​Beyond Jrue Holiday and Damian Lillard, the rest of the Portland Trail Blazers’ 2026-27 roster is under 30 years old. If you drill down further, Robert Williams III stands as the only key contributor over 26. For a team with Portland’s ambitions this coming season, that youth profile stands out.
First-year head coach Micah Nori will welcome as much veteran guidance as he can get, and while Holiday and Lillard are two of the strongest veteran anchors a rookie coach could lean on, there is another external option to consider: DeMar DeRozan. The veteran swingman was waived by the Sacramento Kings on July 6, making him a free agent free to choose his next destination. DeRozan’s potential landing spots largely include teams that miss out on LeBron James, the Toronto Raptors, and perhaps the San Antonio Spurs, essentially narrowing the field.
Logistically, where would DeRozan have the better chance to win: the Golden State Warriors or the Blazers? The Cleveland Cavaliers or the Blazers? In a now-competitive Eastern Conference, Portland could present a more appealing path to success. But that does not automatically mean DeRozan would provide the exact help Portland needs.
Many fans and observers might not realize it after DeRozan spent the last two seasons in Sacramento, but he still has plenty left in the tank. He continues to log over 30 minutes per game and remains around a 50% shooting clip. Yet that efficiency alone isn’t what Portland is seeking. The Blazers need a voice, a veteran presence in the locker room who can stabilize the team during a late-season push and into playoff series.
DeRozan could certainly fulfill that leadership role, but there is another consideration. He sits at 16th on the NBA’s all-time scoring list with 26,711 career points, yet he still hasn’t captured an elusive championship ring. Until he achieves that, it’s unlikely he’ll be content stepping into a quieter, vocal mentor role for an extended period.
Portland is in a transitional phase with Nori at the helm and with the acquisition of Ja Morant, the Blazers are positioning themselves to be competitive rather than simply rebuilding. In contrast, DeRozan’s career is nearing its final act. Those two realities may simply be moving in different directions. While the idea of DeRozan in a Blazers uniform is appealing for fans and still plausible in theory, the veteran may be better aligned with a franchise more likely to help him chase an NBA Finals triumph—potentially a scenario that could include the Miami Heat, should that path align with his goals.