September 5th, 12:18pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-09-05T12:18:02-07:00">September 5th, 12:18pm</time><address><a>Rohan Brahmbhatt</a>Rohan Brahmbhatt is an adventure-driven sports writer, passionate footballer, mountaineer, and photojournalist. Rohan blends firsthand experience with storytelling—capturing the intensity of sport and the thrill of exploration. Whether on the field, a mountain trail, or behind the lens, he brings authentic, high-energy narratives that connect readers to the heart of the action.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>For the better part of the last half-decade, the Portland Trail Blazers have been mired in mediocrity, unable to reclaim the magic that once made them a perennial playoff presence in the Western Conference. Four consecutive seasons without a playoff berth created tension within the fan base and doubt across the league about whether the franchise could ever build a competitive roster again. Yet, after last year’s encouraging step forward — 36 wins, a renewed identity, and a clear commitment to their youth — <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/portland-trail-blazers/portland-trail-blazers-perfect-move-in-2025-nba-offseason">Portland appears ready to declare</a> itself a team on the rise once more.</p><p>General manager Joe Cronin set the tone for the offseason by stating that it’s “winning time” for the Blazers, and the team’s moves reflected that vision. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/portland-trail-blazers/blazers-news-damian-lillard-return-locker-room-brings-feels">Damian Lillard is back in a Blazers uniform</a>, joined by Jrue Holiday and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/portland-trail-blazers/portland-trail-blazers-biggest-yang-hansen-concern">promising rookie Yang Hansen</a>, while young stars Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe continue to develop. This roster is no longer an experimental project of mismatched parts. It’s one with the balance of experience and youth necessary to claw its way back into the Western Conference playoff race. The question is whether all of that will be enough in a brutal conference loaded with contenders.</p><h2><b>Learning from last year’s struggles</b></h2><p>The 2024-25 campaign ended with the Blazers finishing 36-46, a record that placed them just outside the play-in tournament. While disappointing, it marked progress compared to prior seasons and suggested that Chauncey Billups had finally found a measure of consistency with a team that was beginning to buy into his vision. Henderson and Sharpe showed flashes of becoming one of the most dynamic backcourts of the future.</p><p>Still, the roster’s flaws were glaring. The Blazers ranked near the bottom of the league in defensive efficiency, struggled to close out tight games, and often looked overmatched against more experienced squads. Depth was another concern, particularly in the frontcourt, where injuries to Robert Williams III left Portland exposed. While the season ended without postseason basketball, the trajectory was upward; a stark contrast to the freefall of prior years.</p><h2><b>The impact of Damian Lillard and Jrue Holiday</b></h2><p>The biggest storyline entering 2025-26 is the return of Lillard. His reunion with Portland was as shocking as his departure in the first place, but it signals one thing above all: the Blazers intend to win now. Lillard’s leadership and offensive brilliance are unquestioned, and even if his best years are behind him, his presence will transform the locker room. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/portland-trail-blazers/blazers-next-trade-must-make-jrue-holiday-anfernee-simons-swap-celtics">Pairing him with Jrue Holiday</a> gives the Blazers one of the most seasoned and defensively sound backcourts in the league, providing a veteran foundation to balance the explosive but still-developing games of Henderson and Sharpe.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Damian Lillard scored 50 points in 3 quarters! (2018)</p><p>50 PTS<br>6 AST<br>1 REB<br>3 STL<br>62% FG (16/26)<br>100% FT (10/10) <a href="https://t.co/bm029gnOF0">pic.twitter.com/bm029gnOF0</a></p><p>— ThrowbackHoops (@ThrowbackHoops) <a href="https://twitter.com/ThrowbackHoops/status/1958942544739655891?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 22, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>This mix of generations may be exactly what Portland needs. Lillard and Holiday bring playoff experience, late-game poise, and defensive stability, while Henderson and Sharpe bring athleticism, speed, and upside. How Billups manages the rotations will be crucial, but the blend of youth and veterans should allow Portland to avoid the inconsistency that doomed them last year.</p><h2><b>Schedule outlook and win predictions</b></h2><p>The 2025-26 NBA schedule presents Portland with both opportunities and challenges. They open with a favorable slate, including winnable games against Minnesota, Utah, and Detroit, but face gauntlets in December and January with back-to-back series against Golden State, Los Angeles, and Denver. For a team seeking to build confidence and establish rhythm, those stretches will be defining.</p><p>Last season’s <a href="https://www.espn.in/nba/standings" rel="noopener">36 wins serve</a> as the baseline, and it’s fair to project improvement with the roster additions and the natural growth of Henderson and Sharpe. A realistic prediction would be between 40 and 44 wins, with the midpoint projection landing at a record of 42-40. That kind of record should slot Portland somewhere between the 8th and 10th seeds in the Western Conference, making them a play-in contender and giving Rip City its first taste of postseason basketball in years.