Armed with a new starting backcourt duo, offseason trade acquisition Jerami Grant, a promising first-round draft selection in Shaedon Sharpe among others from an eventful summer, the Portland Trail Blazers will be quietly hopeful they can settle quickly and vastly improve upon a dismal 27-55 record last season – their worst finish since 2005-06. Will they?
Continue reading “Adjustments, maintaining belief and new additions: Lillard-Simons duo headline newlook Portland”
Tag: CJ McCollum
Masterful or misguided? Beal and Lillard’s latest contract extensions predictably raise questions
Bradley Beal became the 10th player in league history to receive a no-trade clause as part of his five-year, $251m max contract extension with the Wizards. Ten days later, another All-Star – Portland’s franchise star Damian Lillard – inked a two-year, $121m max vet deal to remain with the Trail Blazers, now under contract until the 2026-27 season. Will these decisions age well?
Continue reading “Masterful or misguided? Beal and Lillard’s latest contract extensions predictably raise questions”
NBA: Storylines intensify as playoff permutations remain for multiple teams in final week
A 12-game slate overnight kickstarts a manic week across the league, as teams and their star players look to solidify strong playoff seeding. Phoenix have long tied up top spot in the West, but what about the other contenders? In a rapidly-changing East, which of the top four teams will ultimately rule the roost? Which teams will avoid the play-in, going straight to the playoffs?
Continue reading “NBA: Storylines intensify as playoff permutations remain for multiple teams in final week”
CJ McCollum to the Pelicans: This exit from Portland felt inevitable, but also long overdue
Midway through his ninth NBA campaign, after 564 regular season games and 57 more in the playoffs, Portland Trail Blazers shooting guard CJ McCollum has been acquired as part of a seven-player trade package sending him to the New Orleans Pelicans. It’s the end of an era in Oregon for the 30-year-old, while opening up new opportunities elsewhere. But why now?
Continue reading “CJ McCollum to the Pelicans: This exit from Portland felt inevitable, but also long overdue”
New home: Lauri Markkanen joins Cleveland Cavaliers in three-team sign-and-trade
In a three-team trade that has left critics with multiple questions, the Cleveland Cavaliers have acquired Chicago’s wantaway RFA PF Lauri Markkanen. They send PF/C Larry Nance Jr to the Portland Trail Blazers, while small forward Derrick Jones Jr will depart Rip City for the Bulls, alongside two future draft picks (2022 first, 2023 second-round). Is this a good move all-round? Continue reading “New home: Lauri Markkanen joins Cleveland Cavaliers in three-team sign-and-trade”
Bucks 127-109 Blazers: Giannis’ 47-point effort exposes Portland’s ever-present issues
In a season where multiple players have staked their claim for Giannis Antetokounmpo’s MVP crown, the power forward produced a dominant showing to reinforce the notion that he’s quietly improving with less of the spotlight on Milwaukee after consecutive playoff disappointments, while the focus is centred around other contenders across both conferences.
Continue reading “Bucks 127-109 Blazers: Giannis’ 47-point effort exposes Portland’s ever-present issues”
Trail Blazers 108-111 Chicago Bulls: White, LaVine key as visitors rally down 20 to win
The Portland Trail Blazers started hot and had a 20-point lead over the Chicago Bulls early on, but watched their lead disintegrate in an contrasting second-half display before Zach LaVine’s step-back three gave them a four-point deficit with 10.7 seconds remaining. Despite their best efforts, they failed to force the game into overtime and have fallen to 3-4 to start the season. Continue reading “Trail Blazers 108-111 Chicago Bulls: White, LaVine key as visitors rally down 20 to win”
NBA Playoffs Preview: LA Lakers vs Portland Trail Blazers – Can Dame Time continue?
The 2019-20 NBA playoffs continues, as the Lakers face a tricky series opponent to begin their title assault here. Frank Vogel will urge consistency from his players against a determined Portland side – who had to beat Memphis in a play-in over the weekend to book their playoff berth. Will LA send them back down to earth? Continue reading “NBA Playoffs Preview: LA Lakers vs Portland Trail Blazers – Can Dame Time continue?”
Confirmed: Portland Trail Blazers sign Carmelo Anthony to $2.15m deal
It’s official: veteran free agent forward Carmelo Anthony’s initial non-guaranteed deal to join the Portland Trail Blazers has been completed today after he passed physical exams and finalised necessary paperwork. He has been ‘activated’ and could feature during tonight’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans. Continue reading “Confirmed: Portland Trail Blazers sign Carmelo Anthony to $2.15m deal”
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