Portland Trail Blazers

Front office and bench

Ownership

Tom Dundon

General Manager (top basketball executive)

Joe Cronin since 2021

President (business operations)

Dewayne Hankins since 2023

Assistants

• Jay TrianoAssistant coach
• Mike WilliamsAssistant coach
• Quinton CrawfordAssistant coach
• Gilbert AbrahamAssistant coach and director of player development
• Leron BlackAssistant coach
• Nate BjorkgrenSpecial assistant to the coaching staff and operations

The direction

What the franchise says and what its moves show

After returning to the playoffs for the first time since 2021, Portland has shifted to a more win-now project with a veteran backcourt (Lillard, Holiday) and a bet on reviving Morant. Cronin argues the glut of guards is manageable and that the veterans will guide the young players; the club, now owned by Dundon, has committed to staying in Portland while it negotiates an arena deal.

Building around

Ja Morant Deni Avdija Shaedon Sharpe Donovan Clingan Damian Lillard

What they have said

• He said he had studied Morant for a long time and is convinced he's a good teammate, with no concerns off the court.

  General manager Joe Cronin · Hoops Rumors · September 2026

• He said Lillard is in the best physical shape of his career after his Achilles tear.

  Head coach Micah Nori · Hoops Rumors · September 2026

What the data points to

• Extension coming Very likely

  • Donovan Clingan is finishing his rookie deal and producing: he needs to be locked up before he reaches the market.
• Seller Likely

  • Jrue Holiday is the kind of veteran a contender asks for in February.
  • If the start goes badly, that is the natural way out.
• Flight risk Likely

  • Jrue Holiday can leave next summer through his player option.
  • If the project does not convince him, better to trade him than lose him for nothing.

Moves

Summer 2026

• Micah Nori named new head coach (June 23).
• Trade: Ja Morant arrives from Memphis in exchange for Jerami Grant and Kris Murray (plus $1M in cash for Portland).
• Jeremy Sochan (from the Knicks) and Branden Carlson (from OKC) sign; Micah Potter is claimed off waivers.
• No picks in the 2026 draft: their first-round pick went to Chicago after they made the playoffs.
• Matisse Thybulle leaves for the Lakers.
• Scoot Henderson can sign his rookie-scale extension until October 19.

Latest

• Oct 17 Waived Waived F Jeremy Sochan.
• Oct 16 Waived Waived G Caleb Houstan.
• Sep 24 Waived Waived F Keylan Boone and Gs Barry Dunning and Mark Sears.
• Sep 23 Waived Waived G Mark Armstrong and C Samson Johnson.

The roster

14 NBA contracts · 2026-27 salaries

Strengths and weaknesses

Today's roster, facet by facet (league rank)

• Defense 19th
• Rim protection 26th
• Three-point shooting 10th
• Playmaking 9th
• Scoring 11th
• Rebounding 14th
• Offensive impact 12th

Roster holes

• Weak in rim protectionWith today’s rotation it ranks 26th in the league in rim protection.
• Only 2 forwards in the rotationShort on bodies on the wing.

Contracts and extensions

Expiring this season

• Scoot Henderson 21 years old · paid 13.6 M Restricted free agent Re-signing him would cost about 17.7 M a year
• Micah Potter 27 years old · paid 2.8 M Salary coming off the books

With an option next summer

• Jrue Holiday34.8 M · can leave early

Bargains (produce far above their salary, for several years)

• Deni Avdijapaid 13.1 M, produces like 36.0 M · through 2027-28

Pricey but short (paid more than they produce, but ending soon)

• Jrue Holiday34.8 M · 2 years

Money and picks

Payroll 194.5 M Cap 165.0 M Tax 200.4 M 1st apron 209.0 M 2nd apron 221.7 M

Payroll

194.5 M · over the cap

Distance to each line

tax: 5.9 M below · 1st apron: 14.5 M below · 2nd apron: 27.2 M below

Next summer

187.9 M committed · no cap space

First-rounders it can trade

2027, 2031 · holds 1 other team’s first and 6 swaps

Radar and possible trades

Who could ask about its players

• DET → Toumani Camarasigned through 2029-30, produces above his salary
• MIA → Toumani Camarasigned through 2029-30, produces above his salary

A trade that works under the CBA

Trade pieces

Assets

Deni Avdija (worth 23.5 M more than his salary), Donovan Clingan (worth 15.9 M more than his salary), Toumani Camara (worth 6.5 M more than his salary), Vít Krejčí (worth 9.7 M more than his salary)

Contracts that weigh

Shaedon Sharpe (overpaid by 17.4 M), Jrue Holiday (overpaid by 17.7 M)

To match salaries

Scoot Henderson (13.6 M)