The Portland Trail Blazers have essentially doubled their chances of making the postseason after securing the eighth seed in the Western Conference. They'll now have two chances to win: a matchup against the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday and, if needed, a game against the winner of the Los Angeles Clippers-Golden State Warriors.
There's a lot to be excited about in Portland, considering their 42-40 record is the first winning season in five years. However, this playoff push comes at an unfortunate cost, as Portland may have to surrender its first-round pick. They still owe a lottery-protected pick to the Chicago Bulls thanks to the Larry Nance Jr. trade in 2021, which could convey at the worst possible time.
Blazers are learning the hard way how costly a playoff push can be
This is widely regarded as a strong 2026 draft class with plenty of talent to choose from well beyond the headliners. Not only would Portland miss that slim chance at jumping into the top four and landing a potential franchise-altering talent still needed in this rebuild, but they may not have the pick at all.
The Blazers' unconventional rebuild consists of two conflicting timelines, between their recent lottery picks and their impactful veterans. They are attempting to blend the two timelines in hopes that Damian Lillard's closing window aligns with the accelerated timeline of a developing young core. Can they retain veterans Matisse Thybulle and Robert Williams III, both of whom are on expiring contracts and increased their market value this season?
It's only going to be more difficult for Portland to find these complementary pieces on team-friendly discounts going forward. Having a cost-controlled rookie, such as Michigan's Yaxel Lendeborg, would've gone a long way toward blending the two timelines.
The one thing Portland has working in its favor is the Damian Lillard trade. Even if it's becoming increasingly difficult to add to their young core through their own picks, the Blazers are set to capitalize on the Bucks' downfall, as they still have their unprotected 2029 first-rounder, as well as swaps in 2028 and 2030.
While those picks look better than ever, it's still not wise for Portland to put all its eggs in one basket. Plenty could happen between now and then, whether it's Giannis Antetokounmpo sticking around and keeping the roster afloat, or the NBA's anti-tanking proposals being implemented and flattening the lottery odds. That's why it would ultimately be in the Blazers' best interest to diversify and trade at least some of that draft capital.
But then again, this would've been a simpler solution had they retained their pick in a stacked draft class.
With the uncertainty surrounding Scoot Henderson, Shaedon Sharpe, and Yang Hansen, there are still serious question marks regarding this young core and whether they currently have enough to grow into legitimate contenders. Having another swing in the draft would've boosted their odds in the aggregate, which is something they desperately need at this point.
It's not all lost in Portland, and this playoff push will give them much-needed experience. But it comes at a cost compared to other teams' playoff runs, and one I'm not sure the Blazers have the luxury to afford.
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