Portland Trail Blazers

Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups revealed that one of his players posted his first-half dunk highlight during halftime of a road game against the New Orleans Pelicans.

Billups recalled the story on the 7PM in Brooklyn podcast with Carmelo Anthony and The Kid Mero.

Chauncey Billups tells the story of one of his players posting a dunk highlight on Instagram at halftime despite being down 18 points 😭 pic.twitter.com/nd61YZoiiI

— 7PM in Brooklyn (@7PMinBrooklyn) July 23, 2024

"We in New Orleans, we're down like 18 at the half. I had a kid, he had a nasty dunk. We coming out for the third quarter. This motherf--ker done posted his dunk on his joint. At halftime. At halftime! Bro, we down 18!"

When asked what he did in response, Billups replied: "Man, you know I grinded his ass up, man. I get wind of it. I said, 'Ay yo bro. Get the f--k back there and take that s--t off your joint, man. What the f--k is wrong with you man?"

Billups then said the player was remorseful and ran to the back to take the post down.

Billups did not name-drop the player. A quick look back at the Blazers' games in New Orleans since Billups took over as coach reveals two games where the team was down big at halftime: a 13-point deficit in April 2022 and a 20-point margin in March 2023.

Neither is 18 as Billups mentioned, although that can be easily forgiven considering he had bigger things to worry about at the time, like his team getting killed and a player posting his dunk highlights on social media.

So it was certainly a player from one of those games. Regardless of his identity, maybe the player didn't do such a bad thing. The Blazers have been a losing team for the past few years, so the highlight post was at the end of a lost season. Maybe he was just looking for something to be proud of and happy about as Portland struggled through another tough loss.

Plus, it's certainly not the most dramatic thing to happen at halftime of an NBA game, examples including drinking Hennessy, smoking and fighting with teammates.

Of course, Billups had every right to be upset as well as he looked to turn around his franchise's fortunes. Ultimately, it's a hilarious anecdote, but Billups is clearly focused on getting the Blazers on the right track after three straight losing seasons.

The Portland Trail Blazers did not have to trade up in the 2024 NBA Draft to secure their defensive stalwart of the future.

The Blazers were able to use the No. 7 pick Wednesday night to draft 7-foot-2 big man Donovan Clingan out of UConn.

Clingan to Portland is an absolute steal.

— Adam Schein (@AdamSchein) June 27, 2024

Clingan at #7 is an absolute steal for Portland. #RipCity

— Ryan Clarke (@RyanTClarke) June 27, 2024

I had Clingan going 3-5, the Blazers got a steal.

— Tyron Strickland (@tjmac101) June 27, 2024

finally a good pick, clingan will be the steal of the draft.

— brocko (@betheman06) June 27, 2024

Clingan will head to Portland after ranking eighth among DI players with 2.46 blocks per game during the Huskies' second straight championship season.

I really like the Donovan Clingan pick for Portland. He's so rangy on defense and can make an immediate impact

— Cameron Fields (@CameronFields_) June 27, 2024

Donovan Clingan is a great pick, will anchor a defense at an elite level. If Portland can build a proper roster, he’ll be a great piece.

— Jonathon Warriner (@Bracketologist3) June 27, 2024

By selecting Clingan after trading with the Washington Wizards for forward Deni Avdija, the Blazers have improved their defense in a matter of hours.

Avdija will arrive in Portland after averaging a career-high 7.2 rebounds per contest for the Wizards during the 2023-24 campaign.

Both he and Clingan will be able to provide much-needed size on the Blazers' defense. Portland is looking to recover from ranking among the bottom three teams in the NBA with an average of 19.1 opponent points off turnovers allowed per game last season.

Deni Avdija & Donovan Clingan in the same night

A+'s all around for Portland

— Matt (@sixringsofsteeI) June 27, 2024

Portland leaving today with Clingan and Deni Avdija they’ve made out like bandits

— Austin Veazey (@EasyVeazeyNG) June 27, 2024

Getting Avdija and Clingan in the span of a few hours is a boon for Portland's rebuild

— Joseph Casciaro (@JosephCasciaro) June 27, 2024

Deni Avdija and Donovan Clingan in one night is an elite pickup for Portland in day 1

— nbadraftpoint (@nbadraftpoint) June 27, 2024

Blazers fans anticipate that Avdija and Clingan will help Scoot Henderson, Portland's No. 3 pick of the 2023 draft, further develop his offense next season.

Henderson averaged 14.0 points per game in his rookie season, and fans are hoping Clingan can boost his scoring with more effective screens next season.

