Many NBA teams experienced moderate amounts of roster upheaval in the 2026 offseason, and the Blazers were no exception. While the Ja Morant trade garnered the majority of the headlines, the Blazers also worked quietly to fill out the bench, supplementing the return of Damian Lillard.
One such acquisition was Micah Potter, waived by the Indiana Pacers on July 8 and subsequently claimed off waivers on July 10. Indiana fielded 27 different players in the 2025-26 season, subtly retooling within their gap year without Tyrese Haliburton. Potter was one of the more prominent pieces, signing a two-year deal with the club a year prior.
Blazers have been missing a Micah Potter
Potter made his preseason debut with the Blazers on Wednesday, amassing 13 points in as many minutes, to go with six rebounds, three of which were offensive. Inadvertently, he also gave Blazers fans a cause for celebration, providing the team with something they’ve sorely needed: a true switchable stretch big that can rebound the basketball. Jerami Grant was meant to take up that mantle, but is a much poorer rebounder than Potter.
Checking in for Deni Avdija at the 7:28 mark in the third quarter, Potter scored his first points just 12 seconds later with a three-pointer, a shot that Potter converted at a 42.3% clip last season. That percentage puts him head and shoulders above any player that Portland had last year. His six rebounds in that time were only met or exceeded by Grant four times last season in nearly triple the minutes.
In the 4th quarter, Potter executed a push shot from 13 feet out that drew his man out of the paint while allowing Yang Hansen to crowd the space under the basket. It was the same shot that Charles Bassey terrorized Donovan Clingan with all night, demonstrating a crucial ability to lure the opposing big out of drop coverage. It’s an even more effective tool when it actually goes in, and Potter’s did. It's doubly effective when that player can pass, and Potter can.
Potter’s other non-three make was a tip layup off a Jrue Holiday three-point miss, proving his offensive versatility at three different ranges. Perhaps most importantly, he never did too much or played outside himself or the needs of the game. In short, it’s a skillset for which Blazers fans have pined for some time.
As a Pacer, Potter spent the majority of his time at the center position, but he played alongside both Robert Williams III and Yang Hansen in his time, which is exactly what Portland needs this season: size at the power forward position and knock-down shooting.
If the first preseason game is any indicator, Potter will presumably pair with Morant or Holiday in the reserve unit, giving both of those guys—and especially Morant—an ideal kickout target.
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