Predict how many games the Portland Trail Blazers will win this season

The Portland Trail Blazers are entering the second season of their rebuild after Damian Lillard made a trade request that left a mark on the entire NBA landscape. They now have a strong squad consisting of 12 or 13 players capable of playing quality minutes. While depth is their strength, they are not top-heavy enough and lack a good star.

It's unclear who the Blazers' best player will be in the 2024-25 season. Whether it's Jerami Grant, Anfernee Simons, Deandre Ayton or the newly acquired Deni Avdija is questionable. Scoot Henderson or Shaedon Sharpe could eventually fill that role if they make a big enough jump, although that will likely be in future seasons rather than this year.

Given how busy the Western Conference is, especially this year, it will be nearly impossible for the Blazers to make the playoffs unless a star moves on in a blockbuster move, which seems unlikely at this point in their rebuild.

New additions Avdija and Donovan Clingan should help the Blazers both this season and in the long run. Avdija gives Portland something they desperately lacked last season: He's a two-way winger who can contribute in many ways and improve the overall level of play. His versatility should give Chauncey Billups much more flexibility in lineup combinations, as he can play positions two through four.

Clingan may seem redundant from a positional perspective since the Blazers now have four centers on their roster. But most importantly, his rim protection and rebounding will have an immediate impact for Portland. The Blazers held their opponents to just 70.8 percent shooting at the rim, which was second-worst in the league behind the Wizards. Portland also ranked last in defensive rebounding at 30.1 per game, which is another weakness that Clingan will address.

Avdija and Clingan provide cause for optimism for the 2024-25 season, but expectations for the Blazers' season should still be tempered. For one thing, the loss of Malcolm Brogdon cannot be overlooked.

Brogdon was the only true floor general on the Blazers' roster (Scoot could become that at some point, but he still needs to improve his turnovers and overall decision-making). He was also the team's best three-point shooter last season at 41.2 percent, and the Blazers have already done significant damage to that department, finishing last in the league as a team.

They also have a grueling schedule, with a difficult start to the season against Western Conference teams and as a team that has to cover the most miles during the season because Portland is so far from the rest of the NBA cities.

They should have a more consistent lineup overall this season. But the injuries are already piling up. Shaedon Sharpe (left shoulder tear) and Matisse Thybulle (right knee soreness) will be out for several weeks, while Robert Williams III (Grade 1 thigh strain) is unlikely to play in the season opener against the Warriors.

The average age of the Blazers team is 24 years old, making them one of the youngest teams in the league. That brings growing pains that could cost them a few games this season. It's also possible they lose more games late in the season with the playoffs out of reach to position themselves for a better draft pick in 2025, which should be factored into the forecast.

Taking all of this into account, the Blazers should stay close to last season's 21 wins.

Trail Blazers record prediction: 23-59