Big fan of the potential of Clingan and Scoot as a long term duo

— Alex (@AlexHoops_) June 27, 2024

Donovan Clingan goes to the Portland Trail Blazers. I believe he’s an AMAZING big for Scoot Henderson. He will do the physical work, be a force in the paint on both ends of the floor and is a great screen setter. One of the top rim protectors in the draft.

— Global Scouting (@GlobalScouting_) June 27, 2024

Clingan screens are gonna be life changing for Ant, Scoot and Sharpe

— kevin ❄️ (@KY_PDX) June 27, 2024

Clingan’s screen & roll game gonna be a real enhancer for the development of all Portland’s ball-handlers (Scoot the most)

— Aidan Maher (@Aidan_Maher17) June 27, 2024

Clingan and Henderson, alongside 2022 No. 7 pick Shaedon Sharpe, are furthering Blazers fans' hope their team will be able to further build around this young core.

Clingan, Scoot and Sharpe is a super fun young nucleus to build around. Huge for Portland that Clingan fell to them, and they didn’t have to trade up.

— Aidan Berg (@AidanBerg_) June 27, 2024

I thought Clingan talk at #1 was crazy but he’s a nice fit with the young talent in Portland. Scoot, Sharpe, Deni & Clingan is a nice young core to build around.

— The Ghost of Geert (@TheGhostOfGeert) June 27, 2024

The Blazers have a promising young core that should continuously grow together.

Scoot Henderson (20)
Shaedon Sharpe (21)
Deni Avdija (23)
Donovan Clingan (20)

That’s the core four that Portland should build around moving forward.

— Jake Weinbach (@JWeinbachNBA) June 27, 2024

After moving the No. 14 pick as part of the deal for Avdija, the Blazers select next with No. 34 in the second round.

With Sharpe and Henderson already in the fold, and Avdija and Clingan joining the team Wednesday, the Blazers are well on their way to beginning their first full rebuild of the post-Damian Lillard era.

The Portland Trail Blazers landed one of the best big men in the 2024 NBA draft, selecting UConn center Donovan Clingan with the No. 7 pick on Wednesday night.

Bleacher Report Draft Expert Jonathan Wasserman's Scouting Report

Player: Donovan Clingan

Position: C

Height: 7'2"

Pro Comparison: Jakob Poeltl

Scouting Report: Teams will know what they're getting in Clingan with his 7'2", 280-pound frame for finishing, rim protection, putbacks and limiting opponents' second-chance points. Though he'll require his lineup to have forwards who can handle or shoot, he can instantly make a lineup more physical and tougher to score on.

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Blazers Active Roster and 2024-25 Salary (Expiration Year)

Deandre Ayton, C: $34M (2026)

Jerami Grant, PF: $29.8M (2028)

Anfernee Simons, SG: $25.9M (2026)

Malcolm Brogdon, PG: $22.5M (2025)

Robert Williams III, C: $12.4M (2026)

Matisse Thybulle, SG: $11M (2026)

Scoot Henderson, PG: $10.3M (2027)

Shaedon Sharpe, SG: $6.6M (2026)

Kris Murray, PF: $3M (2027)

Duop Reath, C: $2M (2026)

Jabari Walker, SF: $2M (2025)

Toumani Camara, PF: $1.9M (2027)

Rayan Rupert, SG: $1.9M (2026)

Free Agents

Moses Brown, C: UFA

Dalano Banton, PG: Club option

Ashton Hagans, PG: RFA

Justin Minaya, F: RFA

Ibou Badji, C: RFA

Clingan had a breakout sophomore season with the Huskies, becoming a force on both ends of the floor as he helped lead the team to a second straight national championship. Some experts even projected him to be under consideration for the No. 1 overall pick in this year's draft, so Portland is getting a promising talent.

In 35 games with 33 starts in 2023-24, Clingan improved his scoring average from 6.9 points to 13.0 points while also adding 7.4 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 2.5 blocks. He was an efficient finisher, shooting 64.5 percent from the field over his two years at UConn.

Clingan will immediately have a role as a rim protector in the NBA. His defensive prowess will allow him to see consistent minutes as a rookie. While his offense may be limited to finishing lobs and putbacks off offensive rebounds, he showed improvements in his range during the pre-draft process, so he could eventually stretch the floor as he continues his development.

The Blazers needed a defensive improvement after finishing with a 21-61 record this past season. Clingan will provide the team with an anchor in the middle for the foreseeable future. He will be a solid addition playing behind Deandre Ayton during his rookie campaign as the Blazers try to work their way out of the Western Conference cellar in 2024-25.

