Portland’s 2025-26 outlook centers on a sharpened defensive identity, a three-man guard rotation, and learning what Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe can become with Jrue Holiday’s versatile impact. NBA.com’s John Schuhmann slots the Blazers at No. 11 in the West, a nod to depth across the conference even as the team juggles the absence of Damian Lillard’s upcoming return from injury. The mix of Holiday’s defense and playmaking with Henderson and Sharpe’s ceiling gives Portland a path toward a late-season push, potentially into the play-in mix if the youth take meaningful strides while Donavan Clingan anchors the paint.

Defensive progress anchors the optimism: the Blazers ranked third in points allowed per 100 possessions over their last 41 games, and their paint defense improved dramatically with Clingan on the floor. The franchise also benefits from subtracting some defensive liabilities in the lineup, while the guard trio provides length and switchability. The West’s depth makes No. 11 a fragile perch, but a leap from Henderson and Sharpe paired with Holiday’s leadership could unlock a competitive window as Dame Lillard recovers and Portland redefines its core.