The Summer of 2023 has not gone exactly as Portland Trail Blazers fans planned. In the heady days of March and April, rumors swirled about Portland chasing major-league talent: Pascal Siakam, Mikal Bridges, or even Joel Embiid. The off-season started well, with the Blazers winning the third overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft and subsequently selecting Scoot Henderson. After that, the bottom fell out with no trades or new free agent signings coming down the pike and franchise superstar Damian Lillard requesting a trade.
Right now the team is in limbo, with Lillard still on the roster and no young players able to take the court yet, easing the pain via development and high-flying dunks.