The Portland Trail Blazers own some of the greatest what-if moments in NBA history. They have just missed out on drafting multiple legendary players, including the GOAT, and have been bitten by the injury bug one too many times. Yes, Portland has employed some all-time greats, but they only have one championship to show for it.
Things could have been extremely different if they nailed the draft. The issues date back to the franchise’s inception in the 1970s and should be a key lesson for the current Blazers. They are never going to be a free-agent destination, which makes the draft and trades that much more important.
Fans know some of the biggest what-ifs, but what has been forgotten about over the years? How would it have changed the Blazers’ history?
Ranking biggest what-ifs in Portland Trail Blazers history
14. What if Jusuf Nurkic stays healthy in 2019?
The Trail Blazers made a surprising run to the conference finals in 2019, and they did it without their starting center. Jusuf Nurkic suffered a season-ending leg injury in March, which left Portland with Enes Kanter and Myers Leonard as their center duo in the playoffs. Nurkic was in the middle of the best year of his career, and he could have been a difference-maker in the postseason.
Does Portland have a shot against the Golden State Warriors in the conference finals with a healthy Nurkic? They got swept, and the Dubs would have played him off the floor by downsizing. Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson both got hurt during that run, and the Warriors were upset by the Raptors in the NBA Finals. Could that have happened one round earlier with Nurkic? Fans will never know, but it is a fun what-if to kick off this list.
13. Trade for Aaron Gordon?
The Portland Trail Blazers were rumored to be interested in Aaron Gordon for years before he was traded to Denver Nuggets in 2021. They viewed his versatile skill set and defense as the perfect fit around Damian Lillard, and ESPN viewed this as the biggest recent what-if in team history.
The plot lines go like this. It was Denver who knocked Portland out of the playoffs in the first round just months after acquiring Gordon. The 6’8 forward averaged 12.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in 30.1 minutes per game during that series. The Nuggets did not have Jamal Murray, and the door was open for Portland.
Now, imagine Gordon on their team. The Blazers would have advanced to round two, and the race was wide open.
Denver lost to the Suns in the second round, and Phoenix won the Western Conference that year. With Dame’s ability to ascend in the biggest moments, it could have been the Trail Blazers upsetting the Suns and Clippers to play the Bucks in the NBA Finals.
Instead, Gordon helped the Denver Nuggets win the title in 2023. With the 6’8 forward, the Blazers likely make a deep run in 2021 and are better positioned to keep Damian Lillard happy in Rip City, but they could not complete a deal. Anfernee Simons was rumored to be the hold-up. What-if Portland had included him in the trade? Who knows.
12. Wesley Matthews avoids injury in 2015?
The Blazers had the look of a serious title contender in 2015. They had just reached the second round of the playoffs and raced out to a 41-19 start through 60 games. On March 5, Matthews suffered a torn Achilles against the Mavericks, which ended his season. Portland went 10-12 down the stretch after his injury and was bounced by the Grizzlies in the first round of the playoffs.
Matthews was a key defender and floor spacer for the Blazers. He was averaging 15.9 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.3 steals in 33.7 minutes per game before the injury. The 6’4 wing was the team’s third-leading scorer. It created more playing time for CJ McCollum and allowed him to breakout, but Portland lost a lot on the defensive end going from Matthews to the 23-year-old.
The title race felt wide open in 2015. It would be the Warriors’ first championship in a dynasty run, but the Dubs were unproven at that point. Portland had Wesley Matthews and Nicolas Batum to matchup against Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson with Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Aldridge giving the Blazers a dynamic offensive duo.
How far would the Portland Trail Blazers have advanced with a healthy Wesley Matthews in 2015? It is impossible to know, but it is worth considering given the landscape of the league at that moment.
11. Draft Adrian Dantley over Wally Walker in 1976?
Portland had the fifth overall pick in the 1976 draft after missing the playoffs for the sixth consecutive year. They wanted a wing, and there were three future Hall of Famers in this class waiting to be taken. The Trail Blazers selected Walker, who spent eight years as a role player but was far from a star over Dantley, Alex English, and Dennis Johnson.
