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Bruski 150SportsEthos 2026 Fantasy Basketball Draft Guide
Fantasy Basketball Draft Guide 2026: Portland Trail Blazers Team Preview
Last Updated on August 30, 2026 6:12 am by Mike Passador | Published: August 30, 2026
How’d We Get Here?
The Blazers were hit with a big blow just after opening night when Chauncey Billups was arrested following an FBI investigation into poker games with mafia ties (oh, that standard story), but the team deserves real credit for fighting through that adversity. Tiago Splitter was handed the coach’s clipboard and tasked with helping a young Blazers team make some headway. A busy summer saw a reunion with Damian Lillard, who sat out the entire season, and Jrue Holiday, who proved to be just what the doctor ordered as a veteran mentor and two-way stabilizer in the backcourt. Scoot Henderson missed over half the season with a torn hamstring and Shaedon Sharpe missed another huge chunk of time as well, but not all of Portland’s young core were hampered. Donovan Clingan was able to build upon the strong finish to his rookie season and addressed many of the concerns observers had about his game. Deni Avdija was brilliant en route to an All-Star selection and has quickly become one of the preeminent drivers in the league. Jerami Grant even gets credit for embracing a bench role to start the season. The Blazers had a lot of issues to sort through but they managed to get there by the seat of their pants, making for a successful season even if it ended in a first-round loss to the Spurs. The biggest news is that the Blazers were sold to Tom Dundon, however, and his first few months in charge have basically been a crash course in what not to do to make a good first impression. The Blazers hired Wolves assistant Micah Nori as their new head coach after lowballing Splitter, and the team already has a reputation of being abnormally cheap. As for the roster, the Blazers made mostly fringe moves aside from a big buy-low on Ja Morant that cost them only Grant and Kris Murray. It adds to a glut of guards that was already looking problematic last year, and while the off-court situation with ownership is the real story in Portland, they certainly offer a ton of intrigue on the court as well.
For a full recap of last season to set the table, check out our Portland Trail Blazers Season Wrap!
The Portland Trail Blazers Season Wrap
Offseason Moves
Arrivals: Ja Morant, Micah Potter, Branden Carlson, Jeremy Sochan, John Tonje (2W)
Rookie Arrivals: None
Departures: Jerami Grant, Matisse Thybulle, Kris Murray, Blake Wesley, Caleb Love
Retained: Robert Williams
Depth Chart and Minutes Per Game
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Mike graduated from Boston University’s Dual Degree Program with a BA in Economics and a BS in Business with Concentrations in Marketing and Operations Management. He is a faithful supporter of Toronto sports and the Detroit Lions and is always ready to be let down. Tweet to him @Mike_Pandador, but if you badmouth Jose Calderon you might get blocked.
