Portland Trail Blazers season preview: Opening schedule, win projection and everything to know for 2026-27

The 2026-27 NBA season is here! Check out our team previews, including power rankings, best- and worst-case scenarios, and fantasy advice.

East:Atlanta Hawks • Boston Celtics • Brooklyn Nets • Charlotte Hornets • Chicago Bulls • Cleveland Cavaliers • Detroit Pistons • Indiana Pacers • Miami Heat • Milwaukee Bucks • New York Knicks • Orlando Magic • Philadelphia 76ers • Toronto Raptors • Washington Wizards

West:Dallas Mavericks • Denver Nuggets • Golden State Warriors • Houston Rockets • LA Clippers • Los Angeles Lakers • Memphis Grizzlies • Minnesota Timberwolves • New Orleans Pelicans • Oklahoma City Thunder • Phoenix Suns • Portland Trail Blazers • Sacramento Kings • San Antonio Spurs • Utah Jazz

Record: 42-40 (7th in the West, lost 4-1 in first round to Spurs)

Signings:Robert Williams III (3 year, $44 milion extension), Branden Carlson (1 year, $2.4 million), Jeremy Sochan (1 year, $2.6 million)

Trades: Ja Morant (from Grizzlies)

Key departures: Jerami Grant (traded to Grizzlies), Kris Murray (traded to Grizzlies)

Current roster

What's exciting: Portland has two comeback stories to monitor with Dame and Ja. Lillard's first deep 3 is gonna cause Moda Center to explode. There really is no losing for him. As for Ja, he's got a lot to lose with only two years left on his big contract. The Blazers gave him a chance, though, and I can't wait to see how he handles it. Morant played eight games last year where he looked more like himself. If he's able to tap more into that, then the Blazers could have a dynamic backcourt duo once again.

What's concerning: On the flipside of the excitement is the worry about sacrifice. Dame, Ja, and Scoot Henderson all need touches and that's before getting to All-Star forward Deni Avdija. Are we sure a rookie head coach on a one-year-guaranteed deal is going to be able to manage all these egos and minutes? As optimistic as I am about how these guys could play together, it's undoubtedly something that could become an issue when all of them are better with the ball in their hands. — Kevin O'Connor 

Preseason Power Rankings: How all 30 teams stack up ahead of 2026-27

Ja Morant looked rusty; the lift isn't there yet. Who knows, it could be gone. The Blazers guard situation remains one of the most puzzling in the NBA and I'm steering clear of most of it. Though, Damian Lillard's ADP seems modest. — Dan Titus

Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Basketball league for the 2026-27 NBA season

Opening week: 10/21 vs. Suns, 10/23 at Kings

Complete schedule

42.5 — win total

+3500 to win division

+8000 to win NBA Finals

Best case: Play-in Tournament

If they're able to at least flirt with being a top-10 unit defensively this year, the added offensive firepower could give them a higher floor than people are giving them credit for.

Worst case: Outside of the Play-In Tournament

I think it would take some real injury misfortune for the Blazers to be in worst-in-the-conference/league territory. Still, there's definitely a world where the defense takes a hit in light of their smaller backcourt and they don't score efficiently enough to offset that dip. — Nekias Duncan

Read the full Northwest Division preview