</p><h2><b>Playoff outlook for Trail Blazers</b></h2><p>If Portland reaches the play-in tournament, its chances of advancing into the official playoff bracket depend on health and matchups. A play-in game against seasoned squads like the Lakers, Mavericks, or Kings would be a steep challenge, but the Blazers’ veteran additions give them a puncher’s chance. Realistically, Portland’s ceiling this year is a first-round playoff exit, but the experience would be invaluable for Henderson and Sharpe, who are being groomed to lead the franchise into the next decade.</p><h2><b>Predictions beyond the record</b></h2><p>Beyond the win-loss column, several predictions can be made about Portland’s season. Scoot Henderson, entering his second full season as the starting point guard, could emerge as a Most Improved Player candidate if he maintains consistency and cuts down on turnovers. Shaedon Sharpe’s athleticism and scoring could also push him into Sixth Man of the Year conversations, particularly if Billups opts to bring him off the bench behind Lillard and Holiday.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Buy Scoot Henderson stock while you can</p><p>We aren’t looking back after this season <a href="https://t.co/IkEapcTXpR">https://t.co/IkEapcTXpR</a> <a href="https://t.co/MYb7qwEVX2">pic.twitter.com/MYb7qwEVX2</a></p><p>— Point Made Basketball (@pointmadebball) <a href="https://twitter.com/pointmadebball/status/1949570537518436741?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 27, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>On the coaching front, Chauncey Billups enters the year with pressure. The franchise has been patient with his development as a head coach, but with a more complete roster, the excuses for underperforming are dwindling. If Portland starts slow or looks unprepared against top-tier competition, the front office could consider making a change. While a midseason firing is unlikely, Billups’ seat will grow warm if the Blazers underachieve.</p><p>As for trades, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/portland-trail-blazers/1-move-portland-trail-blazers-shouldve-made-2025-nba-offseason">Jerami Grant remains the likeliest piece to move</a>. If the Blazers are in contention, they may keep him for stability. But if the season trends downward, expect contenders to come calling with offers, forcing Portland to decide between chasing short-term success and planning for long-term growth.</p><h2><b>A step forward, but not the finish line</b></h2><p>The Portland Trail Blazers enter the 2025-26 season with cautious optimism. They’ve added veterans who bring stability, retained their promising young core, and embraced the idea that they’re done rebuilding. After years of irrelevance, Rip City basketball finally has direction again.</p><p>Still, this season isn’t about championship contention; it’s about taking the next step forward. A 42-40 record and a spot in the play-in tournament would be a success, even if it ends in a first-round playoff exit. For a franchise starved of postseason basketball, progress matters.</p><p>In the long run, the development of Henderson and Sharpe, the handling of Grant and Williams, and the eventual transition from Lillard’s leadership to a new generation will define Portland’s future. But for now, the Blazers have their eyes set on one simple goal: returning to the playoffs and proving that Rip City basketball still belongs in the Western Conference conversation.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Portland Trail Blazers 2025-26 season predictions after NBA schedule release

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/nba-stories/nba-news-how-carmelo-anthony-career-extended-pau-gasol');   ga('set', 'title', 'How Carmelo Anthony’s NBA career was extended by Pau Gasol');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/How-Carmelo-Anthonys-career-was-extended-by-Pau-Gasol.jpg"><figcaption>© Mike DiNovo-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>How Carmelo Anthony’s NBA career was extended by Pau Gasol</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-09-05T11:40:18-07:00">September 5th, 11:40am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-09-05T11:40:18-07:00">September 5th, 11:40am</time><address><a>Preston Byers</a>Preston Byers is an experienced writer and journalist who currently serves as an associate editor for ClutchPoints and as a staff writer at The Vindicator and Tribune Chronicle, where he covers sports in the Mahoning Valley. Previously, Preston worked as an associate editor for Dot Esports and a site expert for FanSided's Union and Blue.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>They played against each other plenty of times, most notably in the 2008 Western Conference Finals and the Olympics, but Pau Gasol and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/nba-news-carmelo-anthony-lebron-james-dwyane-wade-chris-bosh">Carmelo Anthony’s careers</a> are uniquely linked, thanks to an unfortunate injury and the Portland Trail Blazers.</p><p>Anthony and Gasol’s NBA careers overlapped quite a bit; Gasol entered the league in 2001 as the third overall pick by the Memphis Grizzlies, and two years later, Anthony went third overall as well, being drafted by the Denver Nuggets.</p><p>For the next 15 or so years, the two players each earned numerous accolades and established themselves among the best in the league. Gasol was the 2002 Rookie of the Year, a six-time All-Star, four-time All-NBA selection, and, most importantly, a two-time NBA champion. Anthony, while never hoisting the Larry O’Brien trophy, earned 10 All-Star and six All-NBA selections, as well as the 2013 scoring title.