The Portland Trail Blazers were expected to finish the 2024-25 season close to their 21-win total from last year. They didn't make significant offseason moves to suggest otherwise, bringing in Donovan Clingan and Deni Avdija while trading Malcolm Brogdon. The Blazers also have had one of the most demanding schedules in the league, with 27 of their first 29 games coming against Western Conference teams.
Despite these things, Portland has already exceeded last year's win total as they sit at 23-32 at the All-Star break. With one of the youngest rosters in the league, this season has been full of ups and downs, along with a few surprises.
1. Portland's hot stretch
Seemingly out of nowhere, the Blazers had a stretch in January where they were the hottest team in the NBA, winning 10 of 11 games. Everything aligned for Portland during that stretch, including Chauncey Billups' lineup adjustments, defensive accountability, improved ball movement, a weak schedule, and clutch shots.
But as expected, the Blazers have finally come back down to earth, with an active three-game losing streak heading into the All-Star break. Winning that many games may not have been in their best interest, but it was the most entertaining stretch of the season and provided a glimpse of what this young core could look like.
2. Blazers stayed quiet at the trade deadline
Despite having multiple veterans in the way of their young core, the Blazers were only one of a handful of teams not to make a single move. This is especially surprising, given how active the trade deadline was.
Jason Quick of The Athletic referred to Portland's veterans -- Deandre Ayton, Robert Williams III, Jerami Grant, and Matisse Thybulle -- as "dead weight," saying they are "clogging the progress more than helping it."
It would have been nice to see GM Joe Cronin offload some of these players, but hopefully, they will readdress this issue in the offseason when it's easier to move pieces around.
3. Scoot Henderson's second-year leap
Although the Blazers didn't make a trade, Quick still gave them a "B" for their season grade so far. He referred to this year as "a step forward" due to Deni Avdija and Toumani Camara solidifying their wing positions, promising flashes from Shaedon Sharpe, and Scoot Henderson's second-year leap.
The jury was still out on whether Henderson was a bust after an up-and-down rookie season filled with more lows than highs. One primary concern was Henderson's athleticism, as it's clear that he isn't the elite athlete many initially believed him to be.
However, Scoot needed more time to refine other aspects of his game. After all, he's a 21-year-old playing the most challenging position to learn in the league. Henderson has improved arguably the two most important aspects of his game -- his shooting and decision-making. He's shooting 36.5 percent from three, limiting his turnovers, and making much better decisions in terms of his pace of play and shot selection.
Henderson's development has been one of the brightest spots of the Blazers' season. Hopefully, he'll pick up right where he left off when the Blazers return from the All-Star break.