Trail Blazers Get Surprising Postseason Projection From ESPN

The Portland Trail Blazers are entering the 2026-27 season with plenty of questions, but ESPN’s Basketball Power Index is already showing some serious optimism about their chances of playing postseason basketball.

According to ESPN’s BPI, the Trail Blazers have a 62.6% chance of making the postseason. That number is notable for a Portland team that has spent the past several seasons trying to find its way back into relevance after moving on from the Damian Lillard era. ESPN's BPI does seem to be a bit favorable as four teams in the Western Conference have an 85% chance or higher to make the playoffs.

The projection does not guarantee anything, especially with a long NBA season ahead, but it does show that Portland has built a roster that statistical models believe can compete for a playoff spot. A 62.6% chance puts the Blazers in a favorable position entering the season and suggests there is legitimate belief that this team can take another step forward.

There are plenty of reasons for that optimism. Portland has added significant experience and talent to its roster this offseason, including bringing back Lillard while also adding players such as Jrue Holiday, Jeremy Sochan and Branden Carlson. The combination of veterans, young talent and players with championship experience gives the Blazers a much different look than they have had in recent years.

The biggest factor may be how all of those pieces fit together. Portland has plenty of talent in its backcourt, with Lillard, Ja Morant, Holiday and Scoot Henderson all capable of handling the ball. Deni Avdija also gives the team another player who can facilitate the offense and make decisions with the ball in his hands.

That depth gives new head coach Micah Nori plenty to work with as he tries to establish an offense built around ball movement and smart decision-making. If the Blazers can find the right balance between their veterans and younger players, their ceiling could be considerably higher than outside expectations suggest.

A 62.6% postseason projection also puts some weight behind the idea that Portland is ready to move beyond simply developing its young core. The organization has made it clear through its offseason moves that winning matters now.

There is still a lot that has to go right over 82 games, but ESPN’s BPI is giving the Trail Blazers a better-than-not chance to reach the postseason. For a team looking to announce its return to the NBA’s competitive picture, that is an encouraging place to start.