The Portland Trail Blazers have found themselves in a fascinating, almost paradoxical position heading into the 2025-26 NBA season. On one hand, they are still building around their young core of Scoot Henderson, Shaedon Sharpe, Donovan Clingan, and 2025 lottery pick Yang Hansen. On the other hand, the franchise has unexpectedly doubled down on its veteran presence by bringing Damian Lillard back from the Milwaukee Bucks and surrounding him with proven contributors like Jrue Holiday and Jerami Grant.

That combination of youth and experience leaves the Blazers hovering in a precarious middle ground, too talented to be written off as a bottom-feeder, yet too raw and inconsistent to be considered a true contender in a crowded Western Conference. This is where the trade market will ma

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