Tank Now

[Trailblazers76]

Let's face it. This is not a good team going through a slump, this is a bad team that had a lucky few weeks. We can't fall into the delusion that we did last year and wait until it's too late. Shut down Deni (lower back) and Clingon (hamstring). Give Yang all the minutes. Give Sharpe all the shots. Start Grant and increase his trade value as much as possible.

I know it sucks, but it needs to be done. This team isn't winning anything this year. We need to think long term. We can't be stuck in play-in purgatory. Get one more high lottery pick and go into next season with a healthy roster. That's when we start trying to win.

 

[Sedatedfork]

I think we need to just bite the bullet, try to make the playoffs and convey our pick to the Bulls so we can keep our option to swap picks with the Bucks.

 

[Sedatedfork]

We are not winning anything this year but playoffs experience is playoffs experience

 

[SharpesTriumph]

I think we need to just bite the bullet, try to make the playoffs and convey our pick to the Bulls so we can keep our option to swap picks with the Bucks.

Yeah I'd rather give the pick to the Bulls this year and be done with it. That frees up all 7 years of the Blazers future picks and makes the 2028 Bucks swap more valuable since it will be guaranteed to convey.

We mortgaged the pick when acquiring Larry Nance Jr (because we wanted him instead of Lauri Markannen). About time to finally cut off the last part of this roster that has ties to Neil Olshey. I don't understand why some Blazers fans want to keep having that pick debt messing with us until 2027, 2028, or 2029. It's been too long as is.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

We are not winning anything this year but playoffs experience is playoffs experience

Yeah the playoff experience is huge for all of Sharpe, Scoot, Deni, Clingan, Camara. Also the final month of the regular season when game have playoff implications is super valuable as well.

Grant hasn't been in the playoffs since CJ beat his Nuggets team so even some vets could benefit too.

We have enough young draft picks we don't really need one now. Getting high Bucks picks in 2-4 years is perfect as that would be when we need to reload our rookie talent

If we end up with a 2026 lottery pick that should be the consolation prize - but for this season it shouldn't be the goal.

 

[BIG Q]

This draft is loaded. Portland should be trying to get a stud out of it rather than giving the pick to Chicago. Portland will be a playoff team next season barring injury.

 

[Cugel]

This draft is loaded. Portland should be trying to get a stud out of it rather than giving the pick to Chicago. Portland will be a playoff team next season barring injury.

You are making a strong point that has to be considered.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

This draft is loaded. Portland should be trying to get a stud out of it rather than giving the pick to Chicago. Portland will be a playoff team next season barring injury.

Blazers are presently in the 12 spot, which equates to a 7.2% chance at a top 4 pick. Realistically, the lowest they could probably get would be 7 (presently, the 6 worst teams are on pace to win 25 games or fewer, and Portland already has 23), which would increase our odds of a top 4 pick to 32% (but also have an even greater chance of dropping to 8).

We are presently 5 wins ahead of MIL/MEM who are tied for 7th worst at 18-28. That's a 32-win pace, so we'd likely have to go 8-25 the rest of the way to drop down below that figure. You really want to spend the next 2 1/2 months watching the Blazers lose 3/4 of their games, likely to only move up 4 slots?

 

[Chris Craig]

Continuing to tank only reinforces a losing mentality. The Blazers need to move forward, not backwards, or to continue treading waters. They need playin/playoff experience.

Besides this team doesn't need to tank. If they lose, they will lose naturally. The teams perpetual state of everyone being injured ensures us losing anyway.

Blazers need to move Grant and a few others(Duop of course). Sign Caleb and Sidy and let the natural course of events take place.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

I don't think we can play bad enough to get into the top of the lottery. It looks like maybe the top 11 or 12 players could be really good though. A bird in hand is always better than one in the bush (if you have a young bird learning to fly, the sooner it starts learning the better) and I think this year's draft better than next year's (see note at bottom) so I don't see any advantage to giving up the pick to Chicago this year,

Note: Based on early scouting, the 2027 NBA Draft is currently projected to be weaker than the 2026 class. Evaluators have expressed concerns that 2027 lacks top-tier, star-level talent compared to the 2026 draft, with one insider describing 2027 as "one of the weakest high school classes"

 

[KingSpeed]

Yeah the playoff experience is huge for all of Sharpe, Scoot, Deni, Clingan, Camara. Also the final month of the regular season when game have playoff implications is super valuable as well.

