The Portland Trail Blazers came on strong to end the regular season last year. While they ultimately missed the playoffs, the team closed out the season with a respectable 23-18 record in the second half and boasted the third-best defense during that stretch. A promising young core that features Scoot Henderson, Shaedon Sharpe, Toumani Camara, and Deni Avdija will be expected to take the next step in their development and potentially play spoiler to playoff contenders. Although the return of Damian Lillard is a compelling storyline, he is not expected to suit up this season. He also commands a relatively hefty contract. While Portland isn’t in title contention just yet, they are a team that shouldn’t be overlooked. Especially as their young core continues to progress at an impressive rate.
