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Outside of Jrue Holiday and Damian Lillard, every member of the 2026-27 Portland Trail Blazers' current roster is under the age of 30 years old.
If you peel the layers back even further, Robert Williams III is the only key contributor over the age of 26.
For a team that has the aspirations Portland does this upcoming season, that's quite young.
First-year head coach Micah Nori can get all the veteran assistance he can get, and while Holiday and Lillard are two of the best vets a rookie sideline leader could lean on, there does exist another external option.
DeMar DeRozan.
The veteran swingman was waived by the Sacramento Kings back on July 6, allowing the 36-year-old to sign wherever he chooses.
DeRozan's potential suitors basically include whoever misses out on LeBron James, the Toronto Raptors and maybe the San Antonio Spurs. Presently, that's about it.
Logistically, where would DeRozan have a better chance of winning? The Golden State Warriors or the Blazers?
How about the Cleveland Cavaliers or the Blazers? In a now-scary Eastern Conference, the case could be made that Portland offers a more attractive path to winning.
But that doesn't necessarily mean DeRozan would be able to assist the Blazers in the way they'd need him to.
Many may not know since he's spent the last two seasons in Sacramento, but DeRozan absolutely still has it.
He's still consistently playing over 30 minutes per game and remains around the 50% shooting mark ... but that's not what Portland needs.
It needs a voice. Another locker room leader. A guy who can help stabilize the ship in an April playoff series.
And DeRozan could certainly provide that.
But he's probably looking to provide more than just that.
DeRozan is currently the 16th on the NBA's all-time scoring list with 26,711 career points — but still sits without that elusive championship ring.
Until he finds that, it's hard to imagine him being ready to take that backseat, vocal veteran role.
As Portland undergoes a shift now with Nori and the recently acquired Ja Morant, the Blazers are ready to compete ... but maybe not for a title.
Portland's timeline is just beginning to accelerate.
DeRozan's career, on the other hand, is entering the final stretch.
Those two realities may simply be moving in different directions.
So while it's fun to picture DeRozan in a Blazers uniform, he'd probably be better off in a Heat uniform if his goal is to secure his long-awaited NBA Finals victory.
Continue reading...
If you peel the layers back even further, Robert Williams III is the only key contributor over the age of 26.
For a team that has the aspirations Portland does this upcoming season, that's quite young.
First-year head coach Micah Nori can get all the veteran assistance he can get, and while Holiday and Lillard are two of the best vets a rookie sideline leader could lean on, there does exist another external option.
DeMar DeRozan.
The veteran swingman was waived by the Sacramento Kings back on July 6, allowing the 36-year-old to sign wherever he chooses.
DeRozan's potential suitors basically include whoever misses out on LeBron James, the Toronto Raptors and maybe the San Antonio Spurs. Presently, that's about it.
Logistically, where would DeRozan have a better chance of winning? The Golden State Warriors or the Blazers?
How about the Cleveland Cavaliers or the Blazers? In a now-scary Eastern Conference, the case could be made that Portland offers a more attractive path to winning.
But that doesn't necessarily mean DeRozan would be able to assist the Blazers in the way they'd need him to.
Many may not know since he's spent the last two seasons in Sacramento, but DeRozan absolutely still has it.
He's still consistently playing over 30 minutes per game and remains around the 50% shooting mark ... but that's not what Portland needs.
It needs a voice. Another locker room leader. A guy who can help stabilize the ship in an April playoff series.
And DeRozan could certainly provide that.
But he's probably looking to provide more than just that.
DeRozan is currently the 16th on the NBA's all-time scoring list with 26,711 career points — but still sits without that elusive championship ring.
Until he finds that, it's hard to imagine him being ready to take that backseat, vocal veteran role.
As Portland undergoes a shift now with Nori and the recently acquired Ja Morant, the Blazers are ready to compete ... but maybe not for a title.
Portland's timeline is just beginning to accelerate.
DeRozan's career, on the other hand, is entering the final stretch.
Those two realities may simply be moving in different directions.
So while it's fun to picture DeRozan in a Blazers uniform, he'd probably be better off in a Heat uniform if his goal is to secure his long-awaited NBA Finals victory.
Continue reading...
