Portland Trail Blazers: The harsh reality for the 2021 offseason

The Portland Trail Blazers entered the 2021 offseason with high hopes yet again, and so far, it’s been… rocky to say the least.

To begin the offseason, the Blazers have started revamping the coaching staff by dubbing Chauncey Billups as the next head coach. Scott Brooks and Roy Rogers shortly followed, joining the Blazers as assistants.

Despite the lack of major roster moves, the Blazers offseason plans so far have not come without their fair share of controversy. Since Billups was announced as head coach, there have been reports of a potential Damian Lillard trade request, a deep dive into the Blazers internal investigation of Billups’s sexual assault allegation, and rumors that General Manager Neil Olshey’s seat is hotter than ever.

The offseason drama has only just begun for the Portland Trail Blazers

There’s really only one of three ways that the offseason can play out. The first is a lackluster plan to stay the course. Damian Lillard isn’t traded and Neil Olshey isn’t fired. If those two remain, than it’s more likely than not the rest of the core will remain intact as well.

There may be marginal roster moves made, but the hope for any major improvements outside of a drastic impact made by the new coaching staff is senseless. Olshey has already been clear that he doesn’t plan on making any changes within the core, as he somehow holds the belief that the roster as constructed is strong enough to compete for a title.

Outside of trading a core piece, the Blazers don’t have much room to make any sort of upgrades via free agency. Let’s assume that Portland picks up the options on Jusuf Nurkic, Anfernee Simons, and Nassir Little and that Derrick Jones Jr. opts into his $9 million contract for next season.

If Norman Powell re-signs for market value, around $15-20 million per year, the Blazers would have to use their Bird rights to lock him down, taking them over the cap. With those five players inked, the other three starters returning, and CJ Elleby on the payroll, Portland finds itself again well over the salary cap and teetering on the edge of the projected luxury tax line.

That leaves the Blazers with only veteran minimum contracts and their full or taxpayer mid-level exception to divvy up for any free agents they wish to acquire.

The Portland Trail Blazers have more options if they move on from Neil Olshey

The other two options for the Blazers moving forward involve firing Neil Olshey, unless he reverses his initial promise to keep the core intact.

If Olshey stands his ground, Portland is best off moving on from their general manager and moving in a different direction. A new manager would likely take a more realistic approach to the roster and realize that drastic changes need to be made around Damian Lillard.

It may not be all roses and future championship parades if Olshey is fired, however. As previously noted, there’s a legitimate chance that whoever is brought in to become the new general manager could prefer to blow it up entirely, rather than try to build a contender around Dame with the remnants of a failed operation.

The truth is evident though, that something has to be done. This core is not enough to compete for a title. The Blazers know it, analysts know it, fans know it, and most importantly, Damian Lillard knows it.

Whether it’s Olshey or the next general manager pulling the trigger, the Blazers need to shake things up. Let’s just hope that Dame is a part of whatever team comes out of this.