RADIO
Damian Lillard Expects to Start for Portland This Season
Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard said he expects to start alongside point guard Ja Morant this season. Speaking at his media availability on Tuesday, Lillard said, "As far as I know, Ja will start, I will start, and Deni will start ... that's as far as I know." Lillard signed with the Blazers during the 2025 offseason while recovering from a torn Achilles he suffered with the Milwaukee Bucks during that postseason. In his last season, Lillard averaged 24.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 7.1 assists in over 36 minutes per game. With him back and healthy, he joins a crowded backcourt that includes Morant, Scoot Henderson, Jrue Holiday, and Shaedon Sharpe. Lillard will likely see minutes restrictions as he enters his 14th season.
Source: Jason Quick
Source: Jason Quick
Vit Krejci in the Mix for Portland's Backup Wing Spot
Portland Trail Blazers guard/forward Vit Krejci will enter training camp as a contender for the backup wing role, according to Joe Freeman of The Oregonian. The 26-year-old's contract is only partially guaranteed until opening night, adding some stakes to the competition. Krejci shot 42.3 percent from three across 46 games with Atlanta last season before slipping to 7.2 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in 19.2 minutes after joining Portland. Deni Avdija and Toumani Camara remain established ahead of him, but Krejci's shooting and playmaking could earn him a place in the rotation. For fantasy purposes, Krejci needs to rediscover the three-point shooting he showed in Atlanta before he can become a reliable option.
Source: Joe Freeman
Source: Joe Freeman
Hyunjung Lee Expected to Join Blazers on Exhibit 10 Deal
Guard/forward Hyunjung Lee is expected to sign an Exhibit 10 deal with the Portland Trail Blazers, attend training camp, and likely play for the Rip City Remix, according to Sean Highkin. The 25-year-old is coming off a standout season with Nagasaki Velca, averaging 17.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.7 assists while shooting 47.9 percent from three and making a league-high 187 triples. Lee also earned B.League Championship MVP honors. The shooting is real, but Deni Avdija, Toumani Camara, and Jeremy Sochan leave him fighting for a deep roster spot. Even with Shaedon Sharpe (knee) sidelined, Lee is more of a G-League name than a fantasy option.
Source: Sean Highkin
Source: Sean Highkin
Deni Avdija Misses FIBA Qualifiers at Blazers' Request
Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija said in a social media post that the team did not clear him for Israel's August FIBA World Cup qualifying window. According to Aris Barkas of Eurohoops, Avdija called it a complex back injury, and earlier reporting traced it to a January rebound attempt. The first-time All-Star still finished 2025-26 with 24.2 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 6.7 assists per game, but the lingering back concern is worth tracking before camp. Ja Morant and Damian Lillard add more on-ball competition in Portland, so Avdija's fantasy ceiling may hinge on health and how much creation he keeps under Micah Nori.
Source: Aris Barkas
Source: Aris Barkas
Yang Hansen Leads China Past Qatar with 15 Points
Portland Trail Blazers center Yang Hansen posted a game-high 15 points, nine rebounds, one assist, and two blocks in China's 83-57 win over Qatar on Thursday in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers Second Round. The 21-year-old shot 7-for-11 from the field and 1-for-2 from three in 20 minutes at Al Janoub Stadium in Doha. It tracks with the flashes Portland saw in Las Vegas last month, when Hansen had 12 points, nine rebounds, and four assists against Phoenix. The international production is encouraging, but it does not move him up Portland's depth chart. Donovan Clingan sits atop the center mix, and Robert Williams III re-signed on a three-year deal to remain a key reserve. Hansen averaged only 2.2 points and 1.5 rebounds in 7.0 minutes across 43 games as a rookie, so he stays off fantasy radars unless injuries open a clearer path.
Source: Keith Smith
Source: Keith Smith
Shaedon Sharpe Suffers Torn Meniscus
According to Shams Charania, Portland Trail Blazers guard Shaedon Sharpe (knee) has suffered a torn meniscus and will be sidelined for the next six months. This is unfortunate news for the Blazers, considering Sharpe was likely going to play a significant role this upcoming season. Now, Sharpe isn't expected back until around the All-Star break. The loss of Sharpe means that Ja Morant, Damian Lillard, Jrue Holiday, and Scoot Henderson will all see an uptick in playing time. It's unclear how the Blazers plan to split up the minutes, but this is a situation fantasy managers should continue to watch. Henderson and Morant might end up benefiting the most out of everyone.
Source: Shams Charania
Source: Shams Charania
Trail Blazers Not Exploring Signing DeMar DeRozan
The Portland Trail Blazers were rumored to be interested in signing free-agent point guard DeMar DeRozan this offseason. According to Marc Stein, the Blazers are not exploring bringing in the veteran forward at this moment. The 36-year-old doesn't seem like he would be a great fit in Portland given their surplus of perimeter players. Even with Portland out of the sweepstakes, DeRozan is still reportedly drawing interest from the Heat, Nuggets, Wizards, and Cavaliers. Last season, DeRozan averaged 18.4 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 4.1 assists across 31.2 minutes per game in 77 contests with the Sacramento Kings. He's not the focal point of an offense anymore, but DeRozan could still help a contending team next season.