</p><p>In their careers, Gasol and Anthony never played for the same team at the same time. However, they did both play for the Los Angeles Lakers — seven years apart — were both on the Chicago Bulls — three years apart, and in Anthony’s case, extremely briefly — and they each signed a contract with the Blazers.</p><p>Gasol never got the chance to play a game on that contract for Portland, though, and that is how Anthony came to be a Blazer and reinvigorate his NBA career.</p><p>In the summer of 2019, just weeks after turning 39, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/portland-trail-blazers/blazers-news-pau-gasol-says-he-sacrificed-playoffs-bucks-to-get-ready-for-next-season">Gasol signed a one-year deal with the Trail Blazers</a>. He had missed most of the previous season with the San Antonio Spurs and Milwaukee Bucks due to injuries, and while trying to rehab, he suffered a second stress fracture in his foot in November 2019. Portland, seeing Gasol would not be able to play that entire season, released him.</p><p>And in a surprising move, the Trail Blazers opted for Anthony, who had played just 10 games <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/houston-rockets/rockets-news-carmelo-anthony-on-challenging-houston-tenure">with the Houston Rockets</a> the previous season and had seemingly been discarded by the NBA.</p><p>“So my injury gave him the opportunity to play again, prove himself,” Gasol<a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/46148073/basketball-hall-fame-hell-no-fourth-carmelo-anthony-did-do-land-springfield" rel="noopener"> said, via</a> ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.</p><p>At age 35 and with hundreds of millions in career earnings, Anthony, who had been without a team for more than 10 months, signed a nonguaranteed, ‘prove-it’ deal with the Blazers in November 2019. He started all 58 games he played of that 74-game season, averaging 15.4 points and 6.3 rebounds and shooting 43.0% from the field and 38.5% on 3-pointers. His play earned him another one-year deal with Portland. Anthony signed a final one-year deal with the Lakers the following summer.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/nba-news-carmelo-anthony-embraces-hall-of-fame-nod-no-nba-title">Anthony is set to be inducted</a> into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on Saturday. The 2008 USA Basketball Men’s National Team, known as the ‘Redeem Team’, of which Anthony was a part, will also be inducted.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

How Carmelo Anthony’s NBA career was extended by Pau Gasol

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/sneakers/adidas-damian-lillard-gift-elite-camp-athletes-exclusive-sneakers');   ga('set', 'title', 'Adidas, Damian Lillard gift Elite Camp athletes exclusive sneakers');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Adidas-Damian-Lillard-gift-Elite-Camp-athletes-exclusive-sneakers.jpg"></figure><h1>Adidas, Damian Lillard gift Elite Camp athletes exclusive sneakers</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-08-31T20:58:41-07:00">August 31st, 8:58pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-08-31T20:59:12-07:00">August 31st, 8:59pm</time><address><a>Dominik Zawartko</a>Dominik Zawartko is a Michigan State graduate with a degree in Political Science and English. Having previously worked in the nonprofit and legal sectors, he decided to pursue his true love of writing with ClutchPoints. Dominik's hobbies include painting, cooking food, training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and always having a laugh. His main focus areas are UFC coverage and all things sneakers.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Mini-Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>With nine-time NBA All-Star Damian Lillard back to his original home with the Portland Trail Blazers, it feels as though he’s picking up where he last left off with a young team in need of a leader. He’s every bit of confident to take this team to the next level and it’s obvious Lillard will show love back to the city he knows best. At his latest Formula Zero Elite basketball camp, hoopers were gifted his unreleased <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/sneakers/damian-lillard-adidas-officially-unveil-the-adidas-dame-x">Adidas Dame X</a> sneakers.</p><p><i><b>Check our <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/sneakers">Sneakers news</a> for more upcoming releases and breaking content!</b></i></p><p>Damian Lillard was traded back to Portland from Milwaukee following his disappointing departure due to injury. Nevertheless, Lillard has kept a positive attitude and with this return, he’ll be looking to cement his legacy as one of the best Trail Blazers to ever play the game.</p><p>In establishing his own Formula Zero Elite Camp, Lillard gets a chance to share his knowledge with the younger generation of hoopers. In return, the players received Lillard’s newest <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/sneakers/damian-lillard-makes-statement-on-sub-100-adidas-dame-x-sneakers">Dame X signatures</a> in a PE (player exclusive) colorway.</p><h2>Formula Zero Elite Camp x Adidas Dame X PE</h2><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Damian Lillard blessed players in his Formula Zero Elite Camp with new adidas Dame X PE 🧪 <a href="https://t.co/Z1Ccrv4eJN">pic.twitter.com/Z1Ccrv4eJN</a></p><p>— Nice Kicks (@nicekicks) <a href="https://twitter.com/nicekicks/status/1957135622461882654?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 17, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://instagram.com/embed.js"></script></p></figure><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">All players invited to Damian Lillard’s Formula Zero Elite Camp this year exclusively received a pair of Adidas Dame X shoes, should Adidas make these a general release? 🔥🏀</p><p>📸: <a href="https://twitter.com/Dame_Lillard?