In all likelihood, the Portland Trail Blazers will end the season as a nine or ten seed in the Western Conference, meaning they'll have to win two tough play-in games in order to make the postseason. They're fighting an uphill battle to end a four-year playoff drought, but it wouldn't be the worst thing for their long-term outlook if they came up short.
Due to the Larry Nance Jr. trade, Portland still owes Chicago a lottery-protected first-round pick. It could be good timing for the Blazers to retain their pick, given the strength of the 2026 draft class.
The Blazers have uncertainty in both the backcourt and frontcourt and will also look to accelerate their rebuilding timeline around Damian Lillard's anticipated return next season. In other words, they can take their projected late lottery pick in multiple directions, giving them plenty of flexibility. Many intriguing prospects projected to be selected in Portland's range will be playing in the upcoming NCAA March Madness tournament, giving both fans and their front office an opportunity to evaluate these potential picks under the spotlight.
Blazers' perfect draft fit is about to dominate March Madness
The one-seeded Wolverines have a legitimate shot at cutting down the nets, and Yaxel Lendeborg is a huge reason why. Lendeborg is a top-five player in college as a versatile forward capable of doing just about everything on the court, with his NBA-ready frame (6-foot-9, 240 pounds) and well-rounded skill set.
As a result, there are a few holes to poke at in terms of him being a prospect, other than his age as a 23-year-old. That could work out in Portland's favor, as otherwise there would be no chance of Lendeborg falling this late in the lottery.
The Blazers could decide to swing for more upside, as they did with last year's Yang Hansen selection. But if they truly want to accelerate their timeline, there's no better win-now prospect than Lendeborg.
This season, the Michigan product is averaging 14.6 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game, shooting 51/35/82 from the field. His fit in Portland would be seamless on day one, as it's easy to envision how the do-it-all forward would fit into a roster identity that covets length and versatility.
In the long term, it would give the Blazers a viable Jerami Grant replacement. He also has potential as an undersized small-ball five in certain situations, which could give Portland's frontcourt more optionality, as Donvan Clingan and Hansen are two drop coverage bigs who are often exposed out on the perimeter.
Lendeborg has already made a case for a late lottery pick, showing teams why they should overlook his age because his player archetype aligns well with the versatile forward every team around the league is searching for. He'll have a chance to further strengthen that case depending on how deep Michigan gets in the tournament, largely on the back of their best player.
Portland should keep a close eye on him throughout the tournament, as Lendeborg is the exact piece they need to win now with Lillard back in the picture next season.