The NBA recently announced the Portland Trail Blazers schedule for the 2024-25 season. Many teams with playoff aspirations have a portion of their schedule that may be considered make or break in terms of whether or not they make the playoffs. Meanwhile, the rebuilding Blazers have a different outlook on what defines a make-or-break stretch. They don't have a decent chance of making the playoffs, but the ten games leading up to the trade deadline on February 6 will be crucial in deciding what direction to take the roster.
The ten games before the trade deadline could influence Blazers’ key decisions
Here are arguably ten of the most important games on the Blazers' schedule (all times are Pacific):
Date | Opponent | Time |
|---|---|---|
Jan. 18 | vs. Houston | 7 p.m. |
Jan. 19 | vs. Chicago | 6 p.m. |
Jan. 21 | at Miami | 4:30 p.m. |
Jan. 23 | at Orlando | 4 p.m. |
Jan. 24 | at Charlotte | 4 p.m. |
Jan. 26 | vs. Oklahoma City | 3 p.m. |
Jan. 28 | vs. Milwaukee | 7 p.m. |
Jan. 30 | vs. Orlando | 7 p.m. |
Feb. 1 | vs. Phoenix | 7 p.m. |
Feb. 3 | vs. Phoenix | 7 p.m. |
It's a grueling ten-game stretch. The only two games in which the Trail Blazers could be favored are the Chicago Bulls and Charlotte Hornets; all other eight games are against playoff-caliber teams. How the Blazers fare leading up to the trade deadline is especially important with their jumbled roster this season. They have four centers capable of seeing minutes and established starters who they should flip for younger assets. It's a matter of when, not if, they make their next trade after the Malcolm Brogdon deal.
Multiple key players, including Jerami Grant, Anfernee Simons, Robert Williams III, and Matisse Thybulle, could be on the move at the deadline if they have yet to be traded. Teams will be looking to add key pieces to help them get over the hump for a potential playoff push.
The Blazers have multiple questions surrounding their roster. Can Anfernee Simons effectively play alongside Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe? Is Donovan Clingan playing well enough that they can confidently move on from Williams and potentially Deandre Ayton? What other areas of their roster need improvement? These ten games could help answer those questions and impact the long-term trajectory of the team.
The good news about a rebuilding team is that these don't need immediate answers, but the trade deadline could force their hand. It's the last chance for the Blazers to fix their messy roster and determine who they view as a focal point of their rebuild until the offseason.