The Portland Trail Blazers took significant strides this season, improving their win total by 15. According to GM Joe Cronin, playoffs are now deemed a reasonable expectation for next season. However, that's easier said than done in a loaded Western Conference.
Let's break down the competition:
- The top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets look like playoff locks for years to come, thanks to their up-and-coming talent.
- It's hard to rule out a Nikola Jokic-led Nuggets team or a Lakers squad that will spend the offseason getting Luka Doncic the supporting cast he needs.
- The Timberwolves and Warriors are proving to be more than just their star power early in these playoffs.
- If the Clippers stay healthy -- and the Mavericks and Spurs get healthy -- that's three more competitive teams in the mix.
That's already nine teams ahead of them on paper. Even if the Blazers landed a superstar like Zion Williamson, they'd still be fighting an uphill battle. That makes it imperative for them to leapfrog these three teams next season.
1. Memphis Grizzlies
As currently constructed, the Grizzlies are a better team than the Blazers (there's a reason one made the playoffs and the other didn't). But Memphis' early playoff exit suggests they're further from true contention than many expected.
Their core of Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, and Jaren Jackson Jr. lacks the superstar ceiling needed to make a deep playoff run. Because of that, the Grizzlies could be a team to watch this summer.
If they make significant changes to avoid long-term purgatory, the Blazers may be able to capitalize -- whether that's aggressively targeting JJJ in a trade or simply having to deal with one less team out West.
2. Phoenix Suns
Just last year, new Suns owner Mat Ishbia boldly and notoriously stated, "26 of [the other GMs] would trade their whole team for our whole team, our draft picks, and everything as is."
Fast forward to this offseason, and that couldn't be further from reality.
The NBA's most expensive roster finished the season tied with Portland at 36-46 and has no sense of direction after going all in for Kevin Durant, who is now 36 years old and an offseason trade candidate. The Suns need to stop the bleeding and trade Durant to get at least some optimism for the future.
3. Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings have turned themselves into the Chicago Bulls, and that's not a compliment. After adding DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine only to lose to the Dallas Mavericks in the play-in, Sacramento now faces a roadblock.
The Blazers and Kings appear to be heading in opposite directions. Portland is building a defensive identity around length, versatility, and athleticism, while Sacramento leans on offensive-minded, score-first players. That formula was exposed against the Mavericks when Domantas Sabonis failed to anchor a playoff-caliber defense.
The Kings are stuck in the last place any team wants to be: no man’s land. As a result, it wouldn't be surprising if Sabonis is on the move this summer, as it could be in the best interest of both parties.
Regardless of what happens with the Kings' star center, the Blazers' roster and newfound identity are better equipped for success next season, especially if their young core takes another leap.