The Portland Trail Blazers have traded guard Malcolm Brogdon and the No. 14 pick of the 2024 NBA draft to the Washington Wizards in exchange for forward Deni Avdija, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported.

The Blazers also included a conditional 2029 first-rounder and two second-rounders, per Wojnarowski.

The Blazers are sending the second most favorable of their 2029 first-round picks and two second-round picks in the deal for Avdija, sources tell ESPN. https://t.co/e6BTwjYkT4

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 26, 2024

Avdija finished sixth in Most Improved Player voting in 2023-24. He averaged 14.7 points on impressive efficiency, highlighted by a 50.6 field-goal percentage and a 37.4 three-point percentage.

He also averaged career highs in rebounds (7.2) and assists (3.8).

The No. 9 pick of the 2020 draft began his Washington career as a defensive-minded reserve player, but he began to grow his offensive game while making 75 starts in his fourth season.

The 23-year-old signed a four-year, $55 million extension in October that starts this upcoming season.

That will inject some youth into the Blazers' roster in place of the 31-year-old Brogdon.

Brogdon averaged 15.7 points on 44.0 percent shooting, 5.5 rebounds and 3.8 assists for the Blazers in 2023-24. He only played 39 games, primarily due to a season-ending injury (tendinitis in his right elbow).

Portland acquired Brogdon, Robert Williams and two first-round picks via trade from the Boston Celtics for Jrue Holiday on Oct. 1, 2023. The reigning Sixth Man of the Year at the time landed on a Blazers team that's rebuilding in the post-Damian Lillard era.

A nine-year veteran like Brogdon, who is clearly capable of competing for an NBA title-contending team, perhaps wasn't the best fit for Portland on paper.

Brogdon let it be known, though, that he was happy in Portland and felt valued in town, as told to Jason Quick of The Athletic:

"I'm happy here. I'm valued here. Valued in this leadership/lead-guard role," Brogdon said. "And I can't complain with that. I'm happy in Portland."

However, Brogdon's name had surfaced in trade rumors, perhaps in part because of an expiring contract (2024-25 marked the final year of a two-season, $45 million extension). Of note, Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports noted that the Blazers needed "at least a first-round pick" to move on from Brogdon.

The former Virginia star has carved out a solid NBA career. He began his pro stint with three years on the Milwaukee Bucks, who rose up the standings during his time there in part because of his excellence. Brogdon earned Rookie of the Year honors in 2016-17 and enjoyed a 50/40/90 season in 2018-19.

Brogdon left the Bucks for the Indiana Pacers in a sign-and-trade in July 2019. One year later, Brogdon averaged a career-high 21.1 points per game.

After the 2021-22 season, the Pacers traded Brogdon to the C's. He was a great fit on a Boston team that finished just one win shy of making the NBA Finals.

Following a brief stint in Portland, though, Brogdon is now a member of the Wizards, who will surely benefit from his presence as they shoot for greater heights.

The Portland Trail Blazers could target Purdue center Zach Edey in the top 10 of the 2024 NBA draft, according to The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor.

"The Blazers also worked out Purdue center Zach Edey earlier in the month, and people around the NBA believe that they are also extremely high on him — not just for the 14th pick, but for their first choice at No. 7," O'Connor reported Monday. "The bottom line is that the Blazers seem to be looking to come away with a center to pair with Scoot Henderson and their other young pieces."

The seventh overall selection is earlier than many expect Edey to be taken, though he has a wide draft range. Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman projected him to land with the Los Angeles Lakers at No. 17 but reported "rival teams believe Zach Edey could go in the lottery."

The 7'4" big has a limited scoring range and will carry a massive target on his back as a defender.

"With Edey, the fear is with his ability to guard in space," one NBA team executive said to ESPN's Jeremy Woo. "When guards turn the corner on him, his ability to recover and get back into the play. You might have to commit to gimmicky defenses and station him around the basket to really take advantage of his rim-protection."

Edey should have a relatively high floor, though.

As the old cliché goes, you can't coach size. Especially since the NBA has steadily transitioned away from traditional centers, the two-time national player of the year is going to cause obvious matchup problems.

Edey also shot 62.1 percent from the field in his four years with the Boilermakers, and he steadily turned into a foul magnet. As a senior, he attempted 11.2 free throws per game. His offensive game may not be pretty, but it's unquestionably effective.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rECkBInZGJ8

Regardless of where he went in the draft, the Blazers would be a surprising landing spot for Edey since they already have Deandre Ayton and Robert Williams III under contract. His arrival would seemingly signal the organization losing faith in one of the two veterans.

