Reports: Chauncey Billups has identified a new tactical adjustment that might greatly improve the team’s performance…[More Information in Post]

The Portland Trail Blazers are among the few Western Conference clubs that will enter the 2024–25 season thinking about the 2025 NBA Draft.

The 2023–24 season saw the team finish a dismal 21–61, good for last place in the Western Conference, tied with the San Antonio Spurs. Stephon Castle, who just won the NCAA championship with the University of Connecticut Huskies, was the fascinating fourth overall pick in the draught, and San Antonio also got veteran veterans Chris Paul and Harrison Barnes. Also, the Spurs are banking on center Victor Wembanyama, who was named Rookie of the Year, to have a breakout year as a sophomore and likely earn All-Star honors.

The Houston Rockets, who were the eleventh seed last season, finished with a 41–41 record and were narrowly out of the play-in tournament hunt. The team is putting its faith in the growth of its own players, such as shooting guard Jalen Green and center Alperin Sengun, as well as the performance of its third-round choice, Reed Sheppard.

The Memphis Grizzlies, who were the No. 12 seed in the NBA last season, had a rough go of it due to injuries. All-Stars Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr., as well as small forward Dillon Brooks, are expected to see far more action than they did in 2023-24, and the club is anticipating that No. 9 overall pick Zach Edey will assist in strengthening its center position.

Just two teams—the Utah Jazz and Portland—have entered tank mode one month and sixteen days before the new year begins.

Indeed, Portland did sign a promising young player—who, incidentally, was a member of that very UConn squad. The only move the club made when building the roster was trading Malcolm Brogdon’s contract for that of Deni Avdija, a young small forward.

Head coach Chauncey Billups will be a coaching free agent next summer, but the Trail Blazers are making their fourth straight lottery appearance.

According to NBA.com’s Shaun Powell, if the Trail Blazers don’t get off to a good start, general manager Joe Cronin may feel pressured to trade Billups before the season ends.

“Cronin… might be forced into a hard decision on coach Chauncey Billups if the Blazers start slowly,” according to Powell.

The actual question, given Portland’s awfulness, is what constitutes a sluggish start enough to make Cronin fire Billups, who has a record of just 81-165 with the team so far?