Source: Marc Stein
Source: Marc Stein
Jrue Holiday Expected to Remain with Trail Blazers
Portland Trail Blazers guard Jrue Holiday was rumored to be possibly leaving the organization this summer. According to Jake Fischer, the Blazers have no plans to buy out Holiday from his contract. There was speculation that Holiday would head to the Philadelphia 76ers, assuming he was able to secure a buyout from Portland. That won't happen, as the Blazers intend to keep Holiday around despite having a boatload of guards. This past season, Holiday averaged 16.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 6.1 assists across 29.4 minutes per game in 53 games. It could be more difficult for Holiday to secure consistent playing time this upcoming season. The Blazers acquired Ja Morant earlier this offseason, and Damian Lillard is fully healthy again. Portland also has Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe, so Portland has too many mouths to feed. The aging veterans, such as Holiday and Lillard, are likely to see a reduction in playing time this upcoming season.
Source: Jake Fischer
Source: Jake Fischer
Vit Krejci Gets $250,000 Guarantee From Blazers
Portland Trail Blazers guard Vit Krejci had $250,000 of his 2026-27 salary become guaranteed, per Keith Smith of Spotrac. It is still only a small guarantee, and his roughly $2.67 million salary does not fully lock in until opening night, so Krejci is not out of the woods on a crowded roster. The 26-year-old remains a useful floor-spacing piece when his shot is falling, hitting 42.3 percent from three across 46 games with Atlanta last season before slipping to 30.3 percent after his trade to Portland. He profiles as a deep-bench shooter and has no standard-league fantasy appeal.
Source: Keith Smith
Source: Keith Smith
Jeremy Sochan Joins Trail Blazers
Free-agent forward Jeremy Sochan has agreed to a one-year, non-guaranteed deal with the Portland Trail Blazers, per Shams Charania of ESPN. The former No. 9 pick was waived by the Spurs in February, then joined the Knicks and played a limited role during their championship run. Sochan, 23, owns career averages of 9.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.5 assists, but his 28.6 percent career mark from three has capped his offensive fit. In Portland, he will try to stick behind Deni Avdija and Toumani Camara on the wing. His defensive versatility gives him a path to minutes, but he is more of a watch-list name than a draft target.
Source: Shams Charania
Source: Shams Charania
John Tonje Gets Two-Way Deal From Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers have signed guard John Tonje to a two-way deal, according to Shams Charania. Tonje will join the Blazers after spending his rookie season on a two-way deal with the Boston Celtics. He averaged 2.5 points, 1.0 rebounds, and 0.3 assists in 7.0 minutes per game in six contests last season. Tonje played well during the Summer League and impressed enough to earn a contract from the Blazers. He'll join a crowded backcourt in Portland this upcoming season. It'll likely take a few injuries before Tonje actually gets decent minutes in the rotation. He can be ignored in fantasy formats to begin the season.
Source: Shams Charania
Source: Shams Charania
Yang Hansen Cleans the Glass in Blazers' Summer League Finale
Portland Trail Blazers center Yang Hansen wrapped up his Summer League with nine points, 10 rebounds, three assists, and two blocks over 24 minutes in Friday's 83-79 loss to the Jazz. His shot did not fall in the sloppy finale (3-for-8 from the field), but the seven-footer stayed busy on the glass and protected the rim. The line fit a summer in which he did more as a rebounder, passer, and shot-blocker than as a scorer. That peripheral production is the heart of his fantasy case: a big who fills the box score with boards, blocks, and assists holds value even when his scoring goes quiet.
Source: NBA
Source: NBA
Yang Hansen Blocks Four Shots in Blazers Win Over Denver
Portland Trail Blazers center Yang Hansen anchored the paint in Thursday's 108-101 Summer League win over the Nuggets, swatting four shots while scoring 13 points on 6-for-11 shooting with five rebounds, three assists, and one steal across 26 minutes. The second-year center helped knock Denver out of semifinal contention and has quietly built a case this summer, following an 18-point, 10-rebound game against Minnesota. Hansen logged just seven minutes per night as a rookie under Tiago Splitter, who has since taken over in Chicago, so a new Portland staff gives him a clean slate. The Blazers stocked the center room this offseason, though, so the rim protection and passing have to carry over.
Source: NBA
Source: NBA
Trail Blazers Claim Micah Potter Off Waivers
The Portland Trail Blazers have claimed forward/center Micah Potter off waivers from the Indiana Pacers on Friday. The Pacers recently cut Potter to make room for the newly signed Larry Nance Jr. on the roster. Potter has moved around in the league since joining the Detroit Pistons in 2021. He averaged 9.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.5 assists across 19.3 minutes per game in 47 contests with the Pacers this past season. He figures to mix in somewhere on the bench in Portland, but is unlikely to see consistent enough playing time to warrant adding in fantasy basketball.
Source: Sean Highkin
Source: Sean Highkin
Branden Carlson Signs with Trail Blazers on One-Year Deal
Free-agent center Branden Carlson has agreed to a one-year, $2.5 million deal with the Portland Trail Blazers, according to Shams Charania of ESPN. Carlson spent the last two seasons in Oklahoma City's system and averaged 5.8 points, 3.0 rebounds, 0.7 assists, and 0.6 blocks in 11.6 minutes last season while shooting 52.7% from the field and 36.0% from three. The 7-footer gives Portland another stretch-capable big, but Donovan Clingan, Robert Williams III, and Yang Hansen leave him buried for now. Carlson's fantasy value likely needs injuries or a trade to open a clearer path.
Source: Shams Charania
Source: Shams Charania
