NBA/Blazers 2025-26 Thread

[Phalanx]

That time of year again. What says everyone? Will the Blazers make the playoffs this year, or does the perpetual cycle of rebuilding continue?

Blazers start the season by signing Sharpe and Camara to 4-year deals. Sharpe's averages $22.5 million/ year and Camara's is $20.5 million. I didn't understand the Camara one as they replaced the option for $2.4 million in 2026-27 with a $20 million paycheck instead. It used to be that 2nd round picks became unrestricted free agents after their initial deals expired, so maybe they just wanted to lock him up, but $18 million extra is a steep price. Overall, the contracts themselves seem more sane than Cronin has originated in the past - compare with Jerami Grant's $34 million average over the next three years (assuming he does the player option) and Simons making $27.7 million this year. It's not hard to conclude that the new ownership is making its presence felt.

[greenyellow]

That time of year again. What says everyone? Will the Blazers make the playoffs this year, or does the perpetual cycle of rebuilding continue?

Blazers start the season by signing Sharpe and Camara to 4-year deals. Sharpe's averages $22.5 million/ year and Camara's is $20.5 million. I didn't understand the Camara one as they replaced the option for $2.4 million in 2026-27 with a $20 million paycheck instead. It used to be that 2nd round picks became unrestricted free agents after their initial deals expired, so maybe they just wanted to lock him up, but $18 million extra is a steep price. Overall, the contracts themselves seem more sane than Cronin has originated in the past - compare with Jerami Grant's $34 million average over the next three years (assuming he does the player option) and Simons making $27.7 million this year. It's not hard to conclude that the new ownership is making its presence felt.

Camara was going to get a big raise no matter what due to the CBA and his All-Defensive 2nd team honor. He actually took about $5 million less over the life of the deal than he could have commanded.

[Phalanx]

For anyone curious, I just listened to a podcast regarding Camara's contract: apparently there is a max for 2nd round picks that is based on an estimated average salary number that hasn't been precisely calculated yet:

The extension will replace Camara’s $2.4MM team option for 2026/27, meaning he’s now under contract for five seasons in total. Since Camara is earning well below the NBA’s estimated average salary this season ($13,870,000), his maximum extension could have started at up to 140% of that amount, with 8% annual raises, which would have worked out to $87MM over four years — his new deal will come in a little below that.

https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2025/10/bla ... nsion.html

So the Blazers actually negotiated a little with Camara, which might be a first for Cronin as a GM. Of course, he id have that option year as leverage, but when has he ever used leverage before? I feel like this could be a sign of growth, or possibly the new owner was involved in the negotations. Anyway, I think these are potentially two solid deals and I rarely feel that way about a Blazers-originated contract.

[Phalanx]

Camara was going to get a big raise no matter what due to the CBA and his All-Defensive 2nd team honor. He actually took about $5 million less over the life of the deal than he could have commanded.

Eventually, but he was signed already for this season and next at the NBA minimum, and the Blazers let him out of that deal for next year, which cost them $18 million.

[Boom]

They're going to suck. Hopefully landing a top pick in the draft.

[buckmarkduck]

They're going to suck. Hopefully landing a top pick in the draft.

They will get back to the 8 th seed, and lose in the first round. Everyone sees it coming.

[squintsdd]

If they go full tank again I'm just 100% with this team until new brass is in place

[pezsez1]

I think a lot of pundits are sleeping on this Blazers team.

The top three teams in the west look pretty set. Beyond that though, there's a whole lot of mystery. I'm not saying the Blazers are going to finish as the fourth seed, but there's a chance the difference between the fourth seed and the 12th seed is incredibly slim. Maybe the Blazers finish closer to the 12th seed simply because they're younger and need more seasoning, but I think the more likely scenario is they make the play-in and perhaps even break into the playoffs.

The X factor is the new ownership and whether they'll have a hand in how this season plays out. Like if we're in a similar position as last year after the all-star break (or if we fail to make some kind of game-changing deal during the trading period) does the new owner ask us to tank for draft positioning. This is projected to be another really strong draft coming up.

I'm really excited for this season though and I think we have a non-small chance of ending up in the playoffs.

[pudgejeff]

At some point they need to make the playoffs to convey that pick to Chicago.

[Boom]

At some point they need to make the playoffs to convey that pick to Chicago.

Hopefully the Blazers can get some lottery luck before that happens. This team desperately needs a top 20ish player to get out of mediocrity.

[Duck07]

At some point they need to make the playoffs to convey that pick to Chicago.

IF they miss the playoffs this year and next, that pick will become a 2nd rounder in 2028.

[Boom]

I think a lot of pundits are sleeping on this Blazers team.

The top three teams in the west look pretty set. Beyond that though, there's a whole lot of mystery. I'm not saying the Blazers are going to finish as the fourth seed, but there's a chance the difference between the fourth seed and the 12th seed is incredibly slim. Maybe the Blazers finish closer to the 12th seed simply because they're younger and need more seasoning, but I think the more likely scenario is they make the play-in and perhaps even break into the playoffs.

The X factor is the new ownership and whether they'll have a hand in how this season plays out. Like if we're in a similar position as last year after the all-star break (or if we fail to make some kind of game-changing deal during the trading period) does the new owner ask us to tank for draft positioning. This is projected to be another really strong draft coming up.

I'm really excited for this season though and I think we have a non-small chance of ending up in the playoffs.

The Western Conference is stacked with talent. Last season, even the 8th seed finished with 48 wins. The Blazers’ over/under is currently set at 35.5 wins — they could overachieve and make the play-in, but realistically, they’re much closer to the 12th seed than the 4th.

[Duck07]

Not even 4 minutes into the game and Billups wastes his challenge on a deflection out of bounds in a 1-score game.

Just stellar coaching.

[Everythingsducky]

The Blazers should have beaten Minnesota tonight, up most of the game. They have no closer. Nobody that demands the ball, nobody willing or able to make the big shot. The Defensive team they can trot out, is actually pretty awesome, at every position. Not every team has an Anthony Edwards, nor has to worry about that type of dude. It seems it won’t be until Dame returns, when we hopefully have that type of answer.

[OregonFan4Life]

This is also an NBA thread, not just Blazers, right? I’m assuming that’s the case.

How about Victor Wembanyama! I watched the Spurs vs Mavericks, and every time I watch this kid I’m just confused as to how he exists. I hope to watch him live in Portland sometime. I used to be a major Spurs fan, nobody will ever replace Tim Duncan in my heart, but I sure do enjoy watching this kid just cause of how freaky he is.