Portland Has Had a Top 20 Offseason… Barely

David Aldridge of The Athletic has ranked the Portland Trail Blazers' offseason as the 19th best in the NBA, expressing reservations despite some positive moves. He acknowledges that bringing back Damian Lillard, who is recovering from an Achilles tear, is beneficial for mentoring Scoot Henderson and rehabilitating in a familiar environment. Additionally, the team drafted Yang Hansen, traded for Jrue Holiday, and secured a new ownership group, which should generate optimism.

Aldridge raises concerns about the draft selection of Yang Hansen, noting that most teams had him graded as a second-round pick pre-draft, and he hasn't dominated in the Chinese Basketball Association, making him a risky choice. The Blazers already have depth at center with players like Donovan Clingan, Robert Williams III, and Duop Reath, so Yang needs to pan out quickly to justify the pick.

The trade for Jrue Holiday is also viewed as a gamble due to his age (35) and potential decline, which could impact his performance and fit with the team. If Holiday exercises his player option for 2027-28, Portland could be committed to him for multiple seasons, adding financial risk. Furthermore, trading away the younger Anfernee Simons could backfire if Simons fulfills his potential elsewhere, potentially haunting the Blazers for years.

Despite these risks, Aldridge does not comment on the increased excitement among Blazers fans, who are enthusiastic about the new direction, including the possibility of Yang's development, improved team performance, and Lillard's return. This injection of hope might argue for a higher offseason rating than 19th, as it changes the narrative and makes worst-case scenarios less likely, even with the uncertainties involved.