Bill Simmons recently called the Portland Trail Blazers a “wild card” team to watch over the offseason. <\/p>\n
“The seatbelt is off with the Blazers the next three months,” Simmons said on The Bill Simmons Podcast. “I am prepared for anything: Giannis trade, new coach, maybe they bring in a coach\/GM. Any sort of wheeling and dealing. This new owner coming in who already has his proven thing from hockey of ‘I’m coming in, I’m rolling up my sleeves, let’s go.’ I just think they’re the wild card team this year.”<\/p>\n
Everything appears to be aligning at this stage in their rebuild. Portland has a new owner, Tom Dundon, taking over right when their young core is ready to make a legitimate playoff push. Throw Damian Lillard’s highly anticipated return into the equation, and everything is on the table for a team with tremendous flexibility given their intriguing blend of youth and veterans.<\/p>\n
Blazers set the stage for the most important offseason of their rebuild<\/p>\n
Simmons also adds that the Blazers should be a dark horse in the Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes this offseason. It’s easy to see the connection: former teammates, the Bucks’ draft capital, promising young assets, and an ambitious owner. <\/p>\n
However, Giannis has also made it clear that he has no desire to come to Portland<\/a>. The risk of taking him on in the offseason is heightened, as it could be a one-year rental if Giannis were to decline his $62.8 million player option in 2027-28. Dundon has a reputation as an aggressive owner, but he is more calculated than some may think, given his meticulous, analytical approach<\/a>.<\/p>\n