The Portland Trail Blazers have no playoff aspirations this year as they are in the second season of their rebuild. They finished last year with a 21-61 record, which was the worst in the Western Conference. Portland looks improved this season due to the offseason additions of Deni Avdija and Donovan Clingan, as well as internal improvements. Currently, they sit at 12-22, ahead of the Utah Jazz and New Orleans Pelicans in the West.
The offseason was a success for Portland, with both Avdija and Clingan playing pivotal roles in their improved record and rebuilding outlook. But the same can't be said for some former Blazers who didn't find work this past summer. That's not even including some Blazers currently in the G League, such as Justise Winslow, Kevin Knox, Nassir Little, and Ryan Arcidiacono. These players will look to turn things around in 2025.
1. Robert Covington
One of the most prototypical 3-and-D wings, Robert Covington, is still a free agent. He was most recently a member of the Philadelphia 76ers last season but played just 26 games with them before suffering a knee injury. The 34-year-old journeyman is trying to return to an NBA team this season.
Journeyman may be an understatement for RoCo. He went undrafted in 2013 out of Tennessee State and has since been involved in five trades. As a career 36.2 percent three-point shooter, it's easy to see a scenario where RoCo finds a landing spot this season with a contender looking to add a veteran who can space the floor.
2. Dennis Smith Jr.
It was somewhat surprising that Dennis Smith Jr. never found a landing spot this offseason. The former top-ten pick is still in his prime at 27 years old. Smith did sign with the Wisconsin Herd, the NBA G League affiliate of the Milwaukee Bucks, but hasn't played in a game for them because that's apparently not where he wanted to end up.
The main concern surrounding Smith Jr. is his shooting inefficiencies, as someone with career 41/30/67 shooting splits. Still, his elite athleticism makes him a defensive pest, and he may find a landing spot before the end of 2024-25.
3. Harry Giles III
Once the top-ranked high school prospect, Harry Giles III's production dipped drastically due to three knee surgeries. He is now out of the NBA despite being just 26 years old. Giles was the No. 20 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft and, unfortunately, never panned out, spending two seasons in Sacramento before bouncing around to Portland, Brooklyn, and Los Angeles. He never found his footing, averaging 5.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 11.7 minutes in his career.
Giles' last NBA stint was in 2023-24, as he started in the G League with the Nets before being waived and ultimately picked up late in the season by the Lakers. Giles currently plays for the Shanxi Loongs of the Chinese Basketball Association.
4. Wenyen Gabriel
Wenyen Gabriel went undrafted in 2019 before being picked up by the Sacramento Kings. He played just 11 games for Sacramento before being traded to Portland as part of a package that included Trevor Ariza and Caleb Swanigan in exchange for Kent Bazemore, Anthony Tolliver, and two second-round picks.
Gabriel spent five seasons in the NBA but was a journeyman at that time, playing for a total of seven different teams. His most productive stretch was from 2021 to 2023 with the Los Angeles Lakers, hovering around six points and four rebounds in 15 minutes per game. Gabriel spent last season in the NBA with the Memphis Grizzlies but is now a member of Panathinaikos B.C., which plays in the Greek Basketball League and the EuroLeague.