Ayton simply isn't a cornerstone-type talent and his $133 million contract doesn't reflect his on-court value. Williams, meanwhile, made just six appearances for Portland before requiring season-ending knee surgery. It wouldn't be a shock if either player became the subject of trade speculation coming out of the draft if Portland were to add another center.

Portland Trail Blazers veteran guard Malcolm Brogdon is a potential trade candidate leading up to the 2024 NBA draft.

Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reported on Monday that "rival executives" are "monitoring" Brogdon ahead of the draft, as the Trail Blazers could move the 31-year-old and prioritize the development of younger guards such as Anfernee Simons and Scoot Henderson.

Brogdon will carry a $22.5 million cap hit entering his 2024-25 campaign before he's scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in the following offseason (via Spotrac).

Brogdon joined Portland ahead of the 2023-24 season in a trade with the Boston Celtics, appearing in just 39 games which included 25 starts due to an elbow injury.

The former Sixth Man of the Year averaged a modest 15.7 points and 5.5 assists each night, shooting 44.0 percent from the field and 41.2 percent from three. Despite the Trail Blazers' 21-61 overall record, Brogdon owned the highest net rating on the roster among players to appear in at least 20 games (via NBA.com).

Malcolm Brogdon hit clutch back-to-back 3s in OT to push Portland past the Nets in a thriller!@trailblazers 134@BrooklynNets 127

FINAL pic.twitter.com/rHbjcygnrj

— NBA (@NBA) January 7, 2024

He's shown that he can contribute to teams with playoff aspirations, making the postseason with three separate organizations throughout his career. Brogdon is also extremely versatile as both a starter and a reserve, remaining effective with and without the ball in his hands.

While his name appeared in rumors prior to the Feb. 8 trade deadline, the veteran expressed his contentment with staying in Portland.

"I'm happy here," Brogdon told Jason Quick of The Athletic. "I'm valued here. Valued in this leadership/lead-guard role. And I can't complain with that. I'm happy in Portland.''

However, the Trail Blazers' front office could choose to move him in exchange for some extra draft capital as he enters the final year of his contract.

Portland already owns the No. 7 and No. 14 picks in the first round of the 2024 draft and could add a later selection if the team decides to pursue a trade.

Other NBA teams are "monitoring" the status of Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups after the team fired two assistants including Billups' brother, Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix reported.

If Billups and the Blazers part ways, he would "quickly emerge as a candidate for other jobs," Mannix wrote.

Teams are monitoring Chauncey Billups situation in Portland, league sources told @SInow. The Blazers are rebuilding and just parted ways with two assistants, including Billups's brother, Rodney. If Billups/Portland split, Billups would quickly emerge as a candidate for other jobs

— Chris Mannix (@SIChrisMannix) May 8, 2024

Aaron Fentress reported Monday for The Oregonian that the Blazers were not renewing the contracts of top assistant Scott Brooks or development and defense specialist Rodney Billups.

Billups has led the Trail Blazers for three seasons and amassed an 81-165 overall record as head coach.

Portland general manager Joe Cronin previously indicated the team plans to retain Billups for the 2024-25 season, per Bill Oram of The Oregonian.

Joe Cronin says the Blazers are committed to Chauncey Billups going into next season, calls him "an incredible leader in this organization."

— Bill Oram (@billoram) April 15, 2024

Their dismissal of Billups' brother, who joined the Blazers' staff in the middle of Billups' first season as head coach, has brought Cronin's statement into question.

The Blazers' previous coach, Terry Stotts, left the team after nine seasons at the end of the 2020-21 campaign.

At the time, Portland just been eliminated from the first round of the 2021 playoffs, marking the team's fourth early exit in five postseasons.

The Blazers then hired Billups in an attempt to turn the franchise around and give star guard Damian Lillard a run at a title.

Portland then missed the playoffs for the next two seasons and ended up trading Lillard to truly begin a rebuild.

The Blazers have a few promising younger players in Shaedon Sharpe and Anfernee Simons, and the team will hope for a stronger sophomore campaign after an underwhelming rookie season from Scoot Henderson, the No. 3 pick of the 2023 draft.

Portland now has a shot at another top-three pick, and could even potentially win No. 1, when the NBA Draft Lottery takes place Sunday. These up-and-coming stars will give Billups, or his potential replacement, a shot at leading an improved Blazers roster toward postseason contention in 2024-25.

The Charlotte Hornets and Washington Wizards both have coaching vacancies and would be teams to keep an eye on if Billups leaves the Blazers. The Los Angeles Lakers have another opening, although they have been tied to other potential candidates.

