Following the departure of Damian Lillard, the Portland Trail Blazers have made no effort to hide their full commitment to rebuilding. According to Crickex Login, it was no surprise when the team ended the season with just 21 wins—their worst record in the past 18 years—and secured the bottom spot in the Western Conference. That finish gave them decent draft lottery odds, but the results didn’t go their way.

Due to more aggressive tanking efforts from Eastern teams like the Pistons and Wizards, and lottery jumps from the Hawks and Rockets, the Blazers ended up with the seventh overall pick. In a year without a standout draft class, this middling position failed to yield the franchise-changing talent Portland had hoped for. After weighing all options, they selected Donovan Clingan, a dominant center from back-to-back NCAA champion squads. It was a safe pick in a weak field. With limited optimism surrounding this year’s draft, Portland went on to trade away all their second-round picks, choosing not to bring in any additional prospects.

Expectations for next season are understandably low. Crickex Login notes that the team’s so-called “young trio” will remain the core of whatever developmental progress the Blazers can make. Anfernee Simons, now seen as the primary scorer post-Lillard, averaged 22.6 points, 5.5 assists, and 3.6 rebounds—career highs across the board. Shooting nearly nine threes per game, Simons posted a solid 38.5% from deep. However, with increased responsibility came increased mistakes. His 2.7 turnovers per game were the highest of his career, and injuries limited him to just 46 games. This inconsistency raises questions about whether he can truly fill Lillard’s shoes.

Sophomore guard Shaedon Sharpe remains a project worth developing. Last season, he averaged 15.9 points, 5 rebounds, and 2.9 assists—also career highs—and surpassed 80% from the free-throw line, a solid benchmark for any backcourt player. But his three-point shooting dipped to a concerning 33.3%, and worse still, he played only 32 games. Sharpe missed the second half of the season due to a lower abdominal injury that required surgery.

Third overall pick Scoot Henderson, once dubbed “the next Westbrook,” had a rocky rookie campaign. After just five games, he lost his starting role and spent much of the season searching for rhythm off the bench. Things improved late in the season—he started 16 of Portland’s final 19 games, averaging 16.6 points and 7.1 assists. Still, his 35% three-point shooting and 4.5 turnovers per game exposed ongoing flaws in both shooting and decision-making.

By that point, Portland was clearly in full tank mode. Tactical planning became lax, and many games lacked competitive intensity. As Crickex Login points out, this diluted environment made some of Henderson’s late-season numbers look better than they truly were.

All things considered, the future of the Blazers cannot rely solely on these three young players. Realistically, the current core is unlikely to turn things around in the near future. The front office knows this, which is why they remained passive during the offseason. Carrying over their draft-day caution, the Blazers chose subtraction over addition.

In one notable trade, they sent veteran guard Malcolm Brogdon to another team and acquired 23-year-old forward Deni Avdija, a player with untapped potential. They also signed 29-year-old guard Devonte’ Graham on a minimum deal to fill Brogdon’s backup playmaker role.

Beyond those minor moves, the Blazers have stayed quiet in free agency. As Crickex Login observes, the outlook for next season remains bleak. With a roster still in the early stages of rebuilding, Portland is unlikely to improve significantly in the standings or draw much national attention.

For now, the franchise appears to be wandering through a long, uncertain rebuild—waiting for the day when their true franchise savior finally emerges.