The Portland Trail Blazers are in an odd position heading into the Summer of 2022. They’re guaranteed at least one lottery pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. They may get two, depending on whether the New Orleans Pelicans have to convey theirs to Portland. (That happens if the pick falls in the 5-14 range.) They also hold the possibility of cap space, either to chase free agents or re-sign incumbents Jusuf Nurkic and Anfernee Simons...maybe a little bit of both.
On the other hand, Portland is concluding a season which, by any objective terms, was an abject failure.