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Dame_Lillard</a> <a href="https://t.co/Qd8aqIVhJK">pic.twitter.com/Qd8aqIVhJK</a></p><p>— Complex Sneakers (@ComplexSneakers) <a href="https://twitter.com/ComplexSneakers/status/1956521126588223513?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 16, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><br>“I want to make an impact. To build a community of authentic and driven people who do things differently. Who don’t skip steps, whos confidence is real, who look out for each other, and who don’t take no for an answer. Who follows the formula.” Lillard said of <a href="https://www.formulazero.basketball/">his camp</a>.</p></figure><p>The exclusive Adidas Dame X arrived in a striking Watermelon colorway, accented with silver streaks along the aerodynamic uppers. The shoes came with vibrant green laces and the Formula Zero logo stitched onto the ankle collar. In terms of a public release, don’t expect these to come anytime soon as they should remain exclusive to participants of the camp.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Adidas, Damian Lillard gift Elite Camp athletes exclusive sneakers

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/portland-trail-blazers/eurobasket-news-deni-avdija-gets-100-real-shocking-france-upset');   ga('set', 'title', 'Deni Avdija gets 100% real about shocking France Eurobasket upset');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Eurobasket-news-Deni-Avdija-gets-100-real-about-shocking-France-upset.jpg"></figure><h1>Deni Avdija gets 100% real about shocking France Eurobasket upset</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-08-31T19:42:17-07:00">August 31st, 7:42pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-08-31T19:42:17-07:00">August 31st, 7:42pm</time><address><a>Rexwell Villas</a>Rexwell Villas is an experienced sports writer covering a variety of sports, including the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and college football. He's a Communications Arts graduate from the University of Santo Tomas in the Philippines, and he claims to have JR Smith's conscience with his shot selection. He has won a basketball, a baseball, and a football championship in fantasy all within a year.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>After getting tripped up in a 66-64 loss to Poland in Group D play of the 2025 EuroBasket, Deni Avdija and Israel bounced back with one of the loudest victories in the tournament. On Sunday, Israel defeated one of the favorites to top the tourney, as they took down France to the tune of an 82-69 score.</p><p>Avdija led the way for Israel in the France game. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/portland-trail-blazers/blazers-news-deni-avdija-knife-back-admission-wizards-trade">Traded to the Portland Trail Blazers</a> by the Washington Wizards in 2024, Avdija came away with 23 points while grabbing eight boards, dishing out two assists and getting five steals in 26 minutes of action. He shot 7-for-10 from the field and hit three of his four attempts from behind the arc for Israel, who also defeated Iceland in their tournament opener.</p><p>An ecstatic Avdija shared his thoughts on Israel’s triumph against France, who <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/olympics/team-usa-mens-basketballs-olympic-win-over-france-draws-ratings-not-seen-since-1996">won the silver medal</a> in the men’s basketball tournament in the 2024 Paris Olympics.</p><p>“We had a tough loss yesterday, and I felt a little down, so today coming to the game with no excuses to beat one of the best teams of the tournament is a big deal, honestly, it’s one of the most fun wins I’ve had”, said Avdija following the game, per Eurohoops.</p><p>The win improved Israel’s 2025 EuroBasket record to 2-1, second in the Group D standings. Only the top four finishers in each group will advance to the knockout stage.</p><p>Also stepping up for Israel versus Le Bleus were Yam Madar, Tomer Ginat and Roman Sorkin. Madar and Sorkin had 17 and 12 points, respectively, while Ginat came off the bench and fired 14 points. Ginat finished the contest with a game-high plus-17.</p><p>In a game that <a href="https://www.fiba.basketball/en/events/fiba-eurobasket-2025/games/122982-ISR-FRA#gameStats" rel="noopener">featured 11 lead changes and eight deadlocks</a>, Israel edged France on the <a href="https://www.fiba.basketball/en/events/fiba-eurobasket-2025/news/avdija-israel-rally-to-hand-france-first-defeat" rel="noopener">strength of their huge fourth-quarter performance</a> on both sides of the court. Avdija and company went on a scorching 11-0 run to go up by seven points with a little over seven minutes left in regulation.</p><p>“We were there for the whole game,” Israel forward Yovel Zoosman said about the win (via FIBA’s website).  “We kept our composure, we stayed solid, and made some very big plays. We took responsibility, not being afraid of the moment. And that’s what happened: big-time players making big-time plays.”</p><p>Up next for Israel is a date with Belgium before a meeting with Luka Doncic and Slovenia.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Deni Avdija gets 100% real about shocking France Eurobasket upset