Walker spent just a season and a half in Portland where he struggled to get minutes before being traded to Seattle for the seventh overall pick in 1978 and a future second-rounder. The Blazers’ draft pick won two rings early in his career before becoming a starter in his prime, but Portland missed out on Dantley.
The 6’5 forward was immediately one of the best scorers in the league. He twice led the league and made six All-Star appearances during his 15-year career. Dantley won Rookie of the Year in 1977 and went just one spot behind Walker.
This was a massive miss by Portland in the draft, but they won the championship in 1977. There are no regrets, but imagine having a Hall of Famer playing next to Bill Walton on the wing. This could have taken the Trail Blazers into dynasty status.
10. Draft Bob McAdoo over LaRue Martin in 1972?
This one is a head-scratcher. McAdoo was unquestionably the top prospect in the 1972 NBA Draft. The 6’9 big man was unstoppable during his lone season at UNC, and teams were drooling over him. McAdoo was ready to compete right away and had star written all over him.
The Blazers had the worst record in the league in their second NBA season, which gave them the top pick. The lottery was not introduced until 1985. They had just hired former college coach Jack McCloskey, and everyone was excited about McAdoo’s potential. Then, suddenly the deal was off. Few know for certain what happened, but McAdoo ended up in Buffalo.
The Portland Trail Blazers selected LaRue Martin first overall, and the big man was one of the biggest busts in league history. He played just four years in the NBA and never averaged more than 16.9 minutes or 7.0 points per game. McAdoo was a five-time All-Star and three-time scoring champ that won MVP in 1975 and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2000.
Coach McCloskey wanted McAdoo, but management could not make it happen. It set Portland back as they did not make the playoffs until winning the championship with Bill Walton in 1977. Things certainly would have been different with Bob McAdoo.
9. Brandon Roy stays healthy?
The Trail Blazers pulled off a clever move to get Roy to Portland in the 2006 draft, and he quickly took a star turn. The 6’6 wing won Rookie of the Year in 2007 before making three straight All-Star appearances. Roy should have just been entering his prime in 2011, but that turned into his last real season in the league.
He dealt with knee injuries throughout his early years, and the degenerative condition forced him to retire at 26. Roy came back for five games with the Timberwolves in 2012 before hanging up the sneakers for good. The 6’6 wing was an elite scorer and one of the best guards in the league, but he just could not stay healthy.
Portland won 11 more games in Roy’s rookie year before a nine-victory improvement in year two and adding 13 more wins in his third season. If he kept ascending, the sky was the limit. Brandon Roy could have been the best player on a title-contending team, but it was not meant to be.
He was an elite athlete with a strong jumper and the ability to get the rim at any moment. This is a heartbreaker for Portland Trail Blazers fans because the franchise never advanced beyond the first round of the playoffs with Roy, and there will always be wonder about what could have been.
8. Draft Bam Adebayo over Zach Collins in 2017?
Fans heard the Adebayo trade rumors ahead of the 2023 NBA Draft, but the Trail Blazers could have selected the prized big man in 2017. Portland traded the 15th and 20th picks in that draft to move up to tenth, where they selected Zach Collins.
The Blazers wanted Collins over Adebayo in 2017. Despite never starting a game at Gonzaga, Collins displayed a unique skill set. He made ten of his 21 3-point attempts and is two inches taller than Adebayo. Portland believed in his star potential, but it was not meant to be.
Adebayo was the 14th overall pick by the Miami Heat and quickly blossomed into a two-way force. The 6’9 big man became an elite passer and defender as injuries derailed Collins’ potential. Adebayo is a two-time All-Star, and Collins is looking for his first full-time starting gig as they enter their seventh NBA season.
The Portland Trail Blazers had reached the playoffs four straight years in 2017. Now imagine adding Bam Adebayo, who broke out just as Damian Lillard and company were making their run to the conference finals in 2019. Things certainly would have been different in Portland with a dominant big man inside.
