Why the Trail Blazers Must Embrace the NBA's Double-Big Revolution

The NBA may be undergoing its largest shift since Stephen Curry introduced a new philosophy during his title run with the Golden State Warriors in 2015. 

Without Curry's game-changing three-point ability setting a new standard, there likely wouldn't be six teams that attempted over 40 shots from deep per game in 2025. 

But the next evolution of basketball is here, and in the Western Conference, the Portland Trail Blazers have to adapt to it. 

The New York Knicks toppled the San Antonio Spurs' superstar center Victor Wembanyama while boasting a lineup featuring both Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson. 

That duo shared the floor for 155 minutes across the five-game series, and while Wembanyama is just 22, the "double-big" lineup is the blueprint to slowing the French phenom for the time being. 

Luckily for the Blazers, their franchise anchor ... Donovan Clingan ... does stand at 7-foot-2, just two inches shorter than Wembanyama. 

But he's not the worry. The issue with the rest of Portland's roster construction is the rest of the frontcourt. 

Sure, they re-signed Robert Williams. They also snagged Branden Carlson for virtually nothing. But neither of those is a guy you'd rather have on the floor at the four spot over Deni Avdija or Toumani Camara, even if Wembanyama is the opponent. 

But GM Joe Cronin missed out on the opportunity to add a real difference-maker next to Clingan. All the options have been scooped up for the same reason: to stop Wembanyama. 

Jock Landale landed a one-year, $14 million deal from the Atlanta Hawks. Mo Wagner secured $19 million over two years from the Brooklyn Nets.

The Golden State Warriors committed $40 million over two years to Kristaps Porzingis despite his injury history, while the Memphis Grizzlies paired Zach Edey with Quintin Post on a three-year, $30 million deal.

Suddenly, investing in size has become the league's newest priority ... and it's all because of Wembanyama. 

Instead of following this trend, Portland opted to go in the opposite direction and is now forcing first-year head coach Micah Nori to get creative with his lineups to feature Damian Lillard, Ja Morant, Jrue Holiday, Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe. 

Not ideal. 

However ... there's plenty of time remaining in the offseason. Even though the free-agent market has been decimated, Cronin could explore a trade for a premier backup who could coexist alongside Clingan should the situation call for it. 

The Western Conference isn't getting any smaller. If anything, it's heading in the opposite direction.

Wembanyama has already forced teams to rethink how they're building their rosters, and the organizations that recognized the trend first have spent the offseason preparing for what's next.

And the Blazers still have time to join them.