The Portland Trail Blazers signed Chauncey Billups to a multi-year contract extension back in April. Despite Billups' lackluster record at 116-211 through his first four seasons as head coach of the Blazers, general manager Joe Cronin decided to continue investing in him.
A significant factor behind that decision was Portland's promising and somewhat surprising 36-win season last year. The Blazers' young core took a substantial leap, and perhaps most importantly, Portland finally established its identity as a gritty, defensive-minded team.
"I just feel very good about where we're at, and now I understand how long it takes to build a culture. I feel like we've done that," Billups said after his extension. "I think the telltale of that, for any coaches, is if at some point when your team kind of takes on your personality and how you believe the game should be played, I think you've gotten there."
Blake Wesley is perfect for Chauncey Billups and the Blazers
Not only did Cronin continue to invest in Billups financially, but he also invested in Billups' vision with Portland's moves this offseason. They doubled down on that newfound defensive identity by swapping Anfernee Simons for six-time All-Defensive Team member Jrue Holiday. But an under-the-radar addition that also helped achieve Billups' vision this summer was the signing of former San Antonio Spurs first-round pick Blake Wesley.
Scoot Henderson is expected to miss the start of the 2025-26 regular season due to a left hamstring tear. Because of Portland's shallow backcourt, Henderson's injury left more questions than answers regarding how they would fill the void until he comes back. However, Wesley has already proved to be a serviceable replacement and could see immediate minutes in Billups' backcourt rotation until Scoot returns.
Wesley played a key role in the Blazers' 124-123 preseason win over the Sacramento Kings, finishing with 13 points, two rebounds, one assist, and one steal while shooting an efficient 5-of-6 from the field. The exciting thing about this addition is that he's the type of two-way player whose impact on winning isn't fully reflected in the box score. He looks like Lightning McQueen out there on the court, running laps around players. That's translated to his defensive impact, which is precisely why he's a perfect fit for Billups and the Blazers.
Between Toumani Camara and Wesley, Billups now has multiple options to pick from in terms of having a lockdown, pesky defender out there who is willing and capable of picking up opposing guards the length of the court.
Portland is going to win games this season because of its elite defense and the massive advantage they have on that side of the ball, compensating for any roster weaknesses it has regarding star power, shooting, or playmaking. While many will point to Holiday as the key addition to help achieve this roster vision, don't overlook Wesley's impact, particularly at the start of the season.