Milwaukee Bucks star Damian Lillard will miss Saturday's road game against Dejounte Murray and the Atlanta Hawks due to personal reasons, per The Athletic's Eric Nehm.

Lillard was traded to the Bucks during the offseason after requesting a trade from the Portland Trail Blazers.

The Blazers shut down Lillard for the remainder of the 2022-23 season with a nagging calf injury on March 28. With the team out of the playoff picture at that point, shutting him down was the best option.

In addition to the calf ailment, Lillard also missed time during the 2022-23 campaign with ankle and wrist ailments.

Despite missing time, the 33-year-old still had another solid impressive individual season, averaging 32.2 points 4.8 rebounds and 7.3 assists in 58 games while shooting 46.3 percent from the floor and 37.1 percent from deep.

Now in Milwaukee, Lillard hasn't missed much time in 2023-24.

The veteran is thriving alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo following a rough start to the year after the two struggled to develop a connection. In 68 games he's averaging 24.4 points, 4.4 rebounds and 7.1 assists while shooting 42.6 percent from the floor and 35.8 percent from deep.

The Bucks sit second in the Eastern Conference with a 46-27 record.

Trail Blazers big man Deandre Ayton had a tough time adjusting to life in Portland earlier this season after being traded from the Phoenix Suns, but there was more to his issues than just learning a new system.

Speaking to reporters last week, Ayton opened up about some of the obstacles he has faced in a new environment, including the fact that he didn't have bed and was sleeping on an air mattress for a while.

"My body wasn't just my body," Ayton said. "People forget the humane difference of me adjusting to everything."

He added: "Just being comfortable in waking up. I didn't have a bed for quite some time. I was on an air mattress. Just trying to figure this out."

Ayton spent the first five seasons of his career in Phoenix after being selected by the Suns first overall in the 2018 draft out of Arizona.

While he was effective during his tenure with the franchise, the Suns flipped Ayton to the Trail Blazers in the three-team trade that sent Damian Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks in September.

During the first half of the 2023-24 campaign in Portland, Ayton failed to live up to expectations and couldn't establish himself as the inside presence the Trail Blazers were hoping he would be.

Some of those struggles could be due to the fact he has been limited to just 45 games this year due to injuries.

Through 37 games ahead of the NBA's All-Star break, Ayton averaged just 13.8 points, 10.4 rebounds and 1.7 assists while shooting 56.0 percent from the floor.

In eight games since the All-Star break, the 25-year-old has averaged 24.5 points, 14.3 rebounds and 1.5 assists while shooting 64.3 percent from the floor.

But even when he's not on top of his game Ayton said he wants his teammates to know he can be relied on, win or lose.

"I just want people to believe no matter what the game is, no matter how it looks, regardless, no matter the fact, I'm gonna try my best way to make winning plays," Ayton said. "That's just it. Whether it's me scoring, rebounding, blocking shots, cheering on my teammates, getting them going, making plays, just rolling to the rim, not getting the ball, it don't matter. I'm just trying to show everybody I can do it all."

The Trail Blazers are 14th in the Western Conference with a 19-48 record and won't make the playoffs this season, so the goal for Ayton should be to finish out the year on a high note and build some momentum heading into the 2024-25 campaign.

Deandre Ayton is in the midst of arguably the best three-game stretch of his career, and he's thanking his doubters for providing motivation.

"I listen and I hear it and I love it," Ayton told reporters Wednesday. "I thank these haters for it, cause it's making me approach this game in the right way and carry the PDX on my back all the way. So I thank them. I'm wearing the cape all the way."

Ayton is averaging 28.3 points and 17.7 rebounds since returning to the lineup March 9. Portland has won two of those three contests, with Ayton playing the starring role some pegged him for when the was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NBA draft.

It's been an up-and-down first season for Ayton with the Blazers. His averages of 15.3 points and 11.1 rebounds are a disappointment given his expected increased role on a young Blazers team, and he spent most of the first half of the season subject to frustration from fans.

The criticism has—at least for now—awakened a more aggressive version of Ayton, who has taken at least 19 shots in each of the last three games.

"I just be trying to bust that ass. That's about it," said Ayton. "Whether I look like the bad guy or not, I'm trying to be great. I'm trying to be a winner in this league. I'm trying to be known as that guy. If you're around me, you're going to learn how to win."

Portland is in the midst of a full-scale rebuild, so there is no rush for Ayton to become an All-Star overnight. However, a strong finish to this season could wind up increasing Ayton's trade value if the Blazers want to explore a move.

The two years and $69.5 million remaining on Ayton's contract looked like an albatross coming into March, but a mini breakout could convince a team to roll the dice.