7. Greg Oden stays healthy?
The Portland Trail Blazers selected Oden with the number one overall pick in the 2007 draft out of Ohio State. Portland vaulted up from seventh in the lottery to take him over Kevin Durant in what turned into a massive mistake, but they were not the only team that would have made that move.
Oden was dominant during his one year with the Buckeyes. He averaged 15.7 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 3.3 blocks in 28.9 minutes per game. The seven-footer won a host of awards and showcased his unbelievable athletic gifts during the pre-draft process. Many viewed him as the heir apparent to Shaq as the league’s next dominant big man.
Oden suffered a knee injury before his first NBA game and missed his entire rookie season. It was the start of a tumultuous career that was plagued by missed time. He had multiple surgeries and played 82 games over five years when Portland released him in 2012.
Fans saw the flashes of dominance when he was healthy. He opened the 2009-10 season averaging 11.1 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks in just 23.9 minutes per game. Imagine if he stayed healthy and could push closer to 30 minutes each night. Oden could have been one of the league’s best big men.
Greg Oden had all the psychical gifts NBA teams desire in a center, but he was unable to stay on the floor. The seven-footer had a ton of promise, and nobody can say what would have been without the knee injuries.
6. Draft Giannis over CJ McCollum in 2013?
Were the Portland Trail Blazers in on Giannis Antetokounmpo in 2013? A ton has been done about that draft, and how he went from raw prospect to arguably the league’s best player. The Greek Freak slipped to 15th. Despite interest from the Mavericks and Hawks, it was the Bucks that landed Giannis and developed him into a superstar.
The Blazers took CJ McCollum with the tenth overall pick in 2013. It is less talked about because the 6’3 guard is arguably the third-best player in this class, but Giannis and Rudy Gobert were still on the board. Portland had LaMarcus Aldridge, Damian Lillard, Wesley Matthews, and Nicolas Batum, so they went for a guard over another forward or big man.
Giannis needed time to develop, so he could fit into any situation. There is no guarantee he becomes a star in Portland. Former Bucks head coach Jason Kidd gave him freedom early on and encouraged him to expand his ball-handling and playmaking chops. That was key in creating the perennial MVP candidate fans see today. The Blazers had Damian Lillard and wanted to compete quickly, which is likely why they went with McCollum.
Imagine prime Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo sharing the floor in Portland. Those Trail Blazers would have been impossible to stop, and the Greek Freak’s defense would have made the team a yearly title contender.
5. Draft Larry Bird over Mychal Thompson in 1978?
The Portland Trail Blazers traded Johnny Davis and the third overall pick in 1978 for the top selection. They wanted Larry Bird, but the 6’9 forward planned to return to Indiana State. With no guarantee he would sign, the Trail Blazers had a tough call to make. Remember, back in the 1970s, teams lost a player’s rights if he did not sign before the following draft. Could Portland risk it?
In a league dominated by big men, Mychal Thompson was the safer choice. Portland had Bill Walton, but the big man suffered an injury in the 1978 playoffs. He demanded a trade because of how the team handled his foot pain, and the Trail Blazers needed a replacement. Thompson was a dominant big man at the University of Minnesota, and Portland thought he could become a star.
The Blazers also had the seventh overall pick and hoped Bird would fall, but the Celtics snatched him at six. Thompson played well in Portland but he was never a superstar. Bird did not play the following year, but made 12 All-Star appearances in 13 years after coming to the NBA and was an all-time great.
The Portland Trail Blazers draft record is filled with misses and taking Mychal Thompson over Larry Bird was certainly a massive blunder.
4. Bill Walton stays healthy?
The Trail Blazers drafted Walton with the first overall pick in 1974, and he was already a star. The 6’11 big man helped UCLA win two NCAA titles in three years as he won virtually every award possible.
In Portland, he struggled to stay healthy, but quickly became a star. Walton made an impact on both ends of the floor, and the Blazers won their only championship in franchise history in 1977. Walton was the star of the team and an unstoppable force by his third season. He led the league in rebounds and blocks per game along with being an elite scoring and passing big man.