Grant hasn't been in the playoffs since CJ beat his Nuggets team so even some vets could benefit too.

We have enough young draft picks we don't really need one now. Getting high Bucks picks in 2-4 years is perfect as that would be when we need to reload our rookie talent

If we end up with a 2026 lottery pick that should be the consolation prize - but for this season it shouldn't be the goal.

Jerami Grant wasn’t on Denver the year we beat them. He was on the Thunder team we beat that year. The following season, he joined Denver and went to playoffs with them.

 

[KingSpeed]

Remember, the team that won the #1 pick last year was in the play-in.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

Remember, the team that won the #1 pick last year was in the play-in.

I think the year prior the Hawks jumped similarly up very high.

If you look at top4 lottery winners there a lot of teams the last decade or two in playin range I believe.

It's a great potential consolation prize if we fall short of the playoffs - which easily could happen even if we try hard to win every single game.

 

[HoopsFanAZ]

Play it out. Some injuries aren't helping.
Next year is the year to see this team step forward.
Some decisions to make with Scoot topping the list.
Chicago can have their pick in 2027, so play it out and take the lottery pick this year. If they somehow make the playoffs, then the draft pick is dealt and they're clean.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

Charlotte won their 7th straight, we are now only 1/2 game behind them for tenth place in the tankathon.

 

[Chris Craig]

Remember, the team that won the #1 pick last year was in the play-in.

They first traded their star player

 

[STOMP]

If Deni's back is an issue going forward the rest of this season, they won't have to try to tank.

STOMP

 

[1 Eye Jack]

Sucks this draft is really good like 6 potential guys who could be future stars

 

[BlazerWookee]

Bollocks. Play to win, period.

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

Bollocks. Play to win, period.

Lol that mindset had the Raiders a garbage franchise for 20 years. Now they have a qb because they lost!

Tank! Tank! Tank!

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

We just passed Charlotte to get into 10th place in the tankathon. But Chicago and Clippers are right behind us and tanking hard. I think 12th is the best we could do. https://www.tankathon.com/

 

[HailBlazers]

We just passed Charlotte to get into 10th place in the tankathon. But Chicago and Clippers are right behind us and tanking hard. I think 12th is the best we could do. https://www.tankathon.com/

First try:

2026 NBA Mock Draft - NBA Draft Room

Late January Update: Keaton Wagler continues to rise up the draft board, Flemings is an absolute stud, Nate Ament is finding his groove

nbadraftroom.com

 

[Everything Beagle]

Don’t tank. Run the players into the ground. No sense in giving Las Vegas pristine merchandise for their new team.

 

[Ripcity4life77]

I know I have mentioned that i think the Blazers should consider tanking and while I have not changed my mind I have to a degree. I think see how things are in the next 10 games and if the return of Scoot and getting Deni back has not sparked the team and they continue to lose then start the tanking. I realize they will not lose enough to get a high pick but this is a semi deep draft and this team needs more talent ... period.

 

[blazerkor]

I know I have mentioned that i think the Blazers should consider tanking and while I have not changed my mind I have to a degree. I think see how things are in the next 10 games and if the return of Scoot and getting Deni back has not sparked the team and they continue to lose then start the tanking. I realize they will not lose enough to get a high pick but this is a semi deep draft and this team needs more talent ... period.

The only time I'll support tanking again is if we are eliminated from the play-in. I don't think that's going to happen this season so I'll be rooting for us to win every game.

I've been a huge proponent of tanking in the past and was furious last season when we didn't.

