A main component of becoming a competitive NBA team is knowing when it’s time to shift gears — moving from tanking and stockpiling draft picks to actually competing for wins. The timing can make or break a franchise for the next decade. Push too early, and you trap your fanbase in a never-ending loop of losing with only brief peaks of mediocrity. Wait too long, and you’re stuck living in the land of what if — a feeling Portland Trail Blazers fans know all too well.

Success in the NBA usually starts with a simple truth: find your star, or find a way to support the one you have. The Trail Blazers enter 2025–26 caught between both realities — they’re not entirely sure which side of the equation they’re on. The roster has undeniable talent and depth, but the question remains: will this be the

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