Walton won MVP in 1978, but he was playing through pain in the playoffs when he realized he had a broken bone in his foot. He requested a trade after the season, and the 6’11 big man was never the same.
Bill Walton played six more seasons in the NBA, but mostly as a role player. Fans never saw that dominant two-way force again. He had injuries throughout his time in Portland (subscription required), and it is fair to wonder what-if.
With a healthy Walton, the Portland Trail Blazers had a fantastic shot at defending their title in 1978. That could have opened the door for them to draft Larry Bird and build a dynasty, but it never happened.
3. What if Arvydas Sabonis came over in 1986?
Sabonis was drafted in the fourth round in 1985 by the Atlanta Hawks, but he did not come to the NBA, which put him back in the draft pool. The Hawks fought hard to change that rule the following year, but it was Portland that benefitted. The Trail Blazers selected the 7’3 big man with the 24th overall pick and held his rights until he arrived in 1995.
Sabonis was over 30 years old before he played his first game with the Blazers, and there was no question he was past his prime. He suffered several injuries during his playing days in Europe, including a torn Achilles. His athleticism and speed were gone, but Sabonis was a special passer, shooter, and rebounder. The 7’3 big man made an instant impact but left fans wondering what could have been.
Arvydas Sabonis was from the then-USSR, so there was no way he could come to the NBA in 1986. His home country would not allow it. They lifted the ban in 1989, but it was still six years before he came over. He helped the USSR win the Olympics in 1988 as Sabonis was recovering from a torn Achilles. The 7’3 big man was unbelievable and is known as one of the best European players of all time.
Sabonis would have been a dominant force in the NBA in the late 1980s and early 1990s, but even without the political climate, there is no guarantee he would have come. He loved his home country and stayed in Europe for years after the fall of the Iron Curtain. The Portland Trail Blazers wish they would have got a prime Sabonis, but it never happened.
2. Draft KD over Oden in 2007?
The Portland Trail Blazers had the seventh-worst record in the NBA in 2007, but their 5.3 percent odds were enough as they won the lottery and the right to first overall pick.
It was a two-player draft with plenty of debate between Kevin Durant and Greg Oden for the top spot. KD can score from anywhere and handle the ball at 6’9, but Oden was viewed as the next dominant big man. Strength was a big talking point after Durant was the only player at the combine that couldn’t bench 185 pounds.
Oden was an athletic freak at seven-foot tall and 250 pounds. Many projection systems had him going down as an all-time great, but he could not stay healthy. He played 82 total games in his first six years in the NBA and retired in 2016 with just 105 appearances. Oden was never an All-Star or dominant big man because his body did not hold up.
Durant scored 20 a night as a rookie and quickly became an all-time great. The Portland Trail Blazers had the opportunity to put him next to a young LaMarcus Aldridge and Brandon Roy to form a Big 3, but they opted for Oden. In some ways, it was repeating a mistake they have made two decades earlier that goes down as the biggest what-if in NBA history.
1. Draft MJ over Sam Bowie in 1984?
The Portland Trail Blazers had the second overall pick in the 1984 draft, and they needed a big man. Portland had just drafted Clyde Drexler with the 14th overall selection in 1983. The rookie averaged just 7.7 points per game playing behind leading scorer Jim Paxson and second-leading scorer Calvin Natt. The Trail Blazers even traded a young Fat Lever just before the draft to clear their guard logjam slightly.
All of that led them to them passing on the GOAT for Sam Bowie. The 7’1 big man played just 139 games for Portland over five years. He was never an All-Star and may never have been A Blazers had he been truthful about his leg pain ahead of the draft.
Portland had Drexler, who became one of the greatest shooting guards in NBA history, but what-if he and Jordan were in the same lineup. Yes, it was a different league in the 1980s. Big men dominated, and there was not the floor spacing of today, but this is two all-time greats. MJ and Clyde would have made it work and could have been unstoppable.
Does Michael Jordan become the GOAT if he gets drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers? Is Clyde Drexler still a legend and Hall of Famer? What would have happened? It is the greatest mystery in team history because it could have led to multiple championships and the Blazer being an iconic franchise.
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