 

[BassPlaya]

Tanking is for losers.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

If we tank and keep our pick then it locks up the Blazers 2027, 2028, 2029 picks, plus it increases the chance we lose the 2028 unprotected swap with the Bucks. Making the playoffs guarantees we keep BOTH of our 2027 and 2028 picks, the unprotected Bucks swap, and indirect benefits to additional picks that would not have trade restrictions.

Much better to have our 2026 pick just go to Chicago and pay that debt off. Being able to play a minimum of 5 playin/playoff games if not many more is just an added bonus for the experience of all the 15 men on the roster.

Other years I was a big proponent of "Organic" tanking where we had the roster designed to basically lose and would get a high pick. The rest of THIS season however - I'm firmly against that!

Add to the fact that Memphis, LAC, GS, DAL all got worse at the trade deadline and the playin spot might be unavoidable to the Blazers if not a flat out eventual spot in the playoffs.

Blazers should 100% try to win and make the playoffs. If they fall short and keep their own pick then consider that a "consolidation" prize - but that ultimately may be LESS value than if the pick goes to Chicago.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

Would you prefer the Blazers have 7 picks or 4?

Here are the future picks the Blazers have available to trade after the draft if they miss the playoffs (4 picks and 3 swaps);
2028 Orlando unprotected pick
2029 Blazers/Celtics/Bucks unprotected pick (only 1 of 2)
2031 Blazers unprotected pick
2033 Blazers unprotected pick
2030 Bucks unprotected swap
2030 Blazers unprotected swap
2032 Blazers unprotected swap

Here are the picks available if the Blazers MAKE the playoffs (7 picks and 6 swaps);
2027 Blazers unprotected pick
2028 Blazers unprotected pick
2028 Orlando unprotected pick
2029 Blazers/Celtics/Bucks unprotected pick (only 1 of 2)
2029 Blazers/Celtics/Bucks unprotected pick (#2 of 2)
2031 Blazers unprotected pick
2033 Blazers unprotected pick
2027 Blazers unprotected swap
2028 Bucks unprotected swap
2028 Blazers unprotected swap
2030 Bucks unprotected swap
2030 Blazers unprotected swap
2032 Blazers unprotected swap

So basically the Blazers keeping their pick now costs them 3 picks and 3 swaps. I'd rather just send it to Chicago this summer and finally be done with the era of Neil Olshey!

 

[Sheldon Shape]

Our fans are so schizophrenic and lack context.

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

Would you prefer the Blazers have 7 picks or 4?

Here are the future picks the Blazers have available to trade after the draft if they miss the playoffs (4 picks and 3 swaps);
2028 Orlando unprotected pick
2029 Blazers/Celtics/Bucks unprotected pick (only 1 of 2)
2031 Blazers unprotected pick
2033 Blazers unprotected pick
2030 Bucks unprotected swap
2030 Blazers unprotected swap
2032 Blazers unprotected swap

Here are the picks available if the Blazers MAKE the playoffs (7 picks and 6 swaps);
2027 Blazers unprotected pick
2028 Blazers unprotected pick
2028 Orlando unprotected pick
2029 Blazers/Celtics/Bucks unprotected pick (only 1 of 2)
2029 Blazers/Celtics/Bucks unprotected pick (#2 of 2)
2031 Blazers unprotected pick
2033 Blazers unprotected pick
2027 Blazers unprotected swap
2028 Bucks unprotected swap
2028 Blazers unprotected swap
2030 Bucks unprotected swap
2030 Blazers unprotected swap
2032 Blazers unprotected swap

So basically the Blazers keeping their pick now costs them 3 picks and 3 swaps. I'd rather just send it to Chicago this summer and finally be done with the era of Neil Olshey!

You are missing that they can trade the lotto pick in 2026 which is supposed to be a much stronger draft than 2027. A lotto pick this offseason is going to be worth more in trade than future unknown picks.

Also, I don't see a scenario where we trade up to 7 picks.

We need to target one star and bring them in while keeping Deni.