The Portland Trail Blazers hold a 10-16 record in their 2025-26 NBA Campaign. Sitting 11th in the Western Conference, looking motivated some nights and confused on others, would normally bring considerations of a reset. But Zach Harper of The Athletic [has Portland firmly in the “buyers” department](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6865580/2025/12/15/nba-trade-deadline-tiers-teams-2025/?campaign=16106206&source=athletic_targeted_email&userId=5495415&redirected=1) at the opening of NBA Trade Season \[_subscription required_\]. Sitting with the New York Knicks, Detroit Pistons, and San Antonio Spurs, Harper sees the Blazers are a couple moves away from being where they want to be: in the Play-In Tournament race.
Unsurprisingly, Harper cites one characteristic missing from the squad.
_Maybe the Blazers don’t make a huge swing in the trade market, but they are in a position to make the Play-In, even in the jam-packed West. They need to acquire some outside shooting. This is one of the worst 3-point shooting teams in the league, second to last in percentage (33.4). Some of that could improve with a consistently healthy roster._
Uncited is Portland’s spot nestled up against the luxury tax threshold. The Blazers would need to add shooting without adding salary, lest they forfeit millions of windfall dollars on the way at the end of the season.
What do you think? Do you see the Blazers being buyers as trade season opens? Do you think a little shooting will do the job for them? Share in the comment section below.