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/gaming/portland-trail-blazers-nba-2k26-ratings-wrong');   ga('set', 'title', 'Portland Trail Blazers NBA 2K26 ratings that are 100% wrong');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Portland-Trail-Blazers-NBA-2K26-ratings-that-are-100-wrong.jpg"></figure><h1>Portland Trail Blazers NBA 2K26 ratings that are 100% wrong</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-08-29T09:57:56-07:00">August 29th, 9:57am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-08-29T09:57:56-07:00">August 29th, 9:57am</time><address><a>Rohan Brahmbhatt</a>Rohan Brahmbhatt is an adventure-driven sports writer, passionate footballer, mountaineer, and photojournalist. Rohan blends firsthand experience with storytelling—capturing the intensity of sport and the thrill of exploration. Whether on the field, a mountain trail, or behind the lens, he brings authentic, high-energy narratives that connect readers to the heart of the action.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Portland Trail Blazers are finally back in the spotlight. After four straight seasons without a playoff appearance, general manager Joe Cronin made it clear: <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/portland-trail-blazers/blazers-news-portland-gm-makes-bold-declaration-amid-damian-lillard-reunion">it’s winning time again in Rip City</a>. True to his word, Portland had one of the most ambitious offseasons in recent memory, bringing Damian Lillard back home from Milwaukee while <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/portland-trail-blazers/blazers-next-trade-must-make-jrue-holiday-anfernee-simons-swap-celtics">also landing Jrue Holiday from the Celtics</a>. Together, the duo gives the Blazers a championship-tested backcourt, something this franchise hasn’t seen since the Clyde Drexler era. But when it comes to NBA 2K26, the ratings don’t match reality.</p><p>Alongside proven veterans like Jerami Grant and Robert Williams III, as well as young talents like Shaedon Sharpe, Scoot Henderson, and rookie big man Yang Hansen, the Blazers are suddenly one of the most balanced teams in the West. On paper, this is a group that should absolutely contend for a playoff spot.</p><p>Several Blazers players are either overvalued despite limited production or underrated even with proven impact. Let’s break down the five Blazers whose 2K26 ratings simply don’t make sense.</p><h2><b>Toumani Camara: Overrated at 82 OVR</b></h2><p>Camara proved himself as a scrappy 3-and-D wing who could defend multiple positions and knock down open shots. But let’s not kid ourselves, an 82 OVR is wildly inflated.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="de">Spark plug 🔌<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBADefenseWeek?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBADefenseWeek</a> <a href="https://t.co/PKKJAooz8c">pic.twitter.com/PKKJAooz8c</a></p><p>— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) <a href="https://twitter.com/trailblazers/status/1953145279001313735?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 6, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Placing Camara above Holiday, Sharpe, and Jerami Grant essentially paints him as Portland’s second-best player, which just isn’t reality. While his development has been encouraging, Camara is still best suited as a defensive role player, not a star-caliber cornerstone. A fairer rating would be 76-77 OVR, keeping him in line with his role as an impact rotation piece rather than a top option.</p><h2><b>Jrue Holiday: Underrated at 81 OVR</b></h2><p>Holiday’s NBA 2K26 rating might be the most egregious on the roster. At 81 OVR, 2K essentially pegs him as a complementary piece. In reality, Holiday remains one of the NBA’s premier defensive guards and a stabilizing two-way presence.</p><p>He’s not only a multiple-time All-Defensive selection but also an NBA champion who brings invaluable leadership and playoff experience to a team still finding its identity. Putting him below Camara and equal to Sharpe minimizes his importance. Holiday should be in the 84-85 OVR range, solidifying him as the second-best player on the Blazers behind Lillard.</p><h2><b>Shaedon Sharpe: Underrated at 81 OVR</b></h2><p>Sharpe is Portland’s bridge to the future. His sophomore leap showcased why the Blazers consider him untouchable in trade talks: explosive athleticism, improved shot creation, and flashes of two-way potential. While his 95 dunk rating is accurate, his overall 81 OVR undersells his growth.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">It ain’t NBA Dunk Week without Dunk of the Year 😮‍💨🗣️ <a href="https://t.co/rOzeiJVKXf">pic.twitter.com/rOzeiJVKXf</a></p><p>— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) <a href="https://twitter.com/trailblazers/status/1948776579750134258?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 25, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Sharpe averaged double figures with efficient scoring stretches, and his athletic profile makes him one of the league’s rising stars. He should be rated higher than Camara and closer to Holiday, realistically in the 83-84 OVR range. Anything lower feels like 2K is ignoring the strides he’s already made.</p><h2><b>Jerami Grant: Underrated at 79 OVR</b></h2><p>Grant’s consistency remains overlooked. A nightly 20-point scorer who also defends multiple positions, Grant is one of the most valuable two-way forwards in the league. His ability to hit threes, slash to the basket, and guard across the frontcourt makes him indispensable to Portland’s system. Meanwhile, he is also one of the <a href="https://www.spotrac.com/nba/player/_/id/15391/jerami-grant" rel="noopener">highest-paid players in Portland</a>.</p><p>Yet NBA 2K26 has him at just 79 OVR, below Camara and barely above Scoot Henderson. That’s baffling. Grant should be rated 81-82 OVR, rewarding his reliability and acknowledging that he’s still in his prime as a high-level starter on both ends of the floor.</p><h2><b>Scoot Henderson: Overrated at 78 OVR</b></h2><p>This one might sting Blazers fans, but Scoot’s 78 OVR feels too generous at this stage. While his sophomore season had flashes of brilliance,  quick first steps, acrobatic finishes, and glimpses of playmaking, it also exposed his weaknesses. His decision-making, shooting inconsistency, and defensive lapses held him back.</p><p>Scoot’s potential is real, but an upper-70s rating suggests he’s already a reliable starter when in reality, he’s still a work in progress. A 75-76 OVR would better reflect his current level, leaving space for him to climb as he develops alongside veterans like Lillard and Holiday.</p><h2><b>Other notable cases where the 2K26 got it wrong</b></h2><p>Damian Lillard at 88 OVR, a fair rating. Lillard is still a top-tier scorer and leader, though durability and age may slightly cap his upside. On the other hand, Robert Williams III at 78 OVR. A fair grade for an elite defensive anchor, though injuries continue to cloud his long-term impact. Meanwhile, Donovan Clingan at 77 OVR is slightly underrated. His rim protection and rebounding project him as a future defensive star, and he deserves closer to a 79.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">He’s just scratching the surface 🫣<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBAAssistWeek?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBAAssistWeek</a> <a href="https://t.co/OObLM2IJQv">pic.twitter.com/OObLM2IJQv</a></p><p>— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) <a href="https://twitter.com/trailblazers/status/1957919485454872749?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 19, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>In addition, Yang <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/portland-trail-blazers/trail-blazers-news-yang-hansen-message-to-damian-lillard-amid-portland-return">Hansen at 70 OVR is severely underrated</a>. At 7-foot-2 with mobility and international experience, Hansen should be at least a 73-74 OVR, especially as a top draft-day addition.</p><h2><b>The Blazers’ 2K26 outlook</b></h2><p>The Trail Blazers’ roster has been reshaped into a fascinating mix of championship-tested veterans and rising young stars. Lillard’s homecoming and Holiday’s arrival instantly raise Portland’s floor, while Sharpe, Scoot, and Clingan represent the future. Yet NBA 2K26 misses the balance.</p><p>Fixing these ratings would present a more accurate picture of Portland’s identity, a team capable of competing now while also developing into a serious threat in the years ahead.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/portland-trail-blazers/portland-trail-blazers-2025-nba-free-agency-grades">Portland is no longer a team</a> stuck in limbo. The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/portland-trail-blazers/blazers-news-damian-lillard-return-locker-room-brings-feels">return of Damian Lillard</a> and the arrival of Jrue Holiday signal a new chapter, one where experience and youth blend into a dangerous core. Unfortunately, NBA 2K26 doesn’t quite reflect that reality.</p><p>By overrating role players like Camara while undervaluing proven stars like Holiday and Grant, the game distorts what makes the Blazers so compelling. With a few simple adjustments, the Blazers’ virtual roster would more accurately mirror the team’s real potential, one built not just for the present but also for a future that looks brighter than it has in years.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Portland Trail Blazers NBA 2K26 ratings that are 100% wrong

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/portland-trail-blazers/blazers-rumors-target-date-close-of-4-25-billion-franchise-sale');   ga('set', 'title', 'Blazers rumors: The target date for close of $4.25 billion franchise sale');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/NBA-Portland-Trail-Blazers-at-Memphis-Grizzlies.jpg"><figcaption>Petre Thomas-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Blazers rumors: The target date for close of $4.25 billion franchise sale</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-08-20T09:04:37-07:00">August 20th, 9:04am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-08-20T09:04:37-07:00">August 20th, 9:04am</time><address><a>Julian Ojeda</a>Julian Ojeda is an Orlando-based sports journalist with 3 years of professional writing under his belt, specializing in both NBA and NFL coverage. A devoted Orlando Magic fan, he deftly balances fervent fandom with insightful reporting, possessing a keen eye for compelling narratives.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The sale of the Portland Trail Blazers is moving forward with a <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6563404/2025/08/19/potential-trail-blazers-ownership-close-deal-march/" rel="noopener">targeted closing date of March 31, 2026</a>, according to a report from Jason Quick of The Athletic on Tuesday. The plan calls for a purchase agreement to be signed in September, setting the stage for the franchise to change ownership before the end of the 2025-26 NBA season.</p><p>Last week, ESPN reported that Tom Dundon, owner of the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes, will <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/portland-trail-blazers/blazers-rumors-hurricanes-owner-reaches-agreement-buy-portland-franchise">purchase the Trail Blazers from the Paul Allen estate</a> for $4.25 billion. The estate has been working to sell both the Blazers and the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks in accordance with Allen’s will after his death in 2018.</p><p>The estate overseeing Allen’s holdings has indicated the franchise will remain in Oregon, with a source confirming to The Athletic that relocation is not expected.</p><p>Dundon, a Dallas businessman, is leading the purchase effort alongside Chicago-based investor Marc Zahr and Sheel Tyle, the co-CEO of Collective Global Management. Tyle, who is originally from Houston, has lived in the Portland area for the past two years. His wife, Sejal Hathi, currently serves as director of the Oregon Health Authority.</p><p>Once a purchase agreement is finalized, the NBA will schedule a vote by its Board of Governors to approve the sale. If approved on time, the new ownership group would assume control of the team with six games left in the 2025-26 regular season.</p><h2><b>Blazers face arena questions and roster overhaul as $4.25B sale moves forward</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Avdija-guards-James.jpg"><figcaption>Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Attention has also turned to the team’s home arena. The Trail Blazers are under contract to play at the Moda Center through 2030, though Commissioner Adam Silver has publicly suggested the franchise may eventually require a new facility. While the building’s shortcomings — including cramped visitor locker rooms and aging suites — have been noted, a source told The Athletic that none of the issues are significant enough to block the deal.</p><p>“Nothing about the arena is a deal breaker on its own. It’s lots of little things that add up,” the source said.</p><p>If Dundon completes the purchase, the expectation is that success on the court will be his primary focus. His tenure with the Hurricanes reflected that approach. When he took over the franchise, Carolina had missed the postseason nine consecutive years. Since then, the team has reached the playoffs in seven straight seasons, making three trips to the Eastern Conference finals.</p><p>The Trail Blazers are currently undergoing a rebuild after finishing the 2024-25 season with a 36-46 record, placing 13th in the Western Conference. Over the offseason, the team reshaped its roster by <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/boston-celtics/celtics-news-jrue-holiday-anfernee-simons-trade-blazers-catch">trading Anfernee Simons to the Boston Celtics for veteran guard Jrue Holiday</a>, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/portland-trail-blazers/blazers-news-damian-lillard-new-gig-alma-mater">signing Damian Lillard after his release from the Milwaukee Bucks</a> as he recovers from an Achilles injury, and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/portland-trail-blazers/blazers-news-jrue-holiday-shouts-out-superstar-yang-hansen">drafting 7-foot center Yang Hansen</a> with the 16th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.</p><p>Portland will begin the 2025-26 campaign at home against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday, Oct. 22.</p><p>If the sale closes on schedule, the Trail Blazers will enter a new ownership era as they continue to build toward returning to contention in the Western Conference.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Blazers rumors: The target date for close of $4.25 billion franchise sale

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/portland-trail-blazers/blazers-rumors-insiders-source-claims-new-owner-tried-trade-luka-doncic');   ga('set', 'title', 'Blazers rumors: Insider’s source claims new owner would’ve tried to trade for Luka Doncic');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Former-Mavericks-guard-Luka-Doncic_efd3ed.jpg"><figcaption>Jerome Miron-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Blazers rumors: Insider’s source claims new owner would’ve tried to trade for Luka Doncic</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-08-20T08:55:27-07:00">August 20th, 8:55am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-08-20T08:55:27-07:00">August 20th, 8:55am</time><address><a>Josue Pavon</a>Josue Pavon is an Associate Editor and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat writer for ClutchPoints. He started his career as a credentialed media member writing about the Boston Celtics for WEEI.com in Boston, where he grew into a local on-camera NBA reporter and podcast host for CLNS Media. Alongside the Celtics radio broadcaster and two-time NBA champion Cedric Maxwell, Josue is the co-host of the Cedric Maxwell podcast.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>In light of the Portland <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/portland-trail-blazers/blazers-rumors-hurricanes-owner-reaches-agreement-buy-portland-franchise">Blazers’ sale to their new owner Tom Dundon</a>, an insider claims the bold new ownership group would have expressed interest in Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic before his trade from the Dallas Mavericks. After the most shocking trade in recent history saw the Mavericks trade the face of their franchise, following a trip to the NBA Finals in 2024, many teams could look back and think ‘What if?’</p><p>Ahead of making the agreed sale official, Dundon and his group are expected <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6563404/2025/08/19/potential-trail-blazers-ownership-close-deal-march/" rel="noopener">to bring a fresh new approach</a> to the Blazers franchise, per The Athletic’s Jason Quick.</p><p>“He brings a swagger,’’ the source said to <i>The Athletic</i>. “If Tom was the owner last year, he would have been trying to get Luka (Dončić). He would be like, ‘Why should the Lakers have him?’’’</p><p>“He’s a winner,” the source said. “He’s a straight shooter, and rolls up his sleeves and gets to work. He’s already talking basketball, and he already knows all the salaries of players and employees. He’s really invested in the players — he says you can’t compromise on players.”</p><p>Dundon, who also owns the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes, reached an official agreement with Blazers’ Paul Allen estate, thus no other potential buyers can negotiate with the franchise about a potential sale. The plan is to have a purchase agreement signed by September, which would make the sale official.</p><p>“He’s a winner,” the source said. “He’s a straight shooter, and rolls up his sleeves and gets to work. He’s already talking basketball, and he already knows all the salaries of players and employees. He’s really invested in the players — he says you can’t compromise on players.”</p><p>Both sides hope to close the deal by March 31, 2026. While Dundon is from Dallas, hence his reported hypothetical Blazers interest in Luka Doncic, he plans to keep the team in Portland. The purchase is reportedly worth $4.25 billion.</p><h2><b>Hurricanes owner agrees to buy Blazers for $4 billion</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Blazers-head-coach-Chauncey-Billups-GM-Joe-Cronin.jpg"><figcaption>Jaime Valdez-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Before the team’s sale, the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/portland-trail-blazers/blazers-news-jrue-holiday-shouts-out-superstar-yang-hansen">Blazers traded for Jrue Holiday from the Celtics</a>. The 2024 NBA champion labeled rookie Yang Hansen “a star” as he enters his first season with the Blazers. The franchise <a href="https://www.sportico.com/business/team-sales/2025/dundon-portland-trail-blazers-sale-paul-allen-1234866910/" rel="noopener">agreed</a> with NHL owner Tom Dundon on a deal, per Sportico’s Scott Sochnick and Eben Novy-Williams.</p><p>“Others in the group include Blue Owl Capital co-president Marc Zahr and Portland-based Sheel Tyle, co-CEO of Collective Global, according to the people, who were granted anonymity because the details were private.”</p><p>The Blazers will open their preseason against the Warriors on October 8.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Blazers rumors: Insider’s source claims new owner would’ve tried to trade for Luka Doncic

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/nba-stories/nba-news-carmelo-anthony-expectation-hall-of-fame-induction-move-fans');   ga('set', 'title', 'Carmelo Anthony’s expectation for HOF induction will move NBA fans');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Carmelo-Anthony.jpg"><figcaption>Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Carmelo Anthony’s expectation for HOF induction will move NBA fans</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-08-14T20:33:08-07:00">August 14th, 8:33pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-08-14T20:33:08-07:00">August 14th, 8:33pm</time><address><a>Paolo Mariano</a>Paolo Mariano is a freelance writer, editor, and producer based in Manila, Philippines. He is a journalism graduate from the University of Santo Tomas and the father of a young girl whose personality swings from Simone Biles to Dillon Brooks. A beacon of objectivity, he believes Penny Hardaway is the true NBA GOAT.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Denver Nuggets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>During his playing days, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-news-carmelo-anthony-reflects-on-2011-trade-that-nearly-happened">Carmelo Anthony was known as one of the coolest players in the NBA</a>. He rarely got rattled during high-pressure moments. But he also wasn’t afraid to rough it up against opponents, sometimes even bullying them to submission.</p><p>However, when <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/carmelo-anthony-lands-new-gig-after-nba-hall-of-fame-induction">Anthony gets inducted into the Hall of Fame</a> next month, he admitted that he might look vulnerable on stage—something that he shouldn’t be shy about.</p><p>It would be hard for the NBA legend not to get emotional when he wears the orange jacket. It’s a rare honor that he dreamt of growing up, and finally achieving it <a href="https://x.com/7PMinBrooklyn/status/1956123587649396871" rel="noopener">further validates his legacy</a>.</p><p>“(There’s) a tear coming down, for sure. That’s the moment. Fam, kids, people that you grew up with,” said the 41-year-old Anthony on his “7 PM in Brooklyn” podcast.</p><p>“The speech is written.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">"A tear coming down for sure. That's the moment."</p><p>A vulnerable Carmelo Anthony is what you should expect during his Hall of Fame speech 💯 <a href="https://twitter.com/FDSportsbook?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FDSportsbook</a> <a href="https://t.co/MC1eNNde1c">pic.twitter.com/MC1eNNde1c</a></p><p>— 7PM in Brooklyn (@7PMinBrooklyn) <a href="https://twitter.com/7PMinBrooklyn/status/1956123587649396871?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 14, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Anthony was born in New York but moved to West Baltimore, Maryland when he was two years old following the death of his father. He has spoken openly about the difficulties of growing up in an environment littered with poverty, crime, and drugs.</p><p>But through basketball, he found a gateway to success, garnering attention at Oak Hill Academy in Virginia. Eventually, he made it out of their dim neighborhood into the bright lights of the NBA.</p><p>The 10-time All-Star said making it to the Hall of Fame feels extra special when he looks back on his journey.</p><p>“You reflecting on your whole (career)—high school, college, USA Basketball—you know what I’m saying? So it’s more than just the 19 years (in the NBA). You gotta go back and reflect on playing in the little league,” stressed Anthony.</p><p>He has career averages of 22.5 points and 6.2 rebounds. He’s a six-time All-NBA Team member and a one-time scoring champion. He may not have won a ring, but his contributions to the game are invaluable.</p><p>Aside from Anthony, also getting inducted into the Hall of Fame are fellow NBA great Dwight Howard, Chicago Bulls coach Billy Donovan, and WNBA icons Sue Bird, Maya Moore, and Sylvia